Precisely!!
One of my main complaints about it being in Disneyland is that it is the original park. It has vague land names with lots of particular things inside. Not a particular land with particular things inside.
I can't help but feel like I'm being forced into a money grab situation, and it's going to be as quickly and haphazardly thrown together as Bugs Land was.
Star Wars land seems like it's going to be built up to be like the films, which just shows that it's Disney's response to Harry Potter Land/World at Universal Studios.
I agree that it's perfect for Hollywood/MGM Studios (I haven't been there in like 10 years, it's always MGM in my heart) because it's a movie themed park and from what I remember/know there is a lot of space to play with and revamp over there.
I just hate the people that are in charge of the parks division right now. They raise prices constantly, there's nothing for annual passholders anymore... like the quests and such in the late 90s/early 2000s, and they're making pretty poor decisions in an ever poorer attempt to bring in more cash.
It's disgusting, and I'm pretty much done.
I grew up in the parks. I had a bad home life and school life, and it was my safe place. It's still where I end up when I need to think about big decisions or have a serious discussion with a family member about something important. It's the home of my heart... but all of these negative changes that are being made because the higher ups think we're all blind and stupid is killing me.
I can't lose this too, you know?
Yet there's no choice.
We just have to accept it, and that's what is the most annoying. They don't listen, and they don't see logic.
My one problem with this is "nostalgia." Disneyland is a project that is never complete. When you tag the park as nostalgic, anything you do to the original components becomes blasphemous. For example, look at the backlash Disney got for rebuilding the western town of Rainbow Ridge. People were concerned removing one of the last original pieces from the park was absurd and going to destroy the "nostalgia" of Disneyland. To me, that's not the case. The nostalgia will always be there. In our memories, pictures, and hearts.
As for Star Wars Land, this is an obvious answer to Universal Studios amping up of franchised attractions. While it is specifically rumored to be in response to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, it could also be an answer to Nintendo attractions coming to Universal Studios Japan (which, if proven successful, could launch stateside). Disney is not afraid to play a game to keep its standings until it can find the right moment to launch the next big thing; they have the resources and money to do so.
I find the placement of the land kinda of peculiar. Star Wars Land falls between Frontierland and Fantasyland. Obviously, the movie is sci-fi, which falls into the fantasy category, but it also explores the final frontier, which is space. It's a interesting tie into both lands. Granted, this park could have been worked into DCA, but I don't see the space nor theming necessary to fix this newcomer to its map. With that said, SWL is probably in the best spot it could be to help tie the project into the resort.
I first struggled with the idea that SWL was taking over a big chuck of the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer's Island. These are part of the "nostalgia" of the park. However, it's that same nostalgia that people do not realize has already been lost in recent years. Tom Sawyer's Island has been lost to Pirates, which the interactive additions haven't been updated or upkept since its debut. The Fort has been closed since 2001(?) and sits as a weird obstacle for guests to walk around. The animatronics on the Rivers, especially the log cabin scene, have been on-again, off-again, leaving canoers and boatgoers to wonder why a moose is standing still or a cabin isn't livable during their visit. Big Thunder Ranch, to me, was always a throw away idea. Let's put some animals, BBQ, and a show that maybe will attract people, and call it an attraction.
I believe Disney knows they have spaces in the park they can better utilize and these were on the list of many. Just think, the Rivers will receive an update, the Island could receive a refresh, and finally a gateway to something new.
Finally, I'm not looking at SWL as a whole new land, but more of an annex like New Orleans Square, Critter Country, or Toon Town. These lay on the outskirts of Disneyland's map and aren't even new lands to themselves; they are extensions of other lands. We don't even know what Star Wars Land is actually called yet. SWL is merely a placeholder like in the case of Avatar Land was for Pandora - The World of Avatar. It will lie beyond the borders of the railroad. So where in the world does it become a whole new land at Disneyland? To me, it's not. It is an oversized attraction.
. And it's not a franchise they made themselves, they bought out LucasFilm.
