News Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser coming to Walt Disney World 2021

[mightynine]

While I'm sure a few people are hoping it fails, I don't think that's what's driving most of these reactions. Although I've lost most of my interest in Star Wars after the sequel trilogy, I used to be a hardcore fan, and I was hoping this would be amazing.

I'm just shocked at how cheap and lackluster everything they've shown looks. I was expecting something significantly better -- as I said above, the theming actually looks much worse than what they've done at a place like the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Agreed. I was expecting movie set-level quality for interiors, sets, and actors, based on how immersive the experience was being presented. While I would not consider spending what it currently costs, even I was interested in how they might pull this off and was intrigued to see some reports and previews.

But instead they've got stickers on floors, unusual doorframes, and Star Tours-level makeup and costumes, with PR that doesn't seem to really have any wow factor. Probably the thing I was most impressed with was the real-life lightsaber activating video (not D'Amaro's turn at the light show).

It almost feels like this was a space-themed idea that was kicking around Imagineering for a while that had Star Wars grafted onto it once it was part of The Walt Disney Company's collection of intellectual property.

 

[kingdead]

Agreed. I was expecting movie set-level quality for interiors, sets, and actors, based on how immersive the experience would be. While I would not consider spending what it currently costs, even I was interested in how they might pull this off.

But instead they've got stickers on floors, unusual doorframes, and Star Tours-level makeup and costumes, with PR that doesn't seem to really have any wow factor. Probably the thing I was most impressed with was the real-life lightsaber activating video (not D'Amaro's turn at the light show).

It almost feels like this was a space-themed idea that was kicking around Imagineering for a while that had Star Wars grafted onto it once it was part of The Walt Disney Company's collection of intellectual property.

Thinking about it I'm surprised at the lack of even Sequel-level story hooks--true, there aren't many popular characters, but we haven't even seen Rey or Kylo. Imagine being chased down the halls by a vengeful Kylo Ren (ok, we want it to be Darth Vader, but you know) or helping Rey in her quest for her missing lightsaber part. If you can stand Disney Star Wars at all, that gets the kiddie part of your heart hooked, right?

But instead it's all Chewbacca... and if you've watched the Holiday Special you know Chewbacca's house is cooler than this dumb ship. (Or at least you know that Chewbacca's got the good drugs, man. And he hangs out with Bea Arthur!)

 

[UNCgolf]

Thinking about it I'm surprised at the lack of even Sequel-level story hooks--true, there aren't many popular characters, but we haven't even seen Rey or Kylo. Imagine being chased down the halls by a vengeful Kylo Ren (ok, we want it to be Darth Vader, but you know) or helping Rey in her quest for her missing lightsaber part. If you can stand Disney Star Wars at all, that gets the kiddie part of your heart hooked, right?

But instead it's all Chewbacca... and if you've watched the Holiday Special you know Chewbacca's house is cooler than this dumb ship. (Or at least you know that Chewbacca's got the good drugs, man. And he hangs out with Bea Arthur!)

I'm pretty sure Kylo Ren is going to appear as part of the story.

 

[danv3]

But instead it's all Chewbacca... and if you've watched the Holiday Special you know Chewbacca's house is cooler than this dumb ship. (Or at least you know that Chewbacca's got the good drugs, man. And he hangs out with Bea Arthur!)

This is for the Galactic Starcruiser holiday sailings.

 

[Incomudro]

I'm pretty sure Kylo Ren is going to appear as part of the story.

Yes, that second day "we're not responsible for things that may go wrong" disclaimer in the second video.
It's quite possible that event will turn out to be a lot of fun.
I said in an earlier post that the actors might make or break this experience, especially given that the physical place doesn't look very impressive. (At least from the glimpses they've shown, though it may look far better than what they have leaked.)
If day two in particular is done well, and there's some great and fun action the way Disney can sometimes do things - it might really make this experience an enjoyable one.
I can picture some chaotic breakdown, the First Order approaching and attempting to board.
Guests and crew try to fight them off at the bridge - hopefully the graphics there look really good, and I bet they do.
Kylo Ren and Storm troopers get on board, and they are fought off by Rey and special guest Chewy.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

If the Bea Arthur character does the number from the holiday special at the end of the night at the bar, I'll send Disney my $5,000 right now.

Her character is apparently canon as well.

A Character From the Star Wars Holiday Special Is Canon Now - IGN

Bea Arthur's sassy, singing bartender character is included in a new Star Wars anthology book.

www.ign.com

 

[ChrisFL]

If the Bea Arthur character does the number from the holiday special at the end of the night at the bar, I'll send Disney my $5,000 right now.

Her character is apparently canon as well.

A Character From the Star Wars Holiday Special Is Canon Now - IGN

Bea Arthur's sassy, singing bartender character is included in a new Star Wars anthology book.

www.ign.com

I remember someone figured out that the spot that the old Golden Girls house on the backlot tour was almost the same spot as Oga's Cantina now

 

[Patcheslee]

I wonder how they will queue the limited interactive experiences? For example, hyperspace and the shooting game on the bridge.
I presume there will not be a queue line, maybe a scheduled return times (Disney loves return times).

That's a big question. For the price point, people will be irate if they aren’t able to do the advertised activities due to capacity restraints.

 

[kingdead]

I remember someone figured out that the spot that the old Golden Girls house on the backlot tour was almost the same spot as Oga's Cantina now

I've changed my mind about everything, we're going and I'm cosplaying as "Ackmena"! Who wants to be Harvey Korman and get a drink poured into their skull

 

[UNCgolf]

That's a big question. For the price point, people will be irate if they aren’t able to do the advertised activities due to capacity restraints.

I don't think that will be an issue.

Based on the sample itinerary (and also just thinking about the easiest way to make this run), I'd expect it to be pretty highly regimented without much time to just wander around freely. Everyone will probably have a scheduled time for each activity. This group of 25 goes to the bridge at 12:00; this next group of 25 goes to the bridge at 12:15, etc.

 

[ChrisFL]

Does anyone know if Scott Trowbridge is the lead imagineer on this project?

 

[999th Happy Haunt]

If the Bea Arthur character does the number from the holiday special at the end of the night at the bar, I'll send Disney my $5,000 right now.

Her character is apparently canon as well.

A Character From the Star Wars Holiday Special Is Canon Now - IGN

Bea Arthur's sassy, singing bartender character is included in a new Star Wars anthology book.

www.ign.com

When the holiday special feels more like Star Wars than the Starcruiser

 

[Disstevefan1]

I’m still on the wait and see train. Disney already has close to 30 hotels at WDW. If they had just built another “regular” hotel themed to Star Wars people would have been just as upset. This is probably the closest thing we’ve had to an Eisner era risk in a long time and it seems like everyone is hoping for it to fail. I hope their gamble pays off, even though I personally have no interest in staying there, just for the sake of it encouraging Bobby to take more creative risks with the theme parks.

I don’t think folks are hoping it is going to fail as much as:
1. Folks reaction to seeing the finished product compared to what was promised.
2. Folks reacting to “are we getting what we are paying for”.

It seems to me at the current price point, a lot of folks ( maybe the majority of folks) do not think it’s worth the price.

There is a price point where the majority of folks would say it’s worth it and would do it.

Having said all that, at the current price point there will be folks who will do it.

A question I have is, what occupancy level, month to month, is sufficient for TWDC to consider the Starcruiser as “making enough money” to keep the Starcruiser “afloat”?

Must it be 100 percent occupied?
Must it be 80 percent occupied?
At what occupancy do they shut it down?

 

[mightynine]

I don't think that will be an issue.

Based on the sample itinerary (and also just thinking about the easiest way to make this run), I'd expect it to be pretty highly regimented without much time to just wander around freely. Everyone will probably have a scheduled time for each activity. This group of 25 goes to the bridge at 12:00; this next group of 25 goes to the bridge at 12:15, etc.

Probably no different that first seating or second seating for dinner on a cruise ship.

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

The trick will be ensuring guests experience important story elements but in a way that feels at least a bit organic, and not scheduled.

How do you let someone know they need to be in a certain place at a certain time because they need to defend the ship from an attack, without it feeling contrived?

I say upend guest expectations by waking them up at 3am to fight off a First Order invasion. No reason the bad guys wouldn't attack at an inopportune time...

 

[JoeCamel]

Does anyone know if Scott Trowbridge is the lead imagineer on this project?

Seeing as he is Star Wars portfolio manager I would guess he was in the meetings. Don't know about lead on this part though

 

[GimpYancIent]

The trick will be ensuring guests experience important story elements but in a way that feels at least a bit organic, and not scheduled.

How do you let someone know they need to be in a certain place at a certain time because they need to defend the ship from an attack, without it feeling contrived?

I say upend guest expectations by waking them up at 3am to fight off a First Order invasion. No reason the bad guys wouldn't attack at an inopportune time...

A sound military strategy to initiate an action when it is inconvenient / startling and inopportune. In the entertainment environment it would be interesting to see the guests / traveler's reaction having to transition from a sleep mode to active involvement mode with teeth not brushed and heaven forbid NO COFFEE!

 

[mightynine]

I say upend guest expectations by waking them up at 3am to fight off a First Order invasion. No reason the bad guys wouldn't attack at an inopportune time...

And another plus would be you’d be well awake for the 7am G+/ILL drops

 

[rsm]

The sets and promo videos remind me a lot of "temporary" official IP popups that they do at travelling conventions and science museums - that are low cost and can be broken down/ laoded into trucks / re-setup once a month in different cities. Which works when you pay $12 at the Franklin Institute to push some buttons and watch the hyperspace animation. But seriously - if these "experiences" were in Launch Bay for free I would literally not bother to go in. I'd rather look at the fake movie props.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

I don’t think folks are hoping it is going to fail as much as:
1. Folks reaction to seeing the finished product compared to what was promised.
2. Folks reacting to “are we getting what we are paying for”.

It seems to me at the current price point, a lot of folks ( maybe the majority of folks) do not think it’s worth the price.

There is a price point where the majority of folks would say it’s worth it and would do it.

Having said all that, at the current price point there will be folks who will do it.

A question I have is, what occupancy level, month to month, is sufficient for TWDC to consider the Starcruiser as “making enough money” to keep the Starcruiser “afloat”?

Must it be 100 percent occupied?
Must it be 80 percent occupied?
At what occupancy do they shut it down?

I think we’ve all come around to the fact that if it comes down to it, Disney will cut the already minimal entertainment & extras that make it an “experience” and just make it a Star Wars hotel with things like Lightsaber training, sending the ship into hyperspace, etc, being an up charge.