News Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser coming to Walt Disney World 2021

[AEfx]

Who is the target market for this Star Cruiser? It looks like Disney tried to create a generic sci-fi hybrid of battlestar galactica, 5th element, Mass Effect, Star Trek and a little Star Wars to appeal to the broadest market available.

Disney obviously isn’t marketing or
Making this for those who grew up with the original trilogy.

Maybe I'm missing something, but aren't you just saying that, "Yes, this looks lame, but you should do it because it's unique?" Maybe this appeals to the FOMO group, but I don't see many people feeling that way.

That's what we've kind of said since the beginning, once we saw the first "activities" itinerary. I've been out of the loop for a bit on the developments here, but since that infamous video (that I had to seek out finally today), I'm hearing from all over the place in regular media about it so I had to play some catch up.

It clearly is not aimed at hard core adult spending Star Wars fans - like myself. I am the type that has Star Wars stuff in every room in my house (much to my hubby's chagrin) - and I can't even remotely picture myself paying six grand for this. I wouldn't even spend two grand on it. And I'm someone who spends several thousand dollars a year on Star Wars merchandise, one way or another.

Since they basically designed it for kids, it seems (like a cruise - arts and crafts for the kiddos, places for the parents booze it up), with this price point - it's those FOMO's and one-timers to whom money isn't a concern, who would be coming to this whatever theme it was - just because it's "Disney's new boutique experience". Mostly looking for Instagram bragging rights.

I'll give the interior the benefit of the doubt until I see more - but that video certainly did nothing to show it off. What they showed was very generic - example, the cramped cantina looks way more like Klingons and Romulans belong there, not Twi'leks and Stormtroopers. Even the bridge. I'm hoping there are some more impressive things they just haven't showed yet.

I'm seeing this project end up like Galaxy's Edge...and, frankly, Disney's entire treatment of the Star Wars franchise since they bought it. One could go back and find posts from me on this very board celebrating Disney purchasing Lucasfilm, because they said all the right things, and I trusted that, like they did with Marvel, Disney was exactly the right home for the franchise. It seemed like a match made in heaven to me.

Unfortunately, I'm starting to look at it all the same - one big missed opportunity. It's not that what they have done with the theme parks, the films, and now this - have been so terribly bad....it's just that they had so much potential to be really good, and they just keep going in the wrong direction away from what makes Star Wars, Star Wars - and what the fans that have the bucks to spend want to spend it on.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Cancelled our booking after much consideration. Looks terrible. Major fan with cash to burn but I just can't at this point.

Did you send them email saying this was the reason you cancelled?

I'm sure if they get cancellations they won't think much of them, as they could be for any number of reasons, but if you say you were on board until the end product looked underwhelming they may [MAY] take that somewhat seriously.

 

[UNCgolf]

Did you send them email saying this was the reason you cancelled?

I'm sure if they get cancellations they won't think much of them, as they could be for any number of reasons, but if you say you were on board until the end product looked underwhelming they may [MAY] take that somewhat seriously.

I'm not sure they can fix it now even if they wanted to. It looks like they'd need to significantly redesign entire areas.

 

[dreamfinder912]

Who will you be going as?

If I were going, I'd play someone like a member of Erudo Ro-Kiintor's staff. My name: Bakon Aneggs.

nothing that fun! I'm actually going as my d&d character because she's who I both want to cosplay as for 3 days, and someone I actually...CAN cosplay as for three days. I love star wars, but I don't know enough lore to confidently RP for that long. So I'm fitting my half-elf druid into the star wars universe.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I'm not sure they can fix it now even if they wanted to. It looks like they'd need to significantly redesign entire areas.

In 3 months time? They can't do anything.

But if this "fails" (either in not making money, or not meeting expectations) Disney's hubris and ignorance will make up all sorts of excuses.

They need to be told directly, and in no vague terms, that this looks underwhelming and that's why people don't want to buy.

 

[CinematicFusion]

That's what we've kind of said since the beginning, once we saw the first "activities" itinerary. I've been out of the loop for a bit on the developments here, but since that infamous video (that I had to seek out finally today), I'm hearing from all over the place in regular media about it so I had to play some catch up.

It clearly is not aimed at hard core adult spending Star Wars fans - like myself. I am the type that has Star Wars stuff in every room in my house (much to my hubby's chagrin) - and I can't even remotely picture myself paying six grand for this. I wouldn't even spend two grand on it. And I'm someone who spends several thousand dollars a year on Star Wars merchandise, one way or another.

Since they basically designed it for kids, it seems (like a cruise - arts and crafts for the kiddos, places for the parents booze it up), with this price point - it's those FOMO's and one-timers to whom money isn't a concern, who would be coming to this whatever theme it was - just because it's "Disney's new boutique experience". Mostly looking for Instagram bragging rights.

I'll give the interior the benefit of the doubt until I see more - but that video certainly did nothing to show it off. What they showed was very generic - example, the cramped cantina looks way more like Klingons and Romulans belong there, not Twi'leks and Stormtroopers. Even the bridge. I'm hoping there are some more impressive things they just haven't showed yet.

I'm seeing this project end up like Galaxy's Edge...and, frankly, Disney's entire treatment of the Star Wars franchise since they bought it. One could go back and find posts from me on this very board celebrating Disney purchasing Lucasfilm, because they said all the right things, and I trusted that, like they did with Marvel, Disney was exactly the right home for the franchise. It seemed like a match made in heaven to me.

Unfortunately, I'm starting to look at it all the same - one big missed opportunity. It's not that what they have done with the theme parks, the films, and now this - have been so terribly bad....it's just that they had so much potential to be really good, and they just keep going in the wrong direction away from what makes Star Wars, Star Wars - and what the fans that have the bucks to spend want to spend it on.

Star Wars is all about the characters and Disney has missed the boat with the new concepts in the theme parks so far. There is zero classic characters in the new Star Wars areas and it is a life force drain.

The most hyped Star Wars project at the moment is Obi Wan vs Vader.
Boba Fett has his own show.
A huge classic character made his appearance at the end of Mandalorian.
This is what is pushing Star Wars on TV.
The classic characters and timeline are driving Star Wars on Disney+, and it’s exciting!

Lucasfilm needs to sign the new trilogy characters to massive contracts and start making relevant stories on Disney+ with these NT characters so they don’t feel like Second rate acts at the theme park.

For many fans(not all) they are still looking for the real Star Wars at the theme parks.
So far, it looks like Galaxy Star cruiser isn’t it and if it turns out to be…. It’s gonna cost you 5 to 7 grand to experience it.

I do hope the hotel works, we shall see.

 

[UNCgolf]

In 3 months time? They can't do anything.

But if this "fails" (either in not making money, or not meeting expectations) Disney's hubris and ignorance will make up all sorts of excuses.

They need to be told directly, and in no vague terms, that this looks underwhelming and that's why people don't want to buy.

Oh sure -- I didn't even mean before the supposed opening date in three months. I meant that even if they were willing to push the opening back, it would likely be far too expensive to change everything.

 

[erasure fan1]

What is this? Mass Effect?

Hey, that's insulting to mass effect. Mass effect 1 had more memorable characters than the entire sequel trilogy. So show a little respect!

 

[Skywise]

Hey, that's insulting to mass effect. Mass effect 1 had more memorable characters than the entire sequel trilogy. So show a little respect!

"I'm Cmdr. Shepherd and Galactic Starcruiser is my favorite vacation spot in the universe."

 

[CinematicFusion]

Hey, that's insulting to mass effect. Mass effect 1 had more memorable characters than the entire sequel trilogy. So show a little respect!

I love Mass Effect

 

[erasure fan1]

I love Mass Effect

I do as well. If this had Shepard, Garrus, rex, Liara... Sign me up!

 

[danv3]

So uh... about pulling the hyperspace lever... Can we use it to slam into a First Order star destroyer?

Aaah, the Holdo suicidal manoeuvre?

Nah...that maneuver is one in a million.

 

[MisterPenguin]

This thread is full of a bunch of bluists. Sad.

 

[Skywise]

Nah...that maneuver is one in a million.

Pfft - you don't believe in the force, do you?

 

[Trauma]

This is truly amazing I’m almost speechless.

I never thought it could be so bad.

If you offered this to me for free I wouldn’t go. I would be too embarrassed. This is KiteTails level horrible.

I’m surprised Chapek hasn’t toured this “experience” and fired everyone.

 

[GimpYancIent]

This is truly amazing I’m almost speechless.

I never thought it could be so bad.

If you offered this to me for free I wouldn’t go. I would be too embarrassed. This is KiteTails level horrible.

I’m surprised Chapek hasn’t toured this “experience” and fired everyone.

Though the indicators for success with this project are mediocre it is premature for BOB to do any stepping in and start axe dropping. After the experience goes live, reviews and revenue will be the motivating factors.

 

[JoeCamel]

This is truly amazing I’m almost speechless.

I never thought it could be so bad.

If you offered this to me for free I wouldn’t go. I would be too embarrassed. This is KiteTails level horrible.

I’m surprised Chapek hasn’t toured this “experience” and fired everyone.

Fired? Do you know how strapped they are for people?
Oh, nevermind the Lake Nona move for WDI, all those people not making the move couldn't impact creative development could it?

 

[Incomudro]

This is truly amazing I’m almost speechless.

I never thought it could be so bad.

If you offered this to me for free I wouldn’t go. I would be too embarrassed. This is KiteTails level horrible.

I’m surprised Chapek hasn’t toured this “experience” and fired everyone.

Chapek loves it.
Look at all the cost cutting.

 

[doctornick]

Star Wars is all about the characters

Hmmmm... I've noticed a lot of talk about this on this thread. Including in the blogger reaction video posted recently. And about GE since it opened. And I'm not saying it's not true but... I don't think it's true for me at least.

I guess I always loved the plot and the ambiance of Star Wars more than being attached to specific characters. The good versus evil, how the Force is mysterious and fascinating, the lived in future. How they are basically westerns/samurai films but in space. I mean, if someone would ask what I'd want to do if I lived in Star Wars it wouldn't be to meet Luke or Han but to pilot an X-wing (or the Falcon!) or learn the Force. Sure, I think using the characters can help build that connection and by all means I can see the argument that Disney is failing at it, but I've never really thought that the "problem" with GE (or seemingly with Halcyon) is not being able to meet Yoda but moreso that there wasn't enough clear connection to the established universe (among other things; GE has a bunch of arguable problems).

As an aside, I think this what makes Harry Potter lands so great - it's not that you are meeting Harry and Hermione and being a part of their story (in fact, I think Gringotts suffers by trying to do that) but that you are the one visiting and experiencing the Wizarding World yourself.

One of the reasons I think Star Tours 2.0 is better than the original (beyond the obvious like the randomization and improved film quality) is that instead of focusing on a specific event - which I always felt was off being in the middle of the climax of Ep IV - is that you get to explore the various corners of the Star Wars universe but on your own. It was a good way to explore the universe we know without directly being involved in the storylines already developed.

I look at The Mandalorian. It's easily the most universally praised piece of Star Wars entertainment since, well, probably Episode V to be honest. And season 1 which was fantastic had... no previously established characters. But there's a ton of references that connect it to beloved material. It didn't feature Boba Fett or Yoda but you watch the first episode and see a guy in the armor and a being of that species and you have that connection. The Force exists but isn't as huge of a part of the story but it's there and it's cool how it thought of in a very different way from a different prospective. You kinda have the Empire but it's not Vader or Palpatine or Tarkin but The Client and Moff Gideon - evocative but not the same. They brought back a Devarorian as low budget a look as that was in EpIV! And an Ugnaught. And yes Tatooine including going to the cantina.

My point is that The Mandalorian Season 1 featured nobody we knew and we loved it. Because it felt like Star Ways. Because it was clear it was in that universe. Personally, while I loved Season 2, I felt that the multiple guest appearances by previously established characters actually weighed it down. It actually brought back a problem that SW has IMHO - too many connections among the storylines. There's like tons of planets and different aliens and somehow everyone seems to know everyone else from the stories we get. It makes it feel too small for what should be sprawling.

I know this is long winded but I guess my point is maybe that not everyone wants to the same thing of Star Wars? I think that the Starcruiser in principle sounds great. I think the issues so far is that the press material doesn't feel like Star Wars and needs to be more evocative of the IP. And what we've seen in terms of the activities just don't look that good. I think you could take the itinerary of what they announced and it could be really cool. It's the execution that seems way off, like they are doing the are minimum instead of making it as fantastic as it could be. Missing the Disney "plussing" of old. And I'm just shocked if this ends up being the case as I felt this experience with this price tag and this exclusivity would finally be the thing that saw Disney pull out all of the stops and make it the thing that is so fantastic that everyone would talk about it and people would be crushed they can't afford it.

Hey, maybe they are just holding back all the awesome stuff.

 

[WDWTrojan]

Did you send them email saying this was the reason you cancelled?

I'm sure if they get cancellations they won't think much of them, as they could be for any number of reasons, but if you say you were on board until the end product looked underwhelming they may [MAY] take that somewhat seriously.

They pulled a promotional video that was embedded in national news stories. They know why people are cancelling.