Star Wars Land to be WDW's answer to Harry Potter?

[MJ6987]

Having seen "The Force Awakens" today, and how much it has taken the world by storm, I think it will be!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Could be. If they do it right. Star Wars has been around for 40 years and has an extensive fan base.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Love Harry Potter. Love Star Wars. No complaints here. The more competition, the better.

 

[Blue32]

Could be. If they do it right. Star Wars has been around for 40 years and has an extensive fan base.

 

[amylevan]

Except the Wizarding World opened in 2010. I'm guessing we're looking at at least 2020 before Star Wars opens. That's not much of a response time.

 

[Skywise]

They're already doing it wrong...

Following Universal's example they shouldn't be making Star Wars "land" but one of the Star Wars planets (Say... Coruscant or Tattoine or maybe even the Death Star (which would all be inside)) and then provide a "Star Tours" ride to Animal Kingdom (or Epcot but, like Frozen, that'd be kinda weird or maybe even anchor a new theme park - maybe one with "Marvel land" someday) to another planet (Jarkku, etc)

 

[ArwenMarie]

If they don't cheap out!

 

[Canuck16]

They have the material to work with so let's just hope that they do it well like US did with Harry Potter.

Hogsmead and Diagon Alley have set the standard for new additions to existing parks so hopefully Disney hits it out of the park with Star Wars!

 

[Micca]

Could be. If they do it right. Star Wars has been around for 40 years and has an extensive fan base.

Your point regarding the longevity of the SW franchise is well-taken. In addition to any rides, there are the inevitable events that will draw enormous response. I think SW is also a huge draw for men who are 30-mid 40s who grew up with the movies and the toys. These are the same guys who might be attracted to the thrill-ride nature of several of the Universal attractions but could be persuaded by "the force" to forego them for a WDW visit where they can get their geek on while mom & the little girls visit the princesses. You can also count on a new generation of SW fans--boys & girls to come along with the new movies. Disney would be totally shooting themselves in the foot to not do an A+ job on the new additions. They can justify the expense because they are going to make a killing on all the merchandising they'll do. Look how huge those comic-con events have become, Disney can be the venue for similar events devoted completely to SW.
The 4 billion Disney spend to acquire Lucasfilms will be back in their pockets before you can "Bob's yer uncle."

Disclaimer: Before anyone gets offended, I'm not saying that women don't enjoy thrill rides and SW, I'm just guessing that stuff leans more male in its appeal.

 

[Travis B]

I don't think there will be any comparison. It is my belief that the new Star Wars project will blow Diagon Alley out of the water.

 

[msb578]

Let me first say that I'm a Disney fan- I prefer it over the competition.

That said, my guess is Disney spends less, takes longer, and is less immersive with this project. Yet they still smash all imaginable attendance records with it.

They're like a massive university endowment- a gift that just keeps giving back to itself.

 

[hakepb]

I don't think there will be any comparison. It is my belief that the new Star Wars project will blow Diagon Alley out of the water.

The Star Wars land announcements at D23 (and rumbles that corporate was pushing parks "bigger") sure seems like this is their intent.

 

[minnie mum]

Ask this question again in 5 years. We all hope it will be fabulous. They have the technology. They have the capability. They've outdone themselves before - but that happened at Tokyo Disney Sea. Can the Imagineer's vision escape the death by a thousand cuts from the bean counters? We can only wait and see.

 

[JessicaW1234]

Will any of this be done in 2016? Going in August and wondering if I should think about HWS. We usually skip it.

 

[cvjw]

I don't think there will be any comparison. It is my belief that the new Star Wars project will blow Diagon Alley out of the water.

Maybe. Disney could do it. But with their recent work on new Fantasyland - you have to wonder. How many years did it take Disney to build this new land? And it is a couple of rides, a restaurant and some meet and greets.

Don't get me wrong - I love all things Disney and vacation there several times per year.

But if you have ever been immersed in Harry Potter's Diagon Alley, you know Disney has some very, very stiff competition. Diagon Alley is just like being in the Harry Potter movies. Totally first class, and in only a couple of years building time.

Universal will probably have a whole new theme park built before Disney finishes Star Wars land and Pixar land

 

[Jennasis]

They're already doing it wrong...

Following Universal's example they shouldn't be making Star Wars "land" but one of the Star Wars planets (Say... Coruscant or Tattoine or maybe even the Death Star (which would all be inside)) and then provide a "Star Tours" ride to Animal Kingdom (or Epcot but, like Frozen, that'd be kinda weird or maybe even anchor a new theme park - maybe one with "Marvel land" someday) to another planet (Jarkku, etc)

But they've already said they ARE making a planet. If I'm guessing based on pics, it's the planet they visited Maz on in the film.

 

[GaryDis]

I can imagine Disney creating some rides that compete with the Wizarding World, as long as they're willing to embrace (i.e. spend money) on new technology, such as that used on Forbidden Journey.

But I have a hard time imagining them making it as immersive. Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley are richly described areas, well-developed in the books with a variety of familiar store fronts. Their old European layout, with short twisty streets, are ideal for amusement parks. What does Star Wars have? A desert, a forest, and a glacier. Oh, and an underwater city that many of us would prefer to forget. They could probably do something with Mos Espa, involving markets and a podrace stadium. But are any of the Star Wars locations places you'd want to visit as a tourist in a galaxy far, far away?

 

[Isildur's Bane]

Will any of this be done in 2016?

no

 

[DOOM1001]

I don't think there will be any comparison. It is my belief that the new Star Wars project will blow Diagon Alley out of the water.

I hope so but I just don't have the trust that Disney will do it right.

 

[hakepb]

I hope so but I just don't have the trust that Disney will do it right.

We won't know until they actually build it, but hopefully the Avatar and night-time show at AK renews our hope in the Disney that has been doing amazing things in DL (Cars Land) Tokyo and Shanghai