Guide to Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser Hotel at Walt Disney World Resort
Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is a highly-hyped new hotel offering 2-night experiences at Walt Disney World. The themed resort behind Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios is now open, and this guide covers everything you need to know–including pricing, 2023 reservation info, what’s included, and more! (Updated April 11, 2023.)
We’ve been “aboard” Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser twice now. Once for a preview and once for the inaugural voyage aboard the starship Halcyon, jewel of the Chandrila Star Line. We’ll be honest with you–this is not going to be for everyone, or even most visitors to Walt Disney World. As a threshold matter, you should determine whether this is good fit for your party by reading our spoiler-free Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Review.
The nature of the experience alone will eliminate many families visiting Walt Disney World. Then there’s the cost, which makes it a total non-starter for many others. We paid $6,634.32 for a party of 4–or $1,658.58 per person. For more thoughts on this expensive pricing, see Is Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Worth the High Cost?
On a positive note, Walt Disney World is finally starting special offers on Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. There are currently two discounts available, with the better being Save 30% Off Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser. However, that’s only for Annual Passholders on select Spring & Summer 2023 voyages.
The other offer is Save Up to $700 on 2-Night Disney World Resort Stays + Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser Voyages. With this discount, you save money on 2-night stays at select resorts when paired with a select Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser voyage through September 30, 2023.
Unfortunately, these deals follow the unprecedented move for Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser to Slash Voyages. Our commentary there essentially expressed frustration that Walt Disney World was not fixing the underlying issue: pricing. This new discount does exactly that, so kudos to Disney for releasing these special offers. Hopefully they aren’t too little or too late.
Before we get ahead of ourselves, we should probably cover the basics of the Star Wars “Hotel” at Walt Disney World. As for what it is (and why the air quotes around hotel), that’s difficult to concisely explain. Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser has an immersive ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ style story layered on top, as well as opportunities for nearly-endless show elements. It’s an unprecedented hospitality and entertainment endeavor, with the end product being awesome or alienating, depending upon your perspective.
Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is unlike anything Walt Disney World has ever done, an amalgamation of a bunch of different entertainment offerings. It’s not really comparable to a theme park visit or traditional hotel stay. Instead, think of it more like a cruise on land–as the name suggests–with all-inclusive (mostly) food & drinks and comparable programming. Even the cabins are more similar to cruise staterooms, as you can see in our Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Room Review, Photos & Video.
Unlike Disney Cruise Line, the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort puts guests in the center of an interactive adventure that they control. Think of this as a hybrid between a live action role playing game and the all-inclusive resort hands-on ‘enrichment through entertainment’ experience.
Disney has tested similar concepts like Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser before, but this is envelope-pushing in terms of its scope and level of immersion. It’s also unlike a traditional hotel. About the only similarity is that it has guest cabins with beds. Many of the amenities and features you’d expect of a normal Walt Disney World resort are not present at Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.
In fact, comparing Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser side-by-side to a Deluxe Resort reveals that it doesn’t check many of the same boxes. If you want a luxurious experience with a pool, spa, concierge, well-appointed rooms, and more–you’ll be disappointed. Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser has none of those things. It doesn’t even have windows in the guest rooms–it has simulated portals into outer space. Although it’s on land, it’s pretending to be a spaceship, meaning it doesn’t have anything you wouldn’t find on a spaceship.
None of this is to say that Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is lacking–it just is not what you might expect from a typical Walt Disney World resort at this price point. The focus here is much more on the immersive experience, role-playing, and themed environment. Suffice to say, don’t conflate “expensive” with “luxurious” as this is something different entirely.
With that said, let’s dig into all the details, because there is a ton to know about Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort!
Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser Updates
Voyages aboard Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser have now been released through September 2023. Above is a look at November through January 2023. Fewer than half of the departures this holiday season are sold out, which is the busiest time of year at Walt Disney World.
Worse yet, there isn’t a single itinerary that’s sold out in 2023. Keep in mind that people generally book vacations–especially expensive ones like this–about 6 months in advance. Most people aren’t taking multi-thousand dollar vacations on a whim. It’s probably concerning to the company that this new experience with incredibly limited capacity already is not filling up.
With that said, availability fluctuates a lot. Keep in mind that one reservation can be the difference between “sold out” and “available,” meaning that all it takes is one cancellation or even a modification to different dates to go from available to not available.
You really need to call (407-939-1800) for accurate availability if your dates are within the next 3 months. You might find that there are options for dates that look sold out, or that some voyages that appear available are actually gone.
If you’re already looking ahead to doing Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser in Fall 2023, it’s likely those won’t go on sale until sometime in early 2023. As you can see from the availability calendar above, there’s really no rush to make reservations even once they are available.
The “new ship smell” has already worn off the Halcyon, so dates selling out quickly is unlikely to be an issue going forward. If anything, you might benefit by waiting. Walt Disney World is likely going to need to offer discounts sooner rather than later on Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.
Disney recently has been conducting paid research on guest “perceptions, observations, and attitudes” towards stays on the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser” at Walt Disney World. It’s possible this is either routine feedback or there’s a greater sense of urgency and importance if the company needs to make adjustments to increase bookings.
With only 100 rooms to fill, it is likely concerning to the company that many peak dates this holiday season–and absolutely nothing in 2023–have not yet sold out. It’ll be interesting to follow the availability situation to see how quickly changes are made, or whether discounts are offered.
Even if voyages don’t sell out, it wouldn’t surprise us to see Walt Disney World not offer discounts for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser until mid-2023.
Releasing special offers within a year of the debut date doesn’t send a good message to investors and company analysts about the success of this costly investment. Disney may also want to maintain the appearance of a premium product–with commensurate pricing–to consumers. Discounting sets a precedent, and one that’s difficult to undo.
When you do call to make your reservation, have all contact information (names, ages, etc.) for everyone in your party ready as well as your Disney account email address (if you somehow don’t have one, make it before calling). Also be prepared for lengthy hold times and being transferred a couple of times. Wait times are sometimes multiple hours; on busy days, the call queue closes completely.
While we’ve found the reps booking Galactic Starcruiser to be knowledgeable and experienced, they’re also very “careful” with information. For example, they won’t simply tell you which dates are cheapest or offer pricing info certain suites–you have to provide specific dates and info, and then they’ll give you a quote for those dates–and only those dates. It can be a bit tedious.
If you don’t want to hassle with it yourself, we highly recommend requesting a free/no obligation quote from an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and having them deal with the headaches so you don’t have to. That travel agency, and presumably most others, have dedicated planners that are already experienced in booking Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser who will be happy to assist you with the process, help you choose the most economical dates, best add-ons, and so forth.
Just keep in mind that options, especially the Galaxy Class Suite, Grand Captain Suite, and Captain’s Table, are limited and might not match the calendar above. In the last few months, availability has fluctuated wildly. Using an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner is definitely the way to go when booking Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser–it’s easier and they can monitor for availability and deal with calling in to manage the reservation since nothing can be done online (and there are always wait times on the phone).
We’ve completed our first voyage on Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, paying full price for the expensive experience. (Well, we shared the room with 2 other adults, so technically we paid half price–but the point is that there was no discount!) We’ll have comprehensive reviews and coverage of the actual experience for paying guests in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.
With that update out of the way, here’s everything else we know about Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort…
Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser Experience Details
Prior to their departure, guests preparing for their voyages aboard the Halcyon are encouraged to purchase Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser costumes sold exclusively on shopDisney.com. Options range from $70 to $150 for adults and $60 to $100 for kids. Each seemingly serves a different purpose, so I guess you’ll “need” to buy multiple wardrobe changes to avoid any intergalactic faux pas or style mistakes.
ShopDisney’s merchandise is available for purchase exclusively by guests with a qualifying Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser reservation. Eligible guests are eligible to buy these outfits on shopDisney.com up to 60 days prior to their Galactic Starcruiser reservation check-in date and up to 30 days after their check-out date. In order to complete the transaction, the email address used to sign into shopDisney must also be linked to your Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser reservation.
Following that and all other pre-departure preparations, the actual adventure begins when guests arrive at the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Terminal at Walt Disney World and check in for their two-night experience. Guests then enter a Launch Pod for transport into space. Through windows, they’ll see themselves leave Florida behind, jumping into hyperspace and drawing closer to the Halcyon, which is the starcruiser they’ll call home for the next two nights.
When the Launch Pod docks with the Halcyon and the airlock opens, guests step into the ship’s main deck Atrium to begin their journey through a galaxy far, far away. A visit aboard the Halcyon becomes a multi-day story that interweaves with members of the crew, other passengers, familiar Star Wars characters, and an excursion to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
While staying aboard the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser, guests interact with an eclectic group of characters both familiar and new. This includes the Halcyon’s strong and charismatic captain, a plucky ship’s mechanic, and a galactic superstar who can captivate an entire room with the crook of one jewel-encrusted purple Twi’lek finger.
This singing sensation is a featured performer during one of the dining experiences inside the Crown of Corellia Dining Room. The enticing supper club’s name is an homage to Corellia, the planet known galaxy-wide for its shipyards that gave us not only the Halcyon starcruiser, but also the Millennium Falcon. The dining room is a bright and welcoming hall that serves breakfast and lunch to passengers before transitioning each evening into a lavish multi-course menu of both otherworldly and familiar origins.
During their all-immersive experience aboard the Halcyon, guests are invited to delve deeper into their personal adventures by participating in onboard activities, interacting with characters, crew, other passengers they meet, and becoming part of the action.
Some of these activities include wielding a lightsaber and facing off against a training remote, visiting the starcruiser’s Bridge to learn about ship systems and how to operate them, and operating the starcruiser’s navigation and defense systems–skills that come in handy during a journey through this adventure-filled galaxy.
Guests are able to explore the Halcyon and discover hidden spaces deep in the mechanics of the ship–like the Engineering Room, which is perfect for uncovering secrets or holding secret meetings. Another interesting spot is the Sublight Lounge, where guests of all ages can enjoy libations and games in a stylish setting.
On the outside, the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort looks like an industrial bunker, and not an actual starship. When you enter the hotel, you’ll only be seeing the terminal and Launch Pod, not the Halcyon itself. Any representations of the Halcyon from inside the hotel are simulated. The exterior of the hotel and surrounding area is incredibly unimpressive and industrial.
Additionally, there are very few guest rooms in the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort–only 100 rooms total. That should make for an intimate (and in-demand) experience as compared to other resorts at Walt Disney World, many of which have well over 1,000 rooms.
The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort is physically located backstage behind Disney’s Hollywood Studios near Cast Member parking and the show buildings for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. However, every window in the Halcyon, including those in each guest cabin, has a view into outer space, with ever-changing vistas as the ship progresses from place to place.
Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort is not open for the general public to visit. This is unlike any other hotel at Walt Disney World, and even the DCL comparison doesn’t do it full justice. A docked ship that would have amenities and facilities that overlap with a standard hotel, but this won’t have things like a pool, spa, tennis courts, or literally any outdoor recreation options.
The Galactic Starcruiser is more like a long-form, multi-part attraction or on-board cruise excursion. Think of it along those lines–it’s an immersive experience…that’s so long it offers a place to sleep, too.
To give you an idea of what to expect, here’s a sample itinerary for Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser:
With some basics about the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort out of the way, let’s cover other questions about the Star Wars hotel that we’ve been receiving from readers…
What’s Included
Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser vacation packages include:
- 2-night stay in a cabin or suite
- Ongoing, immersive and interactive entertainment, where choices determine your experience
- Food and beverages on the starcruiser (excluding alcoholic and specialty beverages) and a quick-service meal at Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo or other select locations at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios for your planetary excursion to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
- Valet parking
- Exclusive Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser MagicBand
Pricing
Walt Disney World has released sample pricing for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort. Above is a look at rates for departures on weeknights in the fall off-season.
A few things to note here. First, this is the off-season at Walt Disney World and it’s when rack rates at all hotels are at their lowest levels of the year. For example, Grand Floridian rooms start at $742 per night for those same dates but jump to over $850 per night for many dates in October.
Suffice to say, pricing for weekends or more popular travel dates could end up being considerably more expensive. With that said, we’re honestly surprised by how “low” the prices are for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.
Obviously, this experience is not cheap. To the contrary, it is very, very expensive. Total voyage costs of ~$5,000 to $6,000 for off-season weekdays is a ton of money and suggests peak dates are thousands of dollars more expensive.
However, that’s still less money than we anticipated (a prior version of this post predicted costs of around $3,000 per person). Some dates could end up being on the more expensive end of that spectrum, but the starting prices–and costs for families of 4 are a pleasant surprise. Again, it’s still an exorbitant sum of money…just less exorbitant than the outrageous numbers we were bracing ourselves for.
We’re sure many–if not most–of you will disagree with this. Perhaps it’s all about expectations. We expected this to be astronomically priced given what the experience entails, its all-inclusive nature, and how Disney prices both its luxury resorts and cruises. Others might’ve had different expectations than us. No matter how you slice this, it’s expensive. But it could’ve been worse.
Another thing to consider here is that the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort is essentially an all-inclusive boutique hotel plus an interactive live entertainment experience. It’s labor intensive but does not have many rooms, meaning that the price-points here are high.
Scarcity is also a huge factor. Some have derided this as a hotel or experience for the top 1%, but that’s actually not accurate. On any given day, less than .01% of the guests at Walt Disney World will be staying at Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort. This isn’t to say it’ll only appeal to the wealthy…just that an infinitesimally small number of Walt Disney World’s overall guest population will be staying here.
There are a lot of diehard Star Wars and Disney fans with large amounts of disposable income. Look no further than the prices Savi’s Workshop for Handbuilt Lightsabers is able to charge for that experience due to its incredibly limited capacity. This resort is similar to that, but with a more elaborate and involved experience.
Reservations & How to Book?
Reservations for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort can be booked by calling (407) 939-1800 to confirm availability and book your voyage. Again, reservations cannot be made online. The only way to bypass long wait times on the phone is by contacting an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and having them reserve your vacation package for you–that’ll save you time and work, as they’ll do your planning.
If the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort is something that interests you, we’d highly recommend booking it sooner rather than later. This is for a couple of reasons. First, prices are likely to go up–Disney rarely decreases prices. The ‘sample pricing’ graphic you see below is likely the cheapest Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser will ever be.
Second, this is an ambitious and envelope-pushing idea, and is currently in a state of ‘pure & pristine’ Imagineering. Over time, compromises and changes are likely to be made in service of operational realities, changing demographics, and guest feedback.
Third, if for some reason this concept does not work and Disney is “forced” to decrease prices to attract more guests…more of the aforementioned compromises will be made to preserve the company’s margins on the Galactic Starcruiser. Cuts will be made to entertainment or dining (charging extra for food & beverage is an obvious way to cut the up-front price while increasing overall revenue).
This is all speculation on my part. However, this is a truly unprecedented project for Walt Disney World, and iteration is likely to continue based upon guest feedback and behavior patterns. This will likely begin as a thematically ambitious experience with structured live action roleplaying plus minimal real world intrusions. It’ll likely be aimed at the hardcore Star Wars fans who want something incredibly immersive and all-encompassing. And that’s largely who it’ll attract at first–Star Wars zealots and other hardcore fans who save or splurge on this.
What the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort evolves into depends in large part upon both the effectiveness of Disney’s messaging and potential guests actually listening to marketing. Walt Disney World is already stressing that this is not a typical hotel stay, but that doesn’t mean people will hear or comprehend that.
Ultimately, it’s possible that Imagineering will fine-tune the offerings aboard the starship Halcyon, and it’ll age like a fine wine. This could mean new storylines, seasonal events, added characters, and who knows what else. We were surprised to find the experience firing on all cylinders during the inaugural voyage, and were surprised by how well it appealed to guests of all ages and even mainstream audiences. There’s a lot of potential here.
With that said, it’s also possible that the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort experience will be diluted after its first year or so (this is what we predicted prior to opening). The primary demographic could shift from hardcore fans making a big splurge to affluent guests wanting their first visit to Walt Disney World to consist of the very best of everything–basically, rich parents with kids who enjoy Star Wars. The latter group is far less interested in thematic and storytelling integrity, and more so in exclusivity and luxurious experiences. Over time, Imagineering will iterate on the concept so it comports with guest feedback and expectations.
Still have unanswered questions about the attraction? Read our Ride Guide & FAQ for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, which covers everything you need to know. If you’re planning on visiting the new land, you’ll also want to read our Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Guide. It’s a good primer for this huge addition. As for planning the rest of your trip, we have a thorough Walt Disney World Planning Guide.
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think about the addition of a boutique Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort to Walt Disney World? Will you be booking this? If not, what’s your maximum per person price-point for this experience? Would you prefer a more conventional hotel stay at a Star Wars-themed or decorated hotel? Do you agree or disagree with our advice and assessments? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Imagine that! An exclusive hotel built for just the 1% who are filthy rich. Mr Disney, are you looking down at management and ready to throw lighting bolts?
Didn’t Walt open Club 33, an exclusive add-on for rich guests?
I agree with the perspective that a vacation cruiser seems more logical in the Star Trek world than the Star Wars universe. Even so, I would love to be able to experience this resort with my younger brother, who was an action-figure collecting, Star Wars Trivial Pursuit winning, kid who cried at the sight of that TV exploding into a full-screen battle sequence advertising the re-release of Episode IV. Star Wars offered major bonding experiences for us, as I was in college in NYC and was able to take him to each of the Special Editions on opening day, at the Ziegfeld Theatre. The cost of the Halcyon is, for me, just…irresponsible. I have two kids that will start college in the next 10-years, and the cost of even our typical, semi-annual/triennial family trips to WDW is increasingly harder to justify. This does prompt me to raise a question that has increasingly piqued my curiosity of late: what is the median demographic of the frequent WDW guest? I’ve seen an increasing number of comments on the 2-3 Disney blogs I frequent that indicate that a large number of “super fans” are working from significantly larger than average bank accounts. Another blog I follow has enthusiastically recommended Adventures by Disney experinces in Japan and China as “must do,” without any mention of the land-only prices starting at $15,000 per head. Tom, I wonder whether you have insights, factual or anecdotal.
It’s really hard to say what the “average” demographic is for anything Disney.
I tend to believe that the degree to which Disney targets the truly affluent (top 2% or above) is overstated or assumed. The truly wealthy probably aren’t impressing their country club friends by boasting of trips to Walt Disney World or even Adventures by Disney.
My belief/suspicion is that there’s a surplus of passionate fans who spend disproportionate amounts of their income on all things Disney. Then there are more casual visitors and “rite of passage” vacation guests will save and/or go into debt because they don’t want to miss out on anything that could make or break their trip.
Thanks for the response, Tom. I certainly understand the pull to spend more on Disney trips. It’s a good point that many big spenders are likely splurging on the rite of passage” trip. I’ve spoken with acquaintances who have spent shocking amounts of money on what I consider to be poorly planned trips. Most of them were upset about their experiences and couldn’t understand why the parks were so crowded on December 26th! 🙂
@Tom Bricker I can only give this anecdote: My father USED TO be a part of the 1 percent as a partner of Goldman Sachs. And, you’re right: There’s no way in hell I can imagine my dad talking to his country club buddies that he spent all this money to take his family to a Star Wars hotel/experience. He’d probably be embarrassed. So, I just don’t see a bunch of rich people who can easily spend 1k a night booking stays at this hotel. I really don’t. Sure some will, but I think the 100 rooms will be filled mostly by people like me who are diehard Star Wars fans that are 1) NOT rich and either 2a) saved up a lot of money or 2b) got lucky with an investment (I sold bitcoin for an 81k profit last month) so if I used less than 10 percent of that during my 2 night stay, so be it.
This , on its face, is truly ridiculous. It is NOT like a cruise ship. On a cruise ship, I can smell the ocean, breath fresh air, and walk outside on deck. This is being locked in a hotel for two days and two nights with people who believe they are flying in space when they are literally locked in a hidden bunker. What if some have the Norovirus? This is as childish as it gets. Gee, Let me pay $3000.00 per family member to go on an indoor vacation playing make believe. Grow up people. This is definitely going to FAIL once all the 1970’s Star Wars fanatics go to that real final voyage to the sky. Today’s young people could care less about this. You will see.
I’m not even a huge Star Wars fan and wasn’t alive in the 70’s, and I’m excited about this. And is the Norovirus a joke? This would be way safer than a cruise in regards to how quickly a disease can spread.
You must be so much fun on vacations!
Huge Star Wars fan but…. this doesn’t interest me at all. I don’t like the idea of being stuck inside for 2 days…. I need fresh air and pools/hot tubs to feel like I’m on vacation!
I doubt you’ll truly be stuck inside for 2 days–aside from the planned “excursions” to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (likely after normal operating hours), I’d imagine guests will be able to visit the theme parks freely via shuttle. (And if that’s not initially the case or the current plan, I’m guessing it’ll quickly change.)
Nevertheless, the lack of some standard hotel amenities is a curious decision, and I wonder how that’ll ultimately play with mainstream guests.
Right but at 3000 a day per person I am assuming you wouldn’t be spending the days at the parks. After hours at galaxies edge would certainly be amazing though. I’m very curious to see how this plays out…. time will tell!
I’m guessing you’re right about visiting GE “after hours” and will be interested to see if they somehow plus-up that visit, too.
I won’t be staying at this hotel/experience, but will be interested to see how it all works out. And later to see how Disney copes with this during the next recession.
*swoon* Doesn’t matter the cost. We’ll be first in line.
I am a Star Wars fan but I think the price is way to high per person. No offense but I think Disney has gone over board with raising prices on everything. It reminds me of in the Jurassic Park movie when the Lawyer says we can have a coupon day. It’s almost like you telling people this is our price, people will pay whatever we charge. It’s a shame.
I take it that you’re a member of the 1% club.
I am definitely going to go even if that completely made up price-point is correct, and I am not in the 1% – I am just a young single employed person who has decent money management skills.
No, you won’t.
Sounds amazing! I also love the forward-thinking view. Walt was a futurist.
In a way Universal scooped them in that with Harry Potter, so it sounds like they’re trying to assert dominance again and that kind of competition is good for us! Even if it were half as much as what you speculate here, it’s not my demographic but, maybe someday…
Any idea of food included? I am sure it will be available and am guessing it will be on top of the main price or do you think it might be included like DCL?
Disney has a Star Wars problem. They treated Star Wars like Marvel. These two franchises were supposed to offset the princess problem. Marvel and Star Wars were supposed to bring in boys. Yet, Disney is turning both into princess franchises.
The difference between Star Wars and Marvel is the number of characters. Marvel has over 700 characters. Star Wars has less than 10 characters. Star Wars is a universe. Marvel is a set of characters. By treating Star Wars characters like Marvel, they end the magic of Star Wars.
The Mandalorian is changing Star Wars for Disney because they are creating a character within the universe. Star Wars was great because of the potential within the universe. Marvel is a bunch of characters that can be interchanged.
I’m confused. Both franchises have hundreds of characters. Why would you say Star Wars has less than 10? I also don’t understand the idea that they are turning them into princess stories. First, strong female leads do not make something a princess story. Second, as a woman, I can say with confidence that not all girls are interested in princesses. Building worlds that include incredibly powerful female superheroes, top pilots, and brave Jedi makes perfect sense. As the mother of two boys, I also appreciate that they are exposed to all kinds of women – whether it is a princess in a dress standing up to a curmudgeonly beast or a skilled bounty hunter who takes an orphaned boy under her wing. Disney already had characters that appealed to boys although I wholeheartedly agree they have never done well bringing them out in the parks. Now they are bringing Marvel and Star Wars to life, of interest to both boys and girls. I know there are some people who don’t like that Disney now owns two historically male dominated, action-adventure franchises. Fine, but make a better argument than “they are turning them into princess stories”. That is insulting, cheap, and draconian.
Haha, KJ, you don’t know a damn thing about Star Wars. Star Wars has hundreds of characters, not 10.
Also, you don’t know anything about Marvel either. The films are literally part of a universe: The Marvel Cinematic Universe!!!!
And, Disney is not turning either or both of them into “princess franchises.”
This is not something that at all interests me since I’m in no way a Star Wars fan, however, it does spark my curiosity as to how it all plays out. You didn’t say in your review, but will you be booking a room?? Are people allowed to leave the hotel during this two day stay? Would that ruin the experience? It also just strikes me as a dark environment, and with no windows or the light of day since that would ruin the experience, I think it sounds super claustrophobic!
This will be like a cruise ship. You can’t come and go on a cruise ship until you’re docked, and you won’t, unless it’s an emergency, leave the Star Cruiser unless it’s docked and in both scenarios, you’re limited to the offering while docked.
I highly doubt that it will be like a cruise ship in they you can only leave when it is docked. Let’s get the obvious out of the way here: a cruise ship is in the middle of an ocean. This Star Wars hotel is in the middle of Disney property in Orlando Florida. If they are worried about breaking immersion, simply Have the guest take one of the “escape pods” to make it look like you are leaving the ship. They aren’t going to charge people $3000 to be stuck in their hotel when they could be at the other Disney parks spending money. If you are in your hotel room, you probably aren’t spending money.
Incredibly not interested in this at all…2 days indoors with loads of people; no thanks!
100 people is not an example of a load of people.
I’m curious about the logistics of the Hotel stayv: does the trip to Batuu guarantee a FastPass/ride on the two Galaxy’s Edge rides? Also, will the trip to Batuu include time spent in Hollywood Studios, or just at Galaxy’s Edge? Will guests want to spend two whole days exploring the ship, rather than exploring the parks? I think this hotel experience will challenge our normal ideas about amusement park vacations.
I don’t know if I’ve read this before or made it up in my head, but I thought I read that trips to Batuu will happen after park closing, for similar reasons Tom listed about non cruisers being allowed access to the Star Cruiser. I could be wrong, but that’d make the most sense. And with only 200-300 guests, it wouldn’t take too long to cycle everyone through the rides.
Although there will undoubtedly be lots of people complaining about the price, there will also undoubtedly be lots of people signing up to take this “voyage”. At some point, I’d like to be one of them (taking the voyage).
“The primary demographic will shift…” This dichotomy interests me. I saw it in Oga’s when I took my young son there. It was cute, but definitely an odd mix of adults wanting to enjoy the bar vibe, and us. (we shared a table with three other adult parties) I’ll be interested in getting reservations, but am considering that it may in fact be a better fit for us to wait a bit. I wonder if they’ll cater the experiences to various types of clientele demographics.
While I would love to participate in a total immersion experience with my family, the price is too much for us. I can’t justify spending that much money for a 2 day experience. At that price we could visit Hawaii for a week. For those who feel It’s worth it….”May The Force Be With You “.
I actually expect Disney to underprice this according to demand. Charging the market rate would look greedy than charging a rate a little lower and being booked solid for months on end (and as expensive as these rooms are, 100 rooms isn’t worth the bad PR that a market-bearing price would generate for what will be such a sought-after experience). Just a hunch.
You raise a good point…but I still don’t think that’s how it’ll play out.
DCL has some pretty astronomical price points, and it doesn’t face bad PR as a result (to the contrary, it’s regularly-awarded). That’s a more mainstream product like this, too. Then there are things like those $12,000 VIP tours or the $15,000 21 Royal dining experience at Disneyland, which would face similar issues in terms of revenue generated v. potential PR headaches.
Regardless of what the cost ends up being, there are going to be reviews about it that highlight price right in the title simply because it’ll shock some people no matter what it is. (The same could be said of pretty much any Walt Disney World hotel, honestly.)
Well said, I totally agree.
All you have to do is look at the fiasco that is the Polynesian bungalows. Lagoon view was ruined and the rack rates are astronomical…yet every time we visit Poly, I see guest towels out drying (meaning the rooms are occupied).
Don’t underestimate the ridiculous prices people are willing to pay to get exclusive, luxury Disney experiences. I mean…Club 33 anyone?
And not just one Club 33 at WDW.
I’ve been trying to figure out why the Star Wars immersive hotel seemed odd. It just hit me. I don’t think of ‘life on an intergalactic cruiser’ as a Star Wars thing. Star Trek, yes. Star Wars, no. Star Wars is more about the different lands/planets.
Yes! I couldn’t place my thoughts until I read this. Every experience of onboard ship activity that came to mind I had to dismiss as being Star Trek.
This is a great point, Jill. The only positive “on ship” life experience that comes to mind are Luke training with the light saber while the droids play Dejarik with Chewy on the Millenium Falcon. Pretty much every other ship-based experience involves perpetrating or escaping acts of war.
Cruise ships have been a thing in non-film Star Wars media for a very long time. There’s even an entire novel that takes place on a cruise ship. I really dislike the “Star Wars has to look and feel a certain way” mentality, because that’s how a franchise gets stagnant and dies out.
$12k for a family of four. Lmao. What an absolute joke.
The writer made the prices up and is pretty clear about that
Tom,
You’ll have to let me know how the experience was after you complete your journey. I don’t think my DVC points will even get me close to the door. For what might cost me say, $6000, I can spend less than that for 4-5 weekends vintage racing my Boss 302 at Road America in Elkhart Lake WI. You get pretty immersed in that experience as well. I’ll be riding the new railroad on 3-4, and perhaps run into you.
A wise man once said, “Once you start doing only what you’ve already proven you can do, you’re on the road to death.”
So, kudos to Disney for being ambitious.
On the other hand, I’m not the target market for this (could never afford it). Even if I could I don’t know how much it appeals to me. My fondest Disney memories are things like my son fashioning a make shift cape from a blanket and throwing his arms in the air thinking he could get the hotel’s pool water to move on the way back from Fantasmic!. Stuff where no technology is required, I didn’t expect it to happen, and most of the time it was a free experience that was a byproduct of just being on a Disney vacation.
Being “immersed” with screens simulating space in a hotel for a couple days just doesn’t sound that excellent to me.
But again, maybe its just me being a hater because I could never afford it anyways.
“So, kudos to Disney for being ambitious.”
Totally. I don’t think a lot of people realize just how ambitious and risky this resort is.
Imagineering has invested years and millions of dollars on R&D for this. While it’s going to be incredibly expensive, it’s also something of a gamble–who knows what kind of market there is for such an involved experience after the initial wave of super fans subsides.
Disney could’ve easily just re-modeled unpopular hotel rooms at Caribbean Beach (or something like that) into Star Wars decorated rooms. I’m glad to see they went this route instead.
“Disney could’ve easily just re-modeled unpopular hotel rooms at Caribbean Beach”
That’s too funny and too true. Remodel the pirate rooms and double the cost…it’s not too late!
My mind immediately begins to consider whether they would be Darth Vader rooms or Luke Skywalker rooms.
Or maybe Chewbacca rooms, which would definitely need to have carpet instead of tile floors, come to think of it, shag carpet!
It’s true that the experience will almost certainly evolve from its pristine state. I’m not sure, though, that any evolution will be for the worse in guest satisfaction, or even that the judgment on that will be completely driven by fan demographic.
We took a cruise that had Star Wars Day at Sea the first year it debuted, then the same week two years later. The evolution in offerings was striking, and much for the better. The first year the highlights were basically meet-and-greets, with little in the way of themed activities other than some show and the fireworks. Most of it wasn’t more significant than you could get spending the day at Hollywood Studios, and it was a fun add-on but not something transformative. Two years later, the meet and greets were gone but they had been replaced by a host of on-point themed activities that really made the day feel fun and unique.
I’m sure that Disney will be bringing the experience of that evolution in the cruise offering to opening day at the Halcyon Hotel. But looking at what happened with the cruises, I think it would be a mistake to assume that Imagineering’s first take is sure to be the best guest experience.
“I’m not sure, though, that any evolution will be for the worse in guest satisfaction, or even that the judgment on that will be completely driven by fan demographic.”
To the contrary, I think whatever changes are made will be in service of improved mainstream guest satisfaction.
As I see it, the problem is between guest expectations of those who have the normal budget for such a resort stay and those who have the interest in this experience (as created) but not the budget. What splurging Star Wars diehards want and what rich guests want are likely two very different things. How that tension is resolved will be interesting. This is a product that will naturally appeal to two very different guest demographics.
With that said, I’d also expect this to be iterated on in some ways that are unequivocally positive and others that are simple budget cuts.
I am sooo excited. No idea how to pay for it. And I worry that you are right and we have to go early or the experience will be diluted. Hopefully, with only 100 rooms, there will be staying power for long enough for me to save up for it!!!