NO Star Wars Weekends ...........

[HopperFan]

Well, that just changed our travel plans....

Disney official ... "And work begins next year on the 14-acre Star Wars-themed land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. With construction underway, unfortunately, we won’t be able to offer Star Wars Weekends. "

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...-debut-new-star-wars-experiences-in-december/

 

[rteetz]

Not surprised but I thought the would offer it next year and then cancel it after that.

 

[crazy4wdw]

I can't imagine that many people will go to Hollywood Studios until all of the construction is completed. First they nix Osborne Festival of Lights and now Star Wars weekends, two big draws for the park.

 

[rteetz]

I can't imagine that many people will go to Hollywood Studios until all of the construction is completed. First they nix Osborne Festival of Lights and now Star Wars weekends, two big draws for the park.

But it's not like they are getting rid of Star Wars stuff. They have launch bay, new JTA, new scene in star tours, new fireworks, path of Jedi film thing in abc sound stage.

 

[Tom P.]

I'm honestly not surprised by this. Disney wants people to think of Hollywood Studios as the place to go to experience Star Wars all the time. Having specific, designated "Star Wars Weekends" might leave the impression that those are the only times of year to do the Star Wars stuff. Given all the new things they are rolling out beginning almost immediately, it makes sense for them to do away with the special event weekends.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Honestly...it never made any sense.

It was during a time of year when 1/3 of the US population still was in school and didn't have a holiday period to exploit.

It was as though they thought the northeast megalopolis wouldn't be interested in Star Wars...

I'm sure we will have 365 day upsells galore when they get this done.

And I'll actually go and pay for some of them if they light the fire under the accountants butts and get it done.

 

[Tom P.]

Honestly...it never made any sense.

It was during a time of year when 1/3 of the US population still was in school and didn't have a holiday period to exploit.

But that was the point. They don't need to do these special events in the middle of summer, because the parks are already packed then. This was to draw crowds in at a time when they typically had been less trafficked. It's the same with Food and Wine, Flower and Garden, or for that matter, the Halloween and Christmas parties. And they've been phenomenally successful at bringing people in during the low traffic times.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

But that was the point. They don't need to do these special events in the middle of summer, because the parks are already packed then. This was to draw crowds in at a time when they typically had been less trafficked. It's the same with Food and Wine, Flower and Garden, or for that matter, the Halloween and Christmas parties. And they've been phenomenally successful at bringing people in during the low traffic times.

I'm not debating that...

But it was a "southern strategy" because it lined up with those that were done with school on 5/1...like the locals.

They could have moved the dates to capitalize on both a slower period and a bit of the whole markets.

Like 5/15-6/30...

Or better yet 8/1-9/30 which is the slowest block now.

It's almost like they didn't want the extra money from a very well funded demographic.

And you know...the summers are the uncontrollable mob scenes they once were. Periods in oct, nov, Jan, and February are just as uncomfortable there days...

 

[Rylie Grite]

I was going to go solo. Glad I didn't buy my flights.

 

[adam.adbe]

I'm not debating that...

But it was a "southern strategy" because it lined up with those that were done with school on 5/1...like the locals.

Not sure about that. Enough gen-xrs are either childless, or have kids who are now in college that the off-season draw makes sense. IMV, F&W is not about bringing parents with kids to Disney, it's exactly the opposite. SWW operates on a similar level. Add to that Floridians, those whose kids *are* out of school, and those who will pull their kids out of school, and it's easy for Disney to stretch the season.

 

[Boski]

I'm not debating that...

But it was a "southern strategy" because it lined up with those that were done with school on 5/1...like the locals.

They could have moved the dates to capitalize on both a slower period and a bit of the whole markets.

Like 5/15-6/30...

SWW for 2015 started 5/15 and ended 6/14. I also live in VA which to most is the "south" and schools typically get out the 2nd week of June.

 

[lugnut33]

I'm 47 now, I'd suspect the new Star Wars area should be up and running about the time I'm 55.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

SWW for 2015 started 5/15 and ended 6/14. I also live in VA which to most is the "south" and schools typically get out the 2nd week of June.

That's kinda my point...

As your calendar doesn't line up to allow access to wdw unless you pull and go or squeeze the last days...

It's one thing to do that in November, February or March...but that's not typical when the weather is nice.

My point wasn't that they were intentionally marketing to southerners (it was actually an NHL reference)...just that the dates didn't make too much sense because they could have extended them/shifted them a tad and brought in a whole slew of other peeps.
And when is Disney anti more traffic?

By your own example...everybody from Washington DC to Nova Scotia is still in school...that's only about 80-100 million or so people that have money and travel to Disney at will...

It just never made complete sense. They could have just modified it - like they did with food and wine several times - to cast a bigger net.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I'm 47 now, I'd suspect the new Star Wars area should be up and running about the time I'm 55.

What's sad is that you might have to HOPE it takes that long.

Lest it be mock ups, meet and greets and character cupcake buffets...

I wish Disney would rip through it like wizarding world or diagon alley across town...but I have seen no evidence that anyone in Burbank has the stones to try it.

And to be fair...the Harry Potter lands both had "one big ride" constructed...the rest were overlays and retheming. Disney does have to go ground up.

There are much bigger "forces" at work here...as in twdc is trying to build some strategic safeguards to try and prop up overseas parks, declining cable revenues, and changes in retail...
So maybe...just maybe...wall st might be on the same page as the customers here...
...but I doubt it.

 

[TT77]

I'm 47 now, I'd suspect the new Star Wars area should be up and running about the time I'm 55.

If all goes well you should only have to wait till you're 51

but seriourly though, they will probably keep rolling out smaller new offerings in the meantime like the Launch Bay, new Jedi Training, and new scenes for Star Tours

 

[rteetz]

If all goes well you should only have to wait till you're 51

but seriourly though, they will probably keep rolling out smaller new offerings in the meantime like the Launch Bay, new Jedi Training, and new scenes for Star Tours

That is true depending if they do a phased opening or not.

 

[morrison2951]

Noooooooooooo!

Really enjoyed the SWW over the years. As luck would have it, I took my then very young son to the very first one in 2000 and now the very last one this past summer.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Noooooooooooo!

Really enjoyed the SWW over the years. As luck would have it, I took my then very young son to the very first one in 2000 and now the very last one this past summer.

I'd say you got your use of it...

 

[wareagle57]

Noooooooooooo!

Really enjoyed the SWW over the years. As luck would have it, I took my then very young son to the very first one in 2000 and now the very last one this past summer.

I have no doubt what they replace it with will be just as good or better than SWW, but I am a little sad I never really got to experience it. I was there for a one day trip and I was staying off site, so we used it as a way to get into the park earlier since it open early for everyone, not just onsite guests. It was cool seeing the opening with the Storm Troopers. I wish they could keep that.

It was also going to be part of my strategy when I finally got around to trying the WDW 46 challenge. Rope dropping both DHS and Epcot, running from one gate to the other. Oh well. With Soarin' going down there won't even be an opportunity to try for who knows how long, and then we'll be adding rides every year making it harder and harder.

 

[ajwolfe]

Well that makes my plans for next May a little easier. We were there during SWW in 2014 but didn't really do much of it..So this next trip I was going to allow for a little more of it in the plans - guess not now.