News Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser coming to Walt Disney World 2021

[Patcheslee]

Media reports coming out now -

I caught the "six foot tall person laid on the bottom bunk and fit"

 

[Brian]

Disney College Program Participants Receive an Out-of-This-World Surprise - Life at Disney

Fifty-eight Disney College Program participants got an out-of-this-world surprise that they will be joining the opening team of the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.

sites.disney.com

I believe this is without precedent. CPs had previously been unable to apply for opening teams.

I had heard some rumblings that the roles for this opening team were particularly hard to fill, given the strict theming standards, as well as the overall labor shortage.

 

[bubbles1812]

It sounds...fine.

The story sounds like exactly what one would predict. It's a "cruise" but also secretly out to help the Resistance and will get involved in some sort of skirmish with the First Order.

For the price will people want a bit more than "Star Wars by the numbers?"

Food & merch looks to be of high quality.

I fully intend to go to the Dark Side Should be interesting. Not sure if I really want a full length robe and hat, looking at the merch. I’ll settle for the extra special “data pad” if there isn’t a T-shirt to buy

 

[Magic Feather]

Disney College Program Participants Receive an Out-of-This-World Surprise - Life at Disney

Fifty-eight Disney College Program participants got an out-of-this-world surprise that they will be joining the opening team of the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.

sites.disney.com

I believe this is without precedent. CPs had previously been unable to apply for opening teams.

I had heard some rumblings that the roles for this opening team were particularly hard to fill, given the strict theming standards, as well as the overall labor shortage.

Directly apply? No, however there have been plenty of CP's on opening teams in recent years, at least since Pandora.

Also, Disney is reeeeally trying to get their current CP's to stay as long as possible. Extensions are being given out like candy. FT and PT transfers are being granted. The only accommodation Disney hasn't made yet is bringing back Seasonal as a potential status (other than random cases like runDisney).

 

[flynnibus]

Disney College Program Participants Receive an Out-of-This-World Surprise - Life at Disney

Fifty-eight Disney College Program participants got an out-of-this-world surprise that they will be joining the opening team of the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.

sites.disney.com

I believe this is without precedent. CPs had previously been unable to apply for opening teams.

I had heard some rumblings that the roles for this opening team were particularly hard to fill, given the strict theming standards, as well as the overall labor shortage.

Who do they have working on it? Top Men...

NOPE - Just our temporary work force that have no prior experience and will leave within a short amount of time...

Putting noobs on their most premium priced product on property... what amazing ideas!

 

[Brian]

Directly apply? No, however there have been plenty of CP's on opening teams in recent years, at least since Pandora.

Also, Disney is reeeeally trying to get their current CP's to stay as long as possible. Extensions are being given out like candy. FT and PT transfers are being granted. The only accommodation Disney hasn't made yet is bringing back Seasonal as a potential status (other than random cases like runDisney).

It had been my understanding that CPs were only permitted onto opening teams during extensions (and maybe still not), but it seems like you might have more recent exposure in that regard so I'll defer to you on that one. It's been quite some time since I've worked in a department where there were CPs.

To your second point, they definitely need the CP workforce. They're a unique demographic of manpower in that they are, in large part, sycophantically loyal to the company and the brand, and willing to work the crap shifts at sometimes lower pay rates than those statused CR/FT. That goes a long way in a labor market where it's hard to find quality people to work for you.

 

[ImperfectPixie]

It had been my understanding that CPs were only permitted onto opening teams during extensions (and maybe still not), but it seems like you might have more recent exposure in that regard so I'll defer to you on that one. It's been quite some time since I've worked in a department where there were CPs.

To your second point, they definitely need the CP workforce. They're a unique demographic of manpower in that they are, in large part, sycophantically loyal to the company and the brand, and willing to work the crap shifts at sometimes lower pay rates than those statused CR/FT. That goes a long way in a labor market where it's hard to find quality people to work for you.

Sorry, but I don't have any pity for large corporations that treat their employees horribly. Disney, unfortunately, falls into that category and has for a long time.

 

[MrPromey]

You can't get on stage with the actors of Hamilton and riff with them for about eight hours, either.

To be fair, we really don't know how much of that will be happening with this experience yet, either.

It's only 100 rooms but we could still easially be looking at 300+ people so the level of per-guest direct interaction that isn't a stand-around-in-a-group-and-listen has yet to be seen.

 

[lentesta]

I fully intend to go to the Dark Side Should be interesting. Not sure if I really want a full length robe and hat, looking at the merch. I’ll settle for the extra special “data pad” if there isn’t a T-shirt to buy

My understanding is that all guests will be divided into two groups: Those who sympathize with the Resistance, and those who want to help the First Order. Each group gets the same overall set of activities, but with the "bad guy" being the side you didn't pick.

So there'll be two versions of the grand finale, where you have to save the ship from attack. In one version, you're the Resistance fighting the First Order. In the other, you're First Order fighting the Resistance. Whatever side you're on, always wins.

 

[celluloid]

It sounds...fine.

The story sounds like exactly what one would predict. It's a "cruise" but also secretly out to help the Resistance and will get involved in some sort of skirmish with the First Order.

For the price will people want a bit more than "Star Wars by the numbers?"

Food & merch looks to be of high quality.

The Plot of Star Tours and what Disney fans sometimes belittle Universal's pleasure trip when something goes wrong concept where as reality, that is common story conflict plot.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

It sounds...fine.

The story sounds like exactly what one would predict. It's a "cruise" but also secretly out to help the Resistance and will get involved in some sort of skirmish with the First Order.

For the price will people want a bit more than "Star Wars by the numbers?"

Food & merch looks to be of high quality.

I agree with your resounding endorsement…

are they tripling?…quardupling down? On the reboot bad Ip choices?

not surprised with that from “Hubris, Inc.”

not like it will ever change…but they’d make more money in the long run if they “came home” and catered to the old guard. Whatevs

 

[pdude81]

I agree with your resounding endorsement…

are they tripling?…quardupling down? On the reboot bad Ip choices?

not surprised with that from “Hubris, Inc.”

not like it will ever change…but they’d make more money in the long run if they “came home” and catered to the old guard. Whatevs

It's got to jive with Batuu though. They'd have to redo everything, or demo Backlot express and create another OT land out from there into the parking lot a bit. That way you could be on a cruise in either timeline.

 

[JMcMahonEsq]

I agree with your resounding endorsement…

are they tripling?…quardupling down? On the reboot bad Ip choices?

not surprised with that from “Hubris, Inc.”

not like it will ever change…but they’d make more money in the long run if they “came home” and catered to the old guard. Whatevs

You think they would make more money...in the long term, by going back to 40-50 year old IP, as opposed to more recent IP that has proven to be commercially successful? That makes no sense, in the long term.

Listen I loved the old films, I grew up watching them, and will firmly be in the Skywalker's are Star Wars camp. But I am middle aged now and not getting any younger. While my kids have seen the original trilogy of movies, they are more familiar and attached to BB8 than 3CPO or R2D2 ect. Younger generations have more attachment to the newer Star Wars Cannon movies and extended universe features than they do to the original trilogy, and it is that generation of young kids that are A) figuring into parents decisions to bring their kids to WDW now, and B) will be the next generation of spenders looking to go to WDW. That's the generation your marketing towards for the future

And its not like we are talking about the Prequel trilogy level of IP. The new trilogy (and add in Rogue One for fun) make up 4 of the top 36 highest grossing movies of all time. Going backward investing into an aging market makes no sense, unless your looking for a quick money grab, not sustainability and long term growth.

 

[danlb_2000]

I wonder why if it's complete enough to tour - why it's still so far from opening?

Did they really wait that long to staff and work on the writing/training?

I read an article about the preview and they were saying that even some of the things they were shown were not done yet, like cast members in temporary costumes.

 

[mdcpr]

Someone mentioned new generations not into the old IP. 'Luke, I am your Father' is a line that I've heard my tween daughter and her friends say to each other. Not sure about the context, but it is definitely a classic.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

You think they would make more money...in the long term, by going back to 40-50 year old IP, as opposed to more recent IP that has proven to be commercially successful? That makes no sense, in the long term.

Listen I loved the old films, I grew up watching them, and will firmly be in the Skywalker's are Star Wars camp. But I am middle aged now and not getting any younger. While my kids have seen the original trilogy of movies, they are more familiar and attached to BB8 than 3CPO or R2D2 ect. Younger generations have more attachment to the newer Star Wars Cannon movies and extended universe features than they do to the original trilogy, and it is that generation of young kids that are A) figuring into parents decisions to bring their kids to WDW now, and B) will be the next generation of spenders looking to go to WDW. That's the generation your marketing towards for the future

And its not like we are talking about the Prequel trilogy level of IP. The new trilogy (and add in Rogue One for fun) make up 4 of the top 36 highest grossing movies of all time. Going backward investing into an aging market makes no sense, unless your looking for a quick money grab, not sustainability and long term growth.

Those movies headed straight downhill from an financial success standpoint. Both box and more importantly - licensed product sales.

this is like the Xfiles…”the truth is out there”

to be succinct..they can go ahead and not return calls from Ridley and boyegas agents (and I bet they get them…cause they don’t work)

now…I’m not suggesting selling gamorrean guard cosplay to 75 year old Xers in 20 years.

there most successful material…now and moving forward…is from mandalorian. I’d argue boba fett is gonna have legs. If they cleaned up the trouble…obi-wan too.

i’ll remind that there are no Star Wars movies being made…as in the most successful lb for lb on film franchise is in a 5 year production funk. That is the real disaster of the ST. Proving again that you can “make money” and fail. They did. Put em with Justice league…just as ridiculous.

so what I propose is just dump the unnecessary changes to sell different crap. No “resistance” or “first order”….change the troopers back.

you can reskin some AAs in the very near future on those rides and really reinforce the IP and longterm appeal.

and you let filoni and favreau keep doing what they’re doing…which is rebuilding a bridge. And on the other side of the bridge? Big bags of money.

it requires a little common sense and Hollywood tact…it’s possible.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I wonder why if it's complete enough to tour - why it's still so far from opening?

Did they really wait that long to staff and work on the writing/training?

Deliberate, BS stretching out of timelines?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Someone mentioned new generations not into the old IP. 'Luke, I am your Father' is a line that I've heard my tween daughter and her friends say to each other. Not sure about the context, but it is definitely a classic.

It’s the fundamental Hollywood franchise. It’s hard to argue otherwise.

no MCU as we know it if Star Wars hadn’t changed the game permanently.

doesn’t mean we can live in the past…but we don’t have to tolerate Disney’s bad management taking a dump on it either.

as the ferengi say: “there’s no profit in this”

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

And its not like we are talking about the Prequel trilogy level of IP. The new trilogy (and add in Rogue One for fun) make up 4 of the top 36 highest grossing movies of all time. Going backward investing into an aging market makes no sense, unless your looking for a quick money grab, not sustainability and long term growth.

That was the EXACT same argument for the prequels.

we have “numbers amnesia” again…

chart Those movies on a graph and see if you can see a pattern?

that’s today’s homework. For fun tomorrow we can put other movies release in that time period and notice their money trends.

 

[Casper Gutman]

I still find it very, very odd that this gives folks the opportunity to elaborately and immersively LARP as the Forst Order, a group very, very closely modeled on… prominent 20th century fascist movements. Like really closely. On the big one.

It’s a tiny step away from a very immersive multi-day Raiders of the Lost Ark experience that lets you… pick your side…

Especially in this particular cultural moment, it just seems like a… problematic choice for a LARP.