I found myself really enjoying the
Disneyland 60th anniversary special last night. I was really only interested at first knowing that there was going to be some new Star Wars information released. But on the whole it was really good. And Dick Van Dyke! Man, I can't believe the shape that guy is in for being 90+ years old. I couldn't believe it when he started the step in time with the rest of them. Prior to him appearing, I joked with someone how they should have brought him onstage to dance along...and then he actually did!
But the Star Wars stuff...wow! I don't have much else to say. I really feel though, that this is the real response to the shot over the bow that UNI took with the Harry Potter expansions. To me it seems like Disney saw Diagon Alley, with its big E-Ticket and over-the-top theming, and said 'that's nice, but we can do better. We will give you a land several acres larger, with 2 signature E-Ticket rides and theming that will be going beyond anything in any park anywhere else in the world.' And as far as the rides go, the lines for them will be outrageous. A simulator falcon ride where YOU are free to pilot it, and YOU are free to fire at whatever? Holy cow. And for the epic battle ride, I am betting that it is NOT all screens. I am betting that there is a huge amount of real sets, AAs, and maybe even cast members involved in this one. I recall martin on the wdwmagic boards indicating that this will have every type of approach used to make you feel like you are there. Again, in response to the Potter rides, I know that there have been many complaints in the social media world regarding the number of screen based rides that UNI loves to use, and the Gringotts ride was no exception. That ride was super-hyped prior to its debut, and then a lot of people said 'yeah, it was nice, but it was just more screens again.' I believe that this 2nd Star Wars attraction is going to be way more than just screens.
Something else that irks me a bit. There were several posters on other sites right after the Star Wars segment aired last night that were already labeling this new land a major failure. And don't get me wrong, I never have problems with people not liking something as this is all opinion based in the end. But if the critique is that negative, there were obviously some expectations going into this last night. I would ask that people supply us with their alternatives as to what they were 'hoping' was going to be offered here. For me, 2 huge E-Tickets that won't shut down in the Florida rains will be a huge plus. And I honestly was not hoping for another roller coaster with this. DHS already has an indoor coaster with RnRC, and will be getting a new outdoor family slinky dog coaster. This park needs large people eater rides that will be open all day long, and the 2 Star Wars rides that are being advertised will fit that bill nicely. I suppose that there will be that group of people that were hoping for that dueling Star Wars coaster that made the rounds several years back. It was an idea for a rollercoaster with multiple tracks intertwined that someone (not affiliated with Disney) actually has a patent for I believe. A ride like that in a land this popular is not what is needed IMHO. It was so large that it would have to be an outdoor coaster. I think that Disney of late, with Pandora and now with Star Wars, is giving its big IPs rides that will be able to handle a lot of people all day long and not be impacted by rain (e.g., see Test Track). I think that both rides appear to be very smart moves by Disney that will allow guests to enjoy them from park open until park close.
