Star Wars land Rumor- Reported by Disney Gossip

[tmgandolph]

Maybe interest will be renewed by those in charge if the live action TV series ever gets off the ground.
Better to wait and see how that goes - then build the park in response.
With limited money would better off trying to deal with Universal for the Marvel rights and build that park. After all NBCUniversal still wants the TV rights to the Potter films that Disney owns. There are deal making possibilities there.

 

[umichigan10]

there would be no way they could put star wars land where streets of america/backlot tour is because muppet vision 3d is in the way

 

[skier_pete]

Star Wars all seems so "yesterday." I would be surprised if Disney poured that much money into a land dedicated to a concept that seems long past its prime. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter made a lot of sense because kids will be picking up those books and reading them for generations to come. Those of us who remember the original Star Wars movies will be dying off soon. I was a teenager when the first one came out and I'm about to turn 53. I would rather see Disney focus on something newer and fresher.

It's interesting that I was just thinking the opposite, that back in the '80s you could argue it didn't really make sense for them to build a huge land on this property versus the likelyhood of continued immortality of the "Star Wars" universe.

However, NOW, Star Wars continues to remain hugely popular with kids thanks to continuous refreshing of the franchise - right now going on with the "Clone Wars" series. Speaking for my own family, my DD7 has seen the OT (Episodes 4,5,6) and loves the characters. (She's not a real girlie girl.) And loves to play Star Wars. Regardless of what the older generation thinks has happened to the Star Wars universe, it continues to enthrall kids.

I've made this argument before about Harry Potter, but the biggest threat to HP staying power is the fact that the "universe" is essentially contained to 7 books/movies. My feeling is that if Rowling doesn't sell the rights to allow the Potter-universe to expand as well, I think 10-15 years down the road, HP will be like the Wizard of Oz series, it'll have its fans, but won't retain its current huge success. Or perhaps a better analogy would be the Lord of The Rings - which before the recent movies was popular in literacy/geek circles but not a marketing mainstay...then the movies came out, made a whole bunch of fans...but within a few years kind of faded out of Pop Culture again. For 30 years, yeah it sold books - but that's it.

Anyways, I think now would be a very wise time for Disney to expand the Star Wars presence in the park. As others pointed out, it would be mutually benefitiail. Disney helps sell Star Wars to the younger generation - Star Wars attractions gets kids and parents wanting to go to Disney.

However, the one thing that would stop all this, is Disney having to share the profits with Lucasfilm. Unless Lucasfilm is willing to put up some of the upfront money, I don't think this would happen.

 

[doconeill]

There was an interview between D23 and George Lucas about Star Tours, etc. with excerpts posted today, and there was this:

"I love working with Imagineering," George says. "They are great, talented people, and it's always fun to do something with them." As for the future, although there's nothing currently planned, he says, "I'd love to see more Star Wars rides at Disney parks."

So although they MIGHT be thinking of it, they haven't gone very far talking to George yet.

I did speculate a long time ago that moving the entrance road would allow for a sizable expansion though...

 

[Greysword]

...So although they MIGHT be thinking of it, they haven't gone very far talking to George yet...

So you're telling me there's a chance... *YEAH!*

 

[Disco]

Plenty of room to the north. Just have to take out the IJ show and whatever that building in between is. I think it is some sort of eatery?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

After reading this...i can't get a song from the 90's outta my head:

"Never gonna get it, Never gonna get it, Never gonna get it, never gonna get it, never gonna get it, never gonna get, gonna get it....woah, woah, wa, waoh"

 

[ASteelersMidget]

After reading this...i can't get a song from the 90's outta my head:

"Never gonna get it, Never gonna get it, Never gonna get it, never gonna get it, never gonna get it, never gonna get, gonna get it....woah, woah, wa, waoh"

As much as i think you're right, Jeez you're a pessimest. Everything I see you post on says something along the lines of "It's never gonna happen." Hope is a great thing to happen.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

As much as i think you're right, Jeez you're a pessimest. Everything I see you post on says something along the lines of "It's never gonna happen." Hope is a great thing to happen.

it's not pessimism, its reality. there is no significant plan for capital reinvestment at WDW...nor has there been since pre-2000.

they'll roll out something new every 3 or 4 years...everest, midway, this fantasyland thing that is mostly window dressing....
then bleed it however long they can get away with it...and then throw out a nibble.

the only real focus is bringing in third party vendors and timeshares...which is great if you have DVC...but that isn't a benefit to most.

it's just the way it is...i don't like it...but it is their way of increasing their operating capital to pay for more Nick Cage movies...

but we..."me" included...keep going back and paying more for the same or less as the prices increase...and its not as though that money is going to the tables of the workers...no siree, bob...its just for revenue and operating capital...thats the functionality of WDW first and foremost. Its still a great place...but there can be no doubt that alot of significant areas have declined over time...pretty obvious

the only real thing that is probably a priority...as i guestimate....might be a "niche" park with a premium price...a la discovery cove. i would think they covet that fairly openly.

But don't misunderstand my sarcasm...i still have somekinda hope that things will be as they should eventually. MGM and animal kingdom are horribly underutilized and could be full quality parks...and EPCOT is the single greatest amusement park ever conceived/ built. nothing like it has been or ever will be again...and it deserves a couple of new pads being built out.

but again...i just don't see it...

 

[MJMcBride]

I posted this a few years back

http://www.mouseextra.com/2007/04/28/ideas-for-making-the-most-of-star-tours/#comments

 

[skier_pete]

You lost me right here:

this fantasyland thing that is mostly window dressing....

Two new rides, one major new restaurant (in a park that hasn't added dining options in 40 years), a complete re-do of a classic ride (dumbo) retheming of a 4th ride. Removal of another (boo on that but still) expanded meet and greets, and undoubtably new shopping and snacking oppurtunities as well. Please tell me of an equivalent in-park expansion that WDW has done in the last 40 years?

'Cause if that's window dressing - then so is the WWoHP.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

You lost me right here:



Two new rides, one major new restaurant (in a park that hasn't added dining options in 40 years), a complete re-do of a classic ride (dumbo) retheming of a 4th ride. Removal of another (boo on that but still) expanded meet and greets, and undoubtably new shopping and snacking oppurtunities as well. Please tell me of an equivalent in-park expansion that WDW has done in the last 40 years?

'Cause if that's window dressing - then so is the WWoHP.

new rides are good...but one is a clone and the other one has yet to be built and implemented. I do like the 7 dwarves concepts that i've seen...so i'll give them a tentative thumbs up on that.

the retheming of dumbo might be cool...but that's a one minute diversion...come on...we know that. don't know what they'll do with the barnstormer...but it will most like look alot like...the barnstormer.

the beauty and the beast restaurant could be great....but then again...it could be not great as well...based on the way their food operations have gone for the last 20 years straight downhill...i give no benefit of the doubt until i see this one. the menu will be overpriced and bad...that is sadly almost a given.

and ohhh yes....plenty of giftshops and photopass ops...which is the whole point of course...peddling junk.

Hey...i know its a kid area so there are no 4D rides coming...i get it. but i really don't trust that they won't turn this into an elaborate giftshop with some revamped flat rides. It all sounds like this great addition...but based on what they've done with their capital projects at parks since EuroDisney...trust is not warranted here. Everything has been slashed and cheapened during primary construction and then either in need of a TARP style bailout or is glossed over with some off the shelf recycled rides from past imagineering designs...Blizzard Beach probably being the best notable exception because Disneysea is not a disney owned park

here's what has happened: their renovation and reinvestment since about 1999 has been prettly scaled back and has had some notable failures...certainly not anything near the committment that was placed in the first 20 years of the magic kingdom and the first 10 of EPCOT on a near annual basis. Even MGM was somewhat loved throughout the 90's. But they are simpling doing the minimum now...and hopefully this magic kingdom thing is done for its appeal and not its pricetag - and then they almost immediately address another area in need of a reboot...most notable animal kingdom or some of the misengineered, vacant, or abandoned spots at EPCOT...

but i can't say that...

 

[mike the canuck]

A glimpse of a new video that will appear in the queue area of the reimagined Star Tours

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGPvbMsEWXQ&feature=feedu

 

[lockedoutlogic]

A glimpse of a new video that will appear in the queue area of the reimagined Star Tours

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGPvbMsEWXQ&feature=feedu

they're keeping the lame travel theme, huh?

jeez

 

[skier_pete]

here's what has happened: their renovation and reinvestment since about 1999 has been prettly scaled back and has had some notable failures...certainly not anything near the committment that was placed in the first 20 years of the magic kingdom and the first 10 of EPCOT on a near annual basis. Even MGM was somewhat loved throughout the 90's. But they are simpling doing the minimum now...and hopefully this magic kingdom thing is done for its appeal and not its pricetag - and then they almost immediately address another area in need of a reboot...most notable animal kingdom or some of the misengineered, vacant, or abandoned spots at EPCOT...

but i can't say that...

I not denying any of that...the parks could all use some TLC...but to make the leap that the fantasyland expansion is "just window dressing"...I'm saying you'll never like a another expansion at WDW ever again if you dismiss that one.

And yes...little mermaid might be a clone, but it's a being cloned in two locations brand new. Some folks here might not believe it, but the fast majority of WDW guest never ever get to DL, and vice versa. (I'm one of them.) While I would prefer that not ALL rides are cloned from both parks, I am perfectly happy that many of the rides are identical. But hey, you can blame that one on Walt, who decided to put a lot of the same rides in Florida as California in order to...*gasp*....keep costs down.

Seriously, I would also argue that if cloning rides in multiple parks worldwide keeps expenses down and allows us have MORE new rides...then clone away, Mickey, clone away.

SP

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I not denying any of that...the parks could all use some TLC...but to make the leap that the fantasyland expansion is "just window dressing"...I'm saying you'll never like a another expansion at WDW ever again if you dismiss that one.

And yes...little mermaid might be a clone, but it's a being cloned in two locations brand new. Some folks here might not believe it, but the fast majority of WDW guest never ever get to DL, and vice versa. (I'm one of them.) While I would prefer that not ALL rides are cloned from both parks, I am perfectly happy that many of the rides are identical. But hey, you can blame that one on Walt, who decided to put a lot of the same rides in Florida as California in order to...*gasp*....keep costs down.

Seriously, I would also argue that if cloning rides in multiple parks worldwide keeps expenses down and allows us have MORE new rides...then clone away, Mickey, clone away.

SP

Just to be clear...i'm not adamantly against cloning on principle. If it works somewhere else...great. But it should be used as a filler while new experiences are developed and built. And since they installed the two clones in 2004-5...exactly 1 new significant attraction has been added....in going on 7 years.

But lets face the facts...the last ten years has seen 2 clones installed, chester and hester thrown up because of the deficiencies in animal kingdom, two "disney" type rides - one a success in Midway Mania, one pretty convincingly a failure in Everest, and the two interactive shows in Crush and Laughfloor...which were not major investments. And they tinkered with Spaceship Earth and screwed up imagination!. And the nemo show...which is far from memorable or impressive.

That's it for 10 years...and i might be a spoiled little brat here...but that isn't good enough for the escalating costs. It really isn't.

If the FLE is done well and provides a top quality product...then i will breath a little sigh of relief. If it ends up looking kinda six flags-esque and is just really an elaborate giftshop filled with Chinese junk....then we are back to the same spot.

The proof will be in the finished product...so i will give credit when it is warranted. If they roll out the first "phases" in the next year or so and its basically dirt pushed around offering inferior food and merch...then houston, we have the same problem...


And just for comparison...Universal Studios has added SIX major attractions since 2000...and IOA has added a little addition about some kinda magic thing

Busch Gardens has installed 5 major new redevelopments and attractions..and they tend to do a good job and put proper planning and funds into their projects

Seaworld has added several new rides and is generally high quality...


Now i'm the LAST person to say that disney needs to respond to the other clowns in town...the last. They are no threat...but when you take 5 minutes to do a little research...you see that in fact they have not provided alot to their customers recently other than DVC units and more giftshops with junkier merchandise. And while they still have the better parks and overall are much larger scale - at some point i would like a dividend to be paid on my annual investment. Is that wrong? I thought the free market rules everything...

 

[tjkraz]

But lets face the facts...the last ten years has seen 2 clones installed, chester and hester thrown up because of the deficiencies in animal kingdom, two "disney" type rides - one a success in Midway Mania, one pretty convincingly a failure in Everest, and the two interactive shows in Crush and Laughfloor...which were not major investments. And they tinkered with Spaceship Earth and screwed up imagination!. And the nemo show...which is far from memorable or impressive.

I would LOVE to see more unique experiences as much as anyone but if you think that's even a moderately objective analysis of the last 10 years, you've really done yourself a disservice.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I would LOVE to see more unique experiences as much as anyone but if you think that's even a moderately objective analysis of the last 10 years, you've really done yourself a disservice.

Alright...I'll play...let's hear it

 

[Pumbaa7287]

they're keeping the lame travel theme, huh?

jeez

I like the 'lame' travel theme. Especially the shoutout to Alderaan, voted safest planet in the galaxy

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I like the 'lame' travel theme. Especially the shoutout to Alderaan, voted safest planet in the galaxy

One of the greatest action stories and motion picture franchises (at least until 1999) in history...and the rockin dodge caravan is what they came up with...

so no...i'm not a fan of the Liberty Travel take on Star Wars...

but to each their own i guess.