You're Gonna Need a Bigger Park

[Magenta Panther]

Deadline now reporting Saturday, while still a drop-off, was stronger than expected. TFA now projected to hit 238-243 Million. That is just domestically. Globally, will be somewhere near 325 - 350 million for opening weekend. http://deadline.com/2015/12/star-wars-force-awakens-box-office-thursday-night-previews-1201669166/. Scary when you realize it still has not been released in several countries.

Agreed Frozen was a worldwide phenom. But Frozen is not SW. Globally, SW projections are now between 2-2.5 Billion which nearly or slightly double Frozen. Think about that. Doubles Frozen.

Don't know how you can say Iger didn't cough up money on Frozen: The new Frozen Ride, The new Arendelle pavilion for the meet and greet in Epcot, Frozen Summer, Frozen Wishes, Frozen Singalong, Frozen in about every park in DW.

Now again think about that statement. "SW will double Frozen". That is a pretty big statement. To put it in a better context. This one film...will generate nearly 60-70% of the total box office revenue that all 4 Pirates did combined.

Now when you throw in the IP from the first six films, the animated series, the books, and the 5 scheduled movies to be released over the next five years -- replacing Stitch with a "Starkiller" ride and converting a pavilion in Future World into a Rebel Base, ain't gonna cut it. Disney is sitting on a gold-mine. Yes they paid 4 Billion for it. But it is an investment that will end up netting them a 500% return.

Forget about Iger simply coughing. He's got full on bronchitis. He'll be coughing for the next 5 years.
https://deadline.com/2015/12/bob-ig...-disney-employees-in-company-memo-1201668421/

We have a little less than a year until "Rogue One" hits the theaters next December and 6 months after that..episode VIII....then the Han Solo prequels... leading into IX. With all the new IP these future films will generate Disney better have a plan.

And as of today, The Force awakens is still number two, behind Jurassic World. Golly, maybe Universal better have a plan, huh?

Get a grip. Of COURSE the new SW film is doing big numbers. Did ANYONE expect it to fail? That doesn't mean Disney has to build any more SW junk than it already plans to do. Plus there are actual Disney/adaptations/creations that don't have a presence in the parks that deserve to more than Star Wars.

I think you're letting the VERY front-loaded B.O. of this revived franchise delude you. Maybe you ought to be content/grateful for the Falcon ride and the Cantina and the other rumored attractions out there. And for Star Tours, which is open now, and which, despite SW's stunning popularity, is almost always a walk-on. For my part, the fact that Hollywood Studio's Magic of Disney Animation - a tribute to the very art that built Disney - got kicked out for a lame Star Wars Launch Bay makes me want to throw up. Have a nice day.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

And as of today, The Force awakens is still number two, behind Jurassic World. Golly, maybe Universal better have a plan, huh?

Get a grip. Of COURSE the new SW film is doing big numbers. Did ANYONE expect it to fail? That doesn't mean Disney has to build any more SW junk than it already plans to do. Plus there are actual Disney/adaptations/creations that don't have a presence in the parks that deserve to more than Star Wars.

I think you're letting the VERY front-loaded B.O. of this revived franchise delude you. Maybe you ought to be content/grateful for the Falcon ride and the Cantina and the other rumored attractions out there. And for Star Tours, which is open now, and which, despite SW's stunning popularity, is almost always a walk-on. For my part, the fact that Hollywood Studio's Magic of Disney Animation - a tribute to the very art that built Disney - got kicked out for a lame Star Wars Launch Bay makes me want to throw up. Have a nice day.

No really it's not. Maybe reading comprehension just ain't your thing. It shattered JW domestically. JW still has a bigger global opening (barely) due to the fact it hasn't opened in a few countries yet, including China where it won't open until 1/9 (JW had 220 million in China alone). If you plan on detracting (trolling) on a post, Please make sure you put things in the proper context and don't try to spin things using flawed logic.

Plenty of places on the web we can place a little wager. I'll take TFA having a bigger global take than JW when it's all said and done. You game? Or Golly Geez, Shucks..would you rather quit while you're behind?

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

That is one show building, but there are two rides in it.

True, I can of wish they look at what they are doing over at Avatar. Have the two show buildings that will house a E-ticket along with a C or D attraction. 4 total rides along with Star Tours mixed in with other non ride attractions. Hopefully we will get more details of the land soon.

 

[BringMeTheHoriz]

Star Wars, while massively popular and no doubt a cash cow for TWDC, is a love it or hate it franchise. I, and most everyone I know, has about as much care for SW as we do the bug that splatters on your windshield. Its a money making IP no doubt, but if they start shoving SW down my throat at each park at WDW they're going to anger me and a lot of other Disney fans.

This isn't an original Disney IP, and given the recent expansion at DaK, the future expansion at HS, and the complete neglect to add any real Disney IPs to the parks outside merchandising, I'm worried about the direction Disney is heading with its properties.

 

[wdwfan4ver]

And for Star Tours, which is open now, and which, despite SW's stunning popularity, is almost always a walk-on. For my part, the fact that Hollywood Studio's Magic of Disney Animation - a tribute to the very art that built Disney - got kicked out for a lame Star Wars Launch Bay makes me want to throw up. Have a nice day.

You are forgetting one thing about Star Tours is the capacity of the ride. This is an attraction that capable of having around 2,000 gusts an hour. You shouldn't expect an attractions get Toy Story Midway Mania times as a result since Toy story Midway Mania only gets 800 to 1,100 guests an hours.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

Star Wars, while massively popular and no doubt a cash cow for TWDC, is a love it or hate it franchise. I, and most everyone I know, has about as much care for SW as we do the bug that splatters on your windshield. Its a money making IP no doubt, but if they start shoving SW down my throat at each park at WDW they're going to anger me and a lot of other Disney fans.

This isn't an original Disney IP, and given the recent expansion at DaK, the future expansion at HS, and the complete neglect to add any real Disney IPs to the parks outside merchandising, I'm worried about the direction Disney is heading with its properties.

Avatar isn't an original Disney IP either, Toy Story was inherited from the Pixar acquisition, yeah Disney released the movie in 95 but didn't buy Pixar til 06. They didn't create the Marvel characters, but everybody wants them to be incorporated into the parks since they bought the rights and once they have a deal with Universal. I'm missing your point.

 

[HauntedMansionFLA]

Star Wars, while massively popular and no doubt a cash cow for TWDC, is a love it or hate it franchise. I, and most everyone I know, has about as much care for SW as we do the bug that splatters on your windshield. Its a money making IP no doubt, but if they start shoving SW down my throat at each park at WDW they're going to anger me and a lot of other Disney fans.

This isn't an original Disney IP, and given the recent expansion at DaK, the future expansion at HS, and the complete neglect to add any real Disney IPs to the parks outside merchandising, I'm worried about the direction Disney is heading with its properties.

A lot of Disney Classic didn't belong to Walt Disney. He went around and bought up all of the IP's he could get his hands on. Most of the authors were dead by then and he didn't have to put up a fight. Different story with Mary Poppins. Iger is just following what Walt did years ago. Most people don't realize Walt didn't create a lot of the characters that we grew up loving. That being said, I wish there were more attractions geared toward the classic characters. Great example, I can't believe their isn't a ride for Bambi. I wish they would rebooted the Great movie Ride toward the Disney Classics.

 

[Hakunamatata]

Avatar isn't an original Disney IP either, Toy Story was inherited from the Pixar acquisition, yeah Disney released the movie in 95 but didn't buy Pixar til 06. They didn't create the Marvel characters, but everybody wants them to be incorporated into the parks since they bought the rights and once they have a deal with Universal. I'm missing your point.

My how people forget. Pooh and Poppins were not Disney created IP either.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

You are forgetting one thing about Star Tours is the capacity of the ride. This is an attraction that capable of having around 2,000 gusts an hour.

I think it's actually 2,400 when all 6 simulators are running (two more than the original version in Disneyland). Regardless, the capacity is very good as you say.

It's also on the opposite side of the park of the three main draws (ToT, RnRC, Fantasmic).

 

[Dead2009]

The same people who go "DISNEY NEEDS TO BUILD EVERYTHING IN THE PARKS CAUSE MOVIES MADE BANK" are the same people that'll complain that they miss whatever rides the SW ones replaced. The Marvel movies make a lot of money but the west coast hardly sees a presence. Stop trying to get new rides built every time something is a box office success. Just STOP.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

The same people who go "DISNEY NEEDS TO BUILD EVERYTHING IN THE PARKS CAUSE MOVIES MADE BANK" are the same people that'll complain that they miss whatever rides the SW ones replaced. The Marvel movies make a lot of money but the west coast hardly sees a presence. Stop trying to get new rides built every time something is a box office success. Just STOP.

I think the first delineation you need to make is movie vs franchise. When you have a storied franchise wherein the seventh movie in that franchise is released and is going to end up as one of the biggest (if not the biggest) movies in the history of movies, your not really talking about making a ride because of a successful release. Considering the 4 Billion dollar investment Disney has in the franchise, and considering the slate of movies scheduled through 2020, were not talking about a movie that just happened to make bank.

Do you really think Universal would have gotten the push it needed and be where it is today without Potter? Again Potter wasn't just a movie that made bank. It was a franchise that grew bigger with every release and grew a very loyal following. I don't think anybody is advocating making a San Andreas ride just because it made 150 million. But when you look at a successful franchise, say Transformers (which the ride has been built), or Fast and Furious (which is being built), the story changes a bit.

 

[dizda]

I think it's actually 2,400 when all 6 simulators are running (two more than the original version in Disneyland). Regardless, the capacity is very good as you say.

It's also on the opposite side of the park of the three main draws (ToT, RnRC, Fantasmic).

Another thing to keep in mind is that Star Tours and JTA have been stand alone attractions and not connected to anything else "Star Wars." A new SWL with more rides, shops, dining and a themed environment will attract more fans (including casual fans that feel a single ride is not worth a trip to DHS) and even non-fans may visit just to check out the land and decide to ride a ride or two.

 

[Andy_0410]

Let's hope that all this success at least means SWL is delivered sooner rather than later

 

[Incomudro]

May I point out that Star Wars targets an audience that WDW begins to lose when they reach a certain age?
Boys.
As a father of boys (twins) who are 13, I can see how they are aging out of WDW - whereas Universal has offering geared more towards them.
I actually wish that Star Wars and Pandora were ready now, so I could roll right along for a couple of more trips.
My sons are still excited to go to Disney - and we are planning a May trip (we couldn't go last May)
I think Disney is smart to build these lands and hang on to and attract this segment of the population.

 

[networkpro]

Its a non-princess IP that has no restrictions East of the Mississippi, so demographics has a lot to do with why DHS isnt going to have yet another Princess-land.

 

[the-reason14]

I really wish they would just go ahead and build a new park around Star Wars. That way the crowds would all go there and hopefully make it more manageable at the other parks.

 

[rkleinlein]

Looking at the artwork for Toy Story and Avatar lands one gets the sense, assuming it's all done well, that these lands cover enough bases to do Toy Story and Avatar justice. A land and several attractions each is enough. Maybe too much. I don't think the same can be said of Star Wars. Even if what is done on 14 acres is fantastic, I agree that it's not going to be enough to do the universe of Star Wars justice or to satisfy people. Had the four existing parks been up to par, it would have been a brilliant move to make it a fifth park.

 

[networkpro]

Why the hue and cry for additional parks instead of efficient use of land within the existing parks ? Disneyland Park is currently only 85 acres (up from its original 60), 57 less than the Magic Kingdom. I could fit the first two in the pasture behind our house and Magic Kingdom in the back pasture.

1. The SMALLEST Disney theme park in the world is currently Walt Disney Studios Paris - 62 acres;
2. Disney California Adventure - 67 acres
   
3. Hong Kong Disneyland - 68 acres
   
4. Disneyland Park (California) - 85 acres;
5. Tokyo DisneySea - 122 acres;
6. Tokyo Disneyland - 126 acres, and Disneyland Paris - 126 acres;
7. Magic Kingdom - 142 acres;
8. Disney’s Hollywood Studios - 154 acres;
9. Epcot - 300 acres;
10. The BIGGEST Disney theme park in the world is Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park- 500 acres.

 

[WDWVolFan]

What if Disney decides to turn DHS into what Uni did and be two parks in one? I could see that happening.

 

[WDWVolFan]

Why the hue and cry for additional parks instead of efficient use of land within the existing parks ? Disneyland Park is currently only 85 acres (up from its original 60), 57 less than the Magic Kingdom. I could fit the first two in the pasture behind our house and Magic Kingdom in the back pasture.

1. The SMALLEST Disney theme park in the world is currently Walt Disney Studios Paris - 62 acres;
2. Disney California Adventure - 67 acres
   
3. Hong Kong Disneyland - 68 acres
   
4. Disneyland Park (California) - 85 acres;
5. Tokyo DisneySea - 122 acres;
6. Tokyo Disneyland - 126 acres, and Disneyland Paris - 126 acres;
7. Magic Kingdom - 142 acres;
8. Disney’s Hollywood Studios - 154 acres;
9. Epcot - 300 acres;
10. The BIGGEST Disney theme park in the world is Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park- 500 acres.

WOW! DHS is bigger than MK? Damn!