Star Wars All-Inclusive "Star Ship" Resort?

[Tod&BigMamaOdie]

-- suddenly being invaded by the New Odor... .

Sounds lovely yet disgusting...

 

[danlb_2000]

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.

There is every reason to believe they will continue that approach until it hurts their bottom line more then it helps.

 

[larryz]

So, I'm wondering how the boutique hotel would work. First of all, would it only be for packages (I'm guessing yes) and not available for "regular" night stays? And, second, would people be able to visit the resort and have meals or visit the shops or just see it? Touring resorts is a bit of a thing at WDW for some folks and this would surely be popular to see for those unwilling/unable to pay the all inclusive fee, but at the same time I could see Disney trying to restrict access to those actually staying there.

The half-day Star Wars Resort tour would be another great upsell opportunity -- $69.99 per person, theme park admission required.

 

[FerretAfros]

Am I the only one who is getting tired of everything being tortured to fit within some arbitrary "story"? Yes, Disney's themed areas have always had an internal logic for what is and isn't included, but I feel like it's gotten really out of hand in recent years.

Traditionally, the themed areas have been very evocative of settings, leaving it to your imagination to fill in the details. The location and era were well defined, but we were never quite told who exactly lives on Main Street USA or why Tomorrowland exists (is it a city? transit hub? amusement park?); the details were left to the individual guests. Subconsciously filling in those details is what makes the Disney theme park experience so different from the competitors.

These days, we're given intricate backstories for everything from headliner attractions to turkey leg stands and pin carts (Don Tomas and Laod Bhang, respectively, in DCA). Yet the necessities of a real amusement park consistently break these over-the-top attempts at creating a plausible world. Instead of walking through a real African village, we're in some alternate universe with matching trash cans, double-wide strollers, and Mickey-shaped touchpoints everywhere

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.

I can see how this would appeal to some people; the play tests of a Frontierland "game" in DL a couple years ago had a huge following among a certain segment of APers. However this is less than unappealing to me; it's just too silly of a concept to keep up the act for days on end. In an attempt to capture what makes the Disney experience unique, they're totally missing the point. I really want to be surprised, but at this point it's honestly what I expected. Yet another horribly misguided move by Iger and friends.

 

[doctornick]

"future use area"

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.

 

[matt9112]

Completely reasonable pricing given the amenities/experiences offered. I've always wondered why Universal hasn't hopped on board with a similar Potter experience. Easy money.

We'll be booking the second it becomes available... take our money please.

Jk Rowling is why.

 

[rushtest4echo]

I shudder to think what sites are reporting this.

But it is true. At least, this appears to be the direction that Disney is headed for SW. A boutique resort/AbD type experience with TRULY OBSCENE pricing.

I know Disney has been surveying Guests and the only thing they seem unsure about is exactly how high the pricing will be.

Except they're clearly stating what they feel the pricing is going to be. And it's not obscene.

 

[matt9112]

Using Davids DVC restal at 11.00 a point it would cost me 182 points for my wife and I. I think its worth it.

Something like this would be better off non DVC in my opinion force current members to still shell out if you want the exclusive experience.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Any idea what the room total will be for this. There's no way they would build a true "boutique" resort; around/less than 100 rooms.

 

[matt9112]

This sounds fun and I don't view this much different than a Disney cruise, just more immersive. With this and Club 33 there's just so many things for me to go into debt for!

Sadly too many people like you. Disney world really is doomed.

 

[Rodan75]

It is basically attending a special SW only version of Comic Con or the big convention held in O-Town last week. Everything from playing with toys like lightsabers to dressing as characters will be included.

And while some things may well change it was described to me as a 'Star Wars meets DCL on Land' type of experience. ... A bubble within the bubble.

I was actually just thinking that...it sounds exactly like a 'virtual cruise' meets Star Wars dinner theater, which means they could potentially get away with charging DCL-like prices. It sounds awesome, but I don't think I would pay that much $$ to cosplay for 2 days.

 

[rushtest4echo]

No, I agree. ... I have no desire to play in costumes while acting out a scene on Hoth. This isn't what Disney was about when they talked of transporting people to different times and places. This is jumping into your favorite movie franchise. It may be done well, but not the point. This is just more of turning theme parks into IP/franchise parks.

Would you be kind enough to provide examples of non-IP based attractions at Hollywood/MGM Studios throughout their history? While you're at it, you can expand that to almost all "Studio" parks on earth- they're literally IP showcases- all of them.

I know it's fun for you to refer to the Studios as an "IP dumping ground" but isn't that what it's always been? Has there been a single non-IP attraction at the Studios since the park opened nearly 30 years ago? Even the corny sound fx/greenscreen fx stuff back in the tour days all involved very specific scenes from IP. At least Star Wars Land is attempting to place guests into an unfamiliar world that's not just a recreation of Endor or Hoth...

As far as the source of this reporting- I know it's always convenient to trash the other guy, and even more convenient to make a claim that you already had that information but chose not to share it. As far as I'm aware, you didn't originate reports of a Star Wars theme hotel being in the works. You gave your usual vague/opaque "It looks like it's happening sometime as long as things don't change" garbage. Now the details are released, and those details are (mostly) credited to a survey, and yet you act like it's some sort of proprietary information that the guy is spewing- again despite him (and others) clearly stating that it's via a mass survey.

But I know, you deserve a cookie for knowing before anyone else and vaguely asserting that something may happen at some point, then come riding in once the story breaks and say "well of course I knew, and the source of the reporting is an idiot for reporting it". The other guy is a charlatan because he reports what he sees and hears, and he's occasionally wrong, unlike you- who do the same thing?

I can also assume that since @wdwmagic has picked up on this story- he's a terrible person/idiot as well?

 

[Bacon]

Other sites are reporting Disney may be considering an all-inclusive Star Wars resort package that could cost around $1000 for a 2-day story experience. This new resort is rumored to be modeled after a star ship and would be located near Star Wars land at Disney Hollywood Studios. Included in the price is meals, exclusive entertainment, dinner shows, various programs & activities and admission to SWL at DHS.

@WDW1974 was among the first to mention this rumor so maybe he can elaborate.

Check out twitter for concept art & more info.

What "concept art"?

 

[The real rescueranger]

Something like this would be better off non DVC in my opinion force current members to still shell out if you want the exclusive experience.

I think what they are saying is that they can rent out their DVC points for cash to pay for it.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Shouldn't this type of experience be available inside the already-premium (supposedly) theme park? The concept sounds cool and all of those things should be available in Star Wars Land (some at additional cost, obviously).

 

[RobbinsDad]

This sounds like it would be amazing, and something I will never pay $4000 for. I could spend 4000 bucks in 2 days on a lot of other things my family would enjoy more. But still, sounds amazing.

 

[Coaster Lover]

What "concept art"?

Apparently there was some concept art in the survey... this article has all of the images I have seen floating around...

http://www.businessinsider.com/disney-world-star-wars-starship-luxury-resort-hotel-2017-4

 

[rushtest4echo]

Am I the only one who is getting tired of everything being tortured to fit within some arbitrary "story"? Yes, Disney's themed areas have always had an internal logic for what is and isn't included, but I feel like it's gotten really out of hand in recent years..

According to guest feedback, you're in the massive minority. Guests don't want modern or post modern storytelling. Guests don't want to see vague themes and stories that they need to piece together, and they don't want to "see behind the curtain". They want to be immersed in a multi sensory trans-media environment with a concise story that's easy enough to follow for the average guest, yet deeper for those who want to participate. There's a reason Harry Potter land "broke the mold" as far as lands are concerned and SWL is building on that new model.

Expect a lot more of it.

Not saying your opinion/preferences are wrong- but the modern guest disagrees.

 

[danlb_2000]

Shouldn't this type of experience be available inside the already-premium (supposedly) theme park? The concept sounds cool and all of those things should be available in Star Wars Land (some at additional cost, obviously).

Based on the presentation at Celebration it sounds like the land will offer a lot of this stuff.

 

[Princess Leia]

Or imagine a peaceful dinner with Rebel characters -- suddenly being invaded by the New Order... blasters galore, pyrotechnics, characters being yanked across the room and a dramatic rescue by the Jedi Knights...

FTFY
It would be a popular dinner theater option

Jk Rowling is why.

If Disney builds a Star Wars resort, Uni is going to be begging Rowling for a magical world resort. My guess is that Hogwarts is off the table, but something like the Quidditch World Cup (create premium 'tents' for guests to stay in) seems feasible. I guess option #2 for Uni is to build a Nintendo themed resort.