Movies

Disney’s Galaxy Edge is a missed opportunity for interactive experiences

BBG News

Disney's Galaxy Edge is a missed opportunity for interactive experiences

As a lifelong Star Wars enthusiast who’s spent countless hours immersed in the galaxy far, far away, I must admit that Galaxy’s Edge left me yearning for more. Don’t get me wrong; the Rise of the Resistance ride was out-of-this-world fantastic, but the park environment fell short compared to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is a must-see for many Star Wars fans. It was for me. With fan-favorite characters wandering the area and rumors of incredible rides, I knew I needed to visit “Star Wars Land” for myself. Upon my visit, the biggest stand-out was Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, one of the best rides I have ever been on.

Indeed, witnessing life-sized AT-ATs and cruising through an Imperial Ship was undeniably thrilling, but what truly captivated me was the extraordinary queue experience. Here’s the scoop: as guests embark on a shuttle, their ship is seized by the First Order. Before even setting foot on the actual ride, they are apprehended, interrogated by Kylo Ren, and ultimately saved by the rebels. The seamless integration of the queue into the ride was nothing short of genius, as it created an immersive atmosphere that truly transported you to the Star Wars universe.

After experiencing such a revolutionary ride, coming back to Galaxy’s Edge felt incomplete. Though posing next to the Millennium Falcon and spotting Stormtroopers was appealing, the environment didn’t spark an urge to discover. Compared to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios, it was evident which one created a more immersive experience for me.

In contrast to Galaxy’s Edge, The Wizarding World park offers much more than just thrilling rides. It’s a place filled with intricate details from the Harry Potter series, visible through shop windows and hidden in narrow alleys. You could easily spend hours exploring, even though many of the details and experiences are designed to boost Harry Potter merchandise sales. A standout feature that sets it apart is the interactive wands, allowing visitors to cast spells at designated spots throughout the parks.

The interactive wands enable fans to perform specific spell gestures that trigger effects, such as making a fountain spray water and calling forth fire from a chimney. While it might not be a flawless system, it’s an exciting chance to experiment with spells that were merely read or observed in the movies. In contrast, Galaxy’s Edge appears less bustling compared to the Wizarding World, offering fewer attractions beyond the main features.

The thing about the interactive wand experience is that this feature did not exist when the parks first opened. It was added several years after they first opened. Why can’t the Black Spire Outpost get an upgrade, as well? Like the wand experience at Universal Studios, Imagineers could create an interactive object affecting the park environment. The closest I can picture to the wand system would be selling kyber crystals with internal sensors. They could invent a story explaining how people can connect to the Force via these crystals and then set up stations around the park for guests to try it for themselves. Force Pushes/Pulls, Deflection, or even Force Lightening could be feasible practical effects.

If modifications are made to the park, it wouldn’t be Disney’s initial step into immersive park activities. In reality, Galaxy’s Edge has an interactive experience that quite a few people aren’t aware of… for a good reason. Utilizing a Disney app, visitors can scan QR codes scattered around the park and engage in mini-games. The objectives of these games involve tasks like decoding panels or finding contraband hidden within crates. However, it has been observed that the game is essentially just simple puzzles with minimal rewards within the park setting. After solving a puzzle, many are fortunate enough to witness flashing lights, as most of the puzzles don’t lead to any noticeable changes in the park itself.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but feel that this is a squandered chance to inspire us to delve deeper into the park and live out our dreams in the flesh. But fear not, there’s a glimmer of hope in the form of an app-based system! Disney has previously excelled in interactive park games, and the World Showcase Adventure at Epcot is a prime example. Imagine, using your mobile device to traverse a country within Epcot, guided by characters from beloved Disney Channel shows on a thrilling quest. The gameplay mirrors a scavenger hunt, but when you reach the designated spot, the park environment springs to life with effects that tie into the game’s narrative. Every few years, Disney refreshes the characters and adjusts the game effects to keep things exciting. With this adaptable design, the game could remain fresh for many years to come!

Disney could draw inspiration from their past hotel, the Galactic Starcruiser, to enhance the interactive experiences in World Showcase Adventure. While certain aspects of the hotel didn’t thrive, it served as a blueprint for how immersive park games could be designed. At the Galactic Starcruiser, visitors were assigned to one of three narratives: Resistance ally, First Order ally, or smuggler/rogue. Similarly, in World Showcase Adventure, guests can choose their own story and embark on one of three distinctive missions as they traverse the park.

Collaborators of the Resistance can solve puzzles to aid Rey in transmitting a crucial message to the Resistance. During their journey, they could potentially employ the Force to retrieve a data pad from a store window, presumably giving it to Rey. Perhaps smugglers conclude their mission outside Oga’s Cantina and are rewarded with a glimpse of the mysterious Oga emerging from an animatronic head through a window to applaud them. While impressive visual effects can delight Star Wars enthusiasts, practical effects within the park will always be more captivating than gameplay confined solely to an app.

Regardless of how Disney chooses to develop their Star Wars theme park, it’s bound to generate plenty of buzz. However, instead of settling for mediocre mobile games, fans should expect something more extraordinary. Given the limitless opportunities for immersive experiences, enthusiasts have every reason to demand top-tier park offerings and the chance to create enduring Star Wars memories that will be cherished forever.

Read More

2024-09-01 16:22

Previous post The Project hosts stunned as Amy Remeikis makes snarky Father’s Day comment about ‘crap dads’
Next post Only Murders in the Building cast net worth: Which star in the mystery comedy has the largest net worth?