Galaxy’s Edge Will Be More Successful in WDW?

Sitting here on the East Coast, and reading as much as possible about Disneyland’s version of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge I wasn’t aware of a “lack of success” for the West Coach “Star Wars Land.”

What Is Success For Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge?

Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland

So, what is “success” for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge? Is it a packed land, merchandise sales, or overall fan satisfaction. Nearly every fan I’ve read or watched has lauded the attraction as an authentic immersion into a galaxy far, far away.

“But the attendance!” you say. And you’d be right.

Disney CEO Bob Iger said as much himself. However, on the call, he emphasized that he has no worries about either version of the attraction, noting that marketing, timing, and several other factors, created anxiety about the guest experience. That, in turn, drove down attendance at DL.

Oh, and BTW, what about the idea that ONLY one ride-on attraction was to be available at Disneyland for the better part of seven months.

I find the above strangely analogous to the explanation Iger put forward regarding the Solo: A Star Wars Story. The CEO put the burden of the low box office receipts on the company, NOT the movie. But I digress.

Also noted on the Q3 call was talk of the cost of Disney park tickets overall. And nobody is going to explicitly say that hey, we’re trying to price specific segments into skipping high volume times to regulate attendance.

Three Reasons SWGE Will Succeed In WDW

The Force is strong with these villagers. Cast Members of the opening Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge team were recognized this morning for their part in bringing this land to life. (Kent Phillips, photographer)

So, I put forward the following note from The Motley Fool, speaking to why they believe Galaxy’s Edge in Walt Disney World, not only as a notion of hope but also as an example of how folks outside of the Disney bubble perceive “success”:

It’s Disney World’s most anticipated opening in 21 years, but the same 14-acre expansion opened at Disneyland in late May — and it obviously wasn’t enough to juice up turnstile clicks at the original California resort. Things will be different on the East Coast. Let’s go over why Florida’s version of the Star Wars-themed land will be a bigger deal to Disney’s top and bottom line.

1. The “inns” and outs of hotels 

If Disneyland took on Disney World for a game of Monopoly it wouldn’t be a fair fight. Disneyland has three on-site hotels, offering a little more than 2,200 rooms. They’re not cheap, and even the value-priced option starts at $459 a night this summer.

It’s a different story at Disney World, where there are more than 30,000 rooms across more than than two dozen on-site options. This matters, because Disney loves a captive audience. It has a fleet of shuttle buses at Disney World, picking up guests at Orlando International Airport at no additional charge. It then provides a growing number of complimentary transportation options to get around the massive resort, including advance access to expedited FastPass queue reservations a month before everybody else. The longer the stay, the lower the per-day ticket prices are, too. In short, Disney World has a much larger built-in audience, and it knows how to pull the levers to keep guests close.

2. Early entry is a huge on-property hotel perk   

Disneyland and Disney World offer their hotel guests access to select parks an hour before day guests are allowed into the gated attractions. Disney World also offers guests a few hours of access after select parks close. Disney World is giving early risers a special treat that Disneyland did not — three hours of early morning access to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. For the first two months of operation after the mad flurry of the expansion’s debut weekend, guests staying at one of Disney World’s on-site properties will be able to get into Disney’s Hollywood Studio at 6 a.m., experiencing Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge for three hours before everyone else can check it out. Disneyland didn’t open its Star Wars-themed land until the official park opening. 

This is a savvy move. Obviously, it’s going to fuel hotel reservations through September and October as folks try to get an early jump on day guests in checking out Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, a big deal since this is typically the sleepy season for the resort. The early opening also means that the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will be open for at least 16 hours a day. 

3. Disney World is bigger

WDW attracts far more visitors than Disneyland, and not just because it has twice as many theme parks, two water parks, and far more available land and lodging options. Disney World’s Magic Kingdom is the most-visited theme park on the planet. 

The Bottom Line

Okay, as easy as it would be to say, “Duh.” The above is an objective point of view and mine comes from a dude in Massachusetts who can’t wait to live a dream he’s had since 1977. SO, let’s let the sabacc cards fall as they may. And with any luck, I’ll soon see you in a galaxy far, far away….

But what about you: Are you excited for Galaxy’s Edge? Are you excited to visit the versions on both coasts? Let us know in the comments.

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