Star Wars All-Inclusive "Star Ship" Resort?

[rushtest4echo]

Where did you get the budget of 306 million for Force Awakens. I saw reported 245 million - quite a big difference

You have to remember that Hollywood budgets, much like ride budgets, are very misleading. Neither 245 or 300 are accurate I'm sure. The marketing and distribution costs sometimes double a film's budget, whereas other times it's less than 10%. Doesn't matter the film, the studio, how well it does or who's in it. It's all interchangeable. Then there are royalties, licenses and residuals which all can add to the cost and are sometimes included in the "production budget" and sometimes they're omitted. Even contracts and bonuses with actors are sometimes tied directly to a film and are in other cases the actor is in some sort of multi-film deal where a discount is given for each additional role/appearance which again may be factored into the original film for the contract or tied to the current film. Same goes for directors, writers, composers and almost everything else. Nothing is a fixed cost, and 90% of a flims budget can be flexed in and out of the "official" production budget.

Animated films like Tangled, Frozen, or Big Hero 6 had enormous costs factored in to the "production budget" because of the complex programming and R&D done for the CG techniques needed. Those costs will assist in creating cheaper/better films later- much like traditional platforms like sets and camera equipment can cost a huge amount of money and then be reused. Same goes for rides. The initial cost is like a lead balloon for that first project, but it's a godsend for future budgets.

For the huge budget films, the production costs are often rolled in with marketing costs and then some analyst goes and adds another 50% to the budget(because he didn't know the details and just conflated the costs because he assumed they hadn't been factored yet and chose a ballpark percentage to add to account for his lack of knowledge), then the paper gets a hold of that number and may conflate it even more when they try to factor hidden costs that may have already been factored by the studio. It's all a massive mess really and I wouldn't trust any of it.

All of this happens on attractions too. The numbers people see for Disney/Universal attractions usually not accurate. Most of the time, the same factors I've mentioned above can massive sway a ride budget too.

 

[Chef Mickey]

I don't place people on ignore, but I'm going to have to ignore your further arguments in this particular thread because you seem to have no clue what you're taking about. Reviews and/or "buzz" surrounding a film doesn't correlate to sales/popularity or lack thereof. I agree that the prequels were trash. I agree that Lucas was a poor steward. That has nothing to do with popularity. Just look at Fast and the Furious. Absolutely garbage yet look at the cash it's raking in.

By the way, between Revenge of the Sith and The Force Awakens, Star Wars did billions in sales.

THATS ONLY THROUGH 2012, WHEN DISNEY BOUGHT THE FRANCHISE.

You're having a separate argument. Practically all of the toy, video game, and box office revenues are because of the original 3 movies and the subsequent prequels.

No one is arguing that Star Wars doesn't bring in a lot of revenue. I'm arguing that it brings in money because of the major motion pictures, not Clone Wars and EU. Disney understands this and took a franchise that was resting on its laurels because of old movies and cranked/is cranking out 5 movies in 5 years. I'm just saying since Revenge of the Sith, there hasn't been a lot of activity that really has created buzz. All those numbers you're posting are 90% a result of the 6 movies and mainly Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, and the Millennium Falcon...not the expanded universe or the Clone Wars.

The Disney numbers are going to dwarf that $33b btw.

 

[General Hux]

I'm all in. And Star Wars fandom has gone completely mainstream now, so the demand is there WAY more than Harry Potter even. I think they will do this starship hotel, and then -mark my words- they will add another one on the gondola line going out from the starship hotel to a Tatooine themed hotel. The Florida heat and the spacing of the buildings in the resorts would be perfect for it. The entire All Star resort complex could be Tatooine, or at least All Star Sports, and I don't think anyone can quibble that it would be a huge success. If they make a single destination gondola line going to another hotel, the gondolas could be themed as transport ships inside and out. Wake up on Tatooine, get breakfast in the Cantina food court, get on a gondola shuttle, arrive in SW Land, go back midday to Tatooine to bring the secret plans to a bounty hunter there... the possibilities are endless.

I would blow my lid to do any of this, and I would pay whatever they charge.

 

[Chef Mickey]

Here is a little context. Clone Wars budget was 8.5 million. Force Awakens budget was 306 million. Rogue One budget was 200 million.

Separate issue. It proves my point that Clone Wars is almost a NON factor in the Star Wars Machine. People buy the toys because of the 6 major movies, not because of Clone Wars and EU.

Guys, most people don't even know the Clone Wars exist...kids included. They know about Darth VADER not Darth Bane or Darth Tenebrous.

You Star Wars nerds have gotten almost too nerdy to see reality...and I am one of them.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Wake up on Tatooine, get breakfast in the Cantina food court, get on a gondola shuttle, arrive in SW Land

It's likely the SW Resort will be just on the other side of SWL and the DHS park boundaries. You'll be walking between the two.

 

[General Hux]

Right, for the Starship one. But if/when they expand the idea, which would be an easy win at All Star Sports to just re-theme it, the gondola would be easy to shoot strait over to it, with a stop at Blizzard Beach (Hoth) even.

 

[Kamikaze]

Right, for the Starship one. But if/when they expand the idea, which would be an easy win at All Star Sports to just re-theme it, the gondola would be easy to shoot strait over to it, with a stop at Blizzard Beach (Hoth) even.

Expand it to a value? This is going the other direction. To make an All-Star a premium experience they would need to basically do a full rebuild. Better to just build a second 'starship' if this proves insanely popular.

 

[Incomudro]

Not at all. The pitch is much more like Westworld (the TV Show). Be transferred to an alternate universe that allows you to be immersed in that world full time, and not just while on a 6-8min ride. Then in that world, experience dining, surroundings, food, and entertainment aligned with that world. Things such as roleplaying, exploration (think like the card games in the theme parks, or the games on the cruise ships), and other forms of entertainment that would be selfpaced and guided offerings.

Agreed.
I have to say, that this type of thing is long overdue in Disney.
The movie West World predicted it in the 70's.
Seriously, this type of experience is perfectly fitting with Disney.

 

[flynnibus]

There shouldn't be one. Star Wars is the most popular franchise in the history of the world. Period. It is probably the only franchise that could support a hotel like this full time, every day, for many, many, many years.

Nah... building hogwarts? People would race
Building Middle Earth? people would come
Building a Star Trek starship? people would come

You don't need 40 million guests a year to make these things viable... you need to be able to find the balance point of creating the 'must have' experience with generating the response that people are willing to pay a premium for it.

I think why it hasn't really been done in the past is because it takes a ton to do it WELL and IP holders would be learly of people failing to live up to their property. And from a business, it's expensive to do. So as a stand-alone business, its capital intensive, ongoing expensive, and risky. The way you make it work is by ensuring your margins are more than healthy... This is pretty much the problem/formula for every type of 'boutique' experience.

 

[Kamikaze]

Nah... building hogwarts? People would race
Building Middle Earth? people would come
Building a Star Trek starship? people would come

You don't need 40 million guests a year to make these things viable... you need to be able to find the balance point of creating the 'must have' experience with generating the response that people are willing to pay a premium for it.

Potter would be the only one that could possibly sustain it in the long term. Even then, the longer we get from new stories with the originals, the less there is to make it viable.
LotR isn't popular enough, and the Star Trek Experience proved that while it worked for a time, there wasn't enough business for it to last for years.

 

[csmat99]

I also wonder if they will price minors as the 1k price as adults. I just can't imagine the value is the same cost wise when you have 2 minors sharing the room and eating less food.

have you ever seen a 13 year old eat?

 

[Kamikaze]

I also wonder if they will price minors as the 1k price as adults. I just can't imagine the value is the same cost wise when you have 2 minors sharing the room and eating less food.

Usually minors are a little less at all-inclusive resorts/vacations, but not all that much.
The difference between adult and child on the DDP is $35 a day. But they only consider 9 and younger children for the DDP. So thats $70 over the two days. You're still going to be talking probably $400 per night for guests 3 & 4. (Assuming guests 1 & 2 are $500.)

 

[Ripken10]

Separate issue. It proves my point that Clone Wars is almost a NON factor in the Star Wars Machine. People buy the toys because of the 6 major movies, not because of Clone Wars and EU.

Guys, most people don't even know the Clone Wars exist...kids included. They know about Darth VADER not Darth Bane or Darth Tenebrous.

You Star Wars nerds have gotten almost too nerdy to see reality...and I am one of them.

You are not correct. Just cause you don't know it doesn't mean a large culture doesn't exist. I didn't know it existed either till a few years ago. Now, as I talk to people,including kids, there is a larger fan base then obviously you realize. It is not "because of the first 3 movies". Obviously you are set on believing that and won't believe anything anybody else says. One thing you obviously will never understand, but this group is actually part of the target audience for this hotel. They are the ones that will drop the big money for this. It is the same group that will go to both coasts for both grand openings. It is the group that buy anything star wars related (including food) and hoards it. Their is loads of popular book series. There is a lot of people like this, more than you will obviously ever care to see because you are ignorant to it. This mass is what makes it the most popular franchise to ever exist. You just don't get it.

 

[Chef Mickey]

You are not correct. Just cause you don't know it doesn't mean a large culture doesn't exist. I didn't know it existed either till a few years ago. Now, as I talk to people,including kids, there is a larger fan base then obviously you realize. It is not "because of the first 3 movies". Obviously you are set on believing that and won't believe anything anybody else says. One thing you obviously will never understand, but this group is actually part of the target audience for this hotel. They are the ones that will drop the big money for this. It is the same group that will go to both coasts for both grand openings. It is the group that buy anything star wars related (including food) and hoards it. Their is loads of popular book series. There is a lot of people like this, more than you will obviously ever care to see because you are ignorant to it. This mass is what makes it the most popular franchise to ever exist. You just don't get it.

 

[flynnibus]

Potter would be the only one that could possibly sustain it in the long term. Even then, the longer we get from new stories with the originals, the less there is to make it viable.
LotR isn't popular enough, and the Star Trek Experience proved that while it worked for a time, there wasn't enough business for it to last for years.

St:te wasnt this kind of experience. And it did last for years.. a decade no less.
The concept of middle earth is one of the longest and most widely seen version of fantasy.

The topics are certainly desirable- its the business plan that counts. Having this be something by disney st the established wdw... gives it a huge head start

 

[ford91exploder]

have you ever seen a 13 year old eat?

Yeah, Don't get between the kid and the food...

 

[ford91exploder]

I don't place people on ignore, but I'm going to have to ignore your further arguments in this particular thread because you seem to have no clue what you're taking about. Reviews and/or "buzz" surrounding a film doesn't correlate to sales/popularity or lack thereof. I agree that the prequels were trash. I agree that Lucas was a poor steward. That has nothing to do with popularity. Just look at Fast and the Furious. Absolutely garbage yet look at the cash it's raking in.

By the way, between Revenge of the Sith and The Force Awakens, Star Wars did billions in sales.

THATS ONLY THROUGH 2012, WHEN DISNEY BOUGHT THE FRANCHISE.

Disney bought SW for the FIRST slice of the 'Falcon Chart' the toy licensing revenue. The rest is gravy to them.

 

[ford91exploder]

St:te wasnt this kind of experience. And it did last for years.. a decade no less.
The concept of middle earth is one of the longest and most widely seen version of fantasy.

The topics are certainly desirable- its the business plan that counts. Having this be something by disney st the established wdw... gives it a huge head start

Look I'm not a superfan (DW IS however) and even I could see doing this as this has the potential to be a completely unique experience. It's going to depend on execution however. If we see GMR levels of acting/engagement by CM's it's going to flop.

 

[doctornick]

also, how are we getting bogged down into an argument about how popular star wars is? it's very popular. many people love it, while some others don't. that's basically the gist of it.

I feel like the "argument" started about whether Disney is overexposing SW more than happened under Lucas. To which my argument would be that they are not, but rather are doing a more effective job of producing content. I don't think that one new film a year is going to be a problem as long as they can maintain good quality. Coupled with the ubiquitous merchandise presence (which has been there since before Disney), present and expanding theme park presence [plus the wide array of supporting materials (animated shows, novels, comic books, etc.) which appeal to the more hard core fan base] and I think it will be sustaining for a long time. Disney has IMHO found a relatively happy medium between consistent public attention without going overboard; others believe differently.

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

I feel like the "argument" started about whether Disney is overexposing SW more than happened under Lucas. To which my argument would be that they are not, but rather are doing a more effective job of producing content. I don't think that one new film a year is going to be a problem as long as they can maintain good quality. Coupled with the ubiquitous merchandise presence (which has been there since before Disney), present and expanding theme park presence [plus the wide array of supporting materials (animated shows, novels, comic books, etc.) which appeal to the more hard core fan base] and I think it will be sustaining for a long time. Disney has IMHO found a relatively happy medium between consistent public attention without going overboard; others believe differently.

The one thing I like is Kathy Kennedy and LucasFilms greeting excellent directors for each movies instead of George trying to do everything himself and producer Rick McCallum being the "yes, George" guy.