this post was submitted on 20 Oct 2024
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Showerthoughts
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When I was growing up, I had some family in LA & San Diego. One year when we visited them we ended up going to both Disneyland and SeaWorld. This was the late '80s or very early '90s and not a huge deal, I think it was just something to do to keep us kids busy. I know Disneyland isn't "the" Disney that everyone talks about so maybe I'm missing something but Disneyland was sorta underwhelming. I wasn't huge into Disney stuff anyway but I remember being kind of bored.
When we visited in 1997 we went to Universal Studios Hollywood. They had an attraction where you could get photographed in front of a blue screen and edited into a scene from Star Trek - they had uniforms and props and everything. I loved TNG and was so stoked to wear a command uniform and hold a tricorder. My uncle Ira was appalled that I chose TNG over TOS...I can still hear him saying "but that's not real Star Trek!"
when it comes to genuinely unique technology based experiences like that, there's nothing that beats Disney world. Disney Land is really nothing like it. Disney Land is mostly a regular theme park, not that much different than a six flags. Disney world has the most money and research put into it of any physical attraction in the world. that shit has probably had more money dumped into it than the Roman collosseum in its time. the things thet have there now feel like actual magic. they have 3d hologram systems, the have lightsabers that extend and look exactly like the movies, they have the same level of robot as what Tesla used to announce the cybertaxi just running around the park all the time. I've never been, but they have the most unbelievable entertainment technology there. i can see how a child would walk away feeling like they experienced something special.
The extending lightsabers were for the star cruiser thing, and they don’t do that anymore. But maybe they’ve moved them into the park proper.
But yeah, Disney World is a pretty amazing experience.
for that to be a temporary exhibit is almost crazier. that thing i dreamed of having as a child isn't even worth keeping around when compared to everything else they've got going on.
Well, “Starcruiser” was a massive flop. Far too expensive, underwhelming experience, terrible execution. Jenny Nicholson has a surprisingly compelling four hour review of it that covers part of why it flopped. Worth a watch.
Also, the extendable lightsaber is pretty fragile. Only really able to be used for the extending and maybe a bit of swinging it around. Essentially it’s like two half-cylindrical measuring tapes with an end cap that extend together, with an LED strip inside. You can’t hit another blade with it. So when they had lightsaber fights the actors had to quickly swap from the extendable lightsaber to the fighting lightsaber out of view, like crouching to run and swapping behind a railing or something.
huh, i guess I hadn't heard anyone's actual experience from it. I've never been myself. it's only interesting enough for me to want to know that it exists. there is no world in which I would actually pay what it costs to go to Disney world. it's just not my thing. I'd rather find some elk to watch frolic or some shit. that sounds when more magical. still neat to see that it's kind of real now.
but yeah, my biases make it easy to believe that it's all cheaper and shittier than they lead on. that sounds like what a company like Disney would do. make something that looks flashy and makes a good headline, but disappoints when in person.
thank you for sharing your experiences.
Oh I’ve not been on the Starcruiser. It was like, $6k for two nights. Screw that.
I’ve been to Disney World though. The Star Wars area (in Hollywood Studios) is really cool. And Animal Kingdom is fantastic. The whole place is fun, but not everyone’s cup of tea certainly.
It’s way better than Disneyland, IMO. Which is underwhelming in comparison. Although the Star Wars areas are essentially identical, which is nice.
holy hell that's so much.