Star Wars-Themed Lands Coming to Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts

[acetate]

Would have been nice if there were some new things added that featured Disney characters. Also... What happened to adding the Red Car Trolley or an Indy ride? No go huh?

[DizneyFreak2002]

Would have been nice if there were some new things added that featured Disney characters. Also... What happened to adding the Red Car Trolley or an Indy ride? No go huh?

The Indy ride was never a go...

[acetate]

That's a shame. I thought there was talk years ago about building an Indy ride like the one in Disneyland. Maybe I dreamed it! Still sad to think of all the theming that will have to go. Echo Lake, my favorite restaurant in the park, The Prime Time cafe, Muppets, on and on. All for Star Wars eh? Oh well. Still a half day park then.

[TheVBs]

We're really excited to see this come to life! I do hope there aren't only simulator rides. We can't do those, we all get motion sickness. And, it would be great to see this all come to life sooner rather than later.

[goofyskier]

These announcements while encouraging lack any real substance for me. Its more of a "hey we are going to do something but we don't have details yet". Not to seem like I am taking a sides here but Universal announces something and puts a date to it and seems to hit that date. I still do not know when Avatar Land will open and what Avatar Land will be...and now this.

Please Stand By I guess....

[DizneyFreak2002]

These announcements while encouraging lack any real substance for me. Its more of a "hey we are going to do something but we don't have details yet". Not to seem like I am taking a sides here but Universal announces something and puts a date to it and seems to hit that date. I still do not know when Avatar Land will open and what Avatar Land will be...and now this.

Please Stand By I guess....

Avatar is 2017...

[goofyskier]

Great. So it took three or four years. So...can't wait till 2020 when we see the fruits of this great announcement.

Maybe I'm just old and cynical

[DizneyFreak2002]

Great. So it took three or four years. So...can't wait till 2020 when we see the fruits of this great announcement.

Maybe I'm just old and cynical

Well, 7 from announcement... LOL but 3 and a half from ground breaking...

[baldburke]

I'm not seeming to remember now....

How long was it from the initial "New Fantasyland" announcement until it was deemed complete? I'm assuming that's when 7DMT opened?

[Melanie]

I'm not seeming to remember now....



How long was it from the initial "New Fantasyland" announcement until it was deemed complete? I'm assuming that's when 7DMT opened?

New Fantasyland was announced in September, 2009. 7DMT opened in May, 2014.

Too long, IMHO. Way too long.

[WDWRox]

I'm about as enthused as Star Wars land as I am for the new Toy Story Land, which is.....slightly. I guess I just don't see getting excited over these new lands coming about and...........only getting 2 new attractions in them. Just 2, that's all we get? And the Star Wars Launch Bay doesn't sound like anything to be too thrilled about, and I love Star Wars. It seems like a waste of the space to only put so few new things in there. I don't doubt the area will be beautifully themed and decorated, but come on, give us 3-4 new things at least (in each new land).

[JSparrow]

It's sad that I'm starting to plan a vacation to WDW for 2018, which seems so far away, yet neither of these lands will be ready by then... Really does feel like all Disney did was let us know the rumors are true, but at this point we only have a few details and no dates. I'm happy it's coming, but Disney sure does frustrate me with the lack of info and lengthy construction process. Oh by the way, I still love Disney.

[Park Hopper]

I want to be really excited about all of the things coming, but it is hard to, given how long things take at Disney World. I am guessing that my daughter, who is now in middle school, will be in college by the time these things are completed, and I am not in any hurry for that to happen.

I am starting to get excited for Pandora, which has seemed to take forever, as that will be open in the near future. I am not a huge Avatar fan, but it will be new and sounds great.

I just do not understand why it takes Disney so long - it seems places like Universal are much faster. 1-2 years I can certainly understand, but 5 or more? How long did it take them to build Disneyland or the Magic Kingdom? Is it a financial thing where they need to stretch the building cost out? It certainly cannot be a physical building thing, with the manpower they can bring and favorable weather they have, there is no reason for construction like that to take more than 3 years.

Sorry for the rant...

[Melanie]

I want to be really excited about all of the things coming, but it is hard to, given how long things take at Disney World. I am guessing that my daughter, who is now in middle school, will be in college by the time these things are completed, and I am not in any hurry for that to happen.



I am starting to get excited for Pandora, which has seemed to take forever, as that will be open in the near future. I am not a huge Avatar fan, but it will be new and sounds great.



I just do not understand why it takes Disney so long - it seems places like Universal are much faster. 1-2 years I can certainly understand, but 5 or more? How long did it take them to build Disneyland or the Magic Kingdom? Is it a financial thing where they need to stretch the building cost out? It certainly cannot be a physical building thing, with the manpower they can bring and favorable weather they have, there is no reason for construction like that to take more than 3 years.



Sorry for the rant...

Not a rant at all. Sounds like our last podcast.....

[Jeany031]

I can't wait to see the Star Wars land to Disney World!

[WiltonJohn]

1-2 years I can certainly understand, but 5 or more? How long did it take them to build Disneyland or the Magic Kingdom? Is it a financial thing where they need to stretch the building cost out? It certainly cannot be a physical building thing, with the manpower they can bring and favorable weather they have, there is no reason for construction like that to take more than 3 years.

Maybe it is so that there is time to get new movies written and into production as well as merchandise supplies designed and ready to produce so that they can time everything so that it maximizes profits?????

It is a business after all.

best,

.................john

[BrerGnat]

I want to be really excited about all of the things coming, but it is hard to, given how long things take at Disney World. I am guessing that my daughter, who is now in middle school, will be in college by the time these things are completed, and I am not in any hurry for that to happen.

I am starting to get excited for Pandora, which has seemed to take forever, as that will be open in the near future. I am not a huge Avatar fan, but it will be new and sounds great.

I just do not understand why it takes Disney so long - it seems places like Universal are much faster. 1-2 years I can certainly understand, but 5 or more? How long did it take them to build Disneyland or the Magic Kingdom? Is it a financial thing where they need to stretch the building cost out? It certainly cannot be a physical building thing, with the manpower they can bring and favorable weather they have, there is no reason for construction like that to take more than 3 years.

Sorry for the rant...

Well Universal is faster but not by much. They simply announce new things AFTER they have begun construction, and the majority of their attractions are simply huge show buildings that have screens in them. Harry Potter Hogsmeade took 3 years to complete. Diagon Alley was much faster but still took almost 2 years.

The entire DCA refurbishment took 5 years and that was a huge project. New Fantasyland took WAY too long, but stuff like the Frozen ride will only take around 12-18 months.

They will be starting construction next year for Star Wars land. I bet it will be done within 3 years.

[baldburke]

Stuff like the Frozen ride will only take around 12-18 months.

Any word on a soft opening for Frozen/Norway yet?

They will be starting construction next year for Star Wars land. I bet it will be done within 3 years.

I'm sure they'll want to capitalize on the Star Wars momentum ASAP!

[BrerGnat]

Any word on a soft opening for Frozen/Norway yet?

The Frozen ride is supposed to open officially in May 2016. No word yet on soft opening dates.

[texas211]

Well, 7 from announcement... LOL but 3 and a half from ground breaking...

By then FP++v3 will have to book your reservations by 2016 for the 2023 trip.