Ray or Dave?
Nice. You really got me...with that one.
Agreed. On a project this size there are likely hundreds of engineering change orders as the project progresses. It could be anything from changes in bolt hole sizes, position of drains, significant structural modifications or even paint colors or lighting placement. Any changes or issue encountered at DL could be incorporated in DHS before pieces are fabricated or installed helping to minimize impact or rework.
so.. foundation done?
Oh that should be very interesting, especially in the summer. I think we can expect to see a lot more Katiebug posts about how someone's trip was ruined because they had to hold tiny fussy Timmy in 97 degree heat while they waited an hour in line in the Florida sun for the Alcatraz queue (apologies to anyone named Timmy). All because some MEAN Cast Member said that she wasn't allowed to take the stroller into Star Wars. Ruined! The whole vacation was ruined!
Almost as interesting as the thoughts about what Star Wars Land will contain and look like - what will the crowds be like? What does an "average trip" become? I've been down to WDW roughly 8 times in the past 5 years and it is interesting where people choose to spend their time. Based on people I know who go, what I read on forums etc, it seems right now, AK and DHS have been sort of the 1 day to half day max per 4-5 days spent in WDW parks for lots of people, myself and my trip group included. However, Pandora / Avatar Land and now Star Wars Land and Toy Story Land will GREATLY shift that dynamic. Think about a potential trip this way come 2020-2021:
Without Star Wars Land, Toy Story Land, and Pandora it would go something like this for a 5 day trip:
2 days MK
1.5 days Epcot
1.5 days split between AK and DHS
However, after Pandora, SWL, and Toy Story Land, a 5 day trip becomes much more difficult to plan:
1 day MK(?)
1 day AK
2 days DHS (remember insane crowds, long waits, but hopefully amazing new rides and lands to explore)
1 day Epcot(?)
The issue is, many people (including myself) absolutely love the MK and we typically spend at minimum 2 days there in a 5 day trip, 3 for 7 day trips. This doesn't even factor in the parties during holidays. So someone like myself now needs to plan longer trips to see everything we want to see and do. Not that it's a bad thing, at least not for me, more to do, more time, more fun! (and more money)
The 3rd building looks like cast support or admin. Expect another smaller one south of this. And a small substation east of the pargo unit.
As long as the quality of the new films — Episode 8, the Han Solo standalone — remain high, I think that the rush might be something that WDW or Orlando has never seen. Perhaps if the DL version opens a few months earlier then it will take a good chunk of the rabid fans out of the mix, but I wouldn't count on that. You think DAK is staying open late for Avatar... I can only imagine how early and late SW Experience will be open (although good chunks of those timeframes may well be just for on-site resort guests).
And, honestly Dan, I thought, "Wow - that seems like it's pretty cheap by WDW standards of late"
