Disney Guests Furious After Being Given Plastic Bag For $200 Lightsaber

The Force is not so strong with Disney’s supply chain.

This week, Disney Guests venturing to a galaxy far, far, away have been complaining about a strange offering at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Since previous Disney CEO Bob Iger left the Walt Disney Company, current CEO Bob Chapek has been divisive among fans. Many Disney fans have been debating Chapek’s budget cuts and layoffs, as well as his attention moving to Disney+ and away from the quality of the Disney Parks.

Chapek revealed in an interview that he dislikes this “cost-cutter” reputation he has gained as Disney CEO.

Well, Disney Parks provided a stark “cost-cutting” visual over in Disney’s Hollywood Studios this week, with many believing Disney to be pinching pennies at the Guests’ expense.

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Guests can travel to Batuu in the immersive new land Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Reservations are tricky, but lucky Star Wars fans and Jedi wannabes can build their very own lightsaber in the incredible, but expensive, experience at Savi’s Workshop.

Although the building process is an entire experience, it does come with a lofty price tag. The lightsabers cost $219.99 plus tax, which is a steep price to pay for many families at Disney with aspiring Jedi.

Now, it seems that these lightsabers no longer come in their previous carrying case, which offered the expensively ticketed item some protection. Instead, Disney has been providing Guests with a clear, plastic bag to carry their precious cargo.

According to Guests, Disney claimed to be out of stock of the snazzy carrying cases. When Guests asked for more protection in terms of a carrying case, the only option was to ship it to their home, at nearly $20.00.

The Guest explained how they asked Cast Members for a discount on the Savi’s Workshop experience and was sadly denied. Instead, she was sent back to Savi’s to get a shipping box to send it home.

Cast Members at Guest Relations told the Disney Guest that the case is just an “extra”, and that the plastic bag was sufficient to meet the description of the experience per their web page description.

The Walt Disney World Website describes Savi’s experience as a way to, “Build your own custom lightsaber at this secret workshop and continue the way of the Force.”

Currently, the website also promises that for the $219.99 price, you will also receive a carrying case:

Important Details

• $219.99 per lightsaber, plus tax
• Payment will be due upon arrival at the location
• One lightsaber per builder per experience
• Carrying case included
• Additional customization items can be purchased at Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities
• Age Recommendation: 5 years or older
• The experience area is limited to the builder and one Guest—at least one person in the party must be age 14 or older
• Guest of the builder may not build a lightsaber when accompanying the builder
• Custom lightsabers are nonrefundable and are not eligible for Annual Passholder or other discounts

Other Disney fans on social media have voiced similar frustration at the experience, commenting on the decline in the magic at Walt Disney World:

As part of the declining Guest experience @WDWGuestService, a plastic bag is now considered a carrying case for a $200+ lightsaber. Magical huh? #DisneyWorld

As part of the declining Guest experience @WDWGuestService, a plastic bag is now considered a carrying case for a $200+ lightsaber. Magical huh? #DisneyWorld pic.twitter.com/xKkRz5c1RU

— wdwfan (@wdwtony) January 7, 2022

Another Disney fan on Twitter wrote about their lightsaber case disappointment:

Paid for photopass and can’t get them to fix it for us. Paid for Lightsaber and they pretended plastic bag was carrying case. Major problems with apps. No one at check in desk when we arrived.

Paid for photopass and can't get them to fix it for us. Paid for Lightsaber and they pretended plastic bag was carrying case. Major problems with apps. No one at check in desk when we arrived. pic.twitter.com/6rZXTUSZM9

— Wesley Oman (he/him) 🇺🇦🏳️‍🌈✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊ (@djweso) January 11, 2022

And to further the disappointment of fans of Han Solo, Rey, and BB8, Guests planning on building a droid at the Droid Depot can expect the same treatment. Instead of the cardboard carrying case that is advertised to come with the $100 droid, Guests are now given plastic bags to carry these as well.

There is no indication on whether Disney will start offering discounts on the experience at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, or when the original carrying cases will return.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has certainly left many Guests noticing issues during their vacations at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

Supply chain issues have definitely been a prominent issue, particularly when it comes to merchandise in Disney Springs and Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Hong Kong Disneyland just announced a two-week closure due to a coronavirus outbreak, with many wondering if the U.S. Disney Parks will be next.