Wookies, & Rebels, & Droids... OH WHY?! The Anti-SWL in Disneyland Thread

[flynnibus]

If you don't mind, could you please explain why you support it? I just want to get a better understanding of how supporters think it fits in the park.

Because it's a fantasy escape into a world of imagination and story telling.

 

[flynnibus]

Because that space could have been put to much better use. Imagine if instead of SW going there, they saved SW for the third gate, and they added a new land in that space that would allow for multiple different types of attractions--- some IP based, others not

That's not an argument for 'doesnt fit' - that's an argument for 'it could have been done better IMO'

 

[sedati]

Because it's a fantasy escape into a world of imagination and story telling.

I'd like to expand on this comment by asking where did Disney's influence really live on after his passing?
I think it is very limiting to think that Walt's effect was only on those thing's labeled as "Disney" after we lost him. Henson, Lucas, Speilberg, Rowling- their work may not have been done in company, but as far as I'm concerned their works seem to have been the most "Disney" creations in a post Walt world. Colorful characters, humor, spectacle, artistry, moral tales all presented in a format that is accessible to the whole family. Lucas wanted Disney to distribute Star Wars. Before being a success, his fallback plan was to work at Disneyland. To many of us Disney buying Star Wars felt like a homecoming. I found the Marvel purchase an odd fit at first, but now I agree with Stan Lee that these are the modern fairy tales. I've lived through many decades of Disney and I have to say right now there is more coming out under the Disney umbrella for me to get excited about than in any time previous. And just to give a few of you nosebleeds I'll also say that when Iger leaves, he'll be leaving the company with the most solid foundation it's ever had at the time of a regime change.

 

[WDW1974]

Thanks for inviting me to the party @raven24 . I seriously don't understand how anybody can say they support SWE in Disneyland with a straight face. Its almost as if those who say they are for SWE are just saying so to irritate the TRUE Disneyland fans. I highly doubt Walt would have ever acquired a third party IP and built an entire land devoted to it in his park, no matter what some of the pixie dusters around here tend to believe.

I didn't even realize there were two active threads on this. I put my feelings on the other and don't like repeating myself. All I can say is this development will fundamentally alter DL in a way NOTHING has done in 61 years. Nothing. It also will stand out and, thereby, make less than, the rest of Walt's park. This isn't an IOA or a DCA or a UNI where an IP can rule. That isn't what the ethos of DL are/were. It also eats up virtually all of the expansion space available without removing existing attractions.

Sorry to SW fanbois, but it is sticking a round peg in a square hole to appease the ego of a CEO. He is, in essence, a dog lifting his leg on Walt's park and making sure no one ever forgets who Robert A. Iger was.

 

[WDW1974]

If you don't mind, why doesn't it? By all accounts it will be a fully immersive land with what insiders are hyping as two of the best attractions WDI have done in recent years. A fun, exciting area with knock out attractions. It might not be exactly what Walt have built but the game has changed a bit since he left us. Frankly I've never understood the angst over this.

Maybe you just don't get what DL has been all about? Maybe you don't get why the bones of the park have been good enough to be a crowd-pleaser for 61 years with little or no SW presence? Maybe you don't get that theme parks are more than simply collections of IP-based rides? Maybe you're just confused?

 

[WDW1974]

People who enjoy Disneyland but don't like Star Wars, saddened? It's very easy for people, like Raven has said, to just not set foot in the area. Pretend it was never built, enjoy the other experiences that are still there like you would have before SWE opened.

The park has been greatly changed by the construction and will be even more changed by the giant Hoth-sized tumor on DL's backside.

 

[WDW1974]

Of course, we definitely have our share of 24/7 Disney fans in our midst. I've seen it with Star Wars Fans, LA Kings Fans, Steelers Fans...all sorts of folks out there where you might question their mental stability or ability to do anything outside of the "one thing" that they love.

Oh, mental illness is particularly strong in the Disney fan community.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Thank you, @WDW1974 for stopping by!

"Tumor" is a good word to use for this project. A giant, 12-acre tumor that's going to forever alter the park. The worst part is all that land is the last of a small amount we have left, and it's being gobbled up for ONE IP.

 

[SSG]

Maybe you just don't get what DL has been all about? Maybe you don't get why the bones of the park have been good enough to be a crowd-pleaser for 61 years with little or no SW presence? Maybe you don't get that theme parks are more than simply collections of IP-based rides? Maybe you're just confused?

You must be great fun at parties.

 

[Californian Elitist]

You must be great fun at parties.

He is. Spirit is great company.

 

[SSG]

He is. Spirit is great company.

Yeah, I'm sure. The superiority complex and condescension probably go over big.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Yeah, I'm sure. The superiority complex and condescension probably go over big.

Yeah, it does.

No one's a saint. Don't forget you mocked me a few times, and that was rude, so there's that.

 

[180º]

You must be great fun at parties.

Not that I don't appreciate dissenting opinions, but to be fair, this is
The Anti-SWL in Disneyland Thread
So who's pooping whose party here? I say this as someone who is against Star Wars Land on principle, but, when posting on the Construction thread, tries to respect the spirit of that particular discussion. And I do find the construction genuinely interesting even if I sort of hate that it's happening.

 

[Stevek]

The park has been greatly changed by the construction and will be even more changed by the giant Hoth-sized tumor on DL's backside.

We can agree to disagree on "greatly changed" as this effects a small portion of the ROA and a very underutilized Big Thunder Ranch area. That being said, even being a big SW fan, I don't agree with them building the SWE in DL but I've come to accept it. There's no changing that at this point and if folks truly want to voice their displeasure they need to stop going to DL altogether. Simply boycotting the SWE won't accomplish anything.

 

[BrianLo]

We can agree to disagree on "greatly changed" as this effects a small portion of the ROA and a very underutilized Big Thunder Ranch area. That being said, even being a big SW fan, I don't agree with them building the SWE in DL but I've come to accept it. There's no changing that at this point and if folks truly want to voice their displeasure they need to stop going to DL altogether. Simply boycotting the SWE won't accomplish anything.

We will truly never know, but aside from the motivation (SW) behind the RoA changes (which folks are fully within their rights to despise) - I don't think the con side would be that disappointed with the new RoA.

If the motivation was merely to:

1. Improve the berm and further block out Mickey and Friends and improve the rivers show scenes
2. Get Fantasmic storage off Tom Sawyer's into its own dedicated space
3. Reroute the train to open up the expansion pad for the far flung future
4. Add a walking trail to get around around RoA without going through NoS during Fantasmic
5. Fantasmic 2.0

And that were it (no Star Wars involved), I think more people would be for it. Still upset about Big Thunder petting zoo, but certainly a little less upset.

The reason is clearly Star Wars though, we all know that. But at least some positive changes for Disneyland prime are occurring. I think the fear was how badly NoS was done and that this would very well be the same... but this is clearly the 'A team' assigned to this project.

The other thing is there is still a little bit of confusion about the shortening of RoA that lingers. The early percentages, fortunately, ended up being way too extreme.

 

[Californian Elitist]

And that is exactly what infuriates me. If they wanted to use IP in that area, then whatever, but they sure as heck shouldn't have dedicated ALL THAT SPACE to just one!

Agreed, and if it had to be just one IP, I would have hoped they'd pick something that jives more with the rest of the park. I wouldn't be complaining as much if they had plans to build Never Land, or maybe a land based on Mary Poppins with different sections based on places in the movie (London, the chalk scene, derby scene, chimneys, etc.). That would have been a much easier pill to swallow, but one entire land that will be dedicated to Star Wars? STAR WARS? Star. Wars. In DISNEYLAND? Twelve acres just for Star Wars in Disneyland. It truly makes me want to scream.

The listing of "positives" people keep posting don't help me look at this project different. Yes, we're getting an E-ticket, but we didn't need SWL for that. Same goes for pretty much everything else people mention (Fantasmic! upgrades, changes coming to the River, etc.).

 

[Phroobar]

And that is exactly what infuriates me. If they wanted to use IP in that area, then whatever, but they sure as heck shouldn't have dedicated ALL THAT SPACE to just one!

How small is acceptable? Carsland takes up a huge amount of space. Bugsland takes up a smaller amount of space. TDS's Little Mermaid land takes up a huge amount of space as does Mysterious Island. They all are large one IP lands. Why is Star Wars any different?

 

[Phroobar]

Because it is in Walt's park.

But it is already been there for thirty years.

 

[Phroobar]

This is purely an emotional reaction that has nothing to do with logic. Walt has been dead for fifty years. I think the Disney company can add whatever they want to each park they own as long as it is in their economic best interest. It is their park.

 

[sedati]

Agreed, and if it had to be just one IP, I would have hoped they'd pick something that jives more with the rest of the park. I wouldn't be complaining as much if they had plans to build Never Land, or maybe a land based on Mary Poppins with different sections based on places in the movie (London, the chalk scene, derby scene, chimneys, etc.). That would have been a much easier pill to swallow, but one entire land that will be dedicated to Star Wars? STAR WARS? Star. Wars. In DISNEYLAND? Twelve acres just for Star Wars in Disneyland. It truly makes me want to scream.

The listing of "positives" people keep posting don't help me look at this project different. Yes, we're getting an E-ticket, but we didn't need SWL for that. Same goes for pretty much everything else people mention (Fantasmic! upgrades, changes coming to the River, etc.).

Lucasland bad but P.L. Traversland great and J.M. Barrieland great? I'll also assume a Jules Verne land would be acceptable as well. So Disneyland should be composed of IPs that inspired Disney, but not from those Disney inspired (and wholly owns as opposed to adapts) is that it?