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

[lovethattink]

I feel your pain. The look on my son's face broke my heart. You are right. The new Star Wars stuff sounds good for the kids, unfortunately, we will be there in two weeks and while I will make sure to take him to see it, it will still be upsetting. My son is going to be 10. This was going to be our big SWW trip. All out. All the character meals, all the experiences, nothing left undone. For me, this was our last big hurrah before he got too cool to hang out with Dad anymore.

I'm very happy though that it will work out for you and your son! I'm always thrilled to see young kids experience Star Wars in any form.

We've held off on Disney Infinity 3.0 til Christmas. So being able to play it there will be a big deal for my son. Seeing Vader and Chewie indoors where he's not exposed to the heat will be literally lifesaving! Last year was the toughest SWW for us since everything for it was outdoors, except celebrity autographs.

I'm so sorry for you and your son. That's so disappointing and frustrating to have his double digit birthday plans so drastically changed. I hope your son doesn't ever get too cool to hang out with Dad!

 

[DisDadDVC]

I'm as bummed as anyone about SWW being cancelled, but this helped put things in perspective for me:

Daniel Fleetwood, Terminally Ill 'Star Wars' Fan Who Got Final Wish, Has Died

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...nally-ill-star-wars-fan-who-got-final-n460556

 

[Mikie]

I'm so sorry for those whose 2016 trips have been screwed up!

I am not in any way trying to diminish that, because no amount of anticipation about future projects improves your trip NOW. However, I am curious about the predictions from those of you who follow SWW more closely than I do that they'd be gone forever? With what feels to me like ever-increasing up charge events, I would assume that there will be some kind of special "parties" in the future. I could see them still see them being near May the 4th. I see comments that the park will be full enough with General/everyday Star Wars stuff, but they did Frozen Summer when parks are "busy enough" (summers!) and MVMCP when parks are "busy enough" (holidays - although I know many of them land in slower weeks). . .

Not at all arguing these will replicate SWW, but I'm interested in thoughts on some sort of replacement/seasonal add-on.

So sorry for those missing out this year!

 

[theheartonfire03]

Is there any more on the rumor of a soft opening for the Launch Bay? (sorry if I missed it, have been trying to comb through the pages!)

 

[blackmamba10000]

I feel awful for everyone that had trips planned. I'd think they would still offer things like the fireworks, character dining etc. Instead of cancelling it completely.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

I understand the construction difficulties - but if Disney really wanted to hold the event they could - it's Disney afterall!!! Maybe move it to Epcot and toss it in Future World - there are a million places for meet/ greets and they could take over areas in Innovations and that poor building between FW and Mexico that has nothing in it.

 

[Jennasis]

I'm so sorry for those whose 2016 trips have been screwed up!

I am not in any way trying to diminish that, because no amount of anticipation about future projects improves your trip NOW. However, I am curious about the predictions from those of you who follow SWW more closely than I do that they'd be gone forever? With what feels to me like ever-increasing up charge events, I would assume that there will be some kind of special "parties" in the future. I could see them still see them being near May the 4th. I see comments that the park will be full enough with General/everyday Star Wars stuff, but they did Frozen Summer when parks are "busy enough" (summers!) and MVMCP when parks are "busy enough" (holidays - although I know many of them land in slower weeks). . .

Not at all arguing these will replicate SWW, but I'm interested in thoughts on some sort of replacement/seasonal add-on.

So sorry for those missing out this year!

No idea, but honestly I am so sick and tired of all the nickel and dime add-ons, dessert party, special events etc. I miss the days when your park ticket got you access to everything that was happening.

 

[yulilin3]

I'm so sorry for those whose 2016 trips have been screwed up!

I am not in any way trying to diminish that, because no amount of anticipation about future projects improves your trip NOW. However, I am curious about the predictions from those of you who follow SWW more closely than I do that they'd be gone forever? With what feels to me like ever-increasing up charge events, I would assume that there will be some kind of special "parties" in the future. I could see them still see them being near May the 4th. I see comments that the park will be full enough with General/everyday Star Wars stuff, but they did Frozen Summer when parks are "busy enough" (summers!) and MVMCP when parks are "busy enough" (holidays - although I know many of them land in slower weeks). . .

Not at all arguing these will replicate SWW, but I'm interested in thoughts on some sort of replacement/seasonal add-on.

So sorry for those missing out this year!

SWW as we knew it is probably not coming back. I can see them doing a big reveal/party thing for when SWLand opens. When Star Tours 2.0 reopened George Lucas and Bob Iger came and there was the parade. Also when Star Tours (original one) closed they did Last Tour to Endor after park hours party, that was awesome.

Is there any more on the rumor of a soft opening for the Launch Bay? (sorry if I missed it, have been trying to comb through the pages!)

Launch Bay soft opening still rumored for Nov. 27

 

[Mikie]

No idea, but honestly I am so sick and tired of all the nickel and dime add-ons, dessert party, special events etc. I miss the days when your park ticket got you access to everything that was happening.

Couldn't agree with you more! But others seem to enjoy them an awful lot, so I figured there was just something deficient in my Disney-loving gene

 

[yulilin3]

I understand the construction difficulties - but if Disney really wanted to hold the event they could - it's Disney afterall!!! Maybe move it to Epcot and toss it in Future World - there are a million places for meet/ greets and they could take over areas in Innovations and that poor building between FW and Mexico that has nothing in it.

Maybe we'll have Star Wars Celebration here in Orlando in 2017

 

[The Sunrise Student]

Maybe we'll have Star Wars Celebration here in Orlando in 2017

One can only hope!

 

[DisDadDVC]

SWW as we knew it is probably not coming back. I can see them doing a big reveal/party thing for when SWLand opens. When Star Tours 2.0 reopened George Lucas and Bob Iger came and there was the parade. Also when Star Tours (original one) closed they did Last Tour to Endor after park hours party, that was awesome.


Launch Bay soft opening still rumored for Nov. 27

We will be at HS on the 27th. Sure hope this happens.

 

[LoKiHB]

I understand the construction difficulties - but if Disney really wanted to hold the event they could - it's Disney afterall!!! Maybe move it to Epcot and toss it in Future World - there are a million places for meet/ greets and they could take over areas in Innovations and that poor building between FW and Mexico that has nothing in it.

Let's be completely honest. If they REALLY wanted to do one last SWW, they could have held off on starting construction until the fall. It's Florida after all, it's not like they have bone chilling winters. I, for one would think that it would be better to be a construction worker in October as opposed to the middle of July. In the grand scheme of things, would delaying construction by a few months REALLY have affected it? We all know that in spite of their highly ambitious timeline, that this new land will not be ready until at least 2020. Yes, they may piecemeal it to keep the casual Star Wars fan happy, most of whom likely won't care all that much, but what they announced at D23 is far too big to be completed in a year and a half IMHO. That being said, I don't know the first thing about architecture and construction, so I could be wrong.

The bottom line, as far as I'm concerned is that the decision makers figured that with the new movie coming out and all the merchandise along with it, that SWW was no longer necessary to line their pockets. They don't care about the people like us that wait patiently for it each year, or the people that have made reservations already planning around it. I'm sure outside this thread you'll find many, many people who aren't even aware of the existence of SWW, nor would they care if they were. We, unfortunately are the minority, and Disney is a huge company. Profit is what matters to them, and there is nothing wrong with that. Sadly, the brand that was built on family and magical experiences seems to have lost touch with what made them what they are today.

 

[CheshireCrazy]

Maybe we'll have Star Wars Celebration here in Orlando in 2017

Am I the only one who looked up SW Celebration London tickets yesterday? If almost everything wasn't sold out, I was really considering it for my SW fix next year.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Orlando 2017 though.

 

[lugnut33]

Only way this will be brought back is as a special weekend package where you and select few will have access to special meet and greet areas, special merchandise, fireworks areas, and special show seating. Going to guess it'll cost around $599.

 

[DisDadDVC]

Only way this will be brought back is as a special weekend package where you and select few will have access to special meet and greet areas, special merchandise, fireworks areas, and special show seating. Going to guess it'll cost around $599.

I think I might just pay that...

 

[The Sunrise Student]

Ok, here's some facts to mull over... IF in fact SW land is as big as Avatar Land in AK, and I have not doubt it will be... this construction is going to take YEARS to finish... in AK where they are building Avatar Area they had a nearly clean slate, with very little around it to build on... if you look at any of the construction plans out there for the Star Wars Area you will see not just some of DHS back area (where the 501st use to get dressed for marching I might add) that is getting torn down and move to alternate locations, they are also possibly crossing one of the entrances into DHS. There will be new road routes coming to DHS and this expansion is displacing back stage areas which they will have to move. This is not something they can start in the fall and be done by the spring... this will be years of construction. This is a 14 acre change... it's going to take more than just the time it takes to refurbish a ride... I doubt SW area will be completed by 2017... especially with the opening of Avatar area being slated for 2017, see this taking at least a few years....

Don't get me wrong it totally sucks how this went down, Disney should be ashamed of misleading people. Even I who had doubts that SWW 2016 would occur already had my June 2016 reservations booked in August... and I am not a DVC member who has to plan even more, my reservations were just a regular package resort reservations.

I just hope the longer it takes the more beautiful it all will be, I hope to be even more awe struck to walk into the new Star Wars area as I am when I walk into the Harry Potter areas at US.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Ok, here's some facts to mull over... IF in fact SW land is as big as Avatar Land in AK, and I have not doubt it will be... this construction is going to take YEARS to finish... in AK where they are building Avatar Area they had a nearly clean slate, with very little around it to build on... if you look at any of the construction plans out there for the Star Wars Area you see not just some of DHS back area (where the 501st use to get dressed for marching I might add) that is getting torn down and move to alternate locations, they are also possibly crossing one of the entrances into DHS. There will be new road routes coming to DHS and this expansion is displacing back stage areas which they will have to move. This is not something they can start in the fall and be done by the spring... this will be years of construction. This is a 14 acre change... it's going to take more than just the time it takes to refurbish a ride... I doubt SW area will be completed by 2017... especially with the opening of Avatar area being slated for 2017, see this taking at least a few years....

Don't get me wrong it totally sucks how this went down, Disney should be ashamed of misleading people. Even I who had doubts that SWW 2016 would occur already had my June 2016 reservations booked in August... and I am not a DVC member who has to plan even more, my reservations were just a regular package resort reservations.

I just hope the longer it takes the more beautiful it all will be, I hope to be even more awe struck to walk into the new Star Wars area as I am when I walk into the Harry Potter areas at US.

I thought that some of the Avatar timeline issues were on Cameron's end to coincide with changing timelines for a new film. I certainly hope SW Land doesn't take AS LONG as that... haven't they been building Avatar Land since the mid-90's?!?

 

[Iowamomof4]

I thought that some of the Avatar timeline issues were on Cameron's end to coincide with changing timelines for a new film. I certainly hope SW Land doesn't take AS LONG as that... haven't they been building Avatar Land since the mid-90's?!?

I agree. This is what I've been reading, that Pandora had other issues that caused it to take so long.

 

[Felipe4]

Guys - I know I completely fell off the face of the earth after my trip (and never finished my trip report), but I heard about SWW being cancelled and immediately wanted to come here and give you all a force hug.