A widely shared extended video delves into the unsuccessful premium "Star Wars" resort by Disney.
A year ago, a lengthy YouTube video emerged, revealing aspects of a canceled Disney project that attracted millions of viewers. The video was made by YouTuber Jenny Nicholson, who is well-known for analyzing various entertainment areas, like "The Vampire Diaries," "Pirates of the Caribbean," and "Star Wars." Her latest creation, "The Spectacular Failure of the Star Wars Hotel," sprawls across 20 video chapters and focuses on her 2022 stay at the now-defunct "Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser" hotel in Orlando, Florida.
This hotel was promoted as an immersive, customizable Star Wars experience where guests could dress up and engage in an interactive Star Wars storyline for three days. For this, Nicholson paid more than $6,000. The concept was marketed as a "landlocked cruise," complete with Star Wars decorations and entertainment. However, reviews suggested cramped rooms, inconsistent technology, and a general confusion about the purpose or target audience of the project. Nicholson also highlighted the enjoyable aspects, such as cast member performances and the well-designed ship-hotel interior.
Despite the hotel's closure in 2023, the video racked up over 2 million views in just two days and already penetrated social media's meme-machinery. Some were surprised by the captivating presentation of a topic they felt indifferent towards in the past.
Longform content on YouTube is growing in popularity, with older topics getting revisited in lengthy "deep dives." Nicholson's video benefits from the immersion in Disney, Star Wars, behind-the-scenes insights (since she includes photos and videos from her hotel stay), and everyone seems to gravitate toward stories about failures.
The fascination for such stories could be attributed to the growing popularity of longform videos among younger viewers, as found in a 2022 Google consumer insights report. Interestingly, these tend to be more successful when they delve deeply into niche fan culture topics, like movies, TV, and sports. Both Disney and Star Wars have devoted fan groups who follow every development with eagerness and accurate memory. The tiniest details in these franchises are debated, analyzed, and produce their own fan-made content.
Nicholson's video is particularly timely as Disney plans a $60 billion expansion for its parks, cruises, and experiences worldwide within a decade. This includes an 14-acre expansion at Orlando's Magic Kingdom. Disney also plans to incorporate Star Wars-themed technology, such as remote-controlled droids. But the information journey continues: Disney fans anxiously await more details, which could be revealed at the D23 Expo this August. [Note: CNN reached out to Disney Parks for comment but has not yet received a response.]
So, let's wait and see what Disney has in store for its future, excitedly speculating on their expansions and what they reveal during the D23 Expo. Meanwhile, Nicholson's Star Wars Hotel video serves as a fascinating, extended glance into what could have been—and is now a part of fan history.
In 2022, a YouTube video chronicled a fan's stay at the "Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser" hotel, revealing the niche universe Disney had attempted but ended up shelving. Created by popular commentator Jenny Nicholson, the video dove into the hotel's immersive, customizable Star Wars experience in 20 chapters. Spending over $6000, this project promised guests a chance to live in a Star Wars universe, with LARP-like themes, lightsabers, and engaging entertainment. Despite glitches and confusion about the audience, the video swept the internet with over 2 million views in two days.
Longer videos delving into niche subjects, like fan culture, are gaining traction these days. According to Google's consumer insights, younger audiences are eager for in-depth explorations of topics they're passionate about, making fan-centric content a hit. As Disney and Star Wars accommodate this demand, the infamous Star Wars Hotel's fate is an amusing case study.
Now, this video's appearance is quite fortuitous, as Disney plans a major $60 billion expansion of its entertainment offerings worldwide, from Florida parks to Anaheim. And this expansion includes Star Wars tech additions. But Disney's silence on these expansions seems to have fans scratching their heads, believing that a recently settled lawsuit between Disney and Florida held Disney back. Disney has not responded to CNN's queries on this matter.
At the upcoming D23 Expo, fans will get to immerse themselves in new Disney attractions and updates. Till then, Nicholson's Star Wars Hotel video serves as a slice of history for those who never thought they'd care about such a thing
The Galactic Starcruiser hotel has now gained a spot in Disney history, but the renewed focus on its failure gives us a unique perspective on Disney theme parks' goals and expansions. Will they meet everyone's greatest expectations, or become the focus of another lengthy YouTube analysis?
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Source: edition.cnn.com
