Star Wars Land announced for Disney's Hollywood Studios

RobWDW1971

RobWDW1971

Well-Known Member
999th Happy Haunt said:
Did anyone complain when this opened with practically none of the characters from the movies? No Luke, Han, Leia, Chewie, Lando, or Vader present here.View attachment 397664
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No, because the exterior, queue, music, and attraction were 1,000 times more "Star Wars" than the deserted movie set of SWGE.

That entire experience celebrated the brand and brought joy, while the empty bombed out unknown village of Batuu makes people depressed.
 
RobWDW1971

RobWDW1971

Well-Known Member
Movielover said:
Can you imagine the outcry if Star Tours opened today...

"Why is there a third Death Star?!?!? That's not what it's suppose to look like!!!! Why are we being flown by a robot we have never seen before in any of the movies???? Rex is too funny, I can't take my space fantasy set in a western style setting meant for all ages of the family super seriously if pilots are cracking jokes and being entertaining!!!" ;)
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If only these were the problems with SWGE... Back then WDI purposefully stretched timelines and canon to give people the chance to do the things they always dreamed of (fly with a pack of X-Wing fighters into a battle on the Death Star, riding through the trench, launching the torpedos that blow up the Death Star, etc.). We were all in on the gag - and it was magical.

Conversely, these Imagineers slavishly stick to some misguided attempt to follow some invented (and then quickly dispatched when no longer convenient) rules that rob of us of the things people would expect in a massive Star Wars land - so we get virtually no popular characters, no familiar locations, no chance to live our favorite moments (instead we go steal Coaxium or something), and no chance to celebrate the brand.

And then all of the things that were promised that would make this a living, breathing spaceport were never delivered. So you're left with a depressing, deserted, but heavily detailed movie set. As another poster put it perfectly, they built the western town for Westworld, but then didn't bother building all the robots so you could live your adventure.

Hence the "tepid" response.
 
britain

britain

Well-Known Member
RobWDW1971 said:
If only these were the problems with SWGE... Back then WDI purposefully stretched timelines and canon to give people the chance to do the things they always dreamed of (fly with a pack of X-Wing fighters into a battle on the Death Star, riding through the trench, launching the torpedos that blow up the Death Star, etc.). We were all in on the gag - and it was magical.

Conversely, these Imagineers slavishly stick to some misguided attempt to follow some invented (and then quickly dispatched when no longer convenient) rules that rob of us of the things people would expect in a massive Star Wars land - so we get virtually no popular characters, no familiar locations, no chance to live our favorite moments (instead we go steal Coaxium or something), and no chance to celebrate the brand.

And then all of the things that were promised that would make this a living, breathing spaceport were never delivered. So you're left with a depressing, deserted, but heavily detailed movie set. As another poster put it perfectly, they built the western town for Westworld, but then didn't bother building all the robots so you could live your adventure.

Hence the "tepid" response.
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Back then? Star Tours 2 just opened in 2012, and it's the most loosey-goosey blender of timelines ever conceived! The only difference between 2012 and today is that Lucasfilm got bought and given oversight on the development of GE. I don't think this is WDI's fault.
 
RobWDW1971

RobWDW1971

Well-Known Member
britain said:
Back then? Star Tours 2 just opened in 2012, and it's the most loosey-goosey blender of timelines ever conceived! The only difference between 2012 and today is that Lucasfilm got bought and given oversight on the development of GE. I don't think this is WDI's fault.
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I was responding to the point of "if Star Tours opened today". But obviously you know that as you didn't respond to the entire bulk of the point of my post.

Someday on this board, the actual number of passionate, positive reviews of the land will come close to the complaints about the complaints. It is a truly fascinating thing to watch - there are hardly any passionate reviews of the land, but there is all sorts of anxiety about people criticizing the land.

Usually in these situations you have actual fans raving about the product - here what you get is "Well, we have to judge it for what it is, and there are plenty of things they could have done to make it better, and I'm hoping it is all coming later"

And this concept of "judge what they built vs. what they promised":

WDI's pitch: This will be the most amazing Beatles experience ever and you'll get to live your ultimate Beatles fan fantasy and it will be just like being up close and personal with the Beatles!

WDI's actual product: A folding table with Pete Best signing autographs.

This board: You have to review what they actually did and Pete Best was amazing! He was friendly, he signed every autograph, and couldn't have been nicer!!! What's wrong with you people?!?!?
 
Virtual Toad

Virtual Toad

Well-Known Member
RobWDW1971 said:
No, because the exterior, queue, music, and attraction were 1,000 times more "Star Wars" than the deserted movie set of SWGE.

That entire experience celebrated the brand and brought joy, while the empty bombed out unknown village of Batuu makes people depressed.
Click to expand...

Just got back from Disneyland last week. Our family walked into GE and literally could not wait to find the exit. No life, no music, no shade and worst of all, absolutely no Disney charm. The juxtaposition of this deliberately dystopian environment with the rest of Disneyland was jarring, unsettling and depressing-- and it reveals just how little Disney management understands about the core of their own brand.

We spent much of our time hanging out in Cars Land instead, a place that actually felt welcoming and whimsical in addition to being well-themed.
 
B

Bleed0range

Well-Known Member
Movielover said:
No one complained then because at that time the manchildren were still just children... ;)
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No one complained because they still had a connection to those characters and the universe they lived in. Even if you didn’t see them.

The difference for some people (not me) is that the new characters live in a version of that world where all those beloved characters are dead and gone and no longer exist.

When on the original Star Tours, you know that they’re out there somewhere. On Batuu, it’s the new characters.

To be honest, I have only gone to the new movies to see Han, Leia and Luke come back and they didn’t do a good job with it. Luke being the most disappointing. I just don’t feel a lot for Rey as a lead character. Hell, the characters barely spent time doing things together like a group of friends. So it’s hard to feel as deeply for them.

I know a lot of people want to brush this all off. But Disney did drop the ball with bringing back the franchise with the new trilogy. The last film’s performance and how WDW opens will really tell us whether or not Disney has a major problem with their mishandling of the franchise or not.
 
drod1985

drod1985

Well-Known Member
Back on topic with some GE @ DHS info.

Confirmation that reservations get you in the land one hour before your reservation time, just like DL.

397744
 
No Name

No Name

Well-Known Member
On a more related note, are those water fountains with the creatures in the tube above them working, and is it a neat effect?
 
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E

easyrowrdw

Well-Known Member
The_Jobu said:
That was my mistake, I do not dismiss all critics reviews automatically, but I do consider them as a piece of evidence which is added to a broader image. I can not accept them entirely on their own in the present era of wine and dine junkets and privileged access for critics who play ball. It is a shame as I’m never quite sure who can be trusted. This I think is a modern phenomenon that was less applicable decades ago.
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Fair enough. I agree it is harder to do judge now. The internet has democratized opinions and criticism, which means every fool (even me!) can share their thoughts. I don't find vetting to be too difficult, but I also watch a lot of movies and read a lot of film crticism. I'd be lost on where to start for, say, video games. I think the Top Critics list on RT is a good place to start. Regardless, there should be arguments for ones assessment that can be judged. Otherwise, it's "just like your opinion, man."
 
CinematicFusion

CinematicFusion

Well-Known Member
[


Virtual Toad said:
Just got back from Disneyland last week. Our family walked into GE and literally could not wait to find the exit. No life, no music, no shade and worst of all, absolutely no Disney charm. The juxtaposition of this deliberately dystopian environment with the rest of Disneyland was jarring, unsettling and depressing-- and it reveals just how little Disney management understands about the core of their own brand.

We spent much of our time hanging out in Cars Land instead, a place that actually felt welcoming and whimsical in addition to being well-themed.
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You aren’t alone... we are starting to see a huge turn negative with Galaxy’s edge.
Movieweb:
“Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is being called The Phantom Menace of theme park attractions by some. There was a lot of hype and excitement heading into the grand opening this past May, but this latest expansion to the Disney park has landed with a loud thud, and now it is being called a flop. Not helping matters is that Disneyland is rumored to be slashing the hours of its employees.”

FilmThreat:
Adventure. Excitement. A Jedi craves these things! Disneyland’s newest theme park, Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, should’ve been a huge hit after the exclusive reservation period ended. But the new park has been met with criticism from fandom because it feels, well, empty. And not just empty when it comes to the number of guests, the experience itself feels a little empty. In a way, it’s like unwrapping a gift on Christmas morning hoping for the latest Star Wars toy, but grandma screwed up and got one of those Space War knock-offs. Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge just doesn’t feel Star Warsenough. And by Star Wars, I mean the original trilogy with Han, Luke, Leia, Yoda, Darth Vader — the characters fans fell in love with which spawned a franchise lasting more than four decades. What Disney forgot was that franchises/brands are not about a story, they are about the beloved characters, plain and simple. “

Comic book:
“Disneyland Reportedly Cuts Employee Hours Due to Low Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Attendance”

I’m watching a documentary on the circus, history of it all and the acts that brought people in.
Jumbo the elephant brought more people in during his two year run then any other performer. He just captured the public’s imagination.

What captures the public’s imagination in the Star Wars universe? Why did Star Wars capture our imagination?
Characters we relate to? John Williams score?

Does the epic myth of Star Was translate well at Galaxy’s Edge?

Was it a missed opportunity not to mix the old cast and the new in a way to blend it into the park? Find a way to bring Darth Vader to life in Galaxy’s Edge. One of the top villains of all time.

Fixes...
1. Adding John Williams score in the land would be huge and help with the emotional scene. We all talk about what characters should be in the land and John William’s music is one of the biggest characters who should be in the land. His sweeping score is what puts you into the films and makes you feel like you are in a Star Wars film. Without it... it’s not Star Wars.

2. When Rise of the Resistance opens it will change the dynamics of the land. It needs to be one of the best rides in Disneyland.
 
sedati

sedati

Well-Known Member
Virtual Toad said:
Just got back from Disneyland last week. Our family walked into GE and literally could not wait to find the exit. No life, no music, no shade and worst of all, absolutely no Disney charm. The juxtaposition of this deliberately dystopian environment with the rest of Disneyland was jarring, unsettling and depressing-- and it reveals just how little Disney management understands about the core of their own brand.

We spent much of our time hanging out in Cars Land instead, a place that actually felt welcoming and whimsical in addition to being well-themed.
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Music, ok, but how much shade and "life" is there in Cars Land? I do love that you mentioned how much you enjoy that land as it too spawned years of endless debate and complaint from fans on these forums:
Nobody likes Cars. Cars is only for toddlers. No land should be a single IP. They're only spending so much to appease Lasseter. Why would you build a desert in a desert? It's going to be so hot with all that bare rockwork. This isn't really California, what does it have to do with California Adventure? DCA doesn't need to be toonified. Etc. Etc.
Funnily enough, many purists were excited about Luigi's Flying Tires as it was seen as a return of the old flying saucers before they found out why they got rid of it in the first place.
Also:
www.vanityfair.com

In Case You Were Wondering, Cars Takes Place in a Dystopia Where Humanity Is Dead

The creative director of the Pixar franchise has a surprisingly grim theory about the Cars movies.
www.vanityfair.com www.vanityfair.com
 
CinematicFusion

CinematicFusion

Well-Known Member
sedati said:
Music, ok, but how much shade and "life" is there in Cars Land? I do love that you mentioned how much you enjoy that land as it too spawned years of endless debate and complaint from fans on these forums:
Nobody likes Cars. Cars is only for toddlers. No land should be a single IP. They're only spending so much to appease Lasseter. Why would you build a desert in a desert? It's going to be so hot with all that bare rockwork. This isn't really California, what does it have to do with California Adventure? DCA doesn't need to be toonified. Etc. Etc.
Funnily enough, many purists were excited about Luigi's Flying Tires as it was seen as a return of the old flying saucers before they found out why they got rid of it in the first place.
Also:
www.vanityfair.com

In Case You Were Wondering, Cars Takes Place in a Dystopia Where Humanity Is Dead

The creative director of the Pixar franchise has a surprisingly grim theory about the Cars movies.
www.vanityfair.com www.vanityfair.com
Click to expand...

It is Strange.
Cars land was a huge success when it opened with the media. Same with Potter.
Both opened with their respective headline rides.
Galaxy’s Edge didn’t and for the most part is getting crushed by the media.

Maybe there was no surprise because it was so heavily followed on the internet since 2015.
 
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