Star Wars Land rumors...any truth to this?

[dweezil78]

IMO Star Wars and Marvel are both far too big and with too much expansion potential to be crammed into a nook or cranny of either DL or DCA -- even with entire lands being grazed over to make room for them.

If there is any shred of a plan for a third gate, these two mammoth properties/franchises/companies whatever you want to call them would hands down be the most likely candidates to take residency there and it'd make no sense to try to fit them into existing parks if they're at all thinking about the longterm growth of the resort.

 

[mharrington]

Iger will probably take one look at this and be like "uh, no." I know people don't want to see it happen, but my money's on a Tomorrowland makeover. It just doesn't make sense to have two futuristic lands in the same park, especially when an existing land already features a popular attraction from the franchise.

Well, you never know. No one does, not even me.

Now, once again, this is just part of the rumor, but according to said rumor, Tom Staggs appears to be on board with this.

So like I said, no one knows if whether or not Iger will veto the idea. I hope he does, because I personally love Toontown. I used to think that a Star Wars-themed overlay of Tomorrowland was a bad idea. However, if a third theme park never comes, I'm starting to think that perhaps a Star Wars overlay of Tomorrowland (provided it doesn't take over the whole land) may not be such a bad idea after all. It's certainly the lesser of two evils.

But like I said, no one knows how Iger will react to this.

 

[CJR]

But like I said, no one knows how Iger will react to this.

I have a pretty good idea how Iger will/would react to this. Disney is a business and a SW land will make a lot of money regardless of where it is put. However, as a business, Disney stands to gain the most by putting it in an easily accessible area and keeping the costs of construction down.

It's just too expensive. Iger and Staggs are both very much in support of a SW land, but it would need to be reasonable. TT is rather safe, at least, safe from becoming a SW land. A SW land will happen, but not there. IMO, MC just like to say crazy things to generate clicks.

 

[mharrington]

I have a pretty good idea how Iger will/would react to this. Disney is a business and a SW land will make a lot of money regardless of where it is put. However, as a business, Disney stands to gain the most by putting it in an easily accessible area and keeping the costs of construction down.

It's just too expensive. Iger and Staggs are both very much in support of a SW land, but it would need to be reasonable. TT is rather safe, at least, safe from becoming a SW land. A SW land will happen, but not there. IMO, MC just like to say crazy things to generate clicks.

Just out of curiosity, in hindsight, was any of the Fantasyland overhaul also hinted at by MC as a way to generate clicks?

 

[Travel Junkie]

IMO Star Wars and Marvel are both far too big and with too much expansion potential to be crammed into a nook or cranny of either DL or DCA -- even with entire lands being grazed over to make room for them.

If there is any shred of a plan for a third gate, these two mammoth properties/franchises/companies whatever you want to call them would hands down be the most likely candidates to take residency there and it'd make no sense to try to fit them into existing parks if they're at all thinking about the longterm growth of the resort.

DLR doesn’t have the infrastructure in place to support a 3rd gate. They are busting at the seams as it is with two. On a busy day you may have to park in the parking structure, the Toy Story Lot (where a 3rd gate would go), the convention center, or a nearby mall. Sometimes CM’s must park at the Honda center miles away and be bused in. Guest and CM parking has to be greatly expanded before a 3rd gate is viable. Traffic is also a nightmare and would have to be addressed. The Anaheim Streetcar project can help relieve some congestion, but roads will also likely have to be widened or re-designed. All of this is years away from happening and some of it would have to be in place before construction can even begin.

Disney has the IP’s for 3rd gate right now, but unfortunately Anaheim is not ready for it.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

I would say they still have plenty of lackluster DCA to demolish and replace, but I don't see it ever happening. Unfortunately.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

I can't see StarWars going into the ToonTown area for 2 reasons, it's not big enough and it would have to close early for the fireworks every night.

I'm still hoping they put it in tommorowland where Autopia is, it's a larger area than toontown and they'd only have to lose one ride, eliminate the Monorail loop above autopia, and demolish some unused peoplemover track for a good sized expansion. Add in Innoventions and it becomes a huge expansion area.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

I think they could actually retain Toontown, Autopia, Submarine Voyage and the Frontierland petting zoo, while adding significant Star Wars presence to Tomorrowland. If they were to reroute Autopia where that massive unnecessary queue structure with a footprint equivalent to Space Mountain is (make it a Fantasyland attraction and shorten the track?) and finally destroy Innoventions, you have a decent chunk of space to work with. Consider you also have the midway in Tomorrowland where the unused Peoplemover/Rocket Jets platform is and the Magic Eye Theater--rumored to be the location for the Millennium Falcon, possible Star Wars Rocket Jets attraction (both could fit) and a show. Hopefully, demolition of the Peoplemover track would fit into the budget. At this point, I've given up any hope of saving Tomorowland, since it's no longer about a realistic hypothetical future and optimism, but rather futuristic sci-fi/fantasy with guns and swords. We're stuck with it. Pizza Port could become a Star Wars restaurant.

 

[mharrington]

I can't see StarWars going into the ToonTown area for 2 reasons, it's not big enough and it would have to close early for the fireworks every night.

I'm still hoping they put it in tommorowland where Autopia is, it's a larger area than toontown and they'd only have to lose one ride, eliminate the Monorail loop above autopia, and demolish some unused peoplemover track for a good sized expansion. Add in Innoventions and it becomes a huge expansion area.

Well, like I said, we probably won't know what's going to happen or where it's going to happen until the next D23, which is in about a year.

 

[Californian Elitist]

My friend at Universal has a buddy that works in Imagineering. He said they're thinking of shrinking Autopia and moving it to Fantasyland, which in my opinion, sounds like a great plan...better than getting rid of Autopia as a whole.

 

[mharrington]

My friend at Universal has a buddy that works in Imagineering. He said they're thinking of shrinking Autopia and moving it to Fantasyland, which in my opinion, sounds like a great plan...better than getting rid of Autopia as a whole.

Just out of curiosity, how would the Autopia fit in Fantasyland? Yes, for a long time, there was an Autopia in Fantasyland, but there was also one in Tomorrowland, and I always thought of it as more of a Tomorrowland thing, especially since it was there for the longest time.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

At this point, I've given up any hope of saving Tomorowland, since it's no longer about a realistic hypothetical future and optimism, but rather futuristic sci-fi/fantasy with guns and swords. We're stuck with it.

Totally agree, everything in the core of Tomorrowland has been themed to space for as long as I can remember. Space Mtn, Star Tours, Buzz Lightyear, Star Trader, Astro Orbiter, Captain EO, etc, etc. Star Wars fits the existing theme perfectly. The only rides that aren't space themed are Autopia and Finding Nemo and neither have anything to do with the future.

I'm still torn on the submarines, the sentimental part of me wants them to stay but they take up such a huge piece of real estate and have such a low capacity I could be easily convinced the space would be better used for another attraction.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Just out of curiosity, how would the Autopia fit in Fantasyland? Yes, for a long time, there was an Autopia in Fantasyland, but there was also one in Tomorrowland, and I always thought of it as more of a Tomorrowland thing, especially since it was there for the longest time.

They could move it to the old motorboat cruise area.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

I'm still torn on the submarines, the sentimental part of me wants them to stay but they take up such a huge piece of real estate and have such a low capacity I could be easily convinced the space would be better used for another attraction.

I agree. It's also uses a ton of water in a drought-stricken region and I still believe Disney would like to get rid of it. If it stays, I would just remove it from Tomorrowland's attraction roster and make it a part of Fantasyland. It doesn't fit even the modern sci-fi Tomorrowland theme.

 

[mharrington]

I agree. It's also uses a ton of water in a drought-stricken region and I still believe Disney would like to get rid of it. If it stays, I would just remove it from Tomorrowland's attraction roster and make it a part of Fantasyland. It doesn't fit even the modern sci-fi Tomorrowland theme.

How do modern-looking subs fit the theme of Fantasyland? Both the subs and "Finding Nemo" is set in the allegedly present day and would not fit in Fantasyland at all.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

So basically, it doesn't fit either theme. Get rid of it!

 

[mharrington]

Sorry to requote again...

My friend at Universal has a buddy that works in Imagineering. He said they're thinking of shrinking Autopia and moving it to Fantasyland, which in my opinion, sounds like a great plan...better than getting rid of Autopia as a whole.

...but I can't help but wonder: now there are several choices for what's going to happen. Does anyone know what sounds the most believable here?

 

[rle4lunch]

IMO, Toontown sux. It has always felt cheap (like Universal's who-ville or a Six Flags attraction) and plastic-eee... just garbage. Brings down the quality that is normally associated with the Disney brand.