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

[Travel Junkie]

A spaceport in Tommorrowland that just happens to visit planets in the Star Wars universe fits thematically in DL. It's not that Star Wars doesn't fit into DL it's how Star Wars is being implemented.

It's not that people are resistant to change. The park should evolve, but should do so in a way consistent with the rest of the park.

I'm reminded of how Tony Baxter describes the difference between DL and MK. DL is charming and MK is spectacular. Big Thunder's spires were designed to be charming in DL and spectacular in MK. As great as Star Wars land looks, all indications are they went for spectacular. That's great but the entire rest of the park was designed with a different aesthetic in mind. Even Indy has a small intimate facade and only one or two places turns into a grand spectacle and does so with a purpose.

There is nothing I have seen that shows me that this project won't stick out like a sore thumb compared to the rest of the park. That's not how it should be.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Next summer hopefully. Also D23 at least once in my life.

If you can make it, we'll start planning soon!

 

[BrianLo]

I agreed with your entire post, but this was my favorite part. SO TRUE. I think the only fairly recent offering that somewhat reminds me of that good 'ol Disneyland charm is Fantasy Faire. It aesthetically fits well with the rest of Fantasyland and the shows that are put on don't scream corporate. Other than that, the creativity has not continued from the past, I agree.

Not Disneyland, but Mystic Manor you would love. I think the perfect mesh of charming but subtly spectacular.

 

[Californian Elitist]

It's not that people are resistant to change. The park should evolve, but should do so in a way consistent with the rest of the park.

This.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Not Disneyland, but Mystic Manor you would love. I think the perfect mesh of charming but subtly spectacular.

I think I'd love it, too.

 

[Mike S]

I wish we could get something this great and original stateside

 

[Californian Elitist]

I wish we could get something this great and original stateside

Right? We'll be waiting for decades LOL.

 

[Curious Constance]

Next summer hopefully. Also D23 at least once in my life.

I think I read D23 expo is going to be in July next year Rather than the usual August, maybe you could do both in one trip!!!!!

 

[Donaldfan1934]

That may or may not be true, depending on which theaters are operating when SWL opens. DHS has always had a small number of attractions, but the theaters have huge capacities compared to traditional rides.

I think the park that feels the pinch of Star Wars the worst will be the Magic Kingdom, unless DHS is able to extend park hours into the MSEP / Wishes time. Otherwise, the big crowds doing Star Wars will hop to the MK.

Much like DAK and ROL, I'm sure that the hours will be extended.

 

[Curious Constance]

A spaceport in Tommorrowland that just happens to visit planets in the Star Wars universe fits thematically in DL. It's not that Star Wars doesn't fit into DL it's how Star Wars is being implemented.

It's not that people are resistant to change. The park should evolve, but should do so in a way consistent with the rest of the park.

I'm reminded of how Tony Baxter describes the difference between DL and MK. DL is charming and MK is spectacular. Big Thunder's spires were designed to be charming in DL and spectacular in MK. As great as Star Wars land looks, all indications are they went for spectacular. That's great but the entire rest of the park was designed with a different aesthetic in mind. Even Indy has a small intimate facade and only one or two places turns into a grand spectacle and does so with a purpose.

There is nothing I have seen that shows me that this project won't stick out like a sore thumb compared to the rest of the park. That's not how it should be.

How will this be any more of a sore thumb than a Swiss mountain next to a castle?

 

[Curious Constance]

I wish we could get something this great and original stateside

That has some really cool looking effects, but I don't really get it. Where am I, why am I there, who is the weird monkey?

 

[Rich T]

That has some really cool looking effects, but I don't really get it. Where am I, why am I there, who is the weird monkey?

You're visiting the home of Lord Henry Mystic, collector of unique artifacts. The monkey is his pet, Albert. Mystic's latest find is a music box rumored to have the power to bring inanimate objects to life. The monkey is fascinated by the box. Lord Mystic warns the monkey not to open it. Something goes horribly wrong...

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

I wish they had just rebuilt the E.T. Adventure on the land where Star Wars is going.

That presentation was so bizarre to me. I just don't agree that everyone has always wanted to go to the Star Wars galaxy. As Saturday matinee popcorn movies for kids, they're good. So watching is fun. But I don't want to actually go to a universe at war with mostly inhospitable planets where everyone is either a stormtrooper, a terrorist, a slave or a ridiculous alien or robot and the probability of being killed is astronomical. Sounds terrible. Also, I don't want to smell Star Wars. What's that all about? That guy announced two ''iconic'' attractions. So that's how it works? You just declare it ''iconic'', well I guess it must be true.

 

[Curious Constance]

You're visiting the home of Lord Henry Mystic, collector of unique artifacts. The monkey is his pet, Albert. Mystic's latest find is a music box rumored to have the power to bring inanimate objects to life. The monkey is fascinated by the box. Lord Mystic warns the monkey not to open it. Something goes horribly wrong...

The monkey is very Abu-ish.

 

[Rich T]

The monkey is very Abu-ish.

Absolutely. When he reaches for the music box, I almost expect Aladdin to burst in and yell, "ABU NO-O-O-O-O-O-O!!!!" This particular video of the ride, though really well shot, left out the charming little preshow that sets up the whole story. There are multiple paths through some rooms, too; no one encounters every character/object on any given trip. I'd love to see this ride brought to DCA. I'd put it where the Adventure trail thing is. Lord Mystic can retire anywhere on Earth, after all.

 

[Californian Elitist]

How will this be any more of a sore thumb than a Swiss mountain next to a castle?

How do you figure these two placements are comparable?

 

[BrianLo]

I wish we could get something this great and original stateside

And this is the reason I'm exceedingly less grumpy about WDI than the average person on WDWMagic. It helps that I go to just about everywhere but WDW more frequently.

I can forgive them for a whole lot simply because Mystic Manor is a freaking masterpiece.

I hold out a tiny bit of hope that some day there will be another S.E.A. attraction that makes it way stateside, if not maybe SDL will get one.


@Curious Constance - the backstory is better established in the queue.

 

[Donaldfan1934]

A spaceport in Tommorrowland that just happens to visit planets in the Star Wars universe fits thematically in DL. It's not that Star Wars doesn't fit into DL it's how Star Wars is being implemented.

It's not that people are resistant to change. The park should evolve, but should do so in a way consistent with the rest of the park.

I'm reminded of how Tony Baxter describes the difference between DL and MK. DL is charming and MK is spectacular. Big Thunder's spires were designed to be charming in DL and spectacular in MK. As great as Star Wars land looks, all indications are they went for spectacular. That's great but the entire rest of the park was designed with a different aesthetic in mind. Even Indy has a small intimate facade and only one or two places turns into a grand spectacle and does so with a purpose.

There is nothing I have seen that shows me that this project won't stick out like a sore thumb compared to the rest of the park. That's not how it should be.

I can't agree with this more. I love how you mention Tony Baxter's quote about the Kingdoms. Its the key difference between the two and should be cited more often. However, I wanted to clarify that just because Magic Kingom is spectacular doesn't mean SWL would work there. While Star Wars as a theme may be fine for one ride in Tomorrowland, it can't work as a land because not only does it not gel with the other lands from a structural standpoint, Star Wars has a very tone and philosophical science to it than that of the MK concept. Again, a ride is fine like you said, but Star Wars and the MK concept just don't mesh at all on a grand scale.

 

[Rich T]

That presentation was so bizarre to me. I just don't agree that everyone has always wanted to go to the Star Wars galaxy. As Saturday matinee popcorn movies for kids, they're good. So watching is fun. But I don't want to actually go to a universe at war with mostly inhospitable planets where everyone is either a stormtrooper, a terrorist, a slave or a ridiculous alien or robot and the probability of being killed is astronomical. Sounds terrible. Also, I don't want to smell Star Wars. What's that all about? That guy announced two ''iconic'' attractions. So that's how it works? You just declare it ''iconic'', well I guess it must be true.

Oh, I've seen weirder Disney press events... and at least this one was iconic and epic...and iconic.

Really, now, though-- Using that argument of yours, who would want to visit the real, dirty, dangerous Old West with all its hardships? Who would want to visit a fairy tale kingdom where everyone lives a crappy life except for one couple? Who would pick a yeti-infested mountain for their bobsled training? And who would want to enter a real haunted mansion? And let's not even mention pirates. We want versions of those worlds and stories that are thrilling, yet accomodating and comfortable. That's what they're doing with Star Wars. The land is all cafes and marketplaces full of eccentric characters. I think the neutral outpost is supposed to be Star Wars Switzerland. The dangers lie outside the safe boundaries of the outpost, and that's where the rides venture. If they were building Middle Earth, the land would be an idealized Hobbiton and all the violence and terror would happen on the rides.

 

[Curious Constance]

How do you figure these two placements are comparable?

I don't think they are. That's my point. One will be secluded and tucked into a currently backstage area, and one is a constant reminder that you're in a theme park because you have two things that don't go together within direct viewpoint of each other. Mind you, it doesn't bother me, but I don't understand how one could be offensive to someone and not the other.