Star Wars All-Inclusive "Star Ship" Resort?

[HauntedPirate]

As a SW fan since the age of 7-8, there's no way in h-e-double-hockey-sticks that I would shell out that kind of money for a 2 night stay. I guess I'm in the minority on this one, where this sort of thing just doesn't appeal to me at all.

Did I mis-read this, or did it say that you would get access to SWL with no mention of the rest of the park?

And anyone care to wager that even if the price point starts out at $1k for 2 nights (which I have my doubts on, given what is allegedly being offered), that price will increase SIGNIFICANTLY within 12-24 months?

 

[Andrew C]

Seems like the pricing would be similar to Adventures by Disney...haha

 

[Robbiem]

I have no problem with this idea. Seeing star tours on TV was exciting enough for a 12 year old I can't imagine how excited I would have been to little me!

 

[jgj123]

Having grown up with Star Wars, I'd have no problem doing this

 

[dig311dug]

I use to like star wars, before disney started milking the life out of it.

 

[durangojim]

More so that the entire business model is based around upsells at the expense (often) of other guests. Hotel tiers....opps sorry "resorts" have always created that level of vacation to fit somebody's budget but now there is an upsell around every corner. Park admission just isn't enough. Tickets +hotel rooms used to be how the park made money now its.....DVC and extra crap. In the case of DVC they have destroyed all three monorail resorts so yeah I'm not holding my breath that this will be sugar sweet.

Edit: if you want to argue price point you will loose the cost of WDW has increased faster than median household income since 90s or so. Even for the wealthy the value is far less.

What am I loosing and who am I arguing with? For those of us who have the funds and are willing to spend the money for a unique experience, I think it's a "win". I don't like to waste my money and was very disappointed with our recent trip at the Polynesian. We won't stay there again because it wasn't worth it to me. However I have no qualms about paying to stay at the GF or YC. Just because this experience isn't worth it to you, I am willing to bet that there are a lot of people who it will be. Unless you've never bought a luxury good, service, etc in your entire life, you have no basis to tell anyone what spend their money on. It might stink that you're upset because you can't afford something or think it's a waste of money, but that's your problem, not mine.

 

[flynnibus]

It looks like Tom pieced this together and deserves credit for doing so. I'd love to see @WDW1974 weigh in here because it seems like he was sitting on similar info.

He just reported on what was on the survey... meaning a survey invite forwarded it to him the details and screenshots. I wonder if they showed the video.. it's not in his story, so I guess they didn't get that part

 

[MisterPenguin]

So... when will they build the Star Destroyer cruise liner?

 

[flynnibus]

Disney is going to put itself in a very bad place with P&R if they keep pushing higher and higher end offerings to increase per guest spending versus organic growth. (And no, this Star Wars hotel won't do that, it's just going to pull guests away from the other deluxe resorts) If we have a recession soon, P&R will become a bigger liability for the company than ESPN.

@ParentsOf4, looking forward to your thoughts on the implications of this project.

I don't agree. This whole concept is not just another hotel with crazy prices.

This is something that is an inclusive vacation experience in itself. The way it was pitched, you wouldn't even KNOW it was at WDW initially... until they threw in the Star Wars Land details.

This is more like Star Trek the Experience meets Disney Cruise Line meets WDW.

The idea behind the pricing pitch is... what if you took a Disney Deluxe Resort... then add in Dining included.. throw in entertainment included... and now imagine this is an experience you can't get ANYWHERE ELSE and is a subject matter you are thrilled about.. how much is that worth to you.

You have to look at this as a 'experience' you do upon itself, not just Star Wars Hotel vs Contemporary Hotel.

 

[Rutt]

Gah I hate to say it but there is literally no way I DONT do this. Time to get that third job

 

[flynnibus]

This hotel concept seems to take it one step further, squeezing your existence into an oh-so-forced "story". From the moment you wake up until the moment you go to sleep, everything you do will have some tortured connection to Star Wars, because "it's all connected" (sorry, Marvel). Instead of exploring on your own and creating your own experience, you're shoved into an overly-complex story and forced to give up any decision making you would do in real life. It's like a murder mystery dinner party gone awry.

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.

 

[flynnibus]

I think that land is earmarked for new CM parking and in fact the costuming building is moving to be located right where CMs enter from that space.

That said, I could see the south west part of the cleared land being used for this boutique resort with potentially having direct access into DHS/Star Wars Experience.

I think they are reading into the location of this thing WAY too much. The pitch is as part of the experience you visit SWL... not so much that they are interconnected.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

You have to look at this as a 'experience' you do upon itself, not just Star Wars Hotel vs Contemporary Hotel.

But the Walt Disney World resort is currently structured as businesses under one roof competing against each other regardless of the consequence to the whole. The Star Wars projects remind me of Discovery Cove, at least when it opened, but TDO doesn't inherently value complimentary offerings in the way DC is to Sea World.

 

[CosmicPrincess]

I'm totally for this but I would have to see what the experience is like first.

Disney is obviously aimed towards kids and that's great! I'm sure kids will love this experience! But I'm hoping that there may be ways for adults to get in on the action too!

 

[flynnibus]

At the moment, there is too much conjecture to be able to fully comment on the project.

However, it is an intriguing concept which, if priced and marketed correctly, could be a major financial success without cannibalizing current business.

As the popular Art of Animation has demonstrated, Guests want hotels themed to movies and are willing to pay a premium for the experience.

Recall that through conversion to DVC, Disney has reduced the number of Deluxe Resort rooms. The Deluxe Resorts are now the most crowded they've been this century.

I can't imagine a Star Wars themed resort stealing much business away from, for example, Disney's Beach Club Resort. The two are different experiences with different target audiences. Besides, because of DVC conversions, the Deluxes could use a little relief anyway.

Nor do I see this cannibalizing Art of Animation; that appeals to a segment with younger children.

But hey, if I have a tween, then the Values are too childish, the Moderates are insufficiently gimmicky, and the Deluxes are too hoitytoity. Maybe a Star Wars themed resort appeals exactly to the market Disney is losing to Universal.

It's not even a hotel offering - it's more like a 'cruise' offering. The idea is you don't leave the place - hence the 'bubble' analogy. This is a vacation experience upon itself - not a resort.

The whole concept is you are about a Starship and that is your home for the coming days... and you experience life in that bubble. You don't goto the parks and then return to your starship to sleep

The factor Disney needed to balance is 'is this something you would do IN ADDITION to your WDW vacation' and what is the price tolerance.

 

[EOD K9]

Here's a question. Will these stories be linear told in two day increments? Meaning, can someone's second day be another vacationer's first? Or, does the story reset itself every two days?

 

[flynnibus]

But the Walt Disney World resort is currently structured as businesses under one roof competing against each other regardless of the consequence to the whole. The Star Wars projects remind me of Discovery Cove, at least when it opened, but TDO doesn't inherently value complimentary offerings in the way DC is to Sea World.

Think about DCL.. people goto Florida to get on a boat, just an hour away from WDW. And those things 'compete' with each other for time and dollars... yet Disney manages to convince people to bookend cruises with WDW stays, etc. This is more akin to that.

 

[flynnibus]

Here's a question. Will these stories be linear told in two day increments? Meaning, can someone's second day be another vacationer's first? Or, does the story reset itself every two days?

That was part of the concept under discussion. Actually having everyone enter and leave together (aligned stays) to support the whole 'starship' concept. They were looking to have that as part of the model to support the whole story telling. It's perfectly workable for scheduling. The cruise ships do it... Discovery Cove does it.. etc.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

Here's a question. Will these stories be linear told in two day increments? Meaning, can someone's second day be another vacationer's first? Or, does the story reset itself every two days?

It was stated that the story resets every 2 days, so everyone would be coming in every 2 days. Staggering the story would be a royal pain.

 

[flynnibus]

Assuming this is real, which I have some major reservations, I think it's aimed less at kids and more at grownups.

This is very real.