**Official** Star Wars at DHS, Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party/Galactic Nights/Launch Bay/JT

[HCinKC]

I can't see Disney taking away SWW completely at least in 2016.

With all the closures and construction, something will have to get people in the gates at HS. Plus they are not going to let an (money-makin') opportunity like The Force Awakens go by the wayside. There's going to be a ton of new and old fans wanting a Star Wars experience with plenty of cash in hand. I don't think the Launch Bay is going to be enough to satisfy that either.

Personally, I think that SWW as we know it going away is inevitable. It's essentially going to be SWW all the time when this new land opens. I think the celebrity autograph sessions are almost a holdover from when DHS used to host celebrities regularly and I just don't think they're that big of a draw to continue to incur the expense associated with having them present. I think they'll have some sort of shows during "Season of the Force," but I have no idea what those will look like.

Maybe we'll get a final SWW in 2016, but I think that will be it. They're not going to have the space to bring big crowds into the park once half the park is under construction. I think we'll see a big regular Star Wars presence after construction is complete, but who knows when that will be.

This has been thought for a while. DHS is already struggling as a "half day" park that it seems many people skip all together. With the movie having come out about six months prior, the dvd drop would possibly be around SWW time. They can certainly make money of off that...plus another movie out in six months, and so on the rest of the movies. SWW is a huge money making opportunity and a big draw to what will soon be an otherwise small DHS.

The big question is...what is Season of the Force? Presumably that could replace SWW as SWL is being built. Hopefully, 2016 will be a transition year that includes both, given that people plan way out for SWW. If they are merging/dropping, 2017 would be appropriate to go to 100% SotF WITH us knowing there will be no more SWW. Once the land opens, I would be surprised if they have anything special since every day there will (hopefully) be super awesome!

Maybe random special events, but I can totally understand why Disney wants to drop celebrities. Not only are they expensive, but they can be very demanding...and Disney is often hosting these guys over multiple weekends. Add in concerns over overnighters, the knowledge that many of the autographs are being sold, and problems with celebrities in the past...I get it.

But who the heck knows what Disney's plan is and how they will execute it. Hopefully with some thought for those planning trips!

 

[LinderInWonderland]

I am catching up on all the post but I couldn't let this go by. My friends played the original Ewok celebration song when DH and I entered our reception. Hilarious!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Anyone else see this? Sorry if it's been posted before:

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2015/09/rumor...-more-mickey-friends-as-star-wars-characters/

I was just saying to DH yesterday: "You know what would make me REALLY FURIOUS?!?!?! If we DON'T book the SW Half in WDW in Apr, and THEN we find out they're getting rid of SWW!!!!!!!!"

Having a May SWW trip planned is why we are begging off the Apr half. Now I'm rethinking, with early registration being... what... TOMORROW?!!?! GRRRRR!

I am SO ANNOYED that Disney doesn't just announce these things further in advance -- one way or the other!!

 

[Jfsag123]

I'm hoping we get at least some information in the next month. Disney is expected to release the April 2016 travel agent calendar any day now, meaning they should be putting out May this time next month. Looking at the hours/EMH schedule they publish for DHS may give us some clues as to what will happen.

 

[soniam]

Wondering the same as I have not seen this listed or mentioned anywhere

Is the Soarin closure official?? This is DS's favorite ride and he will be incredibly disappointed if it is closed, especially in addition to potentially no SWW.

There is nothing official. Here's the link that was posted on the rumors board. It sounds insane to me, and I hope it's not true. Soarin' is DS favorite too. We like to do it at least twice if we can. However, I have no idea what Disney is doing.

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2015/09/epcot-update-living-with-land.html

 

[soniam]

The more I read and the more I think about it, it would be ludicrous for Disney to cancel SWW for 2016. If I read correctly- or maybe it's rumors, they won't break ground on the new lands until late next year. This would allow for one last HUGE SWW. I mean, it's such a huge thing for us SW Geeks and there are millions of us, and the new movie will be out and the Star Wars craze could potentially rival that of the original Star Wars release (maybe). Maybe they'll give us one more before they wall off 3/4 of DHS. I think we should start drafting our petition to bring back SWW just in case though....

Rumor (nothing confirmed) has it now that they will be breaking ground on on Toy Story Land next month and Star Wars Land next year, not 2017. So, the timeline may have been compressed. If the park is all torn up, it could make SWW more difficult. Plus, if Star Wars Land comes sooner than later, then they may not see a need for SWW. I hope this is not true though, the no SWW part. I hope the compressed timeline is true though. Plus we may think it's ludicrous but may make sense to Disney. Many people thought FP+ was ludicrous and would never really happen. I'm not making a comment on the value of FP+, just sayin'.

 

[soniam]

I have literally sat at my work desk all day thinking about SWW. Is that bad?

No, that's what I was doing, especially during my meeting However, then I got to return what seemed like 20,000 calls from the car insurance people. That brought me back to reality, my other sad state.


The bad news is that our insurance wants to total our car. Really DH's car. We love that car We ordered it and bought it new. We knew every little mark on that thing. The good news is that the other driver's insurance is claiming 100% responsibility. So I am making a claim with them, hoping that they don't decide to total the car too We can't even buy a replacement for that car with what our insurance says it's worth. I know how this game works, but it still stinks. The other guy had a little bit of damage to his car, and he'll get away with paying his deductible to fix it and maybe, I mean maybe, have increased rates. We, on the other hand, the non-guilty party, will have to pay twice what they will give us to replace it, if it's totaled. That's assuming we can even find a replacement, because it's not a common car, and it was a rare color combination I am terrified to drive my convertible now for fear that it could be totaled if someone hits it. It's not even worth as much $ wise as DH's car. I am very thankful that I am not hurt, and that no one was in the car with me, but with SWW rumors and the car situation, today's turning out to be big bummer

EDIT: On the bright side, the avatars and emojis seem to be working

 

[Boski]

There is nothing official. Here's the link that was posted on the rumors board. It sounds insane to me, and I hope it's not true. Soarin' is DS favorite too. We like to do it at least twice if we can. However, I have no idea what Disney is doing.

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2015/09/epcot-update-living-with-land.html

That is crazy. You would think they would wait for the new Frozen ride to open to help alleviate some of the crowd.

 

[Jfsag123]

No, that's what I was doing, especially during my meeting However, then I got to return what seemed like 20,000 calls from the car insurance people. That brought me back to reality, my other sad state.


The bad news is that our insurance wants to total our car. Really DH's car. We love that car We ordered it and bought it new. We knew every little mark on that thing. The good news is that the other driver's insurance is claiming 100% responsibility. So I am making a claim with them, hoping that they don't decide to total the car too We can't even buy a replacement for that car with what our insurance says it's worth. I know how this game works, but it still stinks. The other guy had a little bit of damage to his car, and he'll get away with paying his deductible to fix it and maybe, I mean maybe, have increased rates. We, on the other hand, the non-guilty party, will have to pay twice what they will give us to replace it, if it's totaled. That's assuming we can even find a replacement, because it's not a common car, and it was a rare color combination I am terrified to drive my convertible now for fear that it could be totaled if someone hits it. It's not even worth as much $ wise as DH's car. I am very thankful that I am not hurt, and that no one was in the car with me, but with SWW rumors and the car situation, today's turning out to be big bummer

EDIT: On the bright side, the avatars and emojis seem to be working

That really stinks. I'm sorry. here's hoping the other insurance company comes through for you.

 

[LATJLP]

I am SO ANNOYED that Disney doesn't just announce these things further in advance -- one way or the other!!

Disney expects you to make your dinner reservations 6 months in advance.....but only tell you what is going to happen those days about 3 months in advance. Are you saying there is something wrong with this process?

 

[JMSMommy]

10 years ago I promised my then 6 year old Star Wars obsessed son we'd take him to Star Wars weekend. That was during a trip with his baby brother. Then we started an international adoption...then another...fitting in vacations when we could during off seasons and cheaper times to go and thoughts of avoiding SWW because of a toddler in tow (we wanted to be able to devote full attention). The plan was for 2016, when he was 17...and about to graduate high school. We had actually booked a surprise trip and had SWW character dining booked for 2015, but unexpected medical/therapy/tutoring expenses popped up and we cancelled thinking "next year" and really all my son cares about is Galactic Breakfast, character meet and greets with all the characters he knows and loves....and we were in process of booking our trip for our "best guess" time frame. Travel agent was working with us, and alerted me to these rumors.

Can I cry now?

A year ago we did our BIG Disney Princess blow out for the girls (they were 7 and 8 at the time). This was to be the year of Star Wars and roller coasters. The last of the family trips to Disney while all kids are under our roof. ::sob:: He graduates May 2017, so perhaps we push it off for another year? I just don't know now.

 

[momof2halls]

All this no SWW talk really makes me wanna vomit.....
My boys will really be disappointed. And now we hear that BTMR will be closed for refurbishment. I really hope there are lots if positives coming in the next 8 months, if not we may decide to postpone our trip.

 

[soniam]

10 years ago I promised my then 6 year old Star Wars obsessed son we'd take him to Star Wars weekend. That was during a trip with his baby brother. Then we started an international adoption...then another...fitting in vacations when we could during off seasons and cheaper times to go and thoughts of avoiding SWW because of a toddler in tow (we wanted to be able to devote full attention). The plan was for 2016, when he was 17...and about to graduate high school. We had actually booked a surprise trip and had SWW character dining booked for 2015, but unexpected medical/therapy/tutoring expenses popped up and we cancelled thinking "next year" and really all my son cares about is Galactic Breakfast, character meet and greets with all the characters he knows and loves....and we were in process of booking our trip for our "best guess" time frame. Travel agent was working with us, and alerted me to these rumors.

Can I cry now?

A year ago we did our BIG Disney Princess blow out for the girls (they were 7 and 8 at the time). This was to be the year of Star Wars and roller coasters. The last of the family trips to Disney while all kids are under our roof. ::sob:: He graduates May 2017, so perhaps we push it off for another year? I just don't know now.

That's such a bummer. I don't think the Galactic Breakfast will be back. We really wanted to do this too. However, I do think that they will have meet & greets during Season of the Force. I don't know for sure, but announcements about SOF hinted at such. Plus, they are auditioning for things, ie JTA maybe others. Next year would be our first year too. Hopefully, they will announce more about SOF soon. Would you be able to go during Spring Break? We had already booked our hotel for June, but as a back-up, I went ahead and booked in March too, so that I could get ADRs early. We haven't booked flights yet, since it's so hard to change those anymore. He could also go more easily to anything at WDW during college, since they have bigger breaks. There's always the opening of Star Wars Land.

Can the rest of us with you too

 

[yulilin3]

it makes me sad reading some of your comments, I know how difficult it is to plan completely blind which is why I open this thread every year. Please try (and I know this is very hard) to keep your plans as flexible as possible. I'm hoping that we will have an announcement on SotF and SWW next month and in any case, there will be some Star Wars stuff going on next year.

 

[yulilin3]

How is that even possible when it took them two years to build a basic parking structure for Disney Springs ???

construction for the flex theater started around April of this year

 

[yulilin3]

Today is early registration day for AP and DVC for the Star Wars Dark Side race, good luck everyone. I have the page set up and ready to refresh on my computer and Stephanie's laptop. After registering I will get over to the volunteer page to sign up to volunteer during Marathon weekend, so if any of you are running in January I'll probably see you
AP page https://www.rundisney.com/annual-passholders/?CMP=SOC-DLRUSENFY12Q2FBDM0566
DVC page https://www.rundisney.com/dvc-member/

 

[drlaurafsu]

Appropriate that the Jan SW race training starts today. I have a feeling my heart rate will be higher in anticipation of the sign up than my actual training today! Good luck everyone.

 

[slaveone]

Well doc was mean and said no more running unless I want a new knee before 30. Meany. Oh we'll always the expo. Maybe there will be new nb for Star Wars.

 

[JayLeeJay]

Today is early registration day for AP and DVC for the Star Wars Dark Side race, good luck everyone. I have the page set up and ready to refresh on my computer and Stephanie's laptop. After registering I will get over to the volunteer page to sign up to volunteer during Marathon weekend, so if any of you are running in January I'll probably see you
AP page https://www.rundisney.com/annual-passholders/?CMP=SOC-DLRUSENFY12Q2FBDM0566
DVC page https://www.rundisney.com/dvc-member/

I also PM'd you about this, but I'm not sure which you'll see first. How do you register to be a volunteer for the races? This sounds like something my budget could afford.

 

[pookadoo77]

Anyone have an idea where we can buy the CoverGirl SW makeup? I remember that it was supposed to be released today as well, but I can't find it online. Maybe I'm trying to hard... maybe just my local CVS?!

http://www.drugstore.com/search/sea...tchallpartial&Ntk=All&Ntt=CoverGirl Star Wars