The Rumor Tracking Thread

[rteetz]

There are two Epcot attractions coming.... World Showcase Adventure reskin has been confirmed to still be a go even with the current show only having six episodes left ... there is also an attraction which is supposed to of been part of play pavilion but who knows that attraction status

I wouldn’t consider what’s inside the play pavilion to be attractions but more like interactive experiences. Pretty easy to change out too.

 

[Brianstl]

Jim Hill on the lastest Disney Dish podcast is now saying SWGE will be going through a Mandalorian facelift as the other rumors have been saying. This includes a new ride film fo Smugglers run ride film.

 

[Runnsally]

Jim Hill on the lastest Disney Dish podcast is now saying SWGE will be going through a Mandalorian facelift as the other rumors have been saying. This includes a new ride film fo Smugglers run ride film.

The more I think about SWGE, the more curious it seems that they intentionally created a unique land instead of one from existing canon (presumably to give flexibility in storytelling), yet rooted the main attraction in such a specific timeline.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

The more I think about SWGE, the more curious it seems that they intentionally created a unique land instead of one from existing cannon (presumably to give flexibility in storytelling), yet rooted the main attraction in such a specific timeline.

it was a unique land but was always set in a specfiic period of time .... but seems like now that is coming into play and will be more flexible on that. If that is the case, I agree it makes the main attraction a little "off" in that it is clearly set in one specific time period

 

[SMRT-1]

For those who are not "Star Wars" fans who still don't understand why a "Mandalorian" re-theme in an immersively-themed land like SW:GE doesn't make sense, maybe I can give an example that Potter fans might understand. This would be the equivalent of Forbidden Journey at Wizarding World being re-themed to "Fantastic Beasts" (if it had been more successful) and/or Newt Scamander walking around Hogsmeade while Hagrid's and other elements of the land remained from the "modern" films - same universe, but completely different time periods so it would break the immersion.

As a lifelong Star Wars fan (seeing "Star Wars" at the drive-in in 1977 is one of my earliest memories), SW:GE was one of the things I was most looking forward to before our May '20 trip got cancelled. If they do ditch the immersive, cohesive theming, and it devolves into a generic "Star Wars Land" that's a loose patchwork of disconnected elements before I get a chance to experience it as it was intended, I'm going to be severely disappointed.

Unfortunately, I have a feeling the bean counters in charge will pander to the masses who don't know and/or don't care.

 

[BrianL]

For those who are not "Star Wars" fans who still don't understand why a "Mandalorian" re-theme in an immersively-themed land like SW:GE doesn't make sense, maybe I can give an example that Potter fans might understand. This would be the equivalent of Forbidden Journey at Wizarding World being re-themed to "Fantastic Beasts" (if it had been more successful) and/or Newt Scamander walking around Hogsmeade while Hagrid's and other elements of the land remained from the "modern" films - same universe, but completely different time periods so it would break the immersion.

As a lifelong Star Wars fan (seeing "Star Wars" at the drive-in in 1977 is one of my earliest memories), SW:GE was one of the things I was most looking forward to before our May '20 trip got cancelled. If they do ditch the immersive, cohesive theming, and it devolves into a generic "Star Wars Land" that's a loose patchwork of disconnected elements before I get a chance to experience it as it was intended, I'm going to be severely disappointed.

Unfortunately, I have a feeling the bean counters in charge will pander to the masses who don't know and/or don't care.

Personally, I think it always should have been "Star Wars Land" with a little less attention toward being "real" however I don't think they should change it to The Mandalorian at this point.

 

[Brianstl]

For those who are not "Star Wars" fans who still don't understand why a "Mandalorian" re-theme in an immersively-themed land like SW:GE doesn't make sense, maybe I can give an example that Potter fans might understand. This would be the equivalent of Forbidden Journey at Wizarding World being re-themed to "Fantastic Beasts" (if it had been more successful) and/or Newt Scamander walking around Hogsmeade while Hagrid's and other elements of the land remained from the "modern" films - same universe, but completely different time periods so it would break the immersion.

As a lifelong Star Wars fan (seeing "Star Wars" at the drive-in in 1977 is one of my earliest memories), SW:GE was one of the things I was most looking forward to before our May '20 trip got cancelled. If they do ditch the immersive, cohesive theming, and it devolves into a generic "Star Wars Land" that's a loose patchwork of disconnected elements before I get a chance to experience it as it was intended, I'm going to be severely disappointed.

Unfortunately, I have a feeling the bean counters in charge will pander to the masses who don't know and/or don't care.

There is no break from the immersion because they never truly went all in on the immersion like Universal did and what they did do they scaled back on even before the shutdown. The land is beautiful, but it never really felt cohesive to me. The problem they always had with SWGE is that Black Spire is something 90% of Star Wars fans and 99.9% of the general public don't know about or they don't care about, while missing most of the franchise's most beloved characters.

I think Disney realized some of their mistake before the land even opened and that is why the immersion was cutback before it opened. If Disney tried to force heavy immersion on Star Wars fans with characters that they don't connect with, they would have ended up turning many of them completely off.

 

[Brianstl]

Personally, I think it always should have been "Star Wars Land" with a little less attention toward being "real" however I don't think they should change it to The Mandalorian at this point.

I don't think the goal of the Imagineers, who according to Hill are pushing for changes, is to make it the Mandalorian land. I think it is to refocus the land to include an expanded group of characters in the time period after Return of the Jedi. That way you can bring in not only the characters that have shown up in the Mandalorian, but younger versions of characters like Han, Leia and Lando. I mean how cool would it be to go to Oga's and Han comes walking in?

 

[SMRT-1]

There is no break from the immersion because they never truly went all in on the immersion like Universal did and what they did do they scaled back on even before the shutdown. The land is beautiful, but it never really felt cohesive to me. The problem they always had with SWGE is that Black Spire is something 90% of Star Wars fans and 99.9% of the general public don't know about or they don't care about, while missing most of the franchise's most beloved characters.

I think Disney realized some of their mistake before the land even opened and that is why the immersion was cutback before it opened. If Disney tried to force heavy immersion on Star Wars fans with characters that they don't connect with, they would have ended up turning many of them completely off.

I disagree. Immersion is not "all or nothing." Just because they didn't go as far as they promised when they announced it doesn't mean there's no immersion at all. It's a specific location with a specific story at a specific point in the timeline. How is that not cohesive? It's not loosely themed like most Disney park lands, so shoehorning in characters from other time periods would most certainly break the immersion for many of us. Just because many don't care that it breaks the immersion, doesn't mean you can outright claim that it doesn't break the immersion.

I also disagree with your assertion that the cuts to SW:GE were because Disney thought it was "too immersive." The general consensus is that it was due to budget cuts and time constraints.

 

[BrianL]

I don't think the goal of the Imagineers, who according to Hill are pushing for changes, is to make it the Mandalorian land. I think it is to refocus the land to include an expanded group of characters in the time period after Return of the Jedi. That way you can bring in not only the characters that have shown up in the Mandalorian, but younger versions of characters like Han, Leia and Lando. I mean how cool would it be to go to Oga's and Han comes walking in?

Well, if they can work it in, then it won't bother me too much. I just don't really think it's necessary.

 

[SMRT-1]

I don't think the goal of the Imagineers, who according to Hill are pushing for changes, is to make it the Mandalorian land. I think it is to refocus the land to include an expanded group of characters in the time period after Return of the Jedi. That way you can bring in not only the characters that have shown up in the Mandalorian, but younger versions of characters like Han, Leia and Lando. I mean how cool would it be to go to Oga's and Han comes walking in?

A lot of us don't think it would be cool to see original trilogy-era Han in Oga's if he's having a drink with Rey, Poe Dameron, etc. Do you see the issue?

 

[Brianstl]

A lot of us don't think it would be cool to see original trilogy-era Han in Oga's if he's having a drink with Rey, Poe Dameron, etc. Do you see the issue?

The vast majority of people that are willing to spend money at a Disney Park would rather have a chance to interact with Mandalorian era Han than any of the new characters from the trilogy series. That is the reality Disney, their bean counters and the Imagineers know they are operating in. They need to have a land that will attract the most costumers from around the world to it in a post pandemic world. If that means they have to change the story of SWGE and swap out characters, they are going to do it. The Wizarding World worked because it was an immersive experience with characters that connected deeply with a large audience. Disney needs characters in SWGE that connect deeply with a similar sized audience.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

so no idea the credibility of this source, but a report that Tom Hanks will be a new narrator for the Carousel of Progress which will undergo an update soon which will also see a significant update to the final scene:
https://justdisney.co/tom-hanks-to-...dKmMZKUXxWBbGWkOu4HsYmEHPwbpYFG8sHfJwGOhE7rzg

 

[SMRT-1]

so no idea the credibility of this source, but a report that Tom Hanks will be a new narrator for the Carousel of Progress which will undergo an update soon which will also see a significant update to the final scene:
https://justdisney.co/tom-hanks-to-...dKmMZKUXxWBbGWkOu4HsYmEHPwbpYFG8sHfJwGOhE7rzg

"Mama always said, 'Progress is like a box of chocolates.'"

 

[BrianL]

so no idea the credibility of this source, but a report that Tom Hanks will be a new narrator for the Carousel of Progress which will undergo an update soon which will also see a significant update to the final scene:
https://justdisney.co/tom-hanks-to-...dKmMZKUXxWBbGWkOu4HsYmEHPwbpYFG8sHfJwGOhE7rzg

I can get behind that I think. Tom Hanks is a definitely a good choice.

 

[The Pho]

so no idea the credibility of this source, but a report that Tom Hanks will be a new narrator for the Carousel of Progress which will undergo an update soon which will also see a significant update to the final scene:
https://justdisney.co/tom-hanks-to-...dKmMZKUXxWBbGWkOu4HsYmEHPwbpYFG8sHfJwGOhE7rzg

Definitely a solid choice for narrator. That final scene really needs some updates.

 

[Farro]

Jim Hill on the lastest Disney Dish podcast is now saying SWGE will be going through a Mandalorian facelift as the other rumors have been saying. This includes a new ride film fo Smugglers run ride film.

I don't understand what this means.

I mean I understand a new film, but how would they be giving a land that just opened a facelift to reflect The Mandalorian? Closing down the land so soon? Would they be rebuilding things?

 

[The Pho]

I don't understand what this means.

I mean I understand a new film, but how would they be giving a land that just opened a facelift to reflect The Mandalorian? Closing down the land so soon? Would they be rebuilding things?

The rumor is basically they would change the handful of things that tie the land into a specific timeline, to shift the land into a new timeline, or just loosen the timeline altogether. Outside of Rise of the Resistance, not too much in the land is all that restrictive.

 

[SMRT-1]

The vast majority of people that are willing to spend money at a Disney Park would rather have a chance to interact with Mandalorian era Han than any of the new characters from the trilogy series. That is the reality Disney, their bean counters and the Imagineers know they are operating in. They need to have a land that will attract the most costumers from around the world to it in a post pandemic world. If that means they have to change the story of SWGE and swap out characters, they are going to do it. The Wizarding World worked because it was an immersive experience with characters that connected deeply with a large audience. Disney needs characters in SWGE that connect deeply with a similar sized audience.

You're still missing my point. Adding characters/events from different time periods would make SW:GE disjointed.

Yes; I would absolutely love to walk around in an environment with original trilogy characters, and I would have no issue with them completely overhauling SW:GE entirely to reflect Batuu at an earlier point in the timeline, but it would be really jarring for me to see characters from earlier timelines standing next to the sequel-era T-70 X-wings that they have in SW:GE, or embarking on missions set 30 years apart from the same location. So unless they re-theme Rise of the Resistance (which won't happen) and replace some big set pieces, that means sticking with the sequel-era timeline. "Star Wars" is more than just the original trilogy, so, regardless of my love for the original trilogy, or how I feel about the sequels (I hated The Last Jedi), I'd feel more connected to the bigger Star Wars universe as part of a cohesive experience than I would from a stitched-together patchwork, even if it meant not seeing my favorite characters.

If SW:GE had been themed to the original trilogy (as you seem to have wanted) and they decided to add prequel characters like young Obi-Wan or Padme, or had both prequel Anakin and Darth Vader, would you still be just as okay with them mixing time periods?

You're projecting your feelings about the characters *you* connect with onto everyone else. "Star Wars" spans over 40 years, so people's connection with the universe can and does vary by generation. Old fogies like me have a strong attachment to the original films because they *were* my childhood, but I know many Millenials who prefer the prequel films (god help them) because they are what "Star Wars" was when they were kids. Similarly, I've seen numerous videos of young kids at SW:GE who are overjoyed to meet Rey, so you can't say there's no connection with new characters (and I'd wager many of them couldn't pick many original trilogy characters out of a lineup), and despite a rise in childless adult guests, Disney Parks are still mostly a place frequented by families with young children (and strollers... so many strollers). In addition, many of the general guest population wouldn't know the difference between Han Solo and Luke Skywalker let alone the difference between original and sequel characters and would think it was exactly the same regardless of what characters were walking around. Given all this, your unsubstantiated claim that the "vast majority of people that are willing to spend money at a Disney Park would rather have a chance to interact with Mandalorian era Han" is on shaky ground at best.

Do most guests care? Nope. Will Chapek do whatever he thinks will make the most money in the short term? Yep. Am I allowed to be disappointed if/when it happens? Yep.

 

[SMRT-1]

I don't understand what this means.

I mean I understand a new film, but how would they be giving a land that just opened a facelift to reflect The Mandalorian? Closing down the land so soon? Would they be rebuilding things?

The rumor is basically they would change the handful of things that tie the land into a specific timeline, to shift the land into a new timeline, or just loosen the timeline altogether. Outside of Rise of the Resistance, not too much in the land is all that restrictive.

"Rise" is a pretty big piece, though.

There's also the big sequel-era ship set pieces like the Resistance fighter ships and the huge First Order shuttle, but those would be easier to replace (assuming they'd care enough to spend the time/money).

More than likely, if it does happen, we'll end up with a Batuu that inexplicably exists in two separate time periods. And most won't care. And Disney will still make money.