Disney News, Discussion & an Element of Fun - 2023 Edition

[Gary Stocker]

Chapek's legacy is going down the drain...Harmonius (and barges), Lake Nona, and now this.

 

[brockash]

Disney Imagineering Relocation to Lake Nona, Florida Has Been Canceled

The relocation of Walt Disney Imagineering from California to Florida has been canceled.

Imagineers who made arrangements or moved already to Lake Nona are being offered to move back to California.

So not funny for the employees but what a mess. So ridiculous the back and forth.

 

[BrianL]

Wow, I wouldn't have thought they would just close it up outright. I thought they would probably pivot to shorter experiences or other alternate use. They didn't even try that! That's pretty shocking really after all the investment. I wonder what the impetus is for all this?

 

[Chernabob]

Wow, I wouldn't have thought they would just close it up outright. I thought they would probably pivot to shorter experiences or other alternate use. They didn't even try that! That's pretty shocking really after all the investment. I wonder what the impetus is for all this?

Iger’s recent comments in the escalating battle with FL Gov. DeSantis is the first thing that came to my mind. Paraphrasing here, but something along the lines of “considering where we will invest in parks in the future.”

That said, I agree with your comment. Surprised to see it close altogether.

 

[Gary Stocker]

I would pay good bucks for a Star Wars character meal there.

 

[mickey916]

Chapek's legacy is going down the drain...Harmonius (and barges), Lake Nona, and now this.

My thoughts exactly! Wow!

 

[BrianL]

I would pay good bucks for a Star Wars character meal there.

Maybe they can somehow work it into a special location for Batuu. It's not far, right?

 

[mdmost]

Iger’s recent comments in the escalating battle with FL Gov. DeSantis is the first thing that came to my mind. Paraphrasing here, but something along the lines of “considering where we will invest in parks in the future.”

That said, I agree with your comment. Surprised to see it close altogether.

I don't see closing this as having to do much with the Florida legal battle. It's a sunk cost at this point. I think it had everything to do with it being a drain that wasn't at capacity and cost too much to continue doing as the returns kept decreasing. Just amazed at how much was wasted in capital and talent. Hoping the cast members get taken care of.

I was never going to spend the money to go to it but I appreciated Disney trying something unique. I wish there was a way to work it into the parks but it's too big to be just a specialty attraction or dining experience. I wonder what it gets folded into. Or will it sit there stuck in time like the hotel that was supposed to open near All Star?

 

[Gary Stocker]

Maybe they can somehow work it into a special location for Batuu. It's not far, right?

They can use the box truck they currently use to move patrons back and forth

 

[Jetku]

Price aside, as a role playing fan I’m so glad we have a June voyage booked. I’m sad that we’re losing this unique experience…

 

[Gabby01]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1659277149948243979

https://twitter.com/x/status/1659277468056842254

This is sad. I didn’t have immediate plans to go, but I liked to think it was a possibility someday. It looked like a really cool experience that they put a lot of thought into.

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1659277149948243979

https://twitter.com/x/status/1659277468056842254

I'm reading the Galactic announcement as closing the 2-night 'voyage' that cost about $7000 for a family of four.

I assume it will convert to a Star Wars hotel with or without added meals or experiences?

There's no way they are re-theming the whole thing, right?

 

[jpeterson]

I'm reading the Galactic announcement as closing the 2-night 'voyage' that cost about $7000 for a family of four.

I assume it will convert to a Star Wars hotel with or without added meals or experiences?

There's no way they are re-theming the whole thing, right?

What would they retheme it to that would be OK to have a hotel without windows?

 

[BrianL]

I'm reading the Galactic announcement as closing the 2-night 'voyage' that cost about $7000 for a family of four.

I assume it will convert to a Star Wars hotel with or without added meals or experiences?

There's no way they are re-theming the whole thing, right?

That is true, they actually don't say that there aren't future plans for it, just no more voyages. Still, I'd think they would save more face if they could announce it all at once.

 

[Naomeri]

I'm reading the Galactic announcement as closing the 2-night 'voyage' that cost about $7000 for a family of four.

I assume it will convert to a Star Wars hotel with or without added meals or experiences?

There's no way they are re-theming the whole thing, right?

I don’t know how they could retheme the whole thing without major construction, since the rooms are not standard hotel rooms, so a themed hotel is probably a good bet

 

[Chernabob]

I don't see closing this as having to do much with the Florida legal battle. It's a sunk cost at this point. I think it had everything to do with it being a drain that wasn't at capacity and cost too much to continue doing as the returns kept decreasing. Just amazed at how much was wasted in capital and talent. Hoping the cast members get taken care of.

I was never going to spend the money to go to it but I appreciated Disney trying something unique. I wish there was a way to work it into the parks but it's too big to be just a specialty attraction or dining experience. I wonder what it gets folded into. Or will it sit there stuck in time like the hotel that was supposed to open near All Star?

You're definitely right. I was just lumping it in with the news of the cancelled relocation of Imagineering to FL as well. But I agree--I'm sure they had all the data they needed regardless of current political climate.

 

[BrianL]

I don’t know how they could retheme the whole thing without major construction, since the rooms are not standard hotel rooms, so a themed hotel is probably a good bet

The one issue with changing to just a hotel though is the exterior. They will really need to do some work in that regard. Maybe they could though. I guess we'll see.

 

[Gabby01]

I'm reading the Galactic announcement as closing the 2-night 'voyage' that cost about $7000 for a family of four.

I assume it will convert to a Star Wars hotel with or without added meals or experiences?

There's no way they are re-theming the whole thing, right?

All they have to do is make it affordable for a solo stay and I’ll be there on my next trip! I love all the space food and drinks at Galaxy’s Edge and I’ve always wanted to see whatever skit they had with Rey and Kylo Ren at the dinner party.

 

[BrianL]

All they have to do is make it affordable for a solo stay and I’ll be there on my next trip! I love all the space food and drinks at Galaxy’s Edge and I’ve always wanted to see whatever skit they had with Rey and Kylo Ren at the dinner party.

That was another thing. Not for nothing, but a LOT of Star Wars fans would... *ahem* ...probably go solo. I mean, I am one, so, I know what I'm talking about. I don't know whether to or about that one.

 

[LSUmiss]

I'm reading the Galactic announcement as closing the 2-night 'voyage' that cost about $7000 for a family of four.

I assume it will convert to a Star Wars hotel with or without added meals or experiences?

There's no way they are re-theming the whole thing, right?

That’s what I was thinking. It’ll stay booked that way I bet!