Writer’s Note: This feature was written before the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
“I have a bad feeling about this…” Controversy ahead!
We’ve made it no secret at Theme Park Tourist how excited we are about the introduction of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The expansion is proving quickly to be one of the most anticipated ever but also one of the most controversial in some ways. Disney will be taking guests to new heights in that galaxy far, far away with a land so immersive, even the merchandise will be tailored to feel like it belongs in a bustling galactic marketplace. For Star Wars fans, it’s a dream come to life, and we can’t wait to see what Disney has in store.
While Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge looks extremely cool, it will bring with it some potential downsides that many of our readers have voiced. Not everyone is thrilled about this expansion for these reasons. While we are optimistic that the end result will be positive, here are the top six downsides guests are concerned will arrive with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
1. Insane crowds
Image: Disney
Crowds are one of the most stressful parts of any Walt Disney World vacation. It is getting harder and harder to pin down the best times to visit Walt Disney World, and the arrival of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will complicate things further. The park is set to arrive at Disneyland in early summer this year with the Disney World version opening in the fall. If the staggering success of the World of Pandora at Disney’s Animal Kingdom was any predictor, this expansion is going to bring insane crowds.
While there was much anticipation surrounding The World of Pandora, few expected the extent of crowds that filled Disney’s Animal Kingdom during the first year and a half the land was open. Animal Kingdom’s attendance surged, and there were even times they had to close off entry to the World of Pandora when it reached capacity. This has tapered off somewhat, but it is still one of the busiest sections in the park.
James Cameron’s Avatar is a well-known property but not nearly on the level of Star Wars. We can expect this same trend to be magnified when Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens. Guests are going to come out in droves specifically to experience this new land, and considering the scoring and immersion factors planned for the land, fans will want to make repeat visits. Fastpasses will likely be some of the hardest to capture in all of Walt Disney World, and multi-hour waits will probably be the norm for at least the first year. The opening will also likely make Disney’s historically quiet September-Early November season much busier, a trend we have already seen.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios has historically been the resort’s lowest-attended park. Galaxy’s Edge will likely change this, making the park more crowded than guests are used to. This won’t just affect Galaxy’s Edge but will also likely increase wait times across the park. The increase in visitors will also have effects beyond Disney’s Hollywood Studios on resort availability, dining reservations, and attendance at other parks.
2. Price hikes
Image: Disney
Disney has grown bolder with price hikes in recent years. Concerns have risen more and more that they are pricing out middle class families, and Disneyland has already provided a disturbing portent by introducing their biggest annual pass price hike ever. Most experts expect Walt Disney World to take the same course.
On one hand, price hikes help manage attendance at the parks and keep the whole year from looking like the 4th of July or New Years Day. By raising annual pass prices and adding blackout dates, Disney balances how many local regulars can visit versus out of town guests. More revenue for Disney means more expansions and new offerings for visitors. At the same time, the company is certainly taking advantage of the hype to bring in revenue. More and more Disney experiences are becoming out of reach for average American families who may save for years just for a week-long Disney World vacation. More upcharges will likely be introduced as well, making certain new offerings only available to those who can pay.
Price hikes suck, but they’re an unfortunate reality of business at Walt Disney World. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is just the first of a wide range of new offerings coming to the Most Magical Place on Earth, and it is likely Disney will continue to ride its wave with price hikes for some time to come.
3. Only two attractions
Image: Disney
While Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge sounds like it will be an expansion unlike any other, it comes with a glaring elephant in the room that many fans have voiced concern over: the park will only house two attractions.
This isn’t particularly unusual for a new Disney parks expansion—the World of Pandora only has two attractions, and Toy Story Land only has three (one of which was already present). However, fans are concerned that Star Wars’ extreme popularity, two attractions just isn’t going to be enough to meet guest demand. Indeed, a popular internet meme has even joked that the attractions only take up a tiny corner of Galaxy’s Edge while the rest of the land will essentially become a queue area for those two rides.
Both Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance look like extremely cool attractions. In one, guests will actually get to fly the Millennium Falcon on a smuggling job for Star Wars: Clone Wars favorite, Hondo Ohnaka. On the other, guests will find themselves thrust into the center of a battle between the First Order and the Resistance. Both attractions will certainly draw very, very long lines.
There is a flip side to this issue, fortunately—the fact that Galaxy’s Edge itself will be an attraction. Similar to Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter, just strolling through the streets of Batuu, exploring its shops, and eating its food will all provide elements that add to the experience. In an immersive land, the rides aren’t the only reason to visit—the land itself is part of the magic. We hope this will offset the concerns over the expansion opening with just two attractions.
4. Guests will likely mess with the immersion factor
Image: Disney
Immersion is one of the hottest buzzwords in the theme park industry these days, and with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Disney will be introducing their most immersive land ever attempted. The idea wasn’t just to make a land dedicated to Star Wars but to truly feel like guests have been transported into that galaxy far, far away.
Batuu, the setting of Galaxy’s Edge, is being treated as an actual in-world planet within the Star Wars universe, a neutral hub on the edge of war with visitors from every corner of the galaxy. The food and drinks served in the park’s cantina will be made to taste and feel like they come from another world (similar to Pandora’s Satul’i Canteen), and even the merchandise will be designed to look like it belongs in a galactic marketplace rather than the typical fare guests would expect at Tatooine Traders or Star Wars: Launch Bay. The concept is brilliant as guests themselves will become part of that immersion—after all, Batuu is a tourist hub.
However, immersion can only go so far. If you’re looking for a full-scale role playing experience, you’ll have better luck with Disney Spring’s Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire. Galaxy’s Edge is going to be very busy, and not everyone will be into the immersive elements as much as others. Some guests are already frustrated that the land is based on something never seen in the films rather than a familiar setting like Tatooine or the Death Star. While we consider the Batuu setting an upside that will make the land feel more timeless, other visitors may end up confused by it. You can also expect any and all of the usual frustrations that will come with crowds at Galaxy’s Edge—cranky guests, that odd parent who uses a stroller as a battering ram, slow-moving families holding up traffic, complaining fans, etc. Some of this runs with the theme, but it will certainly disrupt some of the immersion Disney is attempting to create.
5. Exclusivity of the resort
Image: Disney
Galaxy’s Edge isn’t the only expansion coming from the Star Wars universe. Disney is also bringing a spectacular Star Wars themed resort unlike any ever been attempted before. The concept will hold more similarities to an all-inclusive cruise than the typical Disney hotel where meals, tickets, and even clothes are usually paid for piecemeal. According to the information we have so far, at the Star Wars resort, these will be included with your stay. The other reason the Star Wars resort will be different is that a stay there will actually be a sort of roleplaying experience where guests will feel like they are staying on a galactic luxury cruiser. Similar to many Renaissance festivals, guests will even have Star Wars-appropriate clothes for their stay (we are so curious if some elements of cosplay will be allowed). Basically, the resort is another attraction, but one that will prove very exclusive due to price.
It is not clear yet if guests not staying at the Star Wars themed resort will be able to just stroll into the lobby and explore. This has been allowed at all previous Walt Disney World resorts, but this concept is something entirely new. It may be closed off to anyone who isn’t a guest. Early estimations on price have already made it clear this resort will be expensive—the type of place you only stay a couple nights rather than a whole week. Some of the cost will be offset by the fact park tickets will be included, but it will still prove prohibitive for many visitors. Like the immersion elements, the role-play factor may also prove off-putting to some visitors as well. We are very, very curious to see how the first year of stays at this unique resort will play out and what issues will bubble to the surface with the concept, cool though it is.
6. The gaming elements will annoy some
Image: Disney
It is hard to call some of these elements downsides, but for every pro, there are some cons. We’ve made it no secret how excited we are about the elements of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge that seem to be inspired by video games, especially MMORPG’s. Guests riding Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run will actually leave that ride with a score of how well they did piloting the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy. This isn’t anything particularly new to Disney—Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Toy Story Mania, and Test Track all involve scoring systems—but the way it will affect the rest of your visit will be different.
The choices guests make on attractions at Galaxy’s Edge will affect something like a faction system stored in your MagicBand. Characters and elements in the park will react differently to you depending on what you did on the ride. Do too well on your smuggling run, for example, and you may draw the attention of bounty hunters perusing the parks and the cantina. You’ll actually have a reputation.
For us, this is one of the neatest concepts in Galaxy’s Edge, one that will introduce fascinating new territory for guests and character interaction (and even character dining). However, there have already been signs that some guests are skeptical about the gaming elements. Indeed, they will likely annoy some visitors.
On one hand, some are frustrated that Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run may rely heavily on video gaming elements. Some have voiced this feels like a cop-out on Disney’s part instead of exploring new technologies (as much as I personally disagree with this viewpoint). It is also likely that some guests will be extremely confused by the gaming element. You have to wonder if your Millennium Falcon run can get busted by a fellow guest who just doesn’t want to touch the controls or doesn’t understand the ride. Others may find the way your score follows you disconcerting, preferring a more traditional theme park experience. If video games just aren’t your thing, you may not be thrilled with this part of Galaxy’s Edge.
Image: Disney
Overall, we are unabashedly excited about Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. For longtime fans, it’s the theme park expansion we’ve been waiting for, and everything Disney has put out regarding it so far looks downright magical. While Galaxy’s Edge may not prove everyone’s cup of tea, it will undoubtedly change the landscape of Walt Disney World and open many new doors for what guests can experience in expansions to come.
What other downsides of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge are you concerned about? What are you looking most forward to?
