***Official*** Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Information Thread *** Contains SPOILERS ***

[yulilin3]

For the time, New Fantasypand has quite the hype and was the biggest update/expansion to aland in MK ever

Now, I don’t think anything or or will be as big as Star Wars Land - as it bring some in a second huge fan base to and existing one so just some uniqueness to this. So not trying to compare this to New Fantasyland, but at the time it was a pretty big deal

we were posting about the same thing

 

[hertamaniac]

Did they have this hype behind it?

I agree, but also would question just because they did phase openings previously, doesn't equate for them to keep doing it.

 

[yulilin3]

I agree, but also would question just because they did phase openings previously, doesn't equate for them to keep doing it.

if the land is ready they need to start seeing money coming back. Again not unprecedented and actually you can trace this practice as far back as the opening of New Orleans Square at DL. The new land (New Orleans Square) was advertised from the beginning with Pirates and Haunted Mansion as the attractions. It opened on July 24th 1966 with only a few shops and restaurants. Pirates of the Caribbean and Blue Bayou opened March of 1967 and Haunted Mansion August of 1969
The land was ready and Walt decided to open it to start seeing money back on the investment

 

[hertamaniac]

if the land is ready they need to start seeing money coming back. Again not unprecedented and actually you can trace this practice as far back as the opening of New Orleans Square at DL. The new land (New Orleans Square) was advertised from the beginning with Pirates and Haunted Mansion as the attractions. It opened on July 24th 1966 with only a few shops and restaurants. Pirates of the Caribbean and Blue Bayou opened March of 1967 and Haunted Mansion August of 1969
The land was ready and Walt decided to open it to start seeing money back on the investment

I see it differently. If the project team predicted that the flagship attraction would be the critical path to the land opening completely, you start on that aspect of the project first given a thorough risk assessment. This appears to me as an unforeseen or worse, unplanned, delay. If they keep accepting phased releases, I don't have confidence in any new lands being opened holistically.

 

[yulilin3]

I see it differently. If the project team predicted that the flagship attraction would be the critical path to the land opening completely, you start on that aspect of the project first given a thorough risk assessment. This appears to me as an unforeseen or worst, unplanned, delay. If they keep accepting phased releases, I don't have confidence in any new lands being opened holistically.

I don't think during any of these land openings (maybe Pixar Pier being the exception) they planned to open in phases, I think each and every time the idea is to open everything at once. Be it there is a delay or technical difficulties that is unplanned and the engineers cannot forsee what might happen especially with attractions that are cutting edge. Now they can't and shouldn't stop work on other aspects of the land just because one aspect is giving them problems, they have to keep working, these people are under contract and they want to finish in a timely manner.
Again, the land is done and they have a problem with one aspect that although it is crucial doesn't diminish or affect operations on the rest of the land...might as well open it and start making money off of what is done

 

[hertamaniac]

Be it there is a delay or technical difficulties that is unplanned and the engineers cannot forsee what might happen especially with attractions that are cutting edge. Now they can't and shouldn't stop work on other aspects of the land just because one aspect is giving them problems, they have to keep working, these people are under contract and they want to finish in a timely manner.
Again, the land is done and they have a problem with one aspect that although it is crucial doesn't diminish or affect operations on the rest of the land...might as well open it and start making money off of what is done

Then the project management team likely didn't build enough buffer time into the schedule to account for the cutting edge deliverables. I cannot imagine someone would stop other aspects of the project because one is giving problems; they are independent entities that need to be managed as such. Why would someone think that they need to stop working on other sub-projects on the land because of an apparent delinquency on one?

My definition of a land being initially done is when the touted attractions/ancillaries open in unison and complete. For others, an incomplete land might satisfy their definition of being open.

 

[yulilin3]

Then the project management team likely didn't build enough buffer time into the schedule to account for the cutting edge deliverables. I cannot imagine someone would stop other aspects of the project because one is giving problems; they are independent entities that need to be managed as such. Why would someone think that they need to stop working on other sub-projects on the land because of an apparent delinquency on one?

My definition of a land being initially done is when the touted attractions/ancillaries open in unison and complete. For others, an incomplete land might satisfy their definition of being open.

ok agree to disagree on this one.
Lets have a hypothetical:
You put in all the money to build a 3 bed 2 bath house. It's paid for. Your paying electricity and other utilities on it
At the end of the contract the builder tells you that everything is done except one of the bathrooms
You have been paying rent in the meantime and since this house is paid for, do you:
a) move in while they finish the bathroom since you only need one bathroom for the time being
b) continue to pay rent elsewhere while your livable new home sits empty

 

[rteetz]

Then the project management team likely didn't build enough buffer time into the schedule to account for the cutting edge deliverables. I cannot imagine someone would stop other aspects of the project because one is giving problems; they are independent entities that need to be managed as such. Why would someone think that they need to stop working on other sub-projects on the land because of an apparent delinquency on one?

My definition of a land being initially done is when the touted attractions/ancillaries open in unison and complete. For others, an incomplete land might satisfy their definition of being open.

The “delay” for this attraction is being a bit blown up more than it should be. Yes there is a technical issue but it’s not a major one, at least not one that can’t be fixed with more test and adjust which like you said is built in.

This is a bit of fixing issues and opening later for crowds. I’m under the impression that Rise is basically right on schedule but the rest is going to be done early so why not open it early.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Then the project management team likely didn't build enough buffer time into the schedule to account for the cutting edge deliverables. I cannot imagine someone would stop other aspects of the project because one is giving problems; they are independent entities that need to be managed as such. Why would someone think that they need to stop working on other sub-projects on the land because of an apparent delinquency on one?

My definition of a land being initially done is when the touted attractions/ancillaries open in unison and complete. For others, an incomplete land might satisfy their definition of being open.

Even the best laid plans can go askew during construction. If the rest of the land is running a bit ahead but one area is running behind do you just let the rest of the land sit done but not in use? What if that is a 6 month gap? Just 6 months of no return on your investment?

Guess I am just surprise at all the negativity around the announced opening .... for one Disney is opening something early - giving us something (even if not all of it) early and people are not happy

But if they announced it was opening 6 months later than intended people would complain about that.

 

[hertamaniac]

ok agree to disagree on this one.
Lets have a hypothetical:
You put in all the money to build a 3 bed 2 bath house. It's paid for.
At the end of the contract the builder tells you that everything is done except one of the bathrooms
You have been paying rent in the meantime and since this house is paid for, do you:
a) move in while they finish the bathroom since you only need one bathroom for the time being
b) continue to pay rent elsewhere while your livable new home sits empty

c) have the contractor pay your rent for an incomplete contract to entice them to complete on time; a good contractor would keep you abreast of the delay(s) as to not encounter this situation to begin with and would have already factored in potential delays to provide a real opening date based on history.
d) never use the contractor again because they failed to deliver per the contract terms

I'm OK with disagreeing; it's a definition of complete/open/finished that appears to be the issue.

 

[mrsap]

The “delay” for this attraction is being a bit blown up more than it should be. Yes there is a technical issue but it’s not a major one, at least not one that can’t be fixed with more test and adjust which like you said is built in.

This is a bit of fixing issues and opening later for crowds. I’m under the impression that Rise is basically right on schedule but the rest is going to be done early so why not open it early.

 

[hertamaniac]

Even the best laid plans can go askew during construction.

Absolutely! It's the schedule that's provided to the public should have already accounted for those technical risks/delays. You (not you personally) select a contractor/vendor based on experience/expertise and ability to meet previous timelines. You/we select those contractors that have the highest probability of success given that history (actually, we rated them). Certainly, when you charter into new technologies your risk grows, but that's where a PM team needs to add even more schedule buffers to cover.

Suppose DL SWGE was never given a projected opening of summer 2019 (or whatever it was originally), but was given late fall 2019. But, in exchange for that date being released it had a "complete" opening without any knowledge on any other aspects of the land being completed. I wonder how we'd all react?

I'm not trying to show negativity, as I'm fully confident the finished product will be spectacular, but rather temper expectations on future theme park lands opening "complete".

 

[yulilin3]

Absolutely! It's the schedule that's provided to the public should have already accounted for those technical risks/delays. You (not you personally) select a contractor/vendor based on experience/expertise and ability to meet previous timelines. You/we select those contractors that have the highest probability of success given that history (actually, we rated them). Certainly, when you charter into new technologies your risk grows, but that's where a PM team needs to add even more schedule buffers to cover.

Suppose DL SWGE was never given a projected opening of summer 2019 (or whatever it was originally), but was given late fall 2019. But, in exchange for that date being released it had a "complete" opening without any knowledge on any other aspects of the land being completed. I wonder how we'd all react?

I'm not trying to show negativity, as I'm fully confident the finished product will be spectacular, but rather temper expectations on future theme park lands opening "complete".

I don't think anyone said the land was "complete" at least speaking for myself I said the land was ready to open/go
Even Disney is referring to it as phase opening

 

[Runnsally]

In this analogy, is the kitchen’s build-your-own sandwich option an upcharge?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Absolutely! It's the schedule that's provided to the public should have already accounted for those technical risks/delays. You (not you personally) select a contractor/vendor based on experience/expertise and ability to meet previous timelines. You/we select those contractors that have the highest probability of success given that history (actually, we rated them). Certainly, when you charter into new technologies your risk grows, but that's where a PM team needs to add even more schedule buffers to cover.

Suppose DL SWGE was never given a projected opening of summer 2019 (or whatever it was originally), but was given late fall 2019. But, in exchange for that date being released it had a "complete" opening without any knowledge on any other aspects of the land being completed. I wonder how we'd all react?

I'm not trying to show negativity, as I'm fully confident the finished product will be spectacular, but rather temper expectations on future theme park lands opening "complete".

To me I would much rather have some of it early than delay the entire thing 6 months just so one last piece could be finished

I mean, Horizons was ready when EPCOT opened - should they have delayed the entire thing a year so that it was “complete” when it opened?

I get there are different opinions, I just don’t get why getting things early is bad. If you want the complete experience then just wait before you go

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I see it differently. If the project team predicted that the flagship attraction would be the critical path to the land opening completely, you start on that aspect of the project first given a thorough risk assessment. This appears to me as an unforeseen or worse, unplanned, delay. If they keep accepting phased releases, I don't have confidence in any new lands being opened holistically.

Not according to Martin on WDWMagic. He tends to be far more right than wrong about these things. Usually when he's "wrong" it's because Disney had decided to change something.

 

[hertamaniac]

To me I would much rather have some of it early than delay the entire thing 6 months just so one last piece could be finished

I mean, Horizons was ready when EPCOT opened - should they have delayed the entire thing a year so that it was “complete” when it opened?

I get there are different opinions, I just don’t get why getting things early is bad. If you want the complete experience then just wait before you go

Whereas I take the viewpoint that the most technical risk project/sub-project, should have started 6 months earlier to coincide with the less risky project/sub-projects timeline of opening.

Neither one of us are wrong or correct in my opinion. I'm just basing my observations based on being a seasoned PMP project manager that managed many high-risk, high-technology projects that often slipped on the schedule for various reasons. I think this project, SWGE, will produce a data point of execution for future WDW projects. Hopefully, they'll do what I did and have a robust postmortem review as to carry the knowledge forward (actually, I'm sure they do this).

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Whereas I take the viewpoint that the most technical risk project/sub-project, should have started 6 months earlier to coincide with the less risky project/sub-projects timeline of opening.

Neither one of us are wrong or correct in my opinion. I'm just basing my observations based on being a seasoned PMP project manager that managed many high-risk, high-technology projects that often slipped on the schedule for various reasons. I think this project, SWGE, will produce a data point of execution for future WDW projects. Hopefully, they'll do what I did and have a robust postmortem review as to carry the knowledge forward (actually, I'm sure they do this).

I am sure they will - but there are also only so many things you can do when building a whole land - can’t just start on one part of it when lining up all the subcontractors and just the different areas. Also possibly they did allow more time for this and it took even more time than the extra time

I feel like they got killed for when they announced an opening date for Rivers of Light and then couldn’t open on time do to technical issues I really don’t think they would have put out any timeframe unless they were confident about it.

Just perhaps other stuff went faster and they figured why not open part of it early and get sort of “two grand openings” out of each land.

I bet they thought they would get positive responses to opening even part of it earlier than expected

 

[rteetz]

Just perhaps other stuff went faster and they figured why not open part of it early and get sort of “two grand openings” out of each land.

I think this is a big part of it.

 

[ksromack]

View attachment 388771

Said in my best Sheldon voice......