Star Wars Land announced for Disney's Hollywood Studios

[Incomudro]

Now that I think about it, when did costume characters at Time Square become a thing? Did this start up sometime in the 2010's?

I'm not exactly sure, but some time around there sounds right.
There are now Spidermen, Mario's, Batmen - you name it - and many tourists don't know that these are just creepy guys in costumes trying to get money out of them.

 

[MrPromey]

Again, people should be able to wear jedi robes. It’s fun, simple, and they already sell them in the park.

... and again, I completely agree with this as I've mentioned a few times, including in the post you're quoting.

 

[BoarderPhreak]

It's Disney, for crying out loud. Hire a dozen people to wander around SWGE in costume. SWGE needs interactivity and dynamics. Canned sounds from speakers and occasional pop-ups aren't going to get the job done.

 

[ImperfectPixie]

Heck, in our warehouse, my employer has automated robots that roll across the floor using technology similar to the trackless ride system and those interact with people all day long. They stop and start constantly to make sure they're not running over anyone and they are large industrial things carrying literally a ton or more of weight and they've been at it for more than a decade. (and it isn't like Disney would need to have something like this moving around people - have them "servicing" some of those space craft behind barriers in an endless loop to make 'em look less like set pieces and more like actual working vehicles).

My local super market has this.

Our supermarket has them too - it's one of the busier ones in the area. And guess what? I have yet to see a single kid attempting to touch, climb on, damage, or change the direction it's going in.

I'm not exactly sure, but some time around there sounds right.
There are now Spidermen, Mario's, Batmen - you name it - and many tourists don't know that these are just creepy guys in costumes trying to get money out of them.

I'm sorry, but anyone who can't tell by the quality of the costumes those guys wear that they're just random dudes trying to scam money lives under a rock - those costumes look like they came from Walmart. All they have to do is open their eyes and look around at some of the other people wandering around in...I guess you'd have to call them "outfits"?

 

[WDWTrojan]

How do I know nothing bad happens?

Because Universal has allowed it for years. If there were incidents they wouldn’t do it.

Disney lets people wear costumes if they pay for an event and it has not caused issues either. Clearly costumes aren’t any issue.

The suggestion I have is only allowing the ones sold there to be worn. Not masks.

People are jumping to conclusions about wearing masks. Of course it shouldnt be free for all, but if someone wants to wear a jedi robe or wizard robe that is sold in a park, they should be allowed to.

All they have to do is let people wear robes. Very simple to enforce. Disney is just locking wearing costumes behind a paywall and some people are happy to defend this practice.

what? Disney caters to a very different audience than Universal. Their costume rules stem from both the fact they have more young kids than Universal and a much bigger percentage of their brand is meeting costumed characters than Universal. Given this, they are more protective with their overall brand identity, which includes restrictions to prevent costumed people from either deliberately or accidentally being confused with someone working for the Company.

 

[EricsBiscuit]

Man, looking at all those photos just really drives home the point what a total embarrassment SWGE is. Disney spent a billion dollars to create a deserted land that doesn't even come close to capturing the fun and the amazing variety of characters in Star Wars.

My local street fair or Comic Con is more "Star Wars" land than what they built. Disney simply CHOSE to not have all of those incredible aliens, Jedi, bounty hunters, and characters roam the land.

I truly don't know how anybody can look at all of those pictures and then defend SWGE.

I will criticize Disney when they warrant it (more and more these days); however, this post is just hilarious. Have you actually been to SWGE? Because, if you have, you would know it’s not a deserted total embarrassment.

 

[RobWDW1971]

I will criticize Disney when they warrant it (more and more these days); however, this post is just hilarious. Have you actually been to SWGE? Because, if you have, you would know it’s not a deserted total embarrassment.

Been several tImes and unfortunately the land is a true disappointment and gets even less engaging on multiple visits once you get over seeing the Falcon. They built an abandoned movie set without the music, energy, and characters that would make it "Star Wars".

Their conscious decision to not fill the land with even a minimum expected amount of roaming aliens, droids, Jedi, bounty hunters, stunt shows, action, etc. is an embarrassment especially considering the budget, visibility, and importance of the project.

Its lack of resonance, excitement, and FOMO on both coasts reflects these unfortunate creative decisions.

But I'd be interested in your opinion on why NOT having all of those things is a great creative decision. I don't hear a lot of arguments explaining that...

 

[durangojim]

Anyone who has been there recently, can you enter Galaxy’s Edge through toy story land now? They wouldn’t allow it the first weekend.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Anyone who has been there recently, can you Galaxy’s Edge through toy story land now? They wouldn’t allow it the first weekend.

Yeah, YouTube videos in the first week showed two way traffic at both entrances.

 

[Joesixtoe]

Been several tImes and unfortunately the land is a true disappointment and gets even less engaging on multiple visits once you get over seeing the Falcon. They built an abandoned movie set without the music, energy, and characters that would make it "Star Wars".

Their conscious decision to not fill the land with even a minimum expected amount of roaming aliens, droids, Jedi, bounty hunters, stunt shows, action, etc. is an embarrassment especially considering the budget, visibility, and importance of the project.

Its lack of resonance, excitement, and FOMO on both coasts reflects these unfortunate creative decisions.

But I'd be interested in your opinion on why NOT having all of those things is a great creative decision. I don't hear a lot of arguments explaining that...

I agree with a lot of what your saying.. what I'm not understanding is, is this land supposed to be different than any other land at Disney including Pandora? Cause they all have shops, rides, food, characters.. I never sit and stay in any land, I ride the rides, look at the theme, and window shop.. I've never been to Harry Potter world so maybe that's on a different level and star wars was supposed to do that as well? I'm not arguing, just wondering.

 

[RobWDW1971]

I agree with a lot of what your saying.. what I'm not understanding is, is this land supposed to be different than any other land at Disney including Pandora? Cause they all have shops, rides, food, characters.. I never sit and stay in any land, I ride the rides, look at the theme, and window shop.. I've never been to Harry Potter world so maybe that's on a different level and star wars was supposed to do that as well? I'm not arguing, just wondering.

Yes, SWGE was supposed to be a new level of theme park experience that was immersive, groundbreaking, etc. according to the WDI hype for the past few years. It was also supposed to be Disney's "answer" to the incredibly successful and popular Harry Potter lands at Universal. Unfortunately, it has been neither so far.

 

[Incomudro]

I agree with a lot of what your saying.. what I'm not understanding is, is this land supposed to be different than any other land at Disney including Pandora? Cause they all have shops, rides, food, characters.. I never sit and stay in any land, I ride the rides, look at the theme, and window shop.. I've never been to Harry Potter world so maybe that's on a different level and star wars was supposed to do that as well? I'm not arguing, just wondering.

Yes, it was supposed to be different.
Virtually every interview with Iger had him going on about how this land was a new way of doing things.
A new level of immersion far beyond anything ever done in any theme park.
Turns out it's exactly the same thing that's been done before: Two rides and a beautifully detailed and themed land.
I haven't been there yet, I'm really looking forward to my trip in April when Rise will be open.
I'm the kind of guy that will be highly impressed with what Disney did - the scale and scope, the level of detail...
Those things by themselves might be enough for me.
The problem is that it contrasts with the promise.
If you can get what was promised out of your head and just enjoy what's there - I'm sure that it is awesome.
But it was supposed to be alive.

 

[Joesixtoe]

Yes, it was supposed to be different.
Virtually every interview with Iger had him going on about how this land was a new way of doing things.
A new level of immersion far beyond anything ever done in any theme park.
Turns out it's exactly the same thing that's been done before: Two rides and a beautifully detailed and themed land.
I haven't been there yet, I'm really looking forward to my trip in April when Rise will be open.
I'm the kind of guy that will be highly impressed with what Disney did - the scale and scope, the level of detail...
Those things by themselves might be enough for me.
The problem is that it contrasts with the promise.
If you can get what was promised out of your head and just enjoy what's there - I'm sure that it is awesome.
But it was supposed to be alive.

I've been there multiple times and yes I guess it's not what they promised but I'm like you, what they have is enough. So I can see why people are let down cause it feels like it's on the "edge" of something more alive, but not there yet. I however like to fill in the gaps with my imagination

 

[Joesixtoe]

Yes, SWGE was supposed to be a new level of theme park experience that was immersive, groundbreaking, etc. according to the WDI hype for the past few years. It was also supposed to be Disney's "answer" to the incredibly successful and popular Harry Potter lands at Universal. Unfortunately, it has been neither so far.

Ok thanks, I can understand much more of what your talking about when compared to a land how they originally described... and I agree

 

[MrPromey]

Yes, SWGE was supposed to be a new level of theme park experience that was immersive, groundbreaking, etc. according to the WDI hype for the past few years. It was also supposed to be Disney's "answer" to the incredibly successful and popular Harry Potter lands at Universal. Unfortunately, it has been neither so far.

And to be clear, it isn't like WWHP is just bleeding cast in costume left and right because they aren't but with a combination of things including the wands and what they do, truly interesting shop displays (spoken as a person who never read any of the books and hasn't seen all the movies) and environmental stuff (people crowd around for the dragon breathing fire) Universal just nails it in a way Disney hasn't.

To be clear, Pandora suffers from a similar problem in that you can only take so many pictures of the impressive landscape before you realize there is one cool ride, one really mediocre ride and then not much else to do around there but they never built it up as being more than that where as, SWGE was supposed to be a game-changer and so far, it hasn't been.

The new ride may be a game-changer but it won't by itself change the land. It'll just be a cool ride nestled in an Instagram Friendly but otherwise not-much-to-do-in space other than shop, similar to what we have with Flight of Passage in Pandora.

I'd say it would be far easier for them to "fix" Galaxy's Edge than to upgrade Pandora to the kind of thing we're talking about, here. The bones are good and it wouldn't be that difficult to take it that extra step to make something like what they said it would be but so far, there's no sign they plan to, for whatever reason.

 

[The_Jobu]

And to be clear, it isn't like WWHP is just bleeding cast in costume left and right because they aren't but with a combination of things including the wands and what they do, truly interesting shop displays (spoken as a person who never read any of the books and hasn't seen all the movies) and environmental stuff (people crowd around for the dragon breathing fire) Universal just nails it in a way Disney hasn't.

To be clear, Pandora suffers from a similar problem in that you can only take so many pictures of the impressive landscape before you realize there is one cool ride, one really mediocre ride and then not much else to do around there but they never built it up as being more than that where as, SWGE was supposed to be a game-changer and so far, it hasn't been.

The new ride may be a game-changers but it won't by itself change the land. It'll just be a cool ride nestled in an Instagram Friendly but otherwise not-much-to-do-in space other than shop, similar to what we have with Flight of Passage in Pandora.

I'd say it would be far easier for them to "fix" Galaxy's Edge than to upgrade Pandora to the kind of thing we're talking about, here. The bones are good and it woudln't be that difficult to take it that extra step to make something like what they said it would be but so far, there's no sign they plan to, for whatever reason.

Potter World also has two different live music acts which I find quite ... jazzy

 

[RobWDW1971]

I've been there multiple times and yes I guess it's not what they promised but I'm like you, what they have is enough. So I can see why people are let down cause it feels like it's on the "edge" of something more alive, but not there yet. I however like to fill in the gaps with my imagination

You don't find it lacking that a 14 acre "Star Wars" land doesn't have roaming Star Wars aliens, droids, Jedi, bounty hunters, characters from all eras, iconic music, etc.? Without them it just seems like a deserted movie set from a generic sci-fi land with a great Falcon in the middle.

I've been actually surprised by the low expectations people have had for this land. When any Star Wars Weekend at DHS over the years is more "Star Wars" than their billion dollar land, it speaks volumes.

 

[danlb_2000]

Anyone who has been there recently, can you enter Galaxy’s Edge through toy story land now? They wouldn’t allow it the first weekend.

I was there last week and went both was through both entrances.

 

[Joesixtoe]

You don't find it lacking that a 14 acre "Star Wars" land doesn't have roaming Star Wars aliens, droids, Jedi, bounty hunters, characters from all eras, iconic music, etc.? Without them it just seems like a deserted movie set from a generic sci-fi land with a great Falcon in the middle. I've been actually surprised by the low expectations people have had for this land. When any Star Wars Weekend at DHS over the years is more "Star Wars" than their billion dollar land, it speaks volumes.

That's what I ment in terms of it being on the edge of feeling more alive. I agree with a lot of what you say. I'm just a dork, I go to tomorrowland and I can almost pretend as though this is the future lol.. same for epcot(even when both are more retro-futuristice).. I think incorporating the O.T and all the things you say will just be an easy win win for Disney and the fans.. but they want the hard way I guess and in doing so, I'm kinda forced to set that aside and enjoy the land for what it is.. another land kinda like Pandora but themed star wars and has more shops, and such...

 

[MisterPenguin]

characters from all eras

So, you're making the point that you'd like to have the OT characters. Noted. Good day.