Disney Dish Podcast: Star Wars Hotel, Toy Story Land, and Superboy's TV History

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and Hotel Construction

• 💡 Discussions around potential wedding venues within Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge suggest possibilities for future events, though official listings and park availability are still distant.
• 🚀 A construction permit indicates the Star Wars hotel is slated for completion in 2020, with plans for a phased opening starting with 400 rooms and potential expansion to 1,000.
• ⚠️ The ambitious timeline for the Star Wars hotel, including technology integration and shakedown, is noted as a significant challenge, despite advantages in site preparation.
• 🎮 Gameplay elements for Galaxy's Edge are being field-tested in Anaheim, with insights from these tests potentially influencing the Orlando opening.

Toy Story Land Attractions and Operations

• 🎯 Slinky Dog Dash is receiving high ratings across all age groups, indicating it's a popular new attraction.
• 🎢 Alien Swirling Saucers shows a slight dip in ratings with increasing age, and is experiencing floor treatment issues, possibly due to ride mechanism or concrete pour inaccuracies.
• 🛠️ The floor issues on Alien Swirling Saucers are compared to similar problems encountered with Dumbo, highlighting challenges in precise construction and assembly.
• 📅 Passholder previews for Toy Story Land are scheduled for September, three months after its public opening, with a holiday lighting package already announced.

Disney Transportation: Gondolas vs. Monorails

• 🚠 The Disney Skyliner gondola system is discussed as a cost-effective transportation solution compared to expanding the monorail system.
• 💰 Estimates suggest a mile of monorail track would cost approximately $22.5 million in today's money, making the gondola a more financially viable option for connecting resorts and parks.
• 🗺️ Potential future expansions of the gondola network are explored, with a proposed hub at Blizzard Beach connecting to All-Star Resorts, Animal Kingdom, Coronado Springs, and Hollywood Studios.
• 😨 A personal anecdote about a terrifying experience on a cruise ship's robot arm ride highlights a fear of heights that could translate to the gondola experience.

The History of Superboy on Television

• 📺 Superboy, the TV series, was the first to be produced at Disney-MGM Studios, though it later moved to Universal Studios Florida.
• 🎬 The decision to produce a TV series at Disney-MGM was driven by the need for consistent production to fulfill the promise of a working studio tour.
• 💰 The show's production budget was significantly lower ($300,000 per episode) compared to syndicated hits like Star Trek: The Next Generation ($1.3 million per episode).
• 📉 Early production values for Superboy were criticized, with the show looking like it was shot by a low-budget high school team, though ratings were strong nationally.
• 🔄 Universal Studios Florida secured a contract to film Superboy, leading to improved production values and a strategic move by Universal to counter Disney's expansion.