News Star Wars Galaxy's Edge opening day reports - Disney's Hollywood Studios

[MrPromey]

Universal does have better rides and attractions for teenages through age 40. But what about adults with money. Does anyone here really think Universal is a resort that people 50 and older want to go to? WDW has rides and attractions for everyone and especially for those over 50, who are the people with money to spend.

What is your point as it relates to my post?

Are you contesting that Disney's sudden interest in building out the parks has something to do with what Universal's been doing?

If so and you're basing this on the over 50 crowd, I'm not so sure that a ride that spins you around (rat), a roller coaster (guardians, tron), a motion simulator/video game (SR), or a ride based on the modern reinterpretation of Mickey (Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway) is doing to woo this demographic, either.

To reiterate, I think competition is a good thing. Look back at what was "coincidentally" happening with WDW at the exact same time Universal started their first Florida park. Then look a little further down the road at was again Disney's "totally-not-a-response" to Universal's construction of their second park.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Disney has just miscalculated the reception of their been Star Wars material and it was a gamble they made early in the designs for the land.

Wasn’t the rumor they felt “forced” to move up the announcement and land construction - from universal pressure or other external issues?

I can see it. It’s force awakens land. The problem is that the popularity has slid on all their Star Wars roll outs since...move box office, Merch, cartoon franchises...

In a way...they were caught. They had to promote the new stuff that was supposed to relaunch the whole franchise without the Lucas/old actor baggage...but they had to do it before they had any idea what they had.

But they had access to all their vast library of data and business stats. They always know.

Disney takes too long to build things...plain and simple. Stung them here...longterm.

 

[MisterPenguin]

The characters in SWL are not the Meet&Pose characters elsewhere. They walk around and interact and purposely avoid having a line for pictures. They'll pause for kids if the crowd is light enough that a line won't form. That's the way it's been with the Storm Troopers on patrol from the start in DHS.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

What is your point as it relates to my post?

Are you contesting that Disney's sudden interest in building out the parks has something to do with what Universal's been doing?

If so, I'd only point you to what happened when Universal started to build their first park in Florida and then what happened when they started on their second one.

Otherwise, I just see you trying to say that an aging demographic which neither property specifically targets and which will continue to become less and less relevant as they continue to age and travel becomes more difficult for them has less to do at Universal which is true but again I fail to see how that has anything to do with what I said.

BTW, my mother who falls very well into your over 50 group goes to Busch Gardens quite regularly. Almost never does most of what is there but goes to spend time with her grandson. I notice the same kind of behavior at both Disney and Universal.

Saturday, there were a lot of people seated in the "waiting lounge" area at the exit when we got off Soarin' and as you know, that's about as low-intensity as it gets.

She’s older (60’s I think) and doesn’t enjoy or in a position to enjoy more physically demanding rides.

And correct that the demographics will shift and you don’t want to cater to just the thrill set.

The error is this: there will be fewer kids...so you need to offer more adult/broad appeal things. Not more gentle...more active for a more broad range.

And getting old isn’t what it used to be. People run 10 k a day, bike 25, stay fit their whole lives in increasingly high numbers. The sedentary, Buffet with a doggie bag on the ecv types are the ones that will become marginalized at wdw.

Intense rides will become more acceptable to those as they age...is my prediction.

 

[RobWDW1971]

The characters in SWL are not the Meet&Pose characters elsewhere. They walk around and interact and purposely avoid having a line for pictures. They'll pause for kids if the crowd is light enough that a line won't form. That's the way it's been with the Storm Troopers on patrol from the start in DHS.

That's correct. Add that to the long list of terrible creative choices, IMHO. It neither creates any type of believable nor interesting "immersion" nor satisfies those kids who want a picture and "moment".

So we are left with, as how this conversation got started, Rey wandering the land aimlessly being ignored. At least that has been my experience and apparently others every time I've gone.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

The characters in SWL are not the Meet&Pose characters elsewhere. They walk around and interact and purposely avoid having a line for pictures. They'll pause for kids if the crowd is light enough that a line won't form. That's the way it's been with the Storm Troopers on patrol from the start in DHS.

If people formed lines to take pictures with Rey and it sold swag...Disney would have set aside meet and greet lines already.

Is this the first day of school?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

As someone that lives in Orlando area and has since 2002 ,we are not really that busy in sept. Or Jan .

As someone who did forecasting for Disney prior to you living in Orlando...

I can tell you that September is about 3x more busy now than the first 30 years of wdw’s existence.

And January is worse...boosted by the growth of vacation club, willingness to travel in off peak times, and very popular special events like marathon.

You think those months are dead now???

Actually you are right in a way. I’ve been watching the wait times closely and they are alarmingly light for disney. The attendance must be pathetic. This is definitely a huge slowdown over the last decade since free dining and the housing crash recession recovery.

Bigger things are at work here...my hunch. Travel is down and that is bad.

 

[MrPromey]

Intense rides will become more acceptable to those as they age...is my prediction.

Yes but only to a certain degree. There are biological changes, specifically to the inner-ear that make all of us less physically tolerant of excessive motion as we get older that have nothing to do with health or fitness levels.

Of course, with recent reports like this, I guess anything's possible!

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Yes but only to a certain degree. There are biological changes, specifically to the inner-ear that make all of us less physically tolerant of excessive motion as we get older that have nothing to do with health or fitness levels.

Of course, with recent reports like this, I guess anything's possible!

Good point...

But I was thinking more “free of back and neck problems” slowly going away than sinuses and vertigo

Ride technology should also continue to improve and make physical tolerances less of an issue...I can see a day where thrill rides are “pressurized” to allow gravity with limited stress of the body...maybe even weightless simulation...but better than mission: space

 

[mikejs78]

As someone who did forecasting for Disney prior to you living in Orlando...

I can tell you that September is about 3x more busy now than the first 30 years of wdw’s existence.

And January is worse...boosted by the growth of vacation club, willingness to travel in off peak times, and very popular special events like marathon.

You think those months are dead now???

Actually you are right in a way. I’ve been watching the wait times closely and they are alarmingly light for disney. The attendance must be pathetic. This is definitely a huge slowdown over the last decade since free dining and the housing crash recession recovery.

Bigger things are at work here...my hunch. Travel is down and that is bad.

Wait times this September are in line with the last couple of Septembers. This isn't "low for Disney".

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Wait times this September are in line with the last couple of Septembers. This isn't "low for Disney".

Still much larger than days of yore.

It still seems “very light”...just superficially

 

[SOOMIN]

Of course not...

With over scheduling, stress and money crunch...people need to maintain their youthful sense of fun as long as possible. It’s good for you.

But when people’s intent is to ALWAYS defend everything about Disney and won’t budge...they say some really silly things. Case in point here.

Phew I thought I was

I will agree that some people over 50 like roller coasters and are not bothered by high action motion. However, if you look at society today, you will see an aging population and family sizes continuing to shrink. When I grew up in the 1960s. most families were closer to 4 children than 2. Today the number of children per family are falling below 2. In fact, I know more people with 1 child than those with 2 or more and there are lots of couples with no children. In the long run themepark companies better go after the older market or they won't have the number of customers needed to make a profit. That is why I keep complaining to Six Flags that they need more shows and dark rides. Universal and Disney better look at demographics and wealth analysis or they could both find themselves with the wrong mix of rides and attractions.

OK, I get your point,but, I think you see over 50's as over the hill.
We are now very young for our age and are open to new experiences .
We don't want boring, we want different.
We have seen all the stuff created by the parks over the years and I mean all parks not just Disney and Universal.
We do actually like thrill rides believe it or not.
I love Disney but I also love Universal and if I am honest , it looks like Universal might be getting very much more interesting in the years to come.

 

[RobWDW1971]

Phew I thought I was

OK, I get your point,but, I think you see over 50's as over the hill.
We are now very young for our age and are open to new experiences .
We don't want boring, we want different.
We have seen all the stuff created by the parks over the years and I mean all parks not just Disney and Universal.
We do actually like thrill rides believe it or not.
I love Disney but I also love Universal and if I am honest , it looks like Universal might be getting very much more interesting in the years to come.

I'm over 50 and can no longer do the tea cups.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

We were at SW:GE on September 3. The lines were manageable even if the park closed at 2pm due to hurricane conditions. It seemed comparable to what I found at Disneyland a month or so earlier.

 

[SOOMIN]

Yes but only to a certain degree. There are biological changes, specifically to the inner-ear that make all of us less physically tolerant of excessive motion as we get older that have nothing to do with health or fitness levels.

Of course, with recent reports like this, I guess anything's possible!

I accept that for a few this will be an issue, but, honestly most 50+ do not have these issues until much later.
Really 50's and 60's is the new 40's

 

[SOOMIN]

I'm over 50 and can no longer do the tea cups.

i never could but that's not an age thing

 

[seascape]

Phew I thought I was

OK, I get your point,but, I think you see over 50's as over the hill.
We are now very young for our age and are open to new experiences .
We don't want boring, we want different.
We have seen all the stuff created by the parks over the years and I mean all parks not just Disney and Universal.
We do actually like thrill rides believe it or not.
I love Disney but I also love Universal and if I am honest , it looks like Universal might be getting very much more interesting in the years to come.

There are no rides at WDW I don't ride. However, I am not a fan of rollercoasters. That is one of the things I don't like at Six Flags Great Adventure. I love the SFGA safari and the Battle for Metropolis is a great Dark ride. Though SFGA severely lacks shows. My wife and I are still Diamond Elite members because of the Safari, we actually saw twoRed Kangaroos fighting earlier this year. The Water Park. Fright Fest and Holidays in the Park are the other highlights. I just wish they would add some shows.

Now, Universal does have shows and some rides that are very good. I would never say they don't have things for older people like my wife and I, but they need to make sure they add more rides for the future demographicd.

To me, I think they are not aiming for that market. That could change with Epic Universe, which if they are smart will go for the older conversion attendee market. Classic monsters should be aimed for the adults who loved those old movies but the younger market is not attached to them. Nintendo should be aimed at everyone, with fun rides but not high action. If there too many rollercoaster and rides with too much motion, it won't be as popular for the over 50 market. It may not be popular on this site but it is a fact that senior citizens are the richest segment of society and the ones with the money to take their grandchildren on an Orlando Vacation. Any company that does not know who their paying customer is will fail. Therefore both Disney and Universal better realize this or they will fail.

 

[DCLcruiser]

For next week, I don't think that I'll need to get up for the EEMH at 6 AM. 35 Min wait right now for MF.

 

[Andrew C]

That's correct. Add that to the long list of terrible creative choices, IMHO. It neither creates any type of believable nor interesting "immersion" nor satisfies those kids who want a picture and "moment".

So we are left with, as how this conversation got started, Rey wandering the land aimlessly being ignored. At least that has been my experience and apparently others every time I've gone.

Wait...so we like formal M&G lines now...

Dang!

 

[TP2000]

For next week, I don't think that I'll need to get up for the EEMH at 6 AM. 35 Min wait right now for MF.

Great point!

And it just dropped to 30 minutes. I would much rather wait in the current 30 minute line at 6pm then get up at 6am for walk-on. The indoor queue is very nicely done, especially the Honda pre-show guy, no need to rush through it.

Getting up at 6am to go to a theme park doesn't seem like a vacation, it seems like punishment. Unless you've just flown in the day before from Moscow or Istanbul and are working through a negative seven hour time change.