Attendance Tracker

[Mad Dog]

I believe GESWL will attract and hold attendance, not necessarily because of the IP only, but because it finally looks like Disney will be replicating the new concept of a lands' success that Universal achieved with Hogsmeade, and then moved into another league with Diagon/London/HE/Gringotts... NFL, Pandora,TSL, and even Carsland are attractive lands with good to excellent main attractions. But what's missing is the totality of the experience that Diagon/Hogsmeade are able to accomplish with additional entertainment, shopping, interactivity, and gawking at all the little interesting details in the lands that keep people there for hours on end and make them want to come back and spend more hours on ends in the lands. Not sure yet, but the signs are pointing to GESWL being in that same mold. This will be Disney's Diagon, and advertising/marketing and word of mouth will drive attendance. Of course this all comes with one 'big caveat', namely that Disney doesn't blunt the demand by putting an overly greedy redo of their ticket price packaging and ride reservation system in place. That could screw the whole thing up if it comes across the wrong way.

 

[SeventyOne]

HP was a phenomenon... nothing had ever been done like it

This is exactly what I mean. No one had ever seen an official wand before they day Hogsmeade soft-opened; Make-Your-Own-Lightsaber was a thing in Downtown Disney and DHS a decade ago. I could do a hundred of these comparisons, but the bottom line is the same--Star Wars rides, merch and meet & greets are almost cliche at this point (the merch in real world stores as much as the parks), when there was virtually nothing for Potter prior to his land. Throw in a planet never featured in the stories and an emphasis on the less iconic movies, I don't know what legs this will have. Especially if there are hurdles to get in.

 

[JungleSkip]

This is exactly what I mean. No one had ever seen an official wand before they day Hogsmeade soft-opened; Make-Your-Own-Lightsaber was a thing in Downtown Disney and DHS a decade ago. I could do a hundred of these comparisons, but the bottom line is the same--Star Wars rides, merch and meet & greets are almost cliche at this point (the merch in real world stores as much as the parks), when there was virtually nothing for Potter prior to his land. Throw in a planet never featured in the stories and an emphasis on the less iconic movies, I don't know what legs this will have. Especially if there are hurdles to get in.

I've always thought the merch thing was the biggest issue coming with Star Wars. Merch and Butterbeer are what made WWOHP the success it is. Sure, FJ being a huge leap forward in dark rides helped, but without the revenue generated by the land, Comcast would of never bought the parks and give us the renaissance we see now. Before Hogsmeade, the only place people could get any Potter merch was in the expensive collector magazines and the like. There was a huge, pent up demand.

Star Wars merch you can get in any store you look at. They're going to have to be really, really creative with the stuff in the land or else I don't see the massive crowd spending like WWOHP generated

 

[MrBlonde]

From what I heard on Jim Hill's podcast, it sounds like all of the merch in GESWL will be as if it's in world rather than products of the franchise. That may make it exclusive (and potential instagram bait) to make everyone want to get their own. But like you said, you need more than a glorified flashlight when I go home to justify whatever they'll be charging for the lightsabers.

But... if they had some sort of AR helmet that was similar in style to mercs like Boba Fett... I definitely could splurge on that especially if there's some way to make it my own.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

From what I heard on Jim Hill's podcast, it sounds like all of the merch in GESWL will be as if it's in world rather than products of the franchise. That may make it exclusive (and potential instagram bait) to make everyone want to get their own. But like you said, you need more than a glorified flashlight when I go home to justify whatever they'll be charging for the lightsabers.

But... if they had some sort of AR helmet that was similar in style to mercs like Boba Fett... I definitely could splurge on that especially if there's some way to make it my own.

I think that's the direction Imagineering wants to go, nothing with the logo just "natural" merchandise. But Disney is gonna be Disney and probably just stick SW branded stuff.

 

[shiekra38]

I've always thought the merch thing was the biggest issue coming with Star Wars. Merch and Butterbeer are what made WWOHP the success it is. Sure, FJ being a huge leap forward in dark rides helped, but without the revenue generated by the land, Comcast would of never bought the parks and give us the renaissance we see now. Before Hogsmeade, the only place people could get any Potter merch was in the expensive collector magazines and the like. There was a huge, pent up demand.

Star Wars merch you can get in any store you look at. They're going to have to be really, really creative with the stuff in the land or else I don't see the massive crowd spending like WWOHP generated

That and all of the Potter stuff is actually cannon

I'm curious to see what Disney comes up with, but I'm expecting a lot of themed cupcakes and glorified Target lightsabers

 

[Parkscope Joe]

This is exactly what I mean. No one had ever seen an official wand before they day Hogsmeade soft-opened; Make-Your-Own-Lightsaber was a thing in Downtown Disney and DHS a decade ago. I could do a hundred of these comparisons, but the bottom line is the same--Star Wars rides, merch and meet & greets are almost cliche at this point (the merch in real world stores as much as the parks), when there was virtually nothing for Potter prior to his land. Throw in a planet never featured in the stories and an emphasis on the less iconic movies, I don't know what legs this will have. Especially if there are hurdles to get in.

Potter is a once in a blue moon theme park phenomenon, one that I don’t think will be replicated till Nintendo.

There’s two thoughts on SWGE, one is what you’ve stated. The other is “As big as or bigger than Hogsmeade.” I think it’s between these two. SW is huge and this land already had a lot of hype around it, but unlike Hogsmeade SW had been in the park for DECADES plus Disney (and Universal) now know how to handle crowds who come to these sort of lands. DHS won’t be a waiting room because they know how to handle the crowds. It’s the same reason why Diagon was more successful than Hogsmeade but also didn’t cause the same congestion and issues in the park.

 

[Disneyhead]

Here's a scary thought. What if SW:GE isn't the resounding success that everyone assumes it will be? Not that it's not great, but because of Star Wars fans being bitter after TLJ and WDW's attendance dropping off a cliff.

 

[Nick]

Here's a scary thought. What if SW:GE isn't the resounding success that everyone assumes it will be? Not that it's not great, but because of Star Wars fans being bitter after TLJ and WDW's attendance dropping off a cliff.

Then there will be less people for me to fight against to get a FP+ for the rides.

 

[UniversalRBLX]

Here's a scary thought. What if SW:GE isn't the resounding success that everyone assumes it will be? Not that it's not great, but because of Star Wars fans being bitter after TLJ and WDW's attendance dropping off a cliff.

That has to be an issue Disney is worried about as an entire company. It's still a great franchise, but there could be a dramatic "drop" in viewership/attendance for anything SW related. However, there is still a giant fan base that will attend SWL and the hotel as well. So it's not as worrisome... but still in the back of their mind.

 

[GadgetGuru]

That has to be an issue Disney is worried about as an entire company. It's still a great franchise, but there could be a dramatic "drop" in viewership/attendance for anything SW related. However, there is still a giant fan base that will attend SWL and the hotel as well. So it's not as worrisome... but still in the back of their mind.

I think the biggest issue is Disney's expectations.

Potter caused attendance to go up 20% and guest spending to double (I think, please fact check).

Disney's crazy to think that SWL can make that happen. Disney is a way bigger chain with larger attendance. Nothing can move the needle that much. But, if that's what Disney is expecting (or anything close), then there will be disappointment.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Here's a scary thought. What if SW:GE isn't the resounding success that everyone assumes it will be? Not that it's not great, but because of Star Wars fans being bitter after TLJ and WDW's attendance dropping off a cliff.

I reeeeeeaaaaaallllllly doubt fans are actual bitter about TLJ, just the trolls.

 

[Scott W.]

I reeeeeeaaaaaallllllly doubt fans are actual bitter about TLJ, just the trolls.

I'd say I'm a bit bitter about TLJ but you bet your ass, I'm going to visit Star Wars Land. Even if somebody was incredibly pissed about the recent sequels, it doesn't take away their enjoyment of the originals and they can't turn down a visit.

 

[Mad Dog]

I was at the DHS grand opening day of Star Tours Two when they had shaded queues up and down the SOA. But hardly anyone showed up. The street was empty. The line was only slightly longer than the original queue.....That said, this new land sounds like it's going to be excellent. I'd expect big crowds for a good while.I think the quality and completeness of the land will support it's success:thumbsup:. I think Joe's right that the parks have a better handle on crowds now, so they won't ever recreate the grand opening Hogsmeade day..As I said previously, I just hope they don't screw it up with unrealistic pricing and reservation systems. If they do, all bets are off. :thumbsdown:

 

[Mad Dog]

Disney shares fell in extended trading after quarterly results fell short of analyst's expectations. Analysts expected $1.95 earnings per share. Actual adjusted earnings came in at $1.87 a share.

 

[shiekra38]

Here's a scary thought. What if SW:GE isn't the resounding success that everyone assumes it will be? Not that it's not great, but because of Star Wars fans being bitter after TLJ and WDW's attendance dropping off a cliff.

If freaking Pandora was a sucess, I think SWL will be...Not sure about the Star Wars brand moving forward, but it will be a successful opening for sure

 

[JungleSkip]

If freaking Pandora was a sucess, I think SWL will be...Not sure about the Star Wars brand moving forward, but it will be a successful opening for sure

Pandora was a "success" in that it drew guests to DAK, but, at least according to Touring Plans, those guests came at the detriment of Epcot and DHS, and they have already subsided.

Disney would take SW being another Pandora, but they're definitely hoping it's more.

 

[Scott W.]

Pandora was a "success" in that it drew guests to DAK, but, at least according to Touring Plans, those guests came at the detriment of Epcot and DHS, and they have already subsided.

Disney would take SW being another Pandora, but they're definitely hoping it's more.

Merch sales should be considerably higher especially if they create something similar to those shoulder dragon things, whatever the hell they were.

 

[shiekra38]

Merch sales should be considerably higher especially if they create something similar to those shoulder dragon things, whatever the hell they were.

If it can't sit on your shoulder, why bother

I actually just want a coffee mug that says "I am the senate" and I will be satisfied

 

[UNIrd]

The marketing team has their work cut out for them as they've been pushing DHS as the place for Star Wars for years. Now they have to make sure people know DHS is STILL the place for Star Wars... but for different reasons.