News Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge - Historical Construction/Impressions

[The Mur]

Always entertaining to listen to these guys.

 

[TP2000]

I'm risking a demerit from the thread police here because this involves boat rides (longer than 4 minutes) and lands that are not Star Wars, but...

Our favorite lady blogger just posted a new video late tonight, taken Tuesday late afternoon from Frontierland and Critter Country showing off the progress on the Rivers of America and all-new Disneyland Railroad berm...

 

[TP2000]

And then to bring this firmly back OT, here's a second video from our favorite lady blogger taken from the parking structure on Tuesday evening. Most of the construction crews have gone home, but you can still chart the progress happening every day at this huge site.

 

[Curious Constance]

Always entertaining to listen to these guys.

I don't care much for the company Fresh baked keeps, but I kinda like his sheer innocence and excitement.

 

[Phroobar]

I don't care much for the company Fresh baked keeps, but I kinda like his sheer innocence and excitement.

It's like listening to a bunch of geeks bleating.

 

[Curious Constance]

It's like listening to a bunch of geeks bleating.

Geeks would never be that clueless.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I'm risking a demerit from the thread police here because this involves boat rides (longer than 4 minutes) and lands that are not Star Wars, but...

Our favorite lady blogger just posted a new video late tonight, taken Tuesday late afternoon from Frontierland and Critter Country showing off the progress on the Rivers of America and all-new Disneyland Railroad berm...

The level of progress since the last update is astounding! Those weird rock structures along the river really confused me, but they look so much better painted! They are really getting the areas closer to water finished up, and fast.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Geeks would never be that clueless.

The geek shall inherit the Land.

 

[Phroobar]

The geek shall inherit the Land.

But the soccer mom inherits the world.

 

[BrianLo]

From a Bloomberg Article...

If Scott Trowbridge, leader of the creative team developing Disney’s Star Wars lands, is feeling the pressure of the company’s expectations—not to mention those of fans of perhaps the most beloved movie franchise of all time—he isn’t betraying it. To the contrary, as he greets visitors at the project’s main office in Glendale, Calif., where the Imagineers are headquartered, one morning in late March, he’s eager to share some secrets.

A sturdily built 51-year-old, Trowbridge is dressed comfortably in a black quarter-zip sweater, jeans, and black leather shoes. He also wears a tag with his first name spelled in Aurebesh, a runic tongue spoken in Star Wars, and the slogan, in English, “The Force is strong with us.” Everybody on the team has a similar name tag. Trowbridge leads his guests through a cathedral-like room guarded by a life-size Darth Vader statue. The room is usually occupied by architects, designers, engineers, and software people. Today, most of them are in Anaheim, where Disneyland’s Star Wars attraction is under construction, so it’s pretty quiet. In the back, a smaller workspace features hand-sculpted models of two virtually identical Star Wars lands. In true Imagineers fashion, the only parts that have been painted are the mountains.

The attractions are set on a yet unspecified planet that flourished in what Trowbridge describes as the “sub-light-speed era,” before the galaxy’s more adventurous residents could, for instance, make the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs. “We decided to not build a place that you knew from movies,” he says. “We wanted to create a brand-new planet, a remote frontier outpost somewhere on the edge of wild space that is rife with opportunities for you to discover your Star Wars story. It used to be a trading port. But with the advent of hyperspace, it kind of got left behind, which made it a perfect place for those who didn’t want to be in the mainstream, our rogue’s gallery. All the interesting people? This is where you’re going to find them now.”

Visitors will enter the Star Wars world through a doorway in a surrounding berm, plunging into one of the science fiction saga’s familiar-looking desert outposts, marked by low, circular buildings. “It’s this exotic marketplace,” Trowbridge says. “It’s like a souk street market filled with stalls where you can buy fragrances and spices and clothes and toys and equipment from all across the galaxy, sometimes from the black market, but don’t ask too many questions.”

At a cantina, park guests will be served by some unusual characters. Trowbridge points to two sculptors in the rear of the room who are carving alien prototypes. The artists look up and wave. One is working on a large fish-headed creature. “He’s one of our cooks,” Trowbridge says of the character. “He’s awesome. Just ask for the special. It will be worth it.” The Imagineers will play around with these chiseled figures until they get their look just right. Then they will fashion molds based on the forms to create life-size robotic doppelgängers. “You’re going to see aliens,” Trowbridge promises. “You’re going to see droids. You’re going to see beasts.”

Beyond the bazaar, the attraction will feature a First Order spaceport and an ancient forest compound where members of the Resistance can be found. Trowbridge says visitors will meet some favorite characters (“no names,” he says when asked for specifics), choose between the light or the dark sides, and, unavoidably, wait in line for either of two anchor attractions—one of which is a ride that will involve “a very epic battle, everything that makes Star Wars Star Wars.”

Trowbridge is reluctant to say much more about the ride, in part because it will incorporate aspects of future films, whose secrets are zealously guarded. “We’re looking at this through the lenses of an audience that’s arriving in 2019 and what they know,” he says. He’s more forthcoming about the second ride, which involves the Millennium Falcon. “We’re going to give you an opportunity to not just fly on it but to actually be at the controls,” he says.

Trowbridge leads his guests to an SUV for a short trip to a nondescript warehouse. No signs signify what’s going on in the building; if there were any, fans would no doubt be sifting through the trash bins outside. Trowbridge heads into the main space of the warehouse, where a round, black sphere resembling a small Death Star sits. Inside the malevolent-looking structure, the Imagineers are testing a prototype of the Millennium Falcon ride. A ladder leads up to a crude version of the cockpit, made with plywood, foam, and thumbtacks. It’s surrounded in front by a screen that gives the Falcon’s riders the illusion that they’re in some kind of docking bay, ready for takeoff. From there, they can go for a test run in an Imax-like environment, navigating their way through tunnels and out into space, where they must dodge the Imperial fleet’s TIE fighters.

The real ride will be much more polished and convincing, of course. The mock-up is designed primarily to see how test subjects respond. The Imagineers have put pilots ranging in age from 3 to 79 behind the controls, which tells you something about the franchise’s broad demographic appeal. The cockpit is rigged with cameras that record the grimaces and shouts of a few novices who repeatedly crash the world’s favorite spaceship while attempting to steer it out of a tunnel. We can’t all be Han Solo.

“Ultimately, we’re in the fun business,” Trowbridge says. “People have to laugh and scream. It’s OK to hit things.”

Two big takeaways I had - the MF does sound truly 'controllable' from what the writer describes. I imagine people are bumped back onto course, but we aren't talking Mission Space here where what you do poorly actually doesn't translate to what is happening.

The second is mention of lots of alien and beast animatronics. I feel like the land will be well populated with them akin to Diagon Alley. I know people scoff at the suggestions that a land can be an attraction, but if it features animatronics and narrative plots/missions, does an attraction truly require a ride vehicle to be considered an attraction?

 

[Curious Constance]

View attachment 200384

From a Bloomberg Article...



Two big takeaways I had - the MF does sound truly 'controllable' from what the writer describes. I imagine people are bumped back onto course, but we aren't talking Mission Space here where what you do poorly actually doesn't translate to what is happening.

The second is mention of lots of alien and beast animatronics. I feel like the land will be well populated with them akin to Diagon Alley. I know people scoff at the suggestions that a land can be an attraction, but if it features animatronics and narrative plots/missions, does an attraction truly require a ride vehicle to be considered an attraction?

Hans sent me that article earlier, it was a really good one. It truly gives you a feeling that they are going all in with Star Wars Land. It mentioned the alien that's going to be the cook at the Cantina. THE COOK!!! This is going to be awesome.

I'm hoping for Dexter

 

[Disney Analyst]

From a Bloomberg Article...



Two big takeaways I had - the MF does sound truly 'controllable' from what the writer describes. I imagine people are bumped back onto course, but we aren't talking Mission Space here where what you do poorly actually doesn't translate to what is happening.

The second is mention of lots of alien and beast animatronics. I feel like the land will be well populated with them akin to Diagon Alley. I know people scoff at the suggestions that a land can be an attraction, but if it features animatronics and narrative plots/missions, does an attraction truly require a ride vehicle to be considered an attraction?

In that case do not ride with me, I am dreadful with videogame like controls and will likely crash us within 30 seconds... But then we can all sit in the dark and contemplate your captain's life failures... Or maybe if you crash and die they can sync you up to a live feed from the hell room in Toads?

 

[DDLand]

From a Bloomberg Article...



Two big takeaways I had - the MF does sound truly 'controllable' from what the writer describes. I imagine people are bumped back onto course, but we aren't talking Mission Space here where what you do poorly actually doesn't translate to what is happening.

The second is mention of lots of alien and beast animatronics. I feel like the land will be well populated with them akin to Diagon Alley. I know people scoff at the suggestions that a land can be an attraction, but if it features animatronics and narrative plots/missions, does an attraction truly require a ride vehicle to be considered an attraction?

Yeah, the question is how? Is this going to be almost a video game like Experience? How extensive is this? Is it a sandbox, or is there an assigned route and you can move it within perimeters? So many questions! Also the targeting of the other 5 people is another thing. What are you going to be up to? Exciting!

This is what I've talked about too, Story Engine is attraction 3. It's one thing if those characters are walking around, it's another thing if one comes up to you and knows your name and what you've been up to. You could conceivably spend days in Star Wars Experience using Story Engine. I expect a plentitude of APs to basically get addicted to Story Engine...

In that case do not ride with, I am dreadful with videogame like controls and will likely crash us within 30 seconds... But then we can all sit in the dark and contemplate your captain's life failures... Or maybe if you crash and die they can sync you up to a live feed from the hell room in Toads?

HaHaHa. Imagine if you went on single rider, were assigned Captain, and then you were an awful pilot. Apparently you can't die but you can fail big time.

Awkward...

 

[BrianLo]

In that case do not ride with, I am dreadful with videogame like controls and will likely crash us within 30 seconds... But then we can all sit in the dark and contemplate your captain's life failures... Or maybe if you crash and die they can sync you up to a live feed from the hell room in Toads?

I can guarantee the attraction won't be lost at any point. More like bowling with the bumper rails up.

Although there is certainly a possibility to go different places or directions with this design. Hard to say if it takes the star tours route with that regard.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I can guarantee the attraction won't be lost at any point. More like bowling with the bumper rails up.

Although there is certainly a possibility to go different places or directions with this design. Hard to say if it takes the star tours route with that regard.

I don't think you understand... I always somehow find a way to do the thing you're not supposed to be able to do... Back in middle school I played Halo with a friend and got stuck facing a wall and couldn't move.... When I was a kid I was on go-karts and went right through the barrier, down a hill, and into a fence.... haha.

 

[VJ]

Star Wars land seems to be the culmination of all the playtesting that Imagineering has been doing lately, from Fortuna at D23 Expo to The Optimist to the more recent Ghost Post. Excited to see how their research affects, enhances and expands these experiences.

 

[Curious Constance]

I don't think you understand... I always somehow find a way to do the thing you're not supposed to be able to do... Back in middle school I played Halo with a friend and got stuck facing a wall and couldn't move.... When I was a kid I was on go-karts and went right through the barrier, down a hill, and into a fence.... haha.

LOL!!!

 

[Disney Irish]

Yeah, the question is how? Is this going to be almost a video game like Experience? How extensive is this? Is it a sandbox, or is there an assigned route and you can move it within perimeters? So many questions! Also the targeting of the other 5 people is another thing. What are you going to be up to? Exciting!

This is what I've talked about too, Story Engine is attraction 3. It's one thing if those characters are walking around, it's another thing if one comes up to you and knows your name and what you've been up to. You could conceivably spend days in Star Wars Experience using Story Engine. I expect a plentitude of APs to basically get addicted to Story Engine...

It may have been said previously, but here is my take:

What I understood from the SWC panel is that it'll be a cross between a sandbox and a predefined route. Basically where you get a free world but with limitations including the ability of crashing the Falcon but continuing with damage.

Also I took from the panel that every interaction we have with SWL will build upon everything else. So if you go in the Falcon and start attacking Rebels you get one story path in the rest of SWL, and if you attack First Order, you go down a different story path. And everything in-between. Its true immersion, with the ability to have your world around your change and interact with you. Its truly going to be amazing.

 

[Old Mouseketeer]

It may have been said previously, but here is my take:

What I understood from the SWC panel is that it'll be a cross between a sandbox and a predefined route. Basically where you get a free world but with limitations including the ability of crashing the Falcon but continuing with damage.

Also I took from the panel that every interaction we have with SWL will build upon everything else. So if you go in the Falcon and start attacking Rebels you get one story path in the rest of SWL, and if you attack First Order, you go down a different story path. And everything in-between. Its true immersion, with the ability to have your world around your change and interact with you. Its truly going to be amazing.

I think there will probably be limited paths. In many ways, Star Tours 2.0 is not much different than Kinoautomat which was featured in the Czech Pavilion at three world's fairs from 1967 to 1974. The story featured nine decision points where the audience could press one of two buttons at their seat. But both alternatives ended at the same decision point.

The difference for MF is that with digital projection and Disney's seamless branching technology, the only limit would be how many scenes they want to produce. A major decision like light or dark side would be an interesting starting point. And, of course, the opportunity to expand and change the options, like ST 2.0, is a given. Also, you might not get the same outcome if you made exactly the same choices!

In short, this could be the antidote to the problem with non-repeatability of 3-D film attractions like ITTBAB and Eo.

 

[NobodyElse]

I think there will probably be limited paths. In many ways, Star Tours 2.0 is not much different than Kinoautomat which was featured in the Czech Pavilion at three world's fairs from 1967 to 1974. The story featured nine decision points where the audience could press one of two buttons at their seat. But both alternatives ended at the same decision point.

The difference for MF is that with digital projection and Disney's seamless branching technology, the only limit would be how many scenes they want to produce. A major decision like light or dark side would be an interesting starting point. And, of course, the opportunity to expand and change the options, like ST 2.0, is a given. Also, you might not get the same outcome if you made exactly the same choices!

In short, this could be the antidote to the problem with non-repeatability of 3-D film attractions like ITTBAB and Eo.

I keep thinking of this: