Galaxy's Edge - General Discussion

https://www.micechat.com/233418-miceage-disneyland-rumor-update-promising-the-moon/

So, I found this article that surprisingly isn't being widely-reported, detailing its construction & things that were omitted, as written by former Disney insider columnist Al Lutz. The blizzard of bad decisions made around this park and what was cut out from the final product is actually quite depressing, because this park segment could've really been something cool...but there's a clear priority from park management to cut down costs wherever possible, and the effects of that are quite evident.

Most telling is this section right here:

"By 2017, the most cynical execs in Burbank defended the removal of the dinner show by insisting visitors would Instagram photos of their high priced cocktails and thus be entertained just as much as they would have been watching an expensive to operate dinner show.”

Could you imagine if Walt Disney and the original Imagineers designed the Disney Parks with this mentality?

 

Plus, I think it's pretty clear that Batuu is going for a more immersive storytelling experience than a "sit down and watch a Country Bears show" thing.

There are shows in the park- it's just happening around you throughout the day.

 

But this is an instance where the approach for designing this park was literally changed entirely two years in. If you read the article, it states that the second management changed over to Bob Chapek, all of the cost-cutting maneuvers were implemented instantly. This wasn't a conflict in generations of park-builders differing in their implementation of ideas, this was a fast-brake decision made mid-development not because it was intended to be cheap and safe from the beginning, but because it was suddenly mandated to be so due to a sudden change in management.

And it's especially bad when you consider that part of the article states that the premier attraction, Rise of the Resistance, is actually being rushed out. The Imagineers and other executives have pleaded to delay the opening of the ride till February in anticipation of all the complaints they know they're going to get, but Bob Chapek waved them down in favor of opening it in December, with the priority being to fill up the December-season hotel reservations, regardless of the quality of the ride itself.

It's such a sad and misplaced sense of management, especially in contrast to the pain-staking time and detail that was used to craft the Wizarding World of Harry Potter over at Universal, or even Pandora in Disney's very own Animal Kingdom.

But there are far less than what was originally intended. If you read the article, and see the kind of stuff they had planned not just for outside but for interior as well, like almost being captured by a Star Destroyer or battles taking place on the rooftops, it's quite evident that a lot has been scaled down, not just the dinner attraction. All to save money on hiring performers and stunt workers.

 

M'kay.

But that's far from a problem just with Galaxy's Edge.

I've watched a ton of the Defunctland series over the past couple years, and I'm not sure there's a park on earth that's actually lived up to the original dream of its creator.

I mean, it's easy to say "look at what was cut", and indeed I'm sure a lot of that would have been really cool. But judging a park on its opening few months (and I'd agree some less than strategic decisions were made in opening so early, anyway) isn't really fair or valuable.

 

Certainly. I watch a lot of theme park videos as well, and I'm well aware of entire aspects of theme park attractions getting axed. But that's not the point. I'm not trying to claim that Galaxy's Edge is some kind of unique case of unprecedented compromising of elements conceived during development, that's not what I'm saying at all. It's just that in this case, I think it's hurt the final result more than usual. The shortage of things to do in Galaxy's Edge is something that you could've disguised with creative stunt shows, and immersive elements like the kind described in this article. And some of the ways that they were planning to simulate the Star Wars galaxy in even minor instances like waiting during the queue for a ride or taking the wrong turn in the area sounded really cool. That's not to say that they don't have any immersive elements in the park right now---they definitely do, but the elaborate ones they had planned initially (and were 100% doable considering that they were only pulled late in the parkland's development) sound far better in comparison. It's one thing to have impressive architecture or one or two nice shops, but when the overwhelming bulk of your park section is only supported by one attraction and a handful of shows, more effort probably should've gone in filling the park with as much immersive show factor as possible. It would've done a better job at hiding the fact that the park section is essentially a mini-size Epcot or Downtown Disney, where there's little to do except eat or buy. And if the article's anything to go by, these things won't be added in during a later date, in spite of them being easy to implement later: these aren't attractions that need land or multi-million dollar resources to make space for or uphold...these are just actors and empty spots in the park that are already built. These aren't like traditional cut aspects of a park that would take too much time or money to re-implement once the park is open---like the more expansive sections of a ride or a track that was supposed to be more complicated---these are things that were doable from the start, and are still doable, that the management don't feel warrant the cost. Some of the mentioned immersive elements were staple facets of the expansion for over three years into its development, and were axed literally a year before the park opened. That's not just stuff littered on the cutting room floor of the concept stage. It's a very different situation, at least from what this article states.

Moreover, I think it's completely fair to judge a theme park expansion in its opening months, especially by today's standards. This isn't the 1950's with Disneyland or the 1990's for Universal/Islands of Adventure, where you have half-complete launches based on lack of experience, and management scrambling to implement improvement after improvement to combat negative attendance feedback or media coverage. These people running the parks have experience developing, fostering, and building large-scale projects. I was at the Harry Potter World Expansion for Universal very close to opening, and much of what is available at that park in terms of immersion, sets, and actors was available back then, all the way back at launch. There wasn't a feeling of compromise or lack of things to do like there is now with Galaxy's Edge, and most of the recent enhancements like rides or cross-park interlinking were just layers over something that already felt immersive and complete to start with. And that's really the issue with Galaxy's Edge, one that I don't think the management for feel compelled to fix considering all the cost-cutting maneuvers they've taken so far, especially things that, again, were cut so close to the Park's opening that had been a part of the planned immersion for years. It's not like they can't go through with these planned elements, or that it's too late in development to implement them...the management just doesn't want to, as the article freely admits.

From what this account states, Bob Chapek and the rest of management seemed to be of the mindset that the brand-recognition of Star Wars would be enough to sell Galaxy's Edge, more than whatever it is that awaits guests when they enter the actual expansion. Especially when you consider how strongly opposed other people working on the park were to the Rise of the Resistance ride being opened before they felt it was ready.

 

This is one of those things that needs some time to breath. Give the park a year or two before you draw too many conclusions. Star Wars is such a huge American IP it's perfect for clickbait. At any point in time there's some group with some kine of ax to grind who is desperate for bad news. I've been watching this phenomenon for decades.

Want to know when we'll know Star Wars is in real trouble? When people quit writing about it.

I live two hours away from Disneyworld and I've been to the Magic Kingdom once. Been to Epcot a few times. Orlando is a much later attraction than LA for theme parks. Galaxy's Edge isn't opening with any restrictions in Orando, but it's still missing the one attracting. It seems like most of the people who have visited the park have loved it. The complaining is mostly people who haven't been to the park who have strong opinions based on other people who haven't been the park.

 

I’d live in Galaxy’s Edge if they had condos and I could afford one.

I’m already anticipating the resort they are building.

These parks are a great thing for Star Wars fans. I can’t wait for them to fully open. I’m planning on many visits actually. I want to build a lightsaber, drink blue milk (it’s vegan!) and get on that Resistance ride!

 

Been reading and hearing rumours from various different sources that if Galaxy's Edge fails to attract more people after the release of TROS, then it will be shut down and rebranded as an Aladdin attraction later....

 

I'm truly sad for anyone who:

a) reads that nonsense
b) believes it

 

Notice you are comparing to the Harry Potter World expansion, not the original world. If you recall the original Wizarding World opened with a re branded roller coaster that was already at Universal.

I think a better example is needed then a dinner show. That sounds totally out of place in Galaxies Edge. Sure that isnt the reason it was axed and someone else spun it as Disney cheaping out.

--- Double Post Merged, Aug 16, 2019, Original Post Date: Aug 16, 2019 ---

You ever been to Disney around the holidays? They dont need Rise of the Resistance to fill up the hotel reservations. I am a Disney Vacation Club member. Getting rooms around the holidays isnt easy.

I feel that Rise of the Resistance is a major reason why the area hasnt been jam packed yet. The assumption was that it would open late summer at DL and around December in DW. Lots of people held off because really to many Galaxies Edge is in preview mode right now. It isnt like Rise of the Resistance was an expansion added a few years later. It was part of the marketing from the get go. Lots and lots of people held off going because it wasnt launched with the area. We certainly did. Were not going until late January 2020.

 

Also, not to get too political, but consider we're basically on the brink of recession in a time where we already had extreme wealth inequality. It's not the 80s anymore, and theme parks in general are in a bit of a slump. I know as badly as I want to go to Galaxy's Edge, it's definitely gonna need to wait a few years.

And I don't mean to throw this up as some excuse, but I do think we need to think more critically than "STAR WARS BAD NOW" or "SHOULD BE PLANET I LIKE".

 

Another reason why I don't want to go to it is that as I predicted, its full of tourists inappropriately wearing everyday clothing that doesn't fit in with how the residents of a SW planet would dress, its distracting so much that it ruins the feel and ambience of the place and makes you feel you're always in an artificial theme park on Earth, and not escaping reality by feeling like you're on an alien planet far, far away....

If they (Disney) gave each visitor something simple and Star Warsy to wear over their everyday clothes to blend in (paid/rented as part of the ticket price), then that might lessen the "fakeness" of the experience.

At the moment, seeing most people wearing shorts, t-shirts and Mickey Mouse ears/balloons around the place is just bizarre and totally ruins the ambience of all that has been built there. As its supposed to be a theme park, why can't the visitors be part of the theme too? Weird.

 

One criticism I definitely agree with is that Disney should've allowed cosplay, though I do begrudgingly understand the reasons they're against it.

I'm hoping it's kind of like a really impressive Renaissance Faire. If you focus on the actors, rather than those around you, it does feel more immersive.

 

Unfortunatly, I almost completely spent my money this summer, but one day I want to go there with the whole family. Yeah!

 

I have been to both Disney Parks during the holidays. I'm going off of what the article states, which details the divide in mentality between the Imagineers and the management, not unbridled speculation. The Hotel Priority was the stated reason for this divide on when the ride should be made available to the public.

 

The whole article is based on rumor. The title of the article is
"MiceAge Disneyland Rumor Update – Promising the Moon"

--- Double Post Merged, Aug 16, 2019, Original Post Date: Aug 16, 2019 ---

Not safe for kids.


I do have to add. Every project has the designers and imagination people start with shooting for the moon. Eventually you have to work on something that can be delivered in a timely manner. Things get pushed back, pushed aside and cancelled based on feasibility, desirability and yes cost. Some will come back some will never come to fruition and some will be re-imagined. GE has just opened and I am certain Disney Parks has plans for improvements, but sometimes you need to get stuff out in public consumption before you move to the next phase.

 

I'm going to Disney World in October and can't wait to see GE! While the article was interesting it holds no sway for me, I'll reserve judgement until I've experienced GE myself.

 

I got to go to Galaxy's Edge (Orlando) today for the first time. I'd have to say we (my wife and I) had a great time. While I may like it better if it was based in the prequel and original trilogy era, I was way too busy enjoying what was there rather than focusing on what wasn't. I can't wait to go back.