How to Design a Theme Park (To Take Tons of Your Money)
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- Опубліковано 17 тра 2022
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Writing by Sam Denby and Tristan Purdy
Editing by Alexander Williard
Animation led by Josh Sherrington
Sound by Graham Haerther
Thumbnail by Simon Buckmaster
Select footage courtesy Getty and AP; Select imagery courtesy Geolayers; Select music courtesy Epidemic sound
I'm looking forward to when Sam inevitably uses this knowledge to create his own theme park, Half as Amusing.
it'll be just a normal airport with a train station - more is not necessary to amuse Sam for days.
Thanks to roller coaster tycoon 2 it is possible.
Also the ride never ends
It will be surrounded by a large red brick wall
@@Sebisation i mean that sounds great to me too
@@dgurevich1 for each hour on the ride it gets half as amusing
I think being able to charge $55 for something that is no more complicated to make than a 12" disposable pencil by calling it a 'Wand' is something out of a marketing agencies wettest dream.
“Sell me this stick I picked up off the ground”
That’s not just any piece of plastic crap, that’s *your* piece of plastic crap. It’s the piece of plastic crap you always wanted.
Hey now, it has an NFC chip in it. That adds like a dollar.
(Also developing, setting up, and maintaining the effects the wand interacts with costs money)
So when I go to universal jpn they choose me as the choosen one at the ride, they give me the wand and then when I exit the ride they ask me to pay for it, since I'm just 12 at the time I cry and throw a tantrum and the cast give it to me for free ✌️
@@lemonbread8019 You can buy them without the chip and they aren't much cheaper.
It's funny that I'm just now watching this, because my friends and I went down to Universal 7 years ago on vacation specifically to go to Harry Potter World. Our hotel package had breakfast reservations at the park, we made an entire day out of it, the whole nine. It's also funny that you talk about how they only serve Butterbeer. For our first breakfast reservation, the waitress asked us what we wanted to drink with our meals. My friend said, "Can I just get a Coke?" to which she replied, "Sorry, but we don't serve Muggle drinks." The level of dedication to staying in character is staggering.
Hello
😂😂😂
For some reason reading this made it click that getting called a muggle in harry potter world is lowkey getting called the n-word 💀
@@johnzo7948 thats why they dont say it anymore ppl got offended
@@matthias8161 Damn, that's kinda sad. I mean yeah it's a slur, but like... it's fictional???
As a current cast member, i am in awe at how accurate rise was covered, even showing the return paths for the vehicles and the maintenance bay on the map. The only thing that was missing was the back stage paths but most people wont ever see those
I don’t understand why people have to come on to UA-cam and lie like this. You are not a cast member.
@@danceyrselfkleen that's cool, my blue employee ID and name tags say Disney world on them, started in January, but if you don't believe me that's a you problem and not me. After all everything on the internet is true and it's illegal to lie on the internet.
@@danceyrselfkleen There are 77 thousand crew employed onsite in Disney World and its outlying properties. They also have a decent amount of turnover due to its nature as a passion job. I'm not surprised at all to see a handful of employees/former employees on a trending video.
I saw some of the back stage paths! not because I’m a cast member but because I needed to use the bathroom while I was waiting in line and a cast member had to take me backstage to do so
Former cast member myself, worked at Hollywood studios on some days, and that galaxy’s edge description was so accurate
Wendover making theme park content is the kind of gift I was not expecting today
I was expecting more of a... "logistics of making a theme park"
Hey look, its guy transporting stuff
Insert "major UA-camr is commenting on another major UA-camr's content?!?!" comment here.
First you with that antihumor skit and now wendover disney, today has been a good day
yoooo MCT Wendover interview confirmed??!?11!?!
The crowds 100% ruin the immersion of the Star Wars park. I've been there 3 times now. One of which was late at night for a dinner date when it was closed to people without reservations. It was nearly completely empty. That was the only time I felt immersed in the area and also the only time I felt like I could soak in the sights.
Much less crowds in the Tunisian desert man, wayyy more immersive
That was my biggest complaint about Rise of the Resistance. The degree to which the other riders were messing around, completely killed the effect of the stage after the shuttle and before the break out. I didn't have as much trouble with Universal's Harry Potter area, but the immersive part of that is either out in the area itself, or you're locked down with your stuff in a locker, it made for a much better, and probably more consistent, experience.
And you still visited it 3 times
As odd as this sounds, the rainy weather made it feel less crowded for us. It kept people away or at other indoor parts of the park. I personally didn't care one bit and neither did my daughter so we soaked in the experience and the Florida rain. 😁
@@IchhabezuvielUA-camgegucktO_o wasn't for SW though, unfortunately.
I'll be honest, this is probably the best ad for this ride. I'm not particularly deep into Star Wars but I want to see what this ride is all about
its definitely the best ride that disney has in its arsenal. It's absolutely amazing.
It’s well done as far as an experience but it’s not an exciting ride at all. As Disney rides go I would much rather ride Guardians at Epcot.
It's a complete waste of time and you'll be sorry you spent the thousands necessary to do it. Stay clear.
IF youre not into star wars, youll be left underwhelmed. I did it with a group of friends, and those of us who were die-hard star wars fans still rave about it, whereas I was left feeling meh. Worth doing for the experience (were aussies so was likely the only chance we had to do it) but we only went when wait times were less than 40 minutes
its great but a little overrated but then again i went during covid where there werent many cast members walking around
Note that the complexity of "Rise of the Resistance" means it can break down a LOT. My daughter spent 90 minutes in line before giving up, during which the ride broke down twice. She talked with cast members; they said it breaks down an average of 3 times a day, and the best times to try riding it are first thing in the morning and late at night, when it's less likely to be shut down. We tried again that night and after 60 minutes of waiting, most of it standing in the rain, were finally able to board the attraction-which was AMAZING
Definitely not worth the headache or do I even want to go through that much trouble. Velocicoaster I’ve risen twice and even in the stand by line it’s never more than 30 mins and that’s in September October, HHN busy months. No way they can waste my day standing in a line, I just won’t go!
It definitely explains the thundering herd of people that take off for Galaxy's Edge the moment the rope drops at opening, though ;-) @@Mumbo_Jumbo_Report
Yea not gonna lie i finally rode it on my most recent visit and it is in no way worth the wait times it gets the star tours is more fun
I went to both wizarding worlds and black spire a little over a month ago. My impression is that the design of wiz world was rooted in love for the source material, galaxy’s edge was designed for the exclusive purpose of parting me from my wallet contents, and a strong disdain for its source material.
hit the nail on the head!! 🗣️
"a strong disdain for its source material." basically describes everything Disney has done with the Franchise
It's ALL cynically designed for the separation of the chumps and their money. It has been since the very first traveling acting troupe hit the road. Don't kid yourself.
And almost no one cares about the original Star Wars movies any more. It's been very carefully removed due to it's lack of modern chump/money features. Sure, it sold a lot of toys in its day, but there is so much more than that now.
I like Galaxy's Edge more than most and I'm a much bigger Star Wars fan than I am a Harry Potter fan, but there's no question that the Wizarding Worlds are much better than Black Spire. Like not even close.
@@dyamonde9555 Yeah, because Mandalorian and the last season of Clone Wars was exactly that lol
Let's be honest, the real reason Disney is losing to Universal is because of the price increases, the way it treats its employees, the excessive pre-planning, etc. If I spend hundreds of dollars to go to a theme park (which is something I can afford but no small price tag), I want to be able to immerse myself in it instead of having to constantly stare at my phone like my life depends on it just to be able to get some food or ride anything.
and because WWOHP is just a better experience
Universal has rides that are actually fun
@@Tarquinthetyrant IDK, this Rise of the Resistance thing looks absolutely awesome
How are they losing?
@@thewhitefalcon8539 I just went there and Disney has a few really really good rides! Guardians and RotR especially! I’d say the majority are definitely slower, more family oriented, but it takes a lot of effort to beat their theming and ride stories.
I went to Diagon Alley and Galaxy’s edge back to back days. Diagon alley was by far the most immersive experience I have ever seen, I truly forgot I was in a theme park. Galaxy’s edge was okay, but I always knew I was in a theme park. I think part of it is that Galaxy’s edge should have aliens walking around, and I think if they added alien cast members it would be way more immersive. Diagon alley doesn’t have this problem as half the people were walking around in their own robes, and you can expect muggle clothes there.
In my opinion Galaxy's Edge fails at convincing you that you're on a foreign planet, rather it just looks like a bunch of rockwork without much purpose and a bunch of "cool spaceships" chucked around without much reason but Diagon and Hogsmeade give a much greater sense of immersion, doesn't hurt that Hagrids absolutely CRUSHES RotR and Smugglers Run
@@SchnookieCHagrids is a ride I could ride all day. I actually hsve done that on alow days. Same with Gringotts and Hogwarts. I have spent more time than I am willing to admit wasting time in the bathrooms too! Moaning Mertyle in the restrooms is a stroke of genius.
So true. And universal actually let's you dress up, which I did the last time I was there. Allowing people to wear their uniforms and robes adds so much to the immersion because Hogsmead and Diagon Alley are suppose to be packed with students and shopkeeps, it just makes sense.
@@verios44im sad cuz now i need to experience this next time i go😭
@@Laoboi2o3 why be sad? Should be a thing to look forward to!
FYI - the "cocktail party" metaphor wasn't necessarily just about "a lot going on", but rather hearing bits and pieces of a conversation here and there without needing to hear the whole story.
The context of this came out of Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion where you would flow in and out of rooms and only hear partial dialogue. Those types of attractions don't have a specific "clock" or interval as it's more difficult to have a controlled exposition of narrative beats as you might find on other dark rides such as Indiana Jones, Spiderman, and Forbidden Journey that can dispatch vehicles more consistently and reliably trigger show elements
Honestly I think “Project Stardust” is what is really killing the appeal of Galaxy’s Edge over Hogwarts. Disney is currently renovating walkways and spaces to encourage guests to walk more and only stop to sit inside restaurants or gift shops. Star Wars land got the brunt of this. The whole area is wide open with no coverage, no places to pause or take in the sights. You just walk through, ride two simulations, and get spat out in the hideous Toy Story Land 3 hours later.
This also negatively impacts disabled guests, as well as the elderly. For example, I'm right in their "millennial money grab" demographic, however I have medical needs and absolutely would need to be able to sit down periodically. If I can't do that, then it is too much of a risk, and I won't visit the park because they made it impossible for me to do so safely. What a nightmare. :(
They missed the message of hogwarts! People want to feel immersed.
Instead, they're slowly completely their transformation into themepark mcdonalds. Cleanly run, but so soulless you feel tired thinking about it.
@@effluviah7544 I'll bet Disney has thought of that and will be happy to rent disabled/elderly guests a motorized scooter to get around. Extra if you want one that's Star Wars themed of course.
I'm disabled due to back issues, so I wouldn't be able to experience the park now even if I could somehow afford it.
@@RobinTheBot Why do you think Galaxy’s Edge isn’t immersive? What does theme park McDonalds mean?
@@ManabiLT motorized scooters = individual landspeeders
I think this is something that VR games need to capitalize on. The idea of experiencing a story is something that ive only seen half life Alyx do well, and I think that if the industry is ever going to blow up, it needs to be able to offer that.
Ahhh Valve, the company whos tech demos are better than anything else the gaming industry can offer..
@Spin Lock What about Beat Saber? Oh wait, you said hours, not minutes. /s
*Before Your Eyes* is a game that doesn't require VR hardware, but it is essentially a story that you experience firsthand. Highly recommend.
Problem with Half-Life: Alyx is nearly no one will ever play it due to the massive cost barrier of getting a Valve Index... 1300$ (CDN) for the kit...AND I need a PC powerful enough to run it too?
Sorry but I'm not throwing over 3000$ in electronics just to be able to play a game.
@@Darkdaej you can play it on any major VR headset, index is just the best. they can't really do anything about the PC requirement, it's a AAA game and it needs substantial hardware to run. but that is changing. the quest 2 is standalone and $300, and I expect the processing power to increase with the quest 3 etc.
The crazy part is that Galaxy’s Edge uses everything Disney learned from The Wizarding World and Pandora
And uses it to make the most monetized and exploitative theme part area of all time almost entirely missing the point.
I don’t understand why people are complaining about the commercial aspect here. When my husband & I last went, we didn’t spend a penny in GE. We browsed the shops, went on the Millenium Falcon simulator twice, got hugs from Chewbacca, and envied all the employees getting to go on test runs of Rise of the Resistance. It was SO cool that it made me want to get an annual pass again for the first time in years (then the pandemic happened.)
@@jankk Agreed. I'm especially puzzled by the people complaining that it's just a bunch of shops - Hello, what do you think Diagon Alley is?? I spent most of my day in Galaxy's Edge and never got tired of it! I was lucky enough to hit the sweet spot when Rise was up and running and before Covid hit, hopefully in a couple more years they'll be back to that level. GE definitely does better with the interactive datapad games, and WW does better with shows. Hopefully some version of the younglings' training will be back soon, too!
@@CritterKeeper01 diagon alley is straight from the film. You get to walk the steps you see Harry do in the films. You see hogwarts as if you’re a student. Galaxy edge is all knew abs Disney Star Wars it’s not true Star Wars. That’s why it feels like it’s just using you for money
@@Daveluvutube And what part of Harry Potter did they choose to recreate? The places he goes to shop. All I was saying is that it's hypocritical for WW fans to complain about how much of GA is shopping. If it's a sin, it's one they're both equally guilty of!
@@Daveluvutube As for being new territory versus familiar, Harry Potter was almost *all* set in *one* place, Hogwarts and its surroundings. Star Wars is set on a whole *bunch* of different planets. It makes sense to make a place that feels like the Star Wars universe (which Baatu definitely does!) but not limit themselves to one place seen in one movie. Star Wars has a whole galaxy to draw from!
One of the things I've loved about the Fantastic Beasts movies is seeing more of the greater Wizarding World. If the franchise wants to grow and thrive, they have to give us more of that world, not just show the same little places. The new section in Epic Universe is rumored to include the French and British ministries for magic, and I can't wait to see them!
Wendover: “my family wants to go to universal and Disney. How do I write this off as a business expense… 😅”
But seriously, great video as always. Thank you!
Fucking LOL
Business vacation, accounting analysis at the theme park site
Simple, take a one day class regarding your job/Business the same weekend and write the entire thing off as a business expense on taxes
Become an esports gamer and time it in accordance with a major tournament
How much money does that actually save?
Me an eastern european that never even saw a theme park before: Yes, this video is what I've been looking for..
Southeast Asian here.
We have Theme parks, but I'm from the province, so no luck for me.
Sounds like your doing "market research" so you set up your own.
Best of luck
Seems like a problem that can be solved
If you're in eastern Europe, you can just drive a few hours and join a real "resistance". (or not).
@@kirk2767 and if your a American you can bring "freedom" to a oil rich country
We went to Galaxy’s Edge a few months ago. While the feeling of every penny being picked out of my pocket wasn’t great, the theming was amazing. Even functional things like the Dyson hand dryers in the bathrooms, or things required by code like fire extinguisher cabinets, or things most people will never see like a ceiling speaker tucked up in a dark corner, had been refinished to look like equipment from the Star Wars universe. It was really amazing.
I felt the money thing too until i just heard it cost $1B to build. Sadly these experiences will be expensive to be sustainable
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@@rajeshupadhyay5683
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My biggest issue with Galaxy's Edge is that it doesn't push the experience the way the Harry Potter lands do. Experiences are limited to paid "events" or rides while at Universal you're encouraged to dress like in universe characters and role play. The wands interact with elements around the park. You can essentially become a student or faculty member. Disney limits your ability to actually assume a role with their outdated restrictions on dress and props. The saddest thing about it is that they originally tried to sell the land on a focus for role playing and almost every aspect they originally advertised got dropped in favor of restricting it to the Starcruiser.
Any success it has over the Harry Potter lands these days is more due to Harry Potter losing steam thanks to the various controversies around the franchise and its author, not because Disney offered a better experience.
I don't know how Universal does it, but doesn't Disney ban anyone over 14 from dressing up so they can tell them apart from employees
@@hunterlawrence3573 That's the excuse they use, but they also don't sell adult costumes in the parks, except for in Galaxy's Edge.
Why pay through the nose to go to Galaxy's Edge when your local city's comic convention offers a better experience (other than the rides)?
@@BenjaminWhitley I'm not sure the rides are worth the wait times, either. I mean, they're ok, but not 2 hour line ok.
@@BenjaminWhitley Because I am a thrill seeker and going on rides has been one of my favorite things to do since I was three years old
The final thing Galaxy’s Edge is missing, is the fact that it’s still full of Disney guests with strollers and Mickey Mouse ears. It’s the guests that kill the immersion.
Or maybe it’s just being an adult
This is probably the best wendover video yet. Not just because I’m a huge theme park geek but also because it follows a story so well and brings so many topics into one video. I would however like to point out that galactica is not rated top 50 in the world and never really was
I agree I really enjoyed this vid
"In Amusement Today's annual Golden Ticket Awards, Air was ranked in the top 50 steel roller coasters numerous times following its opening. It peaked at position 24 in 2003,[26] before dropping to position 34 in 2004 and 36 in 2005.[27][28] In 2006, it tied for position 49 with another Bolliger & Mabillard flying coaster, Superman: Ultimate Flight.[29] It would not appear in the top 50 again until 2015 when it peaked at 38.[30]"
It's pretty stupid that there's fifty in the world to rank.
I henceforth declare it to be top 49 in the world. Gotcha.
@@ChomoBidensMules what
And the existing land is the scaled down version. Initially Imagineers played around with the idea of recreating existing planets like Tatooine and Endor but dropped it for the sake of creative liberties and tying it into the sequels, and Black Spire was going to be designed around a transportation motion simulator riding a large Batuu creature as well as some experiences they dropped to put in the Star Wars hotel. Even the sit down dining experience at Oga's cantina hasn't been built yet.
Repent to Jesus Christ
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”
2 Corinthians 7:10 NIV
@@repentoryouwilllikewiseper8741 You seem like you'd be fun at parties...
jesus was a muslim
I wish they had a prequel land, I will not lie. They are very different flavors.
a tattooine land would also be hard to recreate in a theme park, as its pretty flat and barren TBH. a Star Wars land that's fun is just hard to make, and apart from Rise, galaxys edge is just nice to look at and that's it
I just went to both Harry Potter areas at Universal and spent a grand total of 30 bucks for 2 days worth of food there. The next day I went to Galaxys Edge and ended up spending 1,000+ bucks on clothes, board games, food and souvenirs in one day.
The first part of your statement didn't sound bad, the second part is def an issue haha how many items did you buy?? That sounds more like a hoarding issue
Hopefully it was worth it :p
Talk about getting us in the first half
I'm gonna be honest, nothing at galaxies edge really stuck out to me. The only thing I considered buying were one of the flight helmets and the boba fett black series helmet. I already own a darkwolf xenopixel so I had no interest in the galaxies edge lightsabers.
I ate 3 full meals at Galaxys edge which ended up being about 90 dollars. The alcohol was about 60 bucks. Bought a jacket for 100. Snack and random stuff like the blue milk ended up being 30 bucks. Board games and stuff was like 200ish. Light saber was 200ish. Droid was 100. T shirts and other clothing was like 150 bucks and I spent 50 bucks on one of those gift cards that look like an imperial Credit.
Having just been to Disney a month ago, this is 100% correct. I'm an old roller coaster and "ride" guy. I found that there aren't that many "rides" at the four Disney parks. Most of them are "experiences". I found the Star Wars area fantastic, but at the same time, I wanted a thrilling ride and it wasn't there.
Six flags great America
In an armchair architect, love the idea of DisneyWorld, but I was bored at both Magic Kingdom and Epcot.
I understand Disney doesn’t do “thrill”, it’s based on family fun. But so much technology was 1980s and before. It was passive and dated. Thankfully, I paid extra for the backstage tour at Epcot.
When I was in Vegas for the Star Trek simulator, the queue filled with extras was almost better than the ride. But no line, so I couldn’t linger and immerse myself.
Although it’s very low-tech, the Swiss Family Robinson tree house was fun because you were on set. The Nautilus in Paris seems similar.
I’d pay and wait for a simple guided tour of the Millennium Falcon. Show me the bunks, the galley Han installed for Leia, the secret storage compartments. Give me the history of the make and variations.
@@TorstenAdair let the Wookie win
I thought the Smuggler's Run was quite a fun ride, if not as thrilling as Tower of Terror and Rock'n Rollercoaster
Huge theme park and Disney fan AND Wendover fan, avoided UA-cam spoilers for years so as not to ruin the first ride experience, got to Galaxy’s Edge for the first time YESTERDAY, got to enjoy the full new Wendover video on the day of its publication today :D
You just won life
That feeling
don't watch my last video 🥵🥵
So how was it??
Sounds like you have An Individualized Experience! 😉
"How do I make a trip to Star Wars Galaxy's Edge into a business expense I can write off?" -Sam probably, several months ago
Let me just start by saying I love rise of the resistance! It's probably my favorite theme park ride of all time. With that said I find guest experience will vary depending on how the cast members play their roles. The first time I went on it the cast members were intense yelling at people ordering them around constantly being rather aggressive and making people kind of uncomfortable. It was perfect! When I had written it most recently the cast members ushered you on to the ride and invaded your ship and essentially the same way as any other ride attendant would much less impactful.
yea man i actually was immersed enough to be pissed off and then had to remind myself its a show. second time a year later and they were just like calm af. Im assuming its a liability thing cause those first run dudes were putting there backs into belittling us rebel scum. Thats the weak link on the ride. If the actors are phoning it in (as an underpaid disney slave would be totally ok to do in my book) the immersion dies and it becomes a really annoying random second line in the middle of the ride
I had a great time at Galaxy's Edge and it was really the main draw for me going to Disneyland. Having said that, I spent very little in terms of shopping there. I just really enjoyed the atmosphere, the details and the characters.
Yeah, I honestly don't get why people don't like it. It feels ripped right out of the movies, and has the unique challenge of creating a new Star Wars planet from complete scratch.
@@j.jonahjameson1164 A huge part of it was that there's a sense of disdain for the prequel trilogy and sequel trilogy that's omnipresent in the park. It feels like a lot of design choices were made to make people think more highly of the sequel trilogy. I've never been there but what soured me on the concept was Kathleen Kennedy basically saying that the park should be modelled on the sequel trilogy instead of the original trilogy because it's the newest version of it and the new generation will love it more than the original trilogy.
It's like if they modelled the Harry Potter park off of The Cursed Child instead of the books. Yes, you're inhabiting the world of Harry Potter, but not the part of it you want to inhabit. Imagine the Harry Potter park that's exactly the same, but instead of seeing the characters you loved at the age you remember them being you're seeing them older, you're reminded of the dead characters, and the focus is on Harry's children instead of Harry. Most people would be apathetic to it, and a fair amount of people would feel a bit bitter towards it.
It's weird to explain since people love to say "We want new things," but, what people mean is that they want new stories that they can love in video games, movies, books, and comics. People might love Star Wars, but when buying merchandise they'd rather buy a Darth Vader action figure than a Rose Tico figure because they're more attached to Darth Vader. Likewise, most people would rather ride a Luke Skywalker roller coaster than a Rey Skywalker roller coaster, even if both coasters are the same with the exception of the name they're branded with. Plus, if they're choosing to sell Rose Tico action figures but not Darth Vader ones most people will think "Well, that's kinda dumb/weird, I guess I'm not buying an action figure," while some will see it as an insult to them that they wouldn't sell Darth Vader figures and sold Rose Tico figures instead.
You said it was a challenge to create a new world from scratch for the park, and I'm sure it was, but it was a self-imposed and unnecessary challenge. They didn't need to make a new world when there were already worlds that fans loved that they could have used, instead. They really should have just made Cloud City or Mos Espa or, the big one, Tatooine. The Harry Potter park didn't create a brand new wizarding school for the park, Disney shouldn't have created a new planet for their Star Wars park.
@@j.jonahjameson1164 it feels ripped straight out of the Disney movies…. Not the Star Wars movies that inspired the franchise we still talk about to this day…
@@qty1315 bruh Cursed Child Wizarding World 😂😂 kmnow
It would be awesome to see a video of the effect of kinetic energy in the parks. Marvel land in Disneyland as well as galaxy’s edge have very little moving scenery causing the lands to feel dead, while UO’s lands (including port of entry) are filled with moving scenery, interactive elements, and just movement in general, leading to a more immersive environment.
Would be great to see a video explaining the effects of this.
I say this to my son every time were in IOA. Everything feels lived in and occupied. The lands feel like they have an active population and not just a set piece . Port of entry is a land that I wish could get expanded on. From the shops , casino filled with cats and resident mayor it just feels real.
Honestly since the reveal of Super Nintendo World, it's been clear Universal are the MASTERS of kinetic environments, it's really not even close
Rise of the Resistance is the single most entertaining theme park experience I've ever had. He's right when he says the video or descriptions can't sum it up, you really do have to experience it to understand the INSANE scale and awe of the ride.
I'd expect so given that Disney seems to have slammed together the defining features of at least 3 different types of motion rides to pull it off.
I don't know whether to be impressed with the complexity or stress out by what the maintenance cycle must look like.
i found it pretty lame ngl
not just talking about the wait times, i had the fastpass for it
just felt like disney was playing it really safe with the rides, that and those bumper cars really piss me off
ROTS is the only great thing about Galaxy's Edge, and to be honest, it should have had Darth Vader in it. Would have made the ride ×1000 better.
Man, i was watching the video of it and thought it was so cool! I've never watched Star Wars or even really been that interested in it but the imagineers did a great job on the ride
Okay that’s it I am going to Disney world or land always mix those up 😅
Sam you should look into Puy du Fou, it’s one of the best theme parks in the world, and it’s located in France. They push the boundaries of what’s done in theater, one of their latest attractions features a 2500 seat auditorium that rotates between 4 different stages while using projection mapping to disguise the movement. In another show they have hundred of trained birds fly in a choreographed display, and in another one they have a ship emerge out of the water complete with actors walking around on the deck.
Great video dude. Love all your silliness and now you’re tackling some park magic. Epic.
Hey, I know you….
Hi Dan what is up
Having been to both Disney and Universal, Harry Potter World is the only only theme park I would go back too, partially because I'm a huge fan and as of today that's the closest you can get to experiencing the world. Even waiting in line was a wonderful experience and part of the ride itself. I for one hope more theme parks are built so well so that other people can have the same joy I had with whatever worlds defined their childhood.
Repent to Jesus Christ
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”
2 Corinthians 7:10 NIV
h
Waiting in line has to be good cause that is the worst part of a theme park and where you spend most of your time
JK Rowing is a Fascist, because she supported a Pro-Trans and also Pro-Child Safety Activist called Maya Forstater. Maya was cancelled for calling a fully bearded man 'he' at the Girl Scout Camp they both worked at, with him welcome in the children's bedrooms. Therefore they're both Fascists!
@@repentoryouwilllikewiseper8741 what the fuck
@@repentoryouwilllikewiseper8741 please go away
Next up: How this one airport changed Disney and Universal forever
I just got back from Disneyland and I’ve gotta say you nailed this. The immersion, no sight lines, and the huge payoff of the millennium falcon all worked so well. I took pictures of EVERYTHING. all the buildings, droids, ships, locations in the ride. it was hands down the BEST theme park experience ever. so amazing.
Hello
I think a Jetlag season involving all the Disney parks around the world could be pretty cool.
Set actives that need to be done by both teams based off recommendations. Budget challenge would be things like getting character autographs, choosing to wait in long lines, find certain suviners, eat a certain meal and ride the tea cups...idk. Extra challenges not part of the required ones.
Require paying for travel to every major park around the world, 3 meals and staying in a Disney resort and first team to do it the fastest wins. You can get really detailed about the logistics of cost and wait times as well as travel. And see if you can find cheap ways to actually enjoy Disney
Just seeing that a new Wendover Productions video released already makes my day just a bit better.
It's sleeping time where I am so many a times I sleep in between Wendover Videos😂😂
gay
@@4realGTFOH 15 year old
God, that may just be the smoothest sponsor segment transition I've seen so far.
Ordinarily, it only takes a second for me to go, yep, Sam's doing a sponsor segment. This time I was too focused on the stuff about Bob Iger.
Watching the nebula versions can be weird because it feels like it just abruptly ends
I came across this video and your channel and for a non theme park channel the depth and accuracy of this analysis blew me away earned a sub🙌
I’m not even a huge fan of Star Wars, but Rise of the Resistance completely blew me away and made me rethink what a theme park ride could be. When the doors opened and I saw the rows of storm troopers, I realized this wasn’t some ordinary theme park ride.
I haven’t watched a star war movie but I think I will love the ride
My now wife and I visited Hogsmeade / Diagon Alley near when it first opened. It blew us away. Unlike anything we'd ever experienced. The entrance to Diagon Alley was just perfect. Slightly occluded, a little bit of music to set the tone, and then BAM you're in a whole new world. The Hogwarts Express to take you between the two parks and having to pad admission to both was a clear money grab. But we paid it with a smile and would do so again.
I think the train was the issue JK Rowling was sticking at with Disney. Universal was like “Fuck it, you want a train, we’ll make a train”
Surprised Sam didn't mention the "Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser" 2 night hotel/cruise, which is very much an experiential ride. Guests even go for a day trip to Galaxy's Edge were there's exclusive plot lines that only they experience.
Guests? What guests?
*crickets*
isn't that the $6000 half assed hotel?? that flopped terribly?
Just a Star Wars themed overnight LARP dinner theater. I’d have more fun playing D&D and save the $6k.
It's only open 2 months, probably a little early to make a call on it's success or failure.
It is LARP, but with slightly more of a mass appeal and ties in well with Sam's point about theme parks trend towards experiences rather than thrills.
@@PatrickOReilly it's a failure to the stockholders
The level of detail and dedication to staying in character by the cast members working in Blackspire Outpost was AMAZING.
We were fortunate enough to get fast passed right to the front of both Rise of the Resistance AND Smugglers Run. And the money spent for both my daughter and I to visit Savi's Workshop was well worth the experience in my opinion. (And keep in mind Disney had that money committed from me WAY before we ever arrived at the parks.)
Summed up, Galaxys Edge allowed us to suspend reality for a few hours. Watching my 8 year old daughter experience the world of Star Wars come to life was the single most rewarding part of our first family trip to Disney. By the end of the day she was a little expert on all things Star Wars. But the best part, like I said before.... getting to let reality (and all the stresses of the world) melt away for a few short hours and becoming part of the Star Wars universe together. An experience I'll never forget. 🤙🏻
12:40 Wow, nothing up until this point had sold me on wanting to go to this until this whole Rise of the Resistance thing. That looked like something I would love.
16:12 there's already a phycological effect called the cocktail party effect which is completely different than what Disney says it is. The cocktail party effect, according to phycology, is when you are in a room with a large number of people, in small groups (like a cocktail party). You are completely invested in your own groups conversation, and aren't paying attention to any other conversations, when suddenly you hear your name.
@Choas_Lord_512 hey, I was just adding my thoughts to the conversation. I'm sorry if you don't care for it, but you don't have to take it out on me. Let's be nice, ok?
I think the future of theme parks is one of fictional places that guests can explore and, functionally, live in.
Like EPCOT?
@@MartinPoulter Like the Galaxy's Edge and Wizarding World sub-parks. EPCOT is (mostly) the same kind of park as classic Disneyland, based around various immersive show pieces that you have to larp a little to get invested in, and are surrounded by dozens of other pieces the park is trying to get you to go visit. Those two are something very different, and you feel it the moment you step into them.
The original concept of EPCOT would also be off the mark, since that would be an actual community under absolute central control being used as a very large exhibit. Although a hotel that is built to resemble a 'suburb of the future,' with retro mailmen and auto-vacs and things, would be aligned with what I'm imagining.
@@MartinPoulter no, like meow wolf
Isn't that basically Knott's Berry Farm?
Not exactly in the same vein, the Puy du Fou park in France plays on immersion in various time periods. Like, there is a spectacle set in the Middle Ages and next to it a medieval village where artisans are making and selling traditional crafts. I remember going there as a kid, it was like traveling to the past
I always thought Universal was more fun than Disney World. Disney seems like its for those who are incredibly into their characters and movies, but if that never did anything for you than you might find the level of production somewhat impressive, but you won't want to wait around for a daily parade, or face Florida's brutally hot and rainy weather all for a fancier (albeit iconic) theme park for it's enormous ticket cost.
I do also miss the days when Universal first opened and the attractions were a bit more intense. I can still feel the heat of their Backdraft attraction 25 years ago!
We did Islands of Adventure in summer 2001 and it was mind blowing at the time. British theme parks were pathetic in comparison; bad food, lame themeing. But the lands there were just fantastic, with amazing theming, and really thrilling rides. Such a shame they got rid of the dueling dragon coasters...
@@Rumade I would agree with you about the dueling dragons but Hagrid's is a worthy successor for that area.
@@Rumade Velocicoaster is better but do miss it.
WOW!! Universal Studios and Disney outdid themselves creating these new attractions... and Sam outdid himself showing and telling us about it.
WELL DONE!!!
It's definitely an innovation in the monitizing of IP nerds like.
I went to both Universal and Disney Florida last December. The Harry Potter theme park was amazing, it was like you were really at Hogsmeade. The Hogwarts Express was on the next level as well. The same thing could also be said to Star Wars theme park. Rise of the Resistance was definitely the best ride. The line was excruciatingly long that it took us 2hrs of waiting. The ride was very worth it though. My inner Star Wars nerd got unleashed while on the ride.
Star Wars loving adults are cringe. Grow up.
Great video goin in depth about the intricacies of galaxies edge. It's such a detailed and captivating area and you didn't even get into Smugglers Run or the faction style ARG that you can play through the Disney play app. So much work went into this game that not many people know about where you can capture areas of the land for the resistance or the first order, collect virtual items by scanning QR codes hidden around, complete quests, or even mess with Chewy by hacking the X-wing he's trying to repair and making it blow out steam. Just don't get caught or he might try to rip your arms out.
I somehow had not heard anything about Galaxy's Edge and just stumbled on it yesterday. Next week I'm bringing three generations of my family back to experience what I did yesterday. It was job-dropping. Thank you for explaining why I was so blown away.
Sam really just wanted a paid vacation to film Florida theme parks
Tax free too.
As someone with no money, I’m glad I know how I can build a theme park
yea. I don't have the money to even enter the place.
I'm going to charge people $30 for tickets to "Backyard-Land!"
😆
Just put up a tent in your yard with a toaster and a load ov bread inside. Charge people $5 to go inside and see the "most astonishing, astounding & amazing invention ever created"!
Just add more pizazz.
You will make $10 a day, at least. People are dumb.
As someone with 1 money. I am also glad i know now.
@@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721 That's how quite a few European theme parks started, more or less :)
I can't imagine how much work it took to make this video. every single sentence is packed with information that you need to hear it over and over again to fully understand and comprehend the idea. 🤯🤯👏👏❤❤
So my family was at universal not that long ago and this big personalize experience thing was super cool. The only problem was that at diagon alley we all wanted to go different places/stores, the only thing we could agree on was the ice cream parlor. Also hogs Meade is by far the most busy area in the parks. Overall it is a fantastic experience but going to Kennywood annually still seems like a more memorable experience.
As a lifelong Star Wars fan and only a casual Harry Potter fan, it’s no contest as Universal’s Harry Potter World wins by a mile. Galaxy’s Edge feels like the equivalent of Disney making a Harry Potter land that only Included characters and settings from the Fantastic Beasts trilogy.
Good point, maybe they can add new (old) stuff in the future.
Galaxy’s edge is good but Harry Porte that’s 3 more rides if it had more rides it would be better
But hey at least it’s muuuch better than Avengers Campus.
Same. I liked Galaxy’s Edge, but honestly one lap through and I was good. It won’t be my first stop on my next trip to Disneyland, oddly I’d rather go back to Cars Land than GE. Harry Potter Land at Universal was awesome, and while smaller, is done better IMO. There’s less merchandise just laying about, it’s in the shops behind windows that are full of entertainment, makes it feel much more immersive. Butter beer was a stroke of genius, I felt zero need to have a Star Wars themed Coke, I wasn’t thirsty and know what Coke tasters like, but I had to get a Butter beer, and there’s only one spot you can get it. The rides at GE are better, but the area is way less cool.
I felt the Avatar land was much more better than stat wars land.
Kathleen Kennedy convinced Iger that they should build the attraction based on the sequel, I forget the exact argument but it had to do something with looking into the adventures of the future instead of the past.
Either way it was dumb decision, because millions of people already _had_ an existing emotional connection with the _old_ characters they could make use of, instead of their own untried version of the property. Which, at this point, isn't popular with anybody. If they were to build an attraction and then add new content later, they should've started with OT and then added sequel content once those waters had been tested and proven worthwhile.
I keep saying this, but whoever is first to create a Pokemon Land is gonna win so much.
Popular IP, still massively selling, tons of recognizable characters, lots of ride opportunities, and most importantly: each guest can become the "main character". Unlike Star Wars where supposedly there's only like 3 Jedi left, anyone can become a Pokemon trainer & get their own Pikachu, and that doesn't feel artificial.
Universal already signed a deal with Nintendo back in 2015… so if Japan doesn’t get that first then it would probably be an expansion at the new park under construction in Orlando.
Nintendo Land is in construction and is set to open for universal in 2025
Woah
@@Red_Ryan_Red actually you are right, being built in the new universal park in Orlando
Pokemon is kinda niche though and you age out of that interest bracket pretty quickly.
Wonderful. Well researched. Fascinating. Thanks for producing such great content!
After watching this video, I was surprised that you weren't a full-time theme park UA-camr. You've managed to explain the mechanics and appeal of the Harry Potter and Star Wars lands much more in-depth than any dedicated theme park UA-camr I watch. I like how you even threw in a comparison to Alton Towers
Making it experiential rather than fitting a mold isn't new, per-se, but the depth with which they hid it here is.
Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO used to do a very good job of integrating live acting, traditional track rides (both dark and not), and extending the themes well beyond the rides themselves to make a few key rides strongly stand out. Like with this, the "city" is a maze of interconnecting paths, some over "rickety" themed bridges through the woods, some through theme-consistent shopping areas, some through areas with live craftwork being done. The walkups to the rides themselves are also winding through faux-rock, woods, and other structures that make the walkup an experience itself, and fit with the expectation of the ride.
They went through a period of reducing the live actor participation, reducing the actual craftwork being done, and selling more and more things you could get just as easily outside the park, and I stopped going for a while. They have brought back the emphasis on live actor participation but many of the shops are about half modern paperback books and other things that are distinctly not in theme. Live craftwork is better than the low point, but it's become more like the Santa Claus experience with a sign saying they'll be there to repeat the same routine at a given time for several of them.
Theirs does rely heavily on humor, but it's more the situational rather than verbal humor that is repeatable. The repeated jokes intentionally fall flat (eg. the train robber yelling "this is a stick-up" while holding up a literal stick) so it's not relying on the joke, but on the humor of a live actor comically failing. Or the "rattle-headed copper moccasin" that has "grabbed a passenger off the train last week" for at least 40 years that isn't about the joke but is theming the experience of the intentionally less-than-threatening warning of the "dangerous" part of the ride. Admittedly, that last one has taken on a life of its own and is a pre-internet meme for fans of the park. And they knowingly theme it so it's not grating for the parents who have to sit through the ride 25 times that day for their kid who really likes it.
I have to give them credit for some of their adaptations over time as well. One of the ones they cut back the acting on that really sold it was a dark ride called "the flooded mine" with VERY minimal animation and lighting gags that didn't really hold up very well without the human element. But it had a lot of nostalgia, so they kept it...adding targets and plastic guns with LED counters on them. The LED counter and targets were relatively simple thematic additions (not sure how simple technology-wise given how long ago they did it) and it made it perennially fun just from that small participatory aspect. A very small number of them are "trick shots", things like shooting a rope to make something drop, shooting out lights, or shooting dynamite to set off a lighting effect - all of which were pre-existing timed effects. But by making those few linked to rider actions, it makes the dozens of flat targets feel more immersive than monotonous.
The participatory aspect is massive for a lot of these - whether laser tag disguised as plastic revolvers, or actors who call out specific people on the ride, or just telling everyone to shake their fist and yell "ugly" as they ride past unsuspecting people somewhere else in the park. And I think the trackless has a lot of potential for that. I could easily see them making a simplified "choose your adventure" aspect to it that gives a manageable number of routes to the vehicle so the average person has a "unique" experience, the repeat rider can have multiple experiences, and the more dedicated fans can have fun working out all the possibilities the way gamers do with multi-ending video games.
It's in part because of video games, there are some articles with the imaginers where they talk about younger people comparing the theme parks to video games the way older folks compared them to a movie. We are now used to being able to take an active role in our entertainment and often look at these lands as we would a video game.
As a big theme park and Wednover fan I had to do a double-take when I saw this, but you nailed it as always. Great video.
I got to ride in florida during its first year last year. Not a SW fan. At all. But I couldn’t help being absolutely blown away by Rise of the Resistance.
Early this year I got to ride here in CA. Knew what I was getting into but was still so excited before and after, made sure to ride both days I was there.
It was SOOOO fun watching people ride for the first time. The faxees they made. So worth the wait!
You sound like the perfect Consoomer
@@CoercedJab eh, probably. But we all have our things. Lots of stuff I don’t and wouldn’t spend money on.
@@CoercedJab eh, probably. But we all have our things. Lots of stuff I don’t and wouldn’t spend money on.
Except Galaxy’s Edge did not increase attendance. In fact the opening at Disneyland led to lower crowd levels throughout the resort.
Because Disney ruined Star Wars. I _knew_ SW was going to be irreparably damaged the moment they touched it. I could not believe people were celebrating the news. Disney are unable to handle anything even remotely gritty. The best they can do is to turn it into a corporation's idea of an edgy comic book, and only ever assign the most soulless paint-by-numbers directors and producers. And as long as Disney keeps throwing the blame on the fans, it will never fix anything.
@@LividImp Serious question. What was going on with Star Wars before Disney got it? Wasn't it just a bunch of novels that some were connected, others weren't? Not sure what they "ruined" if they just added to that already growing lore of Star Wars. Those artifacts still exist to enjoy. Not saying I'm a die hard fan of Disney Star Wars but I do like what they have done for Marvel, and their TV shows are mirroring that action too
Wasn't that because people were trying to avoid the crowds? lol Going last week and the levels were far higher than pre pandemic that I remember
@@SilentChaosBby Are you seriously arguing against having standards for quality? That's like arguing that there should be a "Citizen Kane Part 26" cash grab just because it technically would not damage the original film. There is an intangible effect. There will be people that will only see the later films and write off the whole franchise as being soulless trash. Plus, now that the brand is damaged, it reduces the chance that another quality film will ever be made, and it drastically reduces the chance that anyone will take future films seriously. At this point Disney knows that they've destroyed the goodwill more discerning fans had for the franchise (and no, I am not talking about the trolls that bitched about it for political reasons). So they are just going to keep shoveling out bad films because they know that zealots will keep going to them regardless of quality.
The funny thing is, I'm not even a film snob. The original Star Wars was just a pretty simple space western. But it was one that had soul and grit. It was written from the heart and it shows. The later movies could have been written by an algorithm.
@@LividImp to be fair, to the argument about young kids writing off the series as garbage is not a good one as plenty of kids who are growing up with the new star wars love it. I've had people from my high school not like the original trilogy (which to be honest was subpar by todays standards too) but enjoy the new material. Disney hasn't ruined Star Wars. It's an expanded Star Wars for a new generation. Nothing changed in the original trilogy, in fact, things like The Clone Wars enhanced the experience by feeling more for Obi Wan and Vader and gave the Prequel trilogy more meaning and depth. Just because the sequel trilogy was subpar too doesn't make the franchise a cash grab or any worse than what it has already established.
Also: the Avatar portion of Disney's Animal Kingdom is similarly immersive. Although built on a less iconic concept.
I could def see the avatar portion being expanded with the upcoming avatar 2. Avatar is already green lit for I believe 5 more movies. At this rate it will be 2070 before we get all of them lol
Galaxies Edge is built on nothing. A planet that wasn't in a trilogy that no one talks about anymore except to say how bad it was.
@@kyle857 bruh and after the back and forth and death of Kylo ren his appearances are a joke… we could’ve had a haunted mansion type chase where Darth Vader haunts the ride vehicles
Instead it’s the whiney Incel that killed solo lol
In a globalised world, so many spaces feel the same. I can be in London, Dublin, or New York and see the same shops, the same brands, the same food even. These heavily themed spaces really do provide something that you can't get anywhere else. Unless you're doing very offbeat travel, you're not going to find that anywhere else. These spaces really provide a safe space to feel like an adventurer and see something truly new. It's incredibly smart on the part of the parks.
Well monuments and art are quite unique to the places you visit...
@@TheMarioBrothers from my experience, yes and no. Most Western art galleries have a smidgen of each artist movement, so you can see an impressionist in Paris, or in Chicago, and then the next room will have a cubist. I can see ancient carvings in museums in Greece or Egypt, or stolen in New York or London. Churches across Western Europe from a certain time period are very similar. When I was travelling around Japan, 1 shrine or temple looked much like the other, with the exception of the really special ones like Inari Taisha, which were about as busy as Disney land. Many many cities have observation towers and to be honest the cities don't look that different from the top nowadays because of global homogenization.
I'm not a fan of Disney, and I'll probably never go, but I do think it's interesting that they're creating immersive spaces that are unlike anywhere else. Added bonus is that there's no locals living in the actual fake town to be irritated or disrupted by the tourism (obviously Disney parks themselves do have an impact on the local area).
That's a very depressing thing to read. The real world has nothing new to offer, theme parks are the only place we can find unique places?
Capitalism creating a problem (same business chains everywhere) and then selling a solution (fake theme parks) as usual
The "cocktail party effect" refers to our ability to listen to a single voice in a room full of voices, so pretty much the opposite of how Disney is said to have used it to describe the attractions. 16:10
Oh thanks, I forgot what my audio disability was called* I can’t do this
Disney said that? Or the script written by some youtuber said he said that…..
@@CoercedJab what? I said ‘Disney is said to” have used the word that way. Because that’s what the video says.
Why does this feel like a long ad for this one theme park?
exactly, pointless
I’d like to point out that it’s for 6 theme parks. There’s a galaxies edge at Disneyland in California, which has 2 parks there and there’s a galaxy’s edge at Disney world in Floridia, where there are 4 parks
I usually describe Rise of the Resistance as being in a movie for 30 minutes. From the moment you step into the briefing room thru being captured and finally rescued and welcomed back to the rebel outpost, you are in the story. The most fun is improvisational acting with the First Order cast members.
I adore the Harry Potter worlds too but they both suffer from something Pandora does and Galaxy's Edge doesn't: their signature rides are inaccessible.
I was totally unaware that nowadays you could get such unique experiences at these theme parks.. because of the fact I don't live in USA.. but now these are in my bucket list.. and I now I won't be able to ever strike them off
I think some of the genius of Rise of Resistance is that the “ride” doesn’t actually start until you’re in the trackless vehicle. When you see a lot of the ride of social media, you expect it to be on the ride, so when you’re still in what’s perceived to be a line to get on, and you’re in a simulator, a hangar with dozens of stormtroopers, First Order Officers ordering you around, it really keeps you on your toes. You never know what’s coming next.
I do think that skipping much of the interrogation stuff would be worth while. Especially since you invariably get a bunch of other riders that break the immersive element. I'm not sure what the point is in spending alll that time and money training the literal cast there, only to have people engaging in flash photography and mugging for selfies while the rest of us are trying to enjoy being in that bay with all the storm troopers.
Also, would it have killed them to add a little bit of motion to the storm troopers? Even just a little bit of motion to a head, or an arm would have made them come to life.
Sam’s been watching Defunctland, huh? 😜
Haha I love that channel! These two can complement each other😁
I'm still on team Universal, Disney charges money to pretty much breath in the park, it's ridiculous. Want to ride that ride? Pay up, on top of your ticket.
I went to Disney world last year and we got 3 times on the resistance one without paying any extras. I am not saying Disney is cheap, quite the opposite, but I don’t recall being charged for any attraction inside of the park, just food and merchandise.
postbreak is probably talking about the changes to fastpass, which used to be a simple press a button, get a ticket, get another after X time.
@@westrim yikes that sucks, we only had to do a reservation on the Disney park app and that was it
What are you on about? All the rides and shows in Disney parks are included with admission. If you are talking about the changes to the line skipping service Universal cost $90 per day per person to only be able to be used on each ride once. Compared to Disney's $15 per day per person plus $5-20 for individual rides
@@bbbandito353 it’s $80 and that is well made up for with the difference in admission costs/merchandise and food costs.
As usual a high quality and thought provoking video. Thank you.
Very interesting discussion. Are you planning to talk about the Galactic Starcruiser? I can see where your theories could explain a lot of that experience! Thank you for the discussion.
I work at Universal Orlando and I was also part of the Opening Team for Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and I cannot begin to describe how great a video this is! I would love more of this kind of stuff, even with all the other topics that this channel covers! I fully appreciate what Universal has done for me and then some and I’m so much happier here and for that alone, it’s already better than Disney but then throw in what Galaxy’s Edge is vs say Diagon Alley or any of the world’s Hogsmeade’s at Universal’s sister parks, it’s no comparison to what you get out of an experience without feeling like you had to keep buying things to feel you were part of the full story and experience.
Keep up the great work as always!! And thank you for a great video!
Too bad about that no jab no job tyranny from your mega corp employer huh!
I love how detailed this video is, but it definitely misses something very important.
When Galaxy's Edge opened, people kind of hated it. Nearly everyone saw through the magic and recognized that the land was functionally a shopping mall. Monetizing every aspect of the experience left people feeling exploited, and many of the advertised concepts were either absent or under-delivered. This was never an issue with the Wizarding World at any of the Universal parks.
This doesn't apply to me, I loved Galaxy's Edge.
That’s strange because Universal’s park is literally an in-universe shopping center.
@@FeatheredCrow The shopping experiences are at least themed and there’s more to do that isn’t shopping
Rise of the Resistance opening helped Galaxy's Edge a lot.
@@TacomasterStudios The bias is so clear with you lol
I literally just got back from my first trip to Universal Studios. The Harry Potter area was my favorite, and I’d been wanting to go there for years! The rides were unlike anything I’ve seen, and that butterbeer was amazing. Definitely would go back.
Great video, I'm surprised you didn't look into historical examples of experiential parks. Wild west towns with cowboy showdowns and old England towns with knights and medieval battles
I have my thoughts about disney star wars, but the concept of a theme park existing in-universe is genius
A New Wendover video always will make my day, Thank you for making this amazing Content.
I visited Disney and went on Rise of the Resistance about a week ago, and prior to riding it, I had absolutely no idea what it was. I was going in it completely blind. Me and my friends were saying "it's probably a screen ride" because Universal had influenced us with all the screen rides there.
Needless to say, we were all speechless by the end. The whole experience was out of this world. It isn't my favorite ride because I'm more of a coaster person, but it is without a doubt the coolest thing I have ever been on, and I doubt anything will top it for a long time.
This presentation was so well put together, it rivals the videos of most theme park UA-cam channels.
Uh the majority is literally B Roll from the parks
This is the most well-made Wendover video I recall in a long time. Great use of animated diagrams. The concept of not using jokes because that does not repeat well was a really cool insight.
Why is no one talking about Rookburgh, how a family owned park could build an area that is extremely emersive, even without a popular ip. Although they miss a world class dark ride, their experience is outstanding
They key to getting both Galaxy’s Edge and Wizarding World was convincing the corporate bosses and shareholders that they couldn’t have obvious or any third-party branding, which meant that they’d have to potentially forego sponsorships and the $$$ that comes from that. Although in Disney’s case, they converted the branding into in-universe styles, it must have been a major fight (especially in the legal areas) to allow the logos to be modified.
Absolutely excellent video Sam and team!
Looks just like what you can do in Planet Coaster. Especially that entrance way.
Visited Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge in July 2019 (before “Rise of the Resistance” opened - which I understand is an amazing experience).
“Smugglers Run” (the Millennium Falcon ride) was very well themed, but the ride itself was “just ok”.
Overall, I was unimpressed with the overall land. Felt like a Star Wars “inspired” shopping mall - with ZERO emotional connection to the beloved original franchise or original characters. Which makes absolutely no sense. Talk about an incredibly wasted opportunity. Whatever … my family and I left to enjoy the rest of Disneyland/California Adventure.
When you talk about the, "...original franchise...," you're missing the point. All of us who went to see Star Wars in the theater when it first came out are the people that Disney is disinterested in. Did you _see_ the graph of spending habits? Did you see where GenXers were in that graph? In the, "Yeah, this is nice but I know that it's a bunch of BS that has been very carefully crafted to separate my money from me," section. All of the cynicism that was carefully instilled into us (Did you watch Breakfast Club?) had some unintended consequences.
So... Di$ney is aiming at a generation whose sense of self comes from conspicuous consumption: The Millennials. And that doesn't include the original Star Wars series at all.
@@MyName-tb9oz I mean not all millennials are like that, some of them are ok. Also I doubt if it were OT themed it would be very good. I’d rather them use something new that way there’s nothing to ruin
2919? I guess by then it sure would look dated... Heh.
I too was unimpressed. Lots of walking, not much to do. Still can't even ride one of the rides unless you work some magic to get to ride it.
@@holdengohs6997 "not all millennials" yeah, way to miss the point. At a shareholder meeting, "all" doesn't matter, the statistics do. The graph in the video said it: millenias are "like that", gen x is not.
Rise of the Resistance is my favorite ride I’ve ever been on and would likely ride that all day if I could. It is incredibly fun
I went to Disney Land on a work trip for my dad turned into a family trip and HOLY SHIT the transition from entrance of the area to ride to shuttle to the different elements was nuts.
Also when we got back to the hotel I promptly looked up a translation table for Basic to English and was very happy about the round sodas actually saying the right things.
Love how you overlooked the smugglers run ride... which is just a bad and upscaled arcade game. Also didn't mention how often Rise ride fails and is out of service. It's not uncommon to see it out of service once a day if not more. I went to DW a few weeks ago and it shut down 5 times for an hour or more that day. With complexity comes many many problems.
I didn't hate Smuggler's Run personally, but yeah it wasn't amazing. By far the coolest part of the ride is the queue and the immersion of the ship you're on.
had to wait in line for it twice, was not impressed either time (though the queue is cool!). And while I know a starship is not going to be a nimble flyer, my god that ride was annoying to steer (meanwhile the people in the back just press buttons as they light up...)
@@thatmatt41 ya the ship was cool. Kind of wish it was more a freestyle walk through or show instead. I think that if they were going to do a ride like smugglers run again then it should have been more like an X-wing/starfighter run on the death star or an equivalent.
Smuggler's Run relies on your party, or worse, strangers, working together. It is very hit and miss and not worth it after maybe a couple of times. I prefer Star Tours 2.
@@codmw3infomercial i went on it 4 times at least, maybe 5....
every single time I was the engineer...
The big problem with the Disney parks is that you really need to plan the trip MONTHS, if not a year, in advance.
Yeah, no one goes "I should pop over to disney right now"
As a person who lives near Disneyland, ppl plan?
@@BurritoKingdom I was shocked too. Like, really?
That has not been my experience. We have gone to WDW a bunch of times since COVID started (and no, we can't drive there. It's definitely a flight away). The LONGEST we planned any of those trips was six weeks out. We leave, again, tomorrow. We decided to go.......yesterday. So literally 48 hours before departure we decided to go, planned a trip and made all the arrangements. Flight prices suddenly dropped, so we're off.
Now, if you don't go, fairly frequently, I wouldn't advise doing that, but it most certainly can be done quickly, and easily, and even, dare I say, not super-expensively.
@@MissMyMusicAddiction Disney isn't a park I'd frequent, Amusement parks with, well, actually good rides, I would go to multiple times a year
Just went through the star cruiser two day experience it was the best thing so amazing hope you do a video on it
In college, my business class got to take a behind the scenes tour of Disney World and learn more about the park and its operations. We got to meet the CFO of Disney Parks and pick his brain about their business philosophy and park operations. While everything he said was insightful, the quote that stuck with me was "We'll take the same ride that another park builds, add 10x that cost on theming, and get 100x the revenue of that original ride".
Really taught me alot about the value of experience and design in creating real business value
Oooh, ooh, pick me! I know why The Forbidden Journey is awesome! First off, the theming is top notch and they did their best to make it feel like Hogwarts. They got the garden outside, the isolated castle, the interior is poorly lit, cramped, and filled to the brim with concepts from the Harry Potter universe. For the ride itself, it stands out especially among Universal Studios Hollywood rides for 2 distinct reasons: it's _not_ in 3D and it's *not* simulated motion. I don't mind the reliance on screens, but I would argue this is the one ride that uses them to the greatest effect because it transitions between them and practical sets so cleanly.
Is Galaxy’s Edge a success? At least at Disneyland, on recent visits it appeared relatively empty compared to other lands: compounded by consistent breakdowns on Rise of the Resistance.
It’s pretty boring imo. Budget cuts took away a lot of characters and the overall land is not very kinetic and it focuses on the new movies which are less popular than the original Star Wars movies.
@@dynamicmediacurations Not necessarily budget cuts, but they moved all the interesting ideas to the Galactic Starcruiser hotel. Lack of walk around characters was an intentional move though
really cool video! would love to see more on this subject
I remember I was in 2019 at Galaxy's edge solo. I honestly was finished pretty quickly there.This is why:
-sure the scenery is outstanding but you just look at it walking by (so finished after 10min)
-there was only ONE ride there, Smuggler's Run (50min wait and >5min ride)
-I dont chase those cash grab traps like the merch shops, the light saber shop or the over expensive cantina