Am I the only one that is unimpressed with SWGE - where is the juice?

[Dr.Mickey]

I’d like to add a few thoughts after visiting SWGE in California right before the reservation period ended. We didn’t travel from S.C. specifically for SWGE - it was mainly for Yosemite and Sequoia. But when we found out about the reservation period, and hopefully smaller crowds, we added 3 days at DL (which we loved). We are SW fans (I was 6 in 1977), but we didn’t build our trip around this.

Keep in mind, the biggest ride is not open yet, so everything may change. I can’t imagine if Pandora had opened without FOP. But, my teen and preteen boys were bored, and we left before our time was up. They decided not to spend their vacation money on a lightsaber or droid, and you can’t really even go in and look unless you are buying. So if you aren’t doing the boutique experience, and paying for it, we ran out of stuff to do pretty quickly.

The Falcon ride was pretty good, and the queue was awesome! But even with a 20 min wait, they were all done after one ride.

The land is beautiful, and cool looking, and very well done. I’m not trying to discourage anyone. But my kids named about 6 or 7 “favorites” from the trip, and SWGE wasn’t one of them. Anyway, this thread seems a good place to present our thoughts.

 

[glamdring269]

I grew up a Star Wars nerd (born in 77) but to sum up my feelings on SW:GE... meh. I'm just so burned out on Star Wars now and frankly this attempt at land creation feels somewhat forced.

It seems like HP Land got it right. It is a complete recreation of something that is completely familiar to HP fans. When you arrive in either of the two lands you know exactly where you are and you recognize everything. SW:GE is a Star Wars land with some familiar elements but when you enter it will not have that same sense of familiarity and I do think that is the one thing that will make it really cool to see the first time or two but then just another place to be. I don't see that ever happening to HP land.

To be transparent here, I have not yet seen this with my own eyes but will in October. Will be interesting to see if what I think to be true will actually be true (for me).

 

[Disney Frenhines]

Am I the only one that is unimpressed (so far) with SWGE - where is the juice?

This thing cost $1 billion (with a "B") and covers 14 acres and does not have anywhere near the charm/wonder/fantasy/Disney of Main Street or Fantasyland or Cars Land or shoot even the Monorail for that matter (all far smaller and less expensive). I mean, so far the only ride is a big video game embedded in a movie set.

I get it, there is a tremendous fandom of 20somethings to 50somethings but I get the feeling that there is a lot of vlogging and show-the-internet-food of it all without anyone asking if this thing fits.

Hearing a lot of negative reviews about SWGE, I'll be doing both coasts in September, so I'll get to see them for myself, luckily despite being a massive from the beginning SW fan, it's not the main reason for my trip. Still, will be interesting. Looking far more forward to the Beauty and The Beast attractions at Tokyo Disneyland

 

[andyw715]

I for one welcome what ever "bad press" (funny we equate press with blogs) of SW:GE.

Might mean less people there when I go!

 

[Lumpy1106]

I’d like to add a few thoughts after visiting SWGE in California right before the reservation period ended. We didn’t travel from S.C. specifically for SWGE - it was mainly for Yosemite and Sequoia. But when we found out about the reservation period, and hopefully smaller crowds, we added 3 days at DL (which we loved). We are SW fans (I was 6 in 1977), but we didn’t build our trip around this.

Keep in mind, the biggest ride is not open yet, so everything may change. I can’t imagine if Pandora had opened without FOP. But, my teen and preteen boys were bored, and we left before our time was up. They decided not to spend their vacation money on a lightsaber or droid, and you can’t really even go in and look unless you are buying. So if you aren’t doing the boutique experience, and paying for it, we ran out of stuff to do pretty quickly.

The Falcon ride was pretty good, and the queue was awesome! But even with a 20 min wait, they were all done after one ride.

The land is beautiful, and cool looking, and very well done. I’m not trying to discourage anyone. But my kids named about 6 or 7 “favorites” from the trip, and SWGE wasn’t one of them. Anyway, this thread seems a good place to present our thoughts.

I haven't been yet but this is exactly the impression I've gotten. I think Disney blew it by making everything so expensive just to even get a glimpse of. Remember it's not a $200 light saber, it's a $200 x the number of kids (+ dad most likely) light saber. It's not a $100 droid, it's a $100 x at least 2 droids (because they interact with one another and if one kids gets one, at least one other kid (or Dad) will not be happy without one). Then there's the Cantina with the +$15 drinks x each person in your party. A family of 5 could easily be set back $1000. That's a HARD pass from my family and I have to believe that's the norm. And yes, I know that's what Universal does with the wands, but you know, I've been there twice with my kids and we don't have wands - it's not really breaking my heart.

How do they fix it? How about an observation deck where you can see the light sabers being built, or the droids being built? How about a sit-down show in the Cantina that you can sit in front and have drinks if that's what you want? Just spit-balling. There has to be some way you can experience the rest of SWGE without it setting you back a month's rent ON TOP OF what you've already spent on your vacation. Otherwise, what you have now is just one ride with pretty-good reviews and a bunch of buildings most people will not see the inside of. That's kindof a waste IMHO.

 

[yulilin3]

I haven't been yet but this is exactly the impression I've gotten. I think Disney blew it by making everything so expensive just to even get a glimpse of. Remember it's not a $200 light saber, it's a $200 x the number of kids (+ dad most likely) light saber. It's not a $100 droid, it's a $100 x at least 2 droids (because they interact with one another and if one kids gets one, at least one other kid (or Dad) will not be happy without one). Then there's the Cantina with the +$15 drinks x each person in your party. A family of 5 could easily be set back $1000. That's a HARD pass from my family and I have to believe that's the norm. And yes, I know that's what Universal does with the wands, but you know, I've been there twice with my kids and we don't have wands - it's not really breaking my heart.

How do they fix it? How about an observation deck where you can see the light sabers being built, or the droids being built? How about a sit-down show in the Cantina that you can sit in front and have drinks if that's what you want? Just spit-balling. There has to be some way you can experience the rest of SWGE without it setting you back a month's rent ON TOP OF what you've already spent on your vacation. Otherwise, what you have now is just one ride with pretty-good reviews and a bunch of buildings most people will not see the inside of. That's kindof a waste IMHO.

I don't think the price of experiences is the issue, actually many expensive pieces are sold out because of very high demand.
The only place you cannot experience is Savi's without spending tons of money.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

And yes, I know that's what Universal does with the wands, but you know, I've been there twice with my kids and we don't have wands - it's not really breaking my heart.

Even if you did spring for wands one day, when I bought my kids their wands they were like 35-ish dollars, a far cry from 200!! And they got to use them around Diagon and Hogsmeade, which really enhanced their experience. In Galaxy’s Edge you are not allowed to use the saber or droid in the park after you spend your arm and leg to get it. I mean, why would I want a 200 dollar light saber? I can at least see the appeal of a droid for my kid.

 

[andyw715]

I don't have first hand experience with the lightsabers in SW:GE but if they are similar to ones I've seen from other outlets, $200 doesn't seem unreasonable.
As far as $200 x #of kids, etc; whatever.....if they can't deal with what a parent can afford, that's a different issue.

 

[nancipants]

I'd just like to add that Moms (at least this mom-to-be!) would want to build a lightsaber and droid, too.

 

[yulilin3]

I'd just like to add that Moms (at least this mom-to-be!) would want to build a lightsaber and droid, too.

45 year old moms of 2 grown "kids" also wants to build a droid and lightsaber

 

[SoCalKDG]

The biggest ride for the land isn't open. Need to evaluate once it is.

Opening dates announced.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...f-star-wars-rise-of-the-resistance-announced/

 

[fatmanatee]

More juice coming soon.

 

[Wishfuiiy]

I'd just like to add that Moms (at least this mom-to-be!) would want to build a lightsaber and droid, too.

Not a Mom nor will I be, but I still want a lightsaber and a droid. More than my husband actually. ANNND I already have a real custom built one that like hardcore fans buy from speciality sites. STILL. WANT. THAT. SABER.

 

[kbelle8995]

Not a Mom nor will I be, but I still want a lightsaber and a droid. More than my husband actually. ANNND I already have a real custom built one that like hardcore fans buy from speciality sites. STILL. WANT. THAT. SABER.

ME TOO. Especially the Droid

 

[DLgal]

People are using their lightsabers all over the land. The CMs have basically stopped trying to prevent it. We were there a couple times last weekend and especially at night, they are out all over, lit up, for photo ops. I even saw a couple out and lit up in DCA at night.

Similarly, we saw a few people sitting off to the side on the ground, playing with the droids. They weren't in the path of pedestrians and no one said anything to them. I think Disney is relaxing some of the strict rules around these two items, because people were probably getting pretty upset that they spent that much money and basically had to hide it away until they get home.

 

[sethschroeder]

Remember it's not a $200 light saber, it's a $200 x the number of kids (+ dad most likely) light saber. It's not a $100 droid, it's a $100 x at least 2 droids (because they interact with one another and if one kids gets one, at least one other kid (or Dad) will not be happy without one). Then there's the Cantina with the +$15 drinks x each person in your party. A family of 5 could easily be set back $1000.

Except 2 people can be together to build either of those and pretty sure you likely can share a drink in the cantina if you wanted.

Basically you are equating it to the local high end steak house with the $100 cowboy ribeye that's 40oz that is enough for 4 people and yet want to buy 1 or each kid.

Also there is only two "experiences" in star wars land which is actually the same price or less than Animla Kingdoms Wild Trek as an example.

Not every single thing needs to be included for everyone. Them allowing a guest is a good compromise for many families. I think in 5 years they will likely expand it to 2 guests or 3 guests if they are kids under a certain age.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

The land just feels void of life...the meet and greets should be moved over there and they should have more stage shows / live entertainment.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Except 2 people can be together to build either of those and pretty sure you likely can share a drink in the cantina if you wanted.

Basically you are equating it to the local high end steak house with the $100 cowboy ribeye that's 40oz that is enough for 4 people and yet want to buy 1 or each kid.

Also there is only two "experiences" in star wars land which is actually the same price or less than Animla Kingdoms Wild Trek as an example.

Not every single thing needs to be included for everyone. Them allowing a guest is a good compromise for many families. I think in 5 years they will likely expand it to 2 guests or 3 guests if they are kids under a certain age.

What I'm getting at is it's not like Cars Land or Pandora where you can experience pretty much everything without a big outlay of cash. Even the Wild Trek - you can at least see everything there riding on KS. The light saber shop, cantina and droid factory are actually a big part of SWGE and you can't even SEE any of that unless you are ready to fork over the cash.

Cracks me up you think you are going to take 2 kids to build light sabers and only walk out with 1 light saber (LOL)

 

[sethschroeder]

Cracks me up you think you are going to take 2 kids to build light sabers and only walk out with 1 light saber (LOL)

Did you have to get every single kid a Harry Potter wand? If you want to do that its fine but it's not required.

Want to meet certain characters they are only behind expensive character meals. Want to see special parades they are behind party tickets.

There is plenty of stuff that is not free without additional monetary requirements. It's not changing and is only going to expand with things like after hour options and the new Star Wars Hotel with special experiences.

 

[yulilin3]

What I'm getting at is it's not like Cars Land or Pandora where you can experience pretty much everything without a big outlay of cash. Even the Wild Trek - you can at least see everything there riding on KS. The light saber shop, cantina and droid factory are actually a big part of SWGE and you can't even SEE any of that unless you are ready to fork over the cash.

Cracks me up you think you are going to take 2 kids to build light sabers and only walk out with 1 light saber (LOL)

You can actually see the droid factory without buying anything