Theme Park Rangers Radar: Star Wars hotel woes, Universal’s retro dance, lines for everything

Recent, unexpected blips on the Theme Park Rangers Radar include Walt Disney World closing Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser before it hits its second anniversary and a ’50s dance number popping up at Universal Studios theme park. We were, however, aware that people grouse about standing in line.

We’re on top of all of the above now. Radar is a weekly look at what’s shaking and quaking at Orlando’s theme parks and attractions. It publishes on OrlandoSentinel.com on Wednesdays.

Starcruiser gazing

I had a college professor who repeatedly and sarcastically used the phrase “they were surprised … yea, shocked” to illustrate a DUH sort of fact. A lot of folks online were channeling that snarky attitude when Walt Disney World announced that the final Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser experience would be in late September.

Even so, the pulling of the plug of the two-night immersive experience was not widely expected after just 15 months of operation.

The long-term future the Starcruiser space, adjacent to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, is in doubt. (Disney says it has no immediate plans.) There’s been some time at Theme Park Rangers Radar HQ to collect a few thoughts about these developments.

• Timing is everything. Dennis Speigel, founder and CEO of International Theme Park Services, backs this up. “They probably could not have opened that facility at a more difficult time in the last 15 years … Post-COVID, with inflationary, recessionary issues, staffing issues, with all the stuff we’re going through,” he said.

• Disney is not afraid to leave a property dormant. See the dusty years of Pleasure Island, the long inactivity of River Country water park, the shuttered NBA Experience, resort restaurants that were on hold coming out of pandemic, etc.

• Whatever the next role of that building is, certainly the exterior can be adapted. Its look doesn’t scream “STAR WARS NOTHING BUT STAR WARS.” It’s a gray, blocky building behind trees and not very visible from the road, at least for now. (Aside: Until recently, the Google Maps view of the site showed Starcruiser under construction. It looked like a crater. Now, it’s there. And it illustrates what a sliver of WDW hotel occupancy it has been.)

• We won’t take joy in jobs lost or creative plans foiled. But we did enjoy a meme or two, including a suggestion that the future abandoned building become a Spirit Halloween store. Or a prison.

• Oh, maybe timing isn’t completely everything. We end Starcruiser speculation where it began: Wow, that is quite the price point.

Get your dance in gear

There’s a new dancing-in-the-streets show at Universal Studios theme park. “Drive In and Dance” happens in the big concrete expanse in front of Mel’s Drive-In and up on its risers. It’s an interesting retro-modern hybrid.

The show starts in 1950s mode with bobby-sockers and bow-tied nerds, while waiters mill about in background (Style points for the Universal nametags on the costumes of the dancing wait staff).

The dance is traditional, like high school couples in a gym, but that’s soon taken over by waiters in a hip-hop routine. The retro characters are unmoved for a while but eventually, thanks to a magical costume change, join in.

The choreography gives a “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure” vibe, but I also appreciated the song selection, which leans into 21st century tunes that have old-school qualities. Think “Dear Future Husband” by Meghan Trainor and “Marvin Gaye” from Charlie Puth.

Later, there’s crowd participation dancing, as required by Universal law. It’s more freeform with “Twist and Shout” (but by Salt-n-Pepa), “#LoveMe” (Melody Day) and “It’s You” (Duck Sauce, A-Trak and Armand Van Helden). We deduct no points for keeping the Isley Brothers in royalties with “Shout,” a song that makes all generations get a little bit softer now.

The show, which lasts about 12 minutes, hasn’t been on the park schedule or app. It’s spontaneous, am told.

Line time

After a recent presentation by Jakob Wahl, president and CEO of IAAPA, about the summer travel season, we chatted about the current theme park trend of lines, express lines, virtual queues and other kinds of day planning.

“The key point of our industry is to try to deliver the best experience for our guests. We all know that no one loves waiting in line,” Wahl said. “But then again, I can also tell you that waiting a little bit in line actually is a good thing because it creates a certain excitement. It builds up the tension.”

Wahl spoke at the headquarters of Orlando-based International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. The trade association has members in more than 100 countries.

“You see all our members, they build beautiful queue lines, and they work with music to create an excitement and you see the line and you’re just anxious to go on it,” he said. “So I think, there will always be a certain way of waiting, but I think our industry is working on ways to improve it and continuously develop that.”

Holiday weekend outlook

• Pipeline, SeaWorld Orlando’s newest roller coaster, officially opens Saturday. There will be a ceremony at 9:15 a.m., open to the public, featuring Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and park president Jon Peterson. Also on Saturday, SeaWorld launches its Summer Spectacular event, which runs select nights through Sept. 4. Among its festivities are Club Sea Glow, a dance event at Bayside Stadium, and the “Ignite” fireworks show, both of which are scheduled for this Saturday, Sunday and Monday. (Summer Spectacular shifts to every-night mode June 16.)
• Garden Rocks, the concert series for the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, continues with Jason Scheff (former vocalist/bassist for Chicago) on Friday and Saturday, followed by Rick Springfield on Sunday and Monday.
• Icon Park will host a display of large military vehicles with partner U.S. Army Kissimmee Recruiting Station 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday. In addition, active and retired military personnel can ride The Wheel for free this Friday through Monday. (Accompanying family members can get 50 percent off tickets.)
• Legoland Florida introduces a limited-time extreme stunt stage show named “Go Xtreme” on Saturday.
• The “Dogs! A Science Tail” exhibit, which explores the human-canine connection, scientifically speaking, opens Saturday at Orlando Science Center. It will stay — good dog — through Sept. 4.

What’s on your radar? Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com.