UNIrd
V.I.P. Member
- Jul 18, 2008
- 6,858
- 5,786
I honestly had similar thoughts. I’ll admit I’m a much bigger fan of the Potter IP than Star Wars, but I agree that so much of the Star Wars story is too connected to a small core of characters that limit how connected guests can feel to this sort of thing. There’s been a good bit of talk about how the opulence of this place reads as “bad” in almost every Star Wars shorthand, and it’s accurate. There are also so many retconning plot holes in its story that may make narrative sense but that doesn’t mean they’re narratively necessarily.Alright, after watching some videos without worrying about whether or not the vloggers could afford it, I actually have legitimate thoughts and opinions believe it or not.
I’ll be honest…this is something I could afford. However, I don’t think I would—it’s not about the price but the execution. The activities seem contrived and the story elements seem cringy. This isn’t my idea of three days well-spent.
With that being said, there IS potential here. Whoever said this could work as a dinner or lunchtime experience…genius. But I also think there are little tidbits in the foundation here to be something successful. The whole time watching this, I couldn’t help but think “if this was set in Hogwarts this would be amazing.” Star Wars is ultimately about characters and putting customers central to the story doesn’t work because so much is based around the “Skywalker lineage.”
If you were to take this idea of a full-fledged interactive vacation and applied it toward an IP that is more location-centric or environment-friendly, I think you’d have a winner. As it stands, Star Wars doesn’t have a recognizable aesthetic beyond desert slums. The design here feels forced and doesn’t lend itself toward something people should want to immerse themselves in.
Disney COULD have done this well—there are a lot of details in the design that reflect their cruise ships, and obviously the ships have proven to be a successful model for a successful vacation. I really just think Disney misunderstands what made Star Wars successful—it’s not the setting, it’s the story, and that’s very specific to a particular group of characters. To be fair, George Lucas himself messed this up too so it is what it is.
If this took place in Hogwarts or something, I think it would be great. The pieces are here and I think Imagineering overall did a good job and for what this is, I believe the price is justified given the R&D put into this. It’s surprisingly the IP that’s the issue. I do hope it’s successful, not for Disney’s sake but for the hope that a company with the rights to an IP that would actually lend itself to something like this will have the confidence to take a shot.
I honestly had similar thoughts. I’ll admit I’m a much bigger fan of the Potter IP than Star Wars, but I agree that so much of the Star Wars story is too connected to a small core of characters that limit how connected guests can feel to this sort of thing. There’s been a good bit of talk about how the opulence of this place reads as “bad” in almost every Star Wars shorthand, and it’s accurate. There are also so many retconning plot holes in its story that may make narrative sense but that doesn’t mean they’re narratively necessarily.
Harry Potter, on the other hand, is proven to be successful without an over-reliance on the core characters because the character map is so sprawling and the narrative world (ie - the story) is so expansive. A random wizard hotel (not the Leaky Cauldron, as that’s a hovel) and the appearance of random Death Eaters or Order…Phoenix members would make more narrative sense because both sides operate covertly.
Imagine a three-day stay at the “Emerald Mermaid,” a centuries-old wizard hotel, built at the bottom of a lake to participate in a Wizard/Muggle Enrichment Conference. Hosted by the Ministry of Magic (and spearheaded by Arthur Weasley), this event enables wizards and muggles to learn more about each other. There are opportunities for wizards to teach muggles how to do magic, learn Wizarding history, magical beasts displays, shows, or guests can just enjoy the hotel (or spend all day at the parks… whatevs). Muggles can also opt for a day-trip (via flying Knight Bus) to the wizard “commerce hub,” Diagon Alley or the “seat of government,” the Ministry of Magic. However, there’s the potential that Death Eaters have infiltrated the event. Luckily, undercover Aurors and the Order of the Phoenix are present to fight back.
Structurally, the story plays out in a manner more akin to Sleep No More. Various story beats take place in various places throughout the day but guests are not tied to any specific thing. Primary story beats can play out during meals or shows. Smaller ones, literally, wherever - hallway, lobby, pool, whatevs.
Guests don’t have to be active participants but can interject if they desire (and potentially effect the story by exposing a Death Eater early). They can simply watch the show or ignore it entirely and enjoy their stay at a “wizard hotel.”
If Disney took the same concept and structured it in a way that allowed more (some?) passivity, they could have something that’s absolutely dynamite. As it stands, it just feels needlessly over-produced in a cringe way.
I agree the story engine is a great creative feat and (coming from someone who loves theater) the vast amount of equity actors they hired for this for both scripted and highly improvisational roles is a delight to see. I look at it like how the corporate word desperately wants the Metaverse to be a thing. Instead of playing around in your room in a digital world, this really immerses you into the experience from the second you check in to the the moment you leave.From a purely creative side, I’m strongly inclined to agree that this is the “next frontier” of themed entertainment. There’s only so much you can do in a theme park setting that enables you to simultaneously be impressed, forge connections, and churn through over 1500 people every hour. Dare I say that Rise managed to perfect that premise inside of a (relatively) high capacity attraction.
Starcruiser comes from the opposite angle, of what happens when you give people more time and more effects on a story. This is obviously something that you couldn’t stick in a park where there are 20 other things guests want to do before they leave, so instead it’s isolated. The base premise is really interesting and one that (in my opinion) nobody should be rooting for to fail.
But… there isn’t just the creative side; there is also the business side, which soured so many people (myself included) on this experience. While I can *somewhat* see where they are coming from on price (in terms of limited capacity and recouping R&D), I really wish they would have gone another route. In my personal ideal world, we get a second starcruiser plopped right next to this one, with a different ship and slightly different storyline, which helps to further justify the R&D costs and also manages to up supply and enable costs to come down a little bit. Unfortunately, for that to even be in the realm of possibility, this one has to be a success which, thanks to the business side souring people on it, looks iffy.
I agree the story engine is a great creative feat and (coming from someone who loves theater) the vast amount of equity actors they hired for this for both scripted and highly improvisational roles is a delight to see. I look at it like how the corporate word desperately wants the Metaverse to be a thing. Instead of playing around in your room in a digital world, this really immerses you into the experience from the second you check in to the the moment you leave.
Those are great things creatively. The problem becomes the price point. Had it stayed around the originally rumored price, it would be much more palatable.
Remember when this price point was brought up and we all thought it was crazy? There's a lot of discussion about it on page 1 of the thread. And I actually think that $2,000-$2,500 would've been something that I could convince myself into doing with some friends at some point.
The last thing this thing needs is a pool. Any leisure experience where you can’t stop what you’re doing to chase a story thread seems off the table with this insane venture. Other than chilling at the bar, I can’t imagine being able to just sit and relax for any amount of time, nor would I want to, if it’s possible I’m missing important story elements going on.
This experience isn’t long enough to just chill. And getting changed, going to the pool, enjoying myself, drying off, showering, and getting changed again is far too much time to waste on something you’re paying more than $50 an hour to experience.
If you’re paying thousands of dollars and not participating why are you paying thousands of dollars?I guess it’s for the people that DO want to chill and don’t want to do all the story stuff. Plenty of tourists may only want to do lightsaber training and pass on several of the other activities , OR people that may be repeat customers might want something else to do.
i think the DIS video explained that they went to the room to get cleaned up for dinner and a big story event occurred. The hotel story continues wether you participate or not.
For most people that will stay here, $6k is a drop in the bucket.If you’re paying thousands of dollars and not participating why are you paying thousands of dollars?
That’s a loaded question in a thread full of people who understand exactly what they’re in for at this place. I’d wager a not-insignificant percentage of guests are spending the money strictly for the clout of having stayed at the Star Wars hotel. Those individuals likely have no interest in participating.If you’re paying thousands of dollars and not participating why are you paying thousands of dollars?
Marathon medals.....That’s a loaded question in a thread full of people who understand exactly what they’re in for at this place. I’d wager a not-insignificant percentage of guests are spending the money strictly for the clout of having stayed at the Star Wars hotel. Those individuals likely have no interest in participating.
From a purely creative side, I’m strongly inclined to agree that this is the “next frontier” of themed entertainment. There’s only so much you can do in a theme park setting that enables you to simultaneously be impressed, forge connections, and churn through over 1500 people every hour. Dare I say that Rise managed to perfect that premise inside of a (relatively) high capacity attraction.
Starcruiser comes from the opposite angle, of what happens when you give people more time and more effects on a story. This is obviously something that you couldn’t stick in a park where there are 20 other things guests want to do before they leave, so instead it’s isolated. The base premise is really interesting and one that (in my opinion) nobody should be rooting for to fail.
But… there isn’t just the creative side; there is also the business side, which soured so many people (myself included) on this experience. While I can *somewhat* see where they are coming from on price (in terms of limited capacity and recouping R&D), I really wish they would have gone another route. In my personal ideal world, we get a second starcruiser plopped right next to this one, with a different ship and slightly different storyline, which helps to further justify the R&D costs and also manages to up supply and enable costs to come down a little bit. Unfortunately, for that to even be in the realm of possibility, this one has to be a success which, thanks to the business side souring people on it, looks iffy.
I agree the story engine is a great creative feat and (coming from someone who loves theater) the vast amount of equity actors they hired for this for both scripted and highly improvisational roles is a delight to see. I look at it like how the corporate word desperately wants the Metaverse to be a thing. Instead of playing around in your room in a digital world, this really immerses you into the experience from the second you check in to the the moment you leave.
Those are great things creatively. The problem becomes the price point. Had it stayed around the originally rumored price, it would be much more palatable.
Remember when this price point was brought up and we all thought it was crazy? There's a lot of discussion about it on page 1 of the thread. And I actually think that $2,000-$2,500 would've been something that I could convince myself into doing with some friends at some point.
The alternative to this was not more rides and shows at WDW, the alternative was [something else] with fewer of the rides and shows that have been/are being built at WDW. I'll just let people guess what the [something else] was.because this just seems another way Disney tries to find another angle that isn't building more rides and shows:
The alternative to this was not more rides and shows at WDW, the alternative was [something else] with fewer of the rides and shows that have been/are being built at WDW. I'll just let people guess what the [something else] was.
It doesn't take much in-depth analysis to see that money was getting handed out left and right in a certain window.
If you’re paying thousands of dollars and not participating why are you paying thousands of dollars?
That’s my point. If you’re not there to participate, this isn’t for you.Besides the rich who are doing it just because they can, you will have families who go where the husband drags the wife and kids along on his fantasy and they are stuck doing something they don't care about. I can imagine there's going to be plenty of "I don't want to go to the F-ing lightsaber training Todd" fights along the way.
Not to mention, once the reviews start coming out, those types of families might be harder to get to book once the disinterested member of the family finds out that they either "have to participate" or sit in the room. While maybe not a pool specifically, a few time wasting, relaxation activities wouldn't have been the worst idea. An upcharge "space spa" seems like a no brainer.
That’s my point. If you’re not there to participate, this isn’t for you.
You build a pool, that changes what it looks like they’re offering, and invites more people that will be there for the wrong reason.
Edit: Don’t get me wrong, I wish they had built a well-themed hotel instead, but they probably need to really hit home in advertising that this thing is more like a 48-hour attraction.