NEW YORK -- The excitement around the opening of Star Wars:
Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort is only mildly
tempered by concerns of overcrowding in the first weeks after the themed lands
open in Disneyland on May 31 and Disney's Hollywood Studios on Aug. 29.
"We would say there's unprecedented demand" for
Galaxy's Edge, said Claire Bilby, senior vice president of sales, services and
events for Disney Destinations. "We're excited about the announcement of
the dates with the lands and the initial attraction. We're also really working
to make sure we can deliver as great a guest experience as possible managing
that excitement."
Bilby spoke about Galaxy's Edge during an interview at the
Discover the Magic Tour 2019 last week, when she highlighted Disney news and
updates to a crowd of travel advisors at the Edison Ballroom here.
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge will have a two-part opening. When
the lands first open, guests will be able to experience dining, shopping and
character experiences, as well as the attraction "Millennium Falcon:
Smuggler's Run." Later in the year, the land's second attraction, "Star
Wars: Rise of the Resistance," will open.
Bilby said Disney will likely learn a lot during Galaxy's
Edge's opening in Disneyland, to take place three months before the Walt Disney
World opening. For the first three weeks in Disneyland, guests will be allowed
in the land by reservation only, which will give the company a chance to see
what demand will be like. Those staying in a Disneyland hotel during the
opening will receive one reservation.
Disney executive Claire Bilby (center) was joined on stage at the Discover the Magic Tour 2019 by Mickey and Minnie Mouse as well as event emcees Sharon Tipps and Shawn Matthews. Photo Credit: Jamie Biesiada
The Walt Disney World opening -- not subject to reservations
like the Disneyland opening -- will see some benefits from Extra Magic Hours,
in which guests staying at Disney resorts can access certain parks early on
designated days, Bilby said.
"I have never been more confident about our operations
team planning," she said. "They're really looking at this and
planning to make sure we do the best thing. ... But I will say, we do know
there's going to be a lot of demand. And are we going to be able to get
everybody in on the day of their choice? Probably not, but we're going to work
to make sure it's as great as a guest experience as possible."
Agents said their clients are excited about Galaxy's Edge,
but do have some concerns about crowding during the weeks surrounding opening
day.
"I think they're definitely pumped about it," Ron
Hayeck, president of Mickey World Travel in Succasunna, N.J., said. "I
think they're kind of afraid to go for opening not knowing what's going to
happen, are they going to be able to get in. That's what they're afraid of."
The Star Wars franchise holds wide appeal, Hayeck said, much
more so than other recent and popular expansions Disney has added to its
roster, like Pandora -- The World of Avatar at Disney's Animal Kingdom in
Orlando.
"For Star Wars, there are people in their 60s who are
into it, and there are people that are 3 who are into Star Wars," he said.
"It appeals to everybody, and there are some crazy Star Wars fans that are
going to camp out, and they're going to be dressed in their Jedi costumes
waiting to get in to see it."
Hayeck is advising clients who want to see the new land
close to opening to expect a wait. He's advising those who aren't interested in
it to avoid Disney's Hollywood Studios around its opening.
"I read that there were people waiting the night before
for the opening of Toy Story Land, but then after a few days it kind of calmed
down," he said. "But Toy Story is not on the same level of Star Wars.
That's the big difference."
The opening dates of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge were earlier
than originally expected, but despite that Hayeck hasn't had any cancellations
or changes from clients traveling to Disney around the opening of the new land.
Sara Fredericks, owner of Dreaming of the Mouse in Kingston,
N.Y., said interest in Galaxy's Edge has been "huge."
"I think everybody is excited, just like before Toy
Story Land opened, and Avatar -- The World of Pandora opened," Fredericks
said. "I think that people are hesitant. They don't want the crowds to
encroach upon their Disney vacation, but I think everybody's very excited."
The two-phase opening of Galaxy's Edge will likely be a
boon, Fredericks predicted: families will likely hold off on visiting until
both attractions are open, keeping initial opening day crowds lower. As it
stands, most of her Star Wars-specific reservations have been for a younger
demographic of single travelers or couples, those who can easily take a quick
trip to both the initial opening and the later opening of "Star Wars: Rise
of the Resistance."
Both Hayeck and Fredericks said they are excited about the
level of immersion they expect from Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.
"The sights, the smells, every sense is going to be
engrossed in Star Wars, and I'm so excited," said Fredericks, who intends
to visit the park for both openings.
"You look at what Universal did with Harry Potter,"
Hayeck said. "You look at what Disney did with Avatar. They blew Harry
Potter away -- if you've seen the movie, you're in the movie. You've seen what
Disney could do with Avatar. I can't wait to see what they do with Star Wars.
It's going to be like being a kid on Christmas morning, walking in there and
seeing it."