Star Wars All-Inclusive "Star Ship" Resort?

[stretchsje]

Wasn't Disney once considering immersive experiences (at a huge upcharge) for resort guests at their normal resorts? The idea was that you'd pay many hundreds of dollars, but essentially cast members in character would find you in the morning and- seemingly by happenstance- get you involved on a wild adventure taking you in, out, and through the parks and resorts areas over the course of the day. It was aimed at guests who have already visited the parks many times and wanted something different.

I loved the idea when I heard it... sadly I don't remember the details (and it was just a rumor, after all). Maybe someone else can chime in?

My point is, I'm glad Disney is revisiting the idea of immersive experiences. I can understand why doing it themed to Star Wars would require it's own resort as it'd be hard to pull off a cohesive Star Wars story if it took place almost entirely on the lands of planet Earth.

 

[rushtest4echo]

Wasn't Disney once considering immersive experiences (at a huge upcharge) for resort guests at their normal resorts? The idea was that you'd pay many hundreds of dollars, but essentially cast members in character would find you in the morning and- seemingly by happenstance- get you involved on a wild adventure taking you in, out, and through the parks and resorts areas over the course of the day. It was aimed at guests who have already visited the parks many times and wanted something different.

I loved the idea when I heard it... sadly I don't remember the details (and it was just a rumor, after all). Maybe someone else can chime in?

My point is, I'm glad Disney is revisiting the idea of immersive experiences. I can understand why doing it themed to Star Wars would require it's own resort as it'd be hard to pull off a cohesive Star Wars story if it took place almost entirely on the lands of planet Earth.

Tower of Terror has its origins in the concept you're describing.

 

[stretchsje]

Would the star ship be limited to guests staying on that property only? I love visiting the various resorts. Who doesn't love stopping at the Grand Floridian, especially at Christmastime to buy some gingerbread shingles? Yet, I can't justify the price to stay there overnight.

If one can visit this docked star ship, just to view the lobby or experience character dining, I think that'd be a pretty awesome addition that guests could more casually enjoy.

$1000 for the experience may or may not be unreasonable based on the level of immersion and quality of food included, but $0 to see the ornate interior of a star ship is definitely something for which I can get excited. Heck, I think it'd be awesome just to see a docked star ship from the road.

 

[Coaster Lover]

My point is, I'm glad Disney is revisiting the idea of immersive experiences. I can understand why doing it themed to Star Wars would require it's own resort as it'd be hard to pull off a cohesive Star Wars story if it took place almost entirely on the lands of planet Earth.

Disneyland has already tried/done this in a "beta" mode with "Legends of Frontierland":

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...nd-gold-rush-begins-today-at-disneyland-park/

Now, with hindsight being 20:20, it would appear that Legends of Frontierland was really just a beta test for Star Wars Land as we are hearing that guests in Star Wars land will have similar interactivity with the land and (if the resort actually happens), it would appear that the resort would be a further extension of that "feature". I can only imagine that with Magic Bands, the amount they could allow you to "build" your character (by the system remembering who you interact with, what rides you go on, etc), they could really build an amazingly interactive world...

 

[Nj4mwc]

This just doesn't feel like Disney to me. A bit of an overstep in my opinion. I wouldn't be opposed to a Value resort themed to Star Wars, but I feel they are going too far at this point. It just doesn't feel like classy Disney anymore.

Innovative and immersive themeing feels exactly like disney. I feel Star Wars/marvel/ any new acquisitions should get a 5th gate not fitted into "classic Disney". But this is the exact type of experience I would expect from disney. Now create another experience with a more classic Disney feel that is as immersive would be a huge plus

 

[monothingie]

Hey what resort is close to the studios, is going to getting torn apart with renovations and getting a gondola ?

 

[baymenxpac]

short of a chick showing up dressed as princess leia in a gold bikini in my room one night, i think i'll pass.

 

[AEfx]

and an FYI most guests under 30 probably could not afford the 1k/day cost...

That's not really true. People are having kids later and later, if at all, and there is a huge young-adult travel market there who seeks out experiences like this because their disposable income gets funneled into travel. That's actually the new trend, spending cash on experiences versus "stuff". They are just one aspect of the massive market that is out there for something like this. Then you have the whole "Celebration" crowd, and then people like me who don't go to that sort of stuff but still love Star Wars enough that $1K would take a dent out of my Star Wars budget for a year, but not consume it totally.

If those prices held, for comparison - a 2 night package at the Contemporary for 2 people (which includes park tickets) is $1600-2000 (I looked for early November, just for an example). You get more theme park access with the regular package, but five meals included with the Star Wars package (regular package has none). When you figure in the whole "story adventure" thing, that's not a bad price at all for someone who is only interested in Star Wars. And yes, some will use it to add-on to an existing vacation as well - but this would just open up a new market of folks who log on, see what a week would cost at nicer hotel ($3,000-4000+), and put the trip off instead of going "yeah, I could swing that".

This is a brilliant idea. It will capture people who really aren't terribly interested in WDW (or doing it again) who just want to experience everything Star Wars. The entire WDW pricing scheme is based around getting people to stay longer so they feel like they are getting their money's worth. Short trips (unless you have an AP, and/or get discounts) just don't make sense financially. But a one price, actually all-inclusive experience where you will see everything there is Star Wars? Yeah, they better start planning on building more than one of these, because it would be a heck of a hot ticket item.

I'm the first person to complain about the cancer of up-charge nonsense, but when you look at what they have been trying to charge for a small buffet meal and an extra hour or two in a park, or the heights the holiday party ticket prices have gone to for what you actually get out of them unique, if they really hit those price points, this is the first time in a long while that might actually be worthy of Disney's premium prices again.

 

[ParentsOf4]

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.

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.

 

[Bocabear]

That's not really true. People are having kids later and later, if at all, and there is a huge young-adult travel market there who seeks out experiences like this because their disposable income gets funneled into travel. That's actually the new trend, spending cash on experiences versus "stuff". They are just one aspect of the massive market that is out there for something like this. Then you have the whole "Celebration" crowd, and then people like me who don't go to that sort of stuff but still love Star Wars enough that $1K would take a dent out of my Star Wars budget for a year, but not consume it totally.

If those prices held, for comparison - a 2 night package at the Contemporary for 2 people (which includes park tickets) is $1600-2000 (I looked for early November, just for an example). You get less theme park access, but five meals included. When you figure in the whole "story adventure" thing, that's not a bad price at all for someone who is only interested in Star Wars. And yes, some will use it to add-on to an existing vacation as well - but this would just open up a new market of folks who log on, see what a week would cost at nicer hotel ($3,000-4000+), and put the trip off instead of going "yeah, I could swing that".

This is a brilliant idea. It will capture people who really aren't terribly interested in WDW (or doing it again) who just want to experience everything Star Wars. The entire WDW pricing scheme is based around getting people to stay longer so they feel like they are getting their money's worth. Short trips (unless you have an AP, and/or get discounts) just don't make sense financially. But a one price, actually all-inclusive experience where you will see everything there is Star Wars? Yeah, they better start planning on building more than one of these, because it would be a heck of a hot ticket item.

I'm the first person to complain about the cancer of up-charge nonsense, but when you look at what they have been trying to charge for a small buffet meal and an extra hour or two in a park, or the heights the holiday party ticket prices have gone to for what you actually get out of them unique, if they really hit those price points, this is the first time in a long while that might actually be worthy of Disney's premium prices again.

ok missing the point, but yes there are people under 30 out there that could afford it...but I would suspect the vast majority of those paying for the experience would be in the 30 plus category...

 

[RobbinsDad]

That's not really true. People are having kids later and later, if at all, and there is a huge young-adult travel market there who seeks out experiences like this because their disposable income gets funneled into travel. That's actually the new trend, spending cash on experiences versus "stuff". They are just one aspect of the massive market that is out there for something like this. Then you have the whole "Celebration" crowd, and then people like me who don't go to that sort of stuff but still love Star Wars enough that $1K would take a dent out of my Star Wars budget for a year, but not consume it totally.

Agree, for one person it's not a bad deal if you're into that. A 2-night stay almost anywhere at an upscale resort with dining and excursion-type activities would cost a person at least that much or more.

 

[RobbinsDad]

ok missing the point, but yes there are people under 30 out there that could afford it...but I would suspect the vast majority of those paying for the experience would be in the 30 plus category...

Probably correct.

 

[Kamikaze]

Hey what resort is close to the studios, is going to getting torn apart with renovations and getting a gondola ?

Martin has seen the plans for the CBR tower. He said it leans French/New Orleans style. CBR isn't being turned into the SW resort.

 

[Thanks phoenicians]

So where would this be built? By Star Wars land with a special entrance into the park like the grand Californian has?

 

[danlb_2000]

So where would this be built? By Star Wars land with a special entrance into the park like the grand Californian has?

They could easily do something like this

 

[ZedR]

So... for both the possible new SW resort, and SWL- will the "no toy guns" and "no masks/full face helmets" rules be amended?

'Cause there's a lot of, you know...masks/helmets/blasters in the Star Wars universe. Many more of those than light sabers and Jedi robes.

 

[Thanks phoenicians]

I'm surprised this isn't something they're pushing to open by SWL opening date in mid-late 2019. I guess if they announced this at D23 they could open it by 2020 maybe

 

[Thanks phoenicians]

They could easily do something like this

View attachment 200080

Depending on how they could work in a path like that Over or under the entrance road I could see that working pretty well. Thanks for the visual reference.

 

[yensid67]

I am wondering what ot could possibly look like? Would it look like Spaceship Earth and be a round hotel on pillar stilts, like Epcot SSE? or would it look like a more Star War-sy looking fighter ship? I think the Starship Ball would be more appropriate, but may be too close to Epcot! to place another BALL. If you buy into the 2 night package, are you limited to staying in SW land or wondering the park as a guest who enters the park on Hollywood Blvd!? Just wondering...but it does sound really enticing...and I am NOT a Star Wars fan!

 

[danlb_2000]

Depending on how they could work in a path like that Over or under the entrance road I could see that working pretty well. Thanks for the visual reference.

No need, the entrance road goes away by the end of next year, although they still might need to deal with a backstage road.