Star Wars Land announced for Disney's Hollywood Studios

[Goofyernmost]

Geez, sometimes you can be really harsh. My point is, Disney has characters in costumes running all around, and will presumably have some in Star Wars Land as well. Guests including small children are encouraged to physically interact with these characters. Now here comes a robotic character. Children aren't going to see these as any different that characters in costumes. Given that you said children could be done "serious damage" by these robots "in a second," presumably you expect the parents to prevent their children from ever touching the robots, not just stop them after they see them do it. I think that's unrealistic. Furthermore, I don't think not grabbing a child before they touch the robot makes someone "stupid," or dumber than a gnat. I'm not even sure why it should be common sense that a child-sized robot that rolls around in the midst of children should not be touched. Or why parents should be considering Disney's liability situation when they are just walking from point A to B and a character pops up.

For that matter, consider iCan, the "robot" character in Tomorrowland who does physically interact with guests. If someone like that is travelling through Star Wars land, are parents who don't instantly figure out one type of robot can be touched and another can't "stupid" and not having the common sense of a gnat?

Bottom line for me is, the robots should either be designed to be (lightly) handled by guests, or they should travel with cast member handlers who enforce a perimeter, as with Honeydew and Beaker. If Disney does neither of those things, then it is Disney's fault if the robots or the guests are injured.

And that is why god gave them parents or guardians. To help them tell the difference.

 

[es135]

Honestly, I was a bit surprised at the lack of characters who were roaming around WDW when I first attended last summer. I remember being thrilled at randomly running into the roaming characters throughout DLR during my first trip in 2007. Granted, this generation has grown up on selfies and the like, so that may have forced Disney to change this practice. Still, I definitely missed the spontaneity of seeing characters wondering around.

I'm pleased to see these droids in action and thrilled at the prospect of them wandering around SWGE. Hopefully they'll come up with a way to police the way kids interact with them without ruining the effect of free-roaming droids. If we can't count on parents disciplining their children, hopefully Disney can come up with a creative way to keep the immersion and safety of guests at the forefront.

 

[Master Yoda]

Honestly, I was a bit surprised at the lack of characters who were roaming around WDW when I first attended last summer. I remember being thrilled at randomly running into the roaming characters throughout DLR during my first trip in 2007. Granted, this generation has grown up on selfies and the like, so that may have forced Disney to change this practice. Still, I definitely missed the spontaneity of seeing characters wondering around.

I'm pleased to see these droids in action and thrilled at the prospect of them wandering around SWGE. Hopefully they'll come up with a way to police the way kids interact with them without ruining the effect of free-roaming droids. If we can't count on parents disciplining their children, hopefully Disney can come up with a creative way to keep the immersion and safety of guests at the forefront.

The change at WDW came long before selfie was even a word.

Wandering characters were often mobbed by guests and it was near impossible to get a picture with one without someone else in the picture. Naturally, guests complained and the meet n great was born.

 

[es135]

The change at WDW came long before selfie was even a word.

Wandering characters were often mobbed by guests and it was near impossible to get a picture with one without someone else in the picture. Naturally, guests complained and the meet n great was born.

Thanks for the insight! I guess the question then becomes what will make this experience any different from the past? How will Disney keep people from mobbing these droids? It almost seems to make a meet and greet inevitable.

 

[Master Yoda]

Thanks for the insight! I guess the question then becomes what will make this experience any different from the past? How will Disney keep people from mobbing these droids? It almost seems to make a meet and greet inevitable.

They still do wandering characters at WDW, but it tends to be a rather limited thing such as at special events or in a little bit of a controlled environment. (eg Star Wars Launch Bay)

 

[brb1006]

Honestly, I was a bit surprised at the lack of characters who were roaming around WDW when I first attended last summer. I remember being thrilled at randomly running into the roaming characters throughout DLR during my first trip in 2007. Granted, this generation has grown up on selfies and the like, so that may have forced Disney to change this practice. Still, I definitely missed the spontaneity of seeing characters wondering around.

I'm pleased to see these droids in action and thrilled at the prospect of them wandering around SWGE. Hopefully they'll come up with a way to police the way kids interact with them without ruining the effect of free-roaming droids. If we can't count on parents disciplining their children, hopefully Disney can come up with a creative way to keep the immersion and safety of guests at the forefront.

The last time I remember seeing any roaming characters at WDW would have to be back in 2004. I seen a group of characters preparing for Share A Dream Come True Parade near Main Street one day.

 

[brb1006]

The change at WDW came long before selfie was even a word.

Wandering characters were often mobbed by guests and it was near impossible to get a picture with one without someone else in the picture. Naturally, guests complained and the meet n great was born.

At least characters are still allowed to wander at Tokyo Disneyland and Sea since there characters at Tokyo are more interactive with guests and eachother.

 

[es135]

The last time I remember seeing any roaming characters at WDW would have to be back in 2004. I seen a group of characters preparing for Share A Dream Come True Parade near Main Street one day.

So it has definitely been a while. I still remember capturing some shots of Goofy with my disposable camera! How times change haha!

 

[EricsBiscuit]

Spontaneity is overrated. DL and TDL only have the roaming characters because they have no space. It's much better having a MnG bc you can have the PhotoPass photographer take your photo.

 

[JenniferS]

Spontaneity is overrated. DL and TDL only have the roaming characters because they have no space. It's much better having a MnG bc you can have the PhotoPass photographer take your photo.

Why can’t we have a mixture of both?

 

[bclane]

Why can’t we have a mixture of both?

One of my favorite Disney moments happened while walking through DL with my girlfriend many years ago while I was still in college. Chip and Dale were playfully running through the crowd chasing each other and as they approached us they started using us as like human shields to keep away from each other. They were hugging us and running around us and at some point one of them fell on the ground and the other jumped on top of the other and they just started play wrestling. It was a hilarious moment and everyone that witnessed this was laughing and having a great time. I have never seen characters do this before or since, but it was wonderful. I didn't get a picture with them but I will never forget that little moment in time. To me, nothing beats free roaming characters, but I also definitely see the value in having the M&Gs as well. A healthy mixture of both is best imo.

 

[marni1971]

Spontaneity is overrated. DL and TDL only have the roaming characters because they have no space. It's much better having a MnG bc you can have the PhotoPass photographer take your photo.

TDL has no space?

 

[EricsBiscuit]

TDL has no space?

Not as much to build MnGs.

 

[marni1971]

Not as much to build MnGs.

You have seen the size and layout of TDL and their NFL haven't you?

 

[bclane]

Hey @marni1971. Someone mentioned in one of the threads not too long ago that they had cut hundreds of millions of dollars out of the Galaxy's Edge budget and I got the impression that they were saying this cut happened after D23. Do you know if that is true? And if so, do you know what they cut? I meant to ask this question when it was said but something came up and I just remembered it. Thanks in advance.

 

[marni1971]

Hey @marni1971. Someone mentioned in one of the threads not too long ago that they had cut hundreds of millions of dollars out of the Galaxy's Edge budget and I got the impression that they were saying this cut happened after D23. Do you know if that is true? And if so, do you know what they cut? I meant to ask this question when it was said but something came up and I just remembered it. Thanks in advance.

I know there's been financial shuffles and certain issues (3rd attraction notwithstanding) but so far as I know nothing has changed since D23.

 

[bclane]

I know there's been financial shuffles and certain issues (3rd attraction notwithstanding) but so far as I know nothing has changed since D23.

Thanks much, that's good to hear. I'd love that 3rd attraction, but if we at least get what was presented at D23 I'll be happy.

 

[EricsBiscuit]

You have seen the size and layout of TDL and their NFL haven't you?

I guess you're right. I still prefer MnGs to roaming characters but that reflects my personality of liking to know. Anyways, now that I think of it I have no clue as to why TDL doesn't do MNGs like WDW other than they think it works best for their audience.

 

[Darth Sidious]

I know there's been financial shuffles and certain issues (3rd attraction notwithstanding) but so far as I know nothing has changed since D23.

It’s so mind boggling that they don’t look at the Pandora two attraction issue and build a third Star Wars attraction now. Star Wars will be more popular than Pandora and they are making the same mistake. Capacity is needed!

 

[cheezbat]

Spontaneity is overrated. DL and TDL only have the roaming characters because they have no space. It's much better having a MnG bc you can have the PhotoPass photographer take your photo.[/ QUOTE]

While an organized meet n greet is easier to get pics with the characters, I've found my random interactions at Disneyland to be far more enjoyable and memorable than the 'stand in line to see such and such character' at WDW. What makes me even more mad is how these meet n greets are considered 'attractions' and in some cases actually take up valuable real estate...like old ride buildings.