Am I the only one that is unimpressed with SWGE - where is the juice?

No, I don't remember any of those things, because I didn't follow early announcements and did not base my expectations on concept art. Disney has changed or cancelled many, many things after initial announcements over the decades, so I make a rule of waiting to see things myself and actively avoiding learning too much in advance, particularly from early announcements that might not come to fruition.

I think I'm going to bow out of this thread. I'm looking forward to seeing SWGE for myself and passing my own judgment, and until I've actually done that I can't really engage with this conversation beyond the circular arguments about the setting choice. I'm not going to change anyone's mind, and I don't really want to hear everything that's "wrong" with the place before I've gotten to experience it for myself.

Disney sort of does this to themselves with their PR mission. They love to announce in the planning stage and hype the ride/lands over a long period of time. Everyone knows upfront what the full plans were. Universal is the opposite. They announce almost nothing until the project is almost completed and we really don't know what was cut. Things were cut out of the Hagrid's coaster but its not as much of a big deal because we didn't have concept art and hype for it. For the Jurassic Park coaster, all we know right now is that a JP related ride is going in that spot because of the construction walls up. Plans have leaked but nothing official from UO.

I will say that we may not have the full interactivity of the land yet given that only the First Order side is open. Yes you can walk through the Resistance side but thats really it. Also, most the interactive items would need magic bands which would mean its would be DW exclusive.
 
I think it's a mistake to assume the Disneyland SWGE "flopped" because it didn't recreate a setting from the original series. Disney increased prices, imposed an AP blockout, and signaled again and again through their announcements of crowd management strategies that they expected the land to be absolutely slammed for months on end. Reading these boards and various Disney blogs in the leadup, everyone in the know was cautioning people against visiting in the land's first few months...and people listened. Particularly when you consider that Disneyland is a locals' park and its audience is generally more in tune with its general goings-on, it seems clear to me that this was a marketing and pricing error, not a design error. The reviews from the people who did go to AP previews or in the months since have generally been very positive. I think that's the reason Disney has been so tight-lipped about its crowd control strategies for Florida. They don't want to repeat their mistake and cause more people to postpone their trips. They've also introduced lower-priced midday tickets to bring back in guests who felt priced out. Look at what Disney is doing right now and it's pretty clear where they know they went wrong on the first try.
None of that stopped me. I got my annual pass as always. I went to galaxys edge. I love star wars. The past few visits i didnt even bother going back into galaxys edge. Its that dissapointing. It is a failiure so far to me. Im not speculating or basing my opinion on reports or research. Im basing it on myself actually going and experiencing it and what ive done whenever i go back to disneyland.
 
Again, everything at Disney is not for everyone. I don't like test track, or soarin or 7dmt, or fea or.... the list continues, burr it still offers me plenty that I do enjoy which is why I have been an ap for 21 years.
I have gone once into GE, spent 7 hours inside and can't wait to be able to go back. Once it opens for everyone, I'm sure I'll visit the land for a while or even just walking from muppets to tsland.
 


That you've never cared about. Just saying 😜

Yes, it’s my opinion. Just like anyone else’s post is there opinion.

I think the Disneyland attendance speaks volumes. I love Disney, and long before that I loved Star Wars. It’s a good land and I’m glad we have it. But there just isn’t anything about it that really gets me hyped. If I had $1000 to throw around on lightsabers and droids and other ridiculously overpriced merch (even by Disney standards) maybe I’d feel differently. RotR and Flacon make for a great ride combo, but as far as things to look at and ramble around the land, I think Pandora is just as good, maybe better. And I don’t like Avatar. I have seen some great cast interactions on YouTube but have yet to see them in person after 2 visits.

Anything this big and new at WDW will be successful but I think the proof is in the pudding at Dinseyland that this IS NOT what most Star Wars enthusiast were looking for.

At Universal, they brought in non-theme park people for Harry Potter. Star Wars fans are older and less swayed towards something they’ve never had an interest in. (Theme parks) Which to me is all the more reason to give them an immersive experience from their childhood. GE is another Pandora. Something cool for people that didn’t care about Avatar. But other than the Falcon, it’s nothing for me to get emotional about.

You don’t know where you are in Battu. It’s harder to “get” than walking into Diagon Alley. I say this as someone who hasn’t set foot in Universal since moving here almost 2 months ago and going to Disney nearly daily.

It’s exactly what I expected from the day we first saw the model of the land. It’s not bad, but it’s not what I wanted and I won’t apologize for that. All the Star Wars fans that know nothing about Disney I talk to say the same thing.

That said, people my age and older aren’t the target audience. Kids don’t know any better and I hope and think they will love it and I’m glad for that. But they would have loved a original trilogy themed land as well. And THAT would have brought in the Harry Potter type crowds at Disneyland.

I’ll stop beating a dead horse for now. I want to love it. I want to be excited. But both times I just left underwhelmed. I’d love to go with someone who can get me excited for it. I still
Think RotR will be my favorite Disney ride ever. But as of now, honestly I would give anything to have the Osborne Lights.
 
Don’t decide until you go. It is the best theme park experience I have ever had BY FAR. It’s impressive in ways I didn’t even think of. First, it’s huge and the way you enter it through the tunnel and emerge inside of it is unlike anything I’ve seen. Closest is Diagonal Alley but somehow this feels even more immersive and different. At the end of the night, we literally were shocked to emerge back into HS, we literally were transported to another world. Second, seeing the Millenium Falcon there before your eyes (and maybe even more impressive, the other random ships just placed all around) was like a dream. I think when you’ve imagined this world since childhood, seeing it there before your eyes was just, well, magical. Finally, for me, the most impressive part were the CastMembers. EVERYONE in character as if they were hosting you on Batuu. Not one break in character and the Star Wars knowledge we “tested” was impeccable. You actually felt like you were a traveler to this land buying items at the market and enjoying the company of other galaxy travelers. Even purchase were registered in local “currency”- they did not use the term dollars. I want to go back soooooo badly. We are tearing up just talking about it three days later.
 


Yes, it’s my opinion. Just like anyone else’s post is there opinion.

I think the Disneyland attendance speaks volumes. I love Disney, and long before that I loved Star Wars. It’s a good land and I’m glad we have it. But there just isn’t anything about it that really gets me hyped. If I had $1000 to throw around on lightsabers and droids and other ridiculously overpriced merch (even by Disney standards) maybe I’d feel differently. RotR and Flacon make for a great ride combo, but as far as things to look at and ramble around the land, I think Pandora is just as good, maybe better. And I don’t like Avatar. I have seen some great cast interactions on YouTube but have yet to see them in person after 2 visits.

Anything this big and new at WDW will be successful but I think the proof is in the pudding at Dinseyland that this IS NOT what most Star Wars enthusiast were looking for.

At Universal, they brought in non-theme park people for Harry Potter. Star Wars fans are older and less swayed towards something they’ve never had an interest in. (Theme parks) Which to me is all the more reason to give them an immersive experience from their childhood. GE is another Pandora. Something cool for people that didn’t care about Avatar. But other than the Falcon, it’s nothing for me to get emotional about.

You don’t know where you are in Battu. It’s harder to “get” than walking into Diagon Alley. I say this as someone who hasn’t set foot in Universal since moving here almost 2 months ago and going to Disney nearly daily.

It’s exactly what I expected from the day we first saw the model of the land. It’s not bad, but it’s not what I wanted and I won’t apologize for that. All the Star Wars fans that know nothing about Disney I talk to say the same thing.

That said, people my age and older aren’t the target audience. Kids don’t know any better and I hope and think they will love it and I’m glad for that. But they would have loved a original trilogy themed land as well. And THAT would have brought in the Harry Potter type crowds at Disneyland.

I’ll stop beating a dead horse for now. I want to love it. I want to be excited. But both times I just left underwhelmed. I’d love to go with someone who can get me excited for it. I still
Think RotR will be my favorite Disney ride ever. But as of now, honestly I would give anything to have the Osborne Lights.
Some thoughts on some of your statements above:
If I had $1000 to throw around on lightsabers and droids and other ridiculously overpriced merch (even by Disney standards) maybe I’d feel differently
I doubt it I don't believe that throwing money to the land will make you like it more. It seems you are pretty set on your opinion on that. I had only funds for some food and drink items and loved the land without buying most merchandise.

At Universal, they brought in non-theme park people for Harry Potter.
For SWGE they also had non LucasFilm theme park people. I also believe that they probably put a lot of input of what was going in and what wasn't.

You don’t know where you are in Battu
This is probably one of my favorite aspects of the land, the sense of exploration and adventure, you never know what's around the next corner. Of course that will change with a couple of more visits

It’s not bad, but it’s not what I wanted
And I think this is the root of the issue. You were expecting something specific. Disney/LucasFilm went with a SW destination unknown, until now, to fans. My approach with any new SW film/cartoon/book/comic is to go in with an open mind. It's SW there are thousands of different things to explore and they have brought new destinations with each movie. You never know where you will end up. Batuu is just one more, new destination for us. as SW fans to explore and now, live in.

people my age and older aren’t the target audience

Not knowing your age I can't really agree or disagree with your statement. I am a 45 year old latina lady, who found herself transported at the age of 6 to a galaxy far,far away. A made on my own fan, my family was and is not into it, I just happen to stumble on SW on my tv one day and was hooked. I LOVED GE. I believe the target audience if everyone and anyone. This is why they didn't do it more specific. So that non SW fans can go in and still have an amazing time of adventure without having to know all the details of the SW Universe

I want to be excited. But both times I just left underwhelmed.
And that's perfectly fine, like I said all of Disney is not for everyone, there are aspects of the parks I dislike and so I avoid.

I would give anything to have the Osborne Lights.
100%agree with you on that. The lights and SWW are the things I miss most at DHS.
 
How is Disney going to pull this off?

The new book "Galaxy's Edge: A Crash of Fate" mentions Batuu has 3 suns. Their greeting is even "Bright Suns!" (I'm sure some of you that have visited have heard CM's say that).

So how is Disney going to hang 2 more suns in the sky?
 
How is Disney going to pull this off?

The new book "Galaxy's Edge: A Crash of Fate" mentions Batuu has 3 suns. Their greeting is even "Bright Suns!" (I'm sure some of you that have visited have heard CM's say that).

So how is Disney going to hang 2 more suns in the sky?

Well I suppose you could look directly into the sky to try to find all three suns but I wouldn't recommend it.

Besides, CA & FL are hot enough we can just pretend there's three suns.
 
I was watching some YouTube reviews of it and the same thing keeps being said - It's a Star Wars mall with one unimpressive ride and several bars. The other thing I've read is what pretty much what everybody has been saying from the beginning concept art, and that's that there is no connection to the original, or even prequel trilogies. I think what is really comes down to is what we first learned with Last Jedi. Disney simply doesn't know what to do with Star Wars. I actually watched one video from a reliable vlogger who said there's a rumor the entire thing may be shut down and redone. I don't put a lot of trust in that, but to hear people's less than excited reactions, doesn't surprise me.
 
I had my reservations before going to SWGE. I thought that the legacy Star Wars would be missing etc etc. That Badu was new etc. Then while at Star Tours, it hit me that Tatooine was already there. Maybe this is different from Disneyland, but DHS has already other spaces for the legacy story.

Once I entered SGWE all of the thoughts about being disappointed disappeared. As we walked in Rey approached us and started interacting with my DDs and that is when I understood that this land is for the “new” generation. I mean there are still bridges to “our” starwars: the X-wing, the droids, the light sabers, chewbacca, yoda, and the MF.

I think the new movies may also bring back some of the characters as well. I am betting on DV coming back( no one is really gone for ever...)

But overall, as someone else mentioned in other posts, once you get back to DHS it seems that you really spent time in another planet, galaxy far far away. (Even more at night)
 
Once I entered SGWE all of the thoughts about being disappointed disappeared. As we walked in Rey approached us and started interacting with my DDs and that is when I understood that this land is for the “new” generation.

I don't think there's enough interest from the new generation to need an entire 14 acres dedicated to it. I mean, I could be wrong, but I don't see kids walking around with backpacks with Rey, BB8 and Poe like they used to with Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker and Yoda.
 
I was watching some YouTube reviews of it and the same thing keeps being said - It's a Star Wars mall with one unimpressive ride and several bars. The other thing I've read is what pretty much what everybody has been saying from the beginning concept art, and that's that there is no connection to the original, or even prequel trilogies. I think what is really comes down to is what we first learned with Last Jedi. Disney simply doesn't know what to do with Star Wars. I actually watched one video from a reliable vlogger who said there's a rumor the entire thing may be shut down and redone. I don't put a lot of trust in that, but to hear people's less than excited reactions, doesn't surprise me.
and still from the AP preview reports there has not been a "disappointed" review yet. Like I said everyone has different opinions. If it's not the SW you like you are more than welcome to move along. I don't understand when people say there is no connection to the original SW. The Falcon is front and center, full scale. You hear Yoda at Savi, you see R2D2 tracks, you see Chewbacca walking around, you see lightsabers, you see blue milk, you see thermal detonators and water vaporators, and the dianoga, and a baby sarlacc, and x wings.......
 
I don't think there's enough interest from the new generation to need an entire 14 acres dedicated to it. I mean, I could be wrong, but I don't see kids walking around with backpacks with Rey, BB8 and Poe like they used to with Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker and Yoda.

How often do you watch little kids? 😜

and still from the AP preview reports there has not been a "disappointed" review yet. Like I said everyone has different opinions. If it's not the SW you like you are more than welcome to move along. I don't understand when people say there is no connection to the original SW. The Falcon is front and center, full scale. You hear Yoda at Savi, you see R2D2 tracks, you see Chewbacca walking around, you see lightsabers, you see blue milk, you see thermal detonators and water vaporators, and the dianoga, and a baby sarlacc, and x wings.......


I think what a lot of people don't understand is that Disney wanted to create a land that not only makes you feel part of the story but doesn't mess with continuity (too much). They want you to feel like you're not just replacing or observing characters but actually are characters. You can't really do that with the older movies and legends materials. Han would never let someone like Hondo near his ship, let alone let some stranger pilot it for a joyride. As much as I like the Wizarding World, there are definitely some continuity issues with the rides there (not sure about Hagrid's motorbike).

GE on the other hand could easily take place between TFA & TLJ and explains why the MF is under Hondo's....supervision. it justifies why you get to take a spin on the ship. Overall, I'm looking forward to just immersing myself in the land. Would love to ride Millennium Falcon but getting a ronto wrap and messing around on my datapad is all I'll need. Though admittedly I also got reservations at Oga's and Savi's😅
 
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and still from the AP preview reports there has not been a "disappointed" review yet. Like I said everyone has different opinions. If it's not the SW you like you are more than welcome to move along. I don't understand when people say there is no connection to the original SW. The Falcon is front and center, full scale. You hear Yoda at Savi, you see R2D2 tracks, you see Chewbacca walking around, you see lightsabers, you see blue milk, you see thermal detonators and water vaporators, and the dianoga, and a baby sarlacc, and x wings.......

Here's a vlogger I watch regularly. I assure you, there are many disappointing reviews. I take no joy in seeing this. I'm a Star Wars fan, but the concept for it always perplexed me a bit. Where's Hoth? Where's Endor? Where's Sky City? Where's the Dagobah System? Where are lands that transport me to the Star Wars I love? Why not just put in a casino like they had in Last Jedi?

 
Here's a vlogger I watch regularly. I assure you, there are many disappointing reviews.

I'm not saying there aren't. Like everything in life there will be people that like something or not and that's fine with me. I don't need a vlogger to convince me one way or another, I experience things first before coming to any conclusions.
People want to call it a flop, that's fine, in my eyes, which is the only thing that matter for me, I think it's a great addition to the park, a great environment to live my SW story and I enjoy it.
I will however continue to say that it does have plenty of old school SW because I have seen it with my own eyes (quoting Maz)
 
Where's Hoth? Where's Endor? Where's Sky City? Where's the Dagobah System? Where are lands that transport me to the Star Wars I love?
I saw some concept art for a theme park that incorporated a lot of the locations from the original trilogy, if I were to guess it would have cost like 10 billion dollars.
 
Just read that the Star Wars hotel package for 2 nights/3 days will run $3,300 - PER PERSON! I can just picture this conversation with my wife:

Honey, let's take the kids to Hawaii next year. We can go for 10 days and spend around $5k.

Good idea, but I was thinking let's stay at the Star Wars Hotel. We can go for 3 days and spend $12k!
 
I'm not saying there aren't. Like everything in life there will be people that like something or not and that's fine with me. I don't need a vlogger to convince me one way or another, I experience things first before coming to any conclusions.
People want to call it a flop, that's fine, in my eyes, which is the only thing that matter for me, I think it's a great addition to the park, a great environment to live my SW story and I enjoy it.
I will however continue to say that it does have plenty of old school SW because I have seen it with my own eyes (quoting Maz)

Take that one "vlogger" and add PLENTY of AP's who this past week went and were totally thrilled, I can find just as many "vloggers" who LOVED the place and with all the positive reviews I could care less about the negative nellies opinions as NOTHING would have made them happy, good stay away leaving space for those who want to go......
 

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