Star Wars Resort Coming to Disney World?
In a rumor that should be filed under “it makes perfect sense,” Walt Disney World is currently surveying guests about their level of interest in a Star Wars hotel that would be built near Disney’s Hollywood Studios, offering an immersive experience and exclusive access to Star Wars Land.
WDWNT.com broke this rumor and has the full details (and concept art). Per the rumor, the Star Wars “Starship” resort experience at Walt Disney World would entail guests being immersed in a 2-day story set in the the Star Wars universe and taking place both at their resort and within Star Wars Land. Over the course of their 2-night stay, guests would have personalized interactions with Star Wars characters and performers throughout the Starship resort, have an all-inclusive Star Wars meal experience, and engage in story ‘quests’ and missions throughout the Star Wars Starship Resort and Star Wars Land.
It is worth noting at this point that the Star Wars Starship Resort is very much a rumor. Disney surveys guests about a multitude of things that never come to fruition. In fact, most rumors that are derived from survey questions do not happen. However, there have been rumblings about a Star Wars resort since Star Wars Land was announced, and building it seems like a no-brainer. Then again, I predicted Disneyland Resort would purchase the property behind Cars Land and build a Wheel Well Motel with similar “no brainer” justification 4 years ago, so what do I know?
I cannot speak to the veracity of these specific rumors, but I think this is very likely to happen. Even at the rumored all-inclusive price point of $1,000 per person (for what it’s worth, I’d take that number with a grain of salt), the response to this rumor has basically been a loud chorus of “TAKE MY MONEY, DISNEY.” Whereas other recent rumors of expensive upcharges have been met with negative reactions among fans, the response to this is notably different.
Among all guests to Walt Disney World, fans like us are the most difficult to please. If even we are clamoring for this, I have little doubt that the general public will eat it up. Moreover, as a boutique resort focused on the experience, it stands to reason that this would be a modestly-sized resort, meaning that it wouldn’t take much demand to fill the resort, even at higher prices.
If a Star Wars resort hotel project goes forward, it will be interesting to see whether it ends up taking the rumored “immersive experience” form. This sounds a lot like a live action role playing game, something Disneyland previously tested (to a totally different extent) with Legends of Frontierland.
Given what was discussed recently about Star Wars Land at Star Wars Celebration, this makes sense and sounds plausible. Serious Star Wars fandom has gone incredibly mainstream (just read some reports about Star Wars Celebration), and there’s undoubtedly a market for an immersive experience like this.
On the other hand, it’s still something of a gamble that seems at odds with the commando touring style many Walt Disney World visitors embrace on vacation. Building a Star Wars hotel that has themed rooms and common areas (think Art of Animation, but Star Wars) seems like a lot safer of a bet for Disney. It’d probably have higher profit margins, too.
To that end, if Disney goes through with the Star Wars Starship Resort as an immersive, storytelling boutique hotel, that is a bold and laudable move. It’s the kind of envelope-pushing experience for which Disney was once known (and seems to be returning to). Even though it seems pretty low risk given the demand for anything Star Wars, it’s certainly higher risk than just building a tower of family suites, throwing some Ewok-fur comforters on the beds, a BB-8 lamp, and calling it a day.
The one thing that surprises me, and causes me a bit of hesitation here, is more is not already known about this (potential) Star Wars Starship Resort. If it’s only at the survey stage of development, it has not yet been greenlit, and has a ways to go in the development cycle before construction would begin. This means that it’s unlikely the resort would open simultaneous to Star Wars Land.
There are two potential explanations for this. First, that the concept itself has already been greenlit, and the survey is only to hone the details and for Disney to get a feel for the pricing they could charge for such an experience. Second, it’s being deliberately built after Star Wars Land, with the goal of working out whatever hiccups Star Wars Land might have upon opening, and giving serious Star Wars fans a reason to visit again after the opening surge for the land. (Not that they will need a reason to visit again and again.)
Another possibility is that the gondola system connecting Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and several resorts moving forward was a necessary precursor to this resort being viable from an infrastructure perspective. As we’ve been reporting, we anticipate another hotel construction boom at Walt Disney World, and that gondola project is critical to facilitating more hotel growth. Without the gondolas, bus and roadway infrastructure would be insufficient.
Irrespective of the details, I would put money on a Star Wars resort being built at Walt Disney World. Star Wars is one of the most lucrative franchises on the planet, and Star Wars fandom is currently enjoying an unprecedented level of mainstream popularity (even for it…and it’s always been pretty popular). I think a better question is probably whether the final project takes the form of an ‘interactive’ resort like this, or if it ends up being a regular resort hotel, just themed to Star Wars. In any case, it’s an interesting rumor, and one we’ll be following closely. This is the type of announcement we’d expect at the D23 Expo this summer; we’ll see if additional info leaks out before then.
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think about the potential addition of a boutique Star Wars Starship Resort to Walt Disney World? Does this make you want to yell “TAKE MY MONEY!!1!” to Disney, or would it not appeal to you at the rumored price point? Would you prefer an immersive 2-day experience like the one rumored, or would you prefer a more conventional hotel stay? Let’s hear some of your thoughts about this news in the comments below!
Disney, take my money!!! We would absolutely be up for this. What a brilliant idea!
If i’m honest, i’m really not that bothered if they do or don’t build this – i’m just here for your writing. I >LOVE< the way you write! I've got my first WDW trip this coming September and i've been on a rampage reading, studying and laughing along to many of your posts. I think i have about 50 in my 'favourites' folder waiting to be read.
Thankyou for writing such well thought-out pieces. Do you write for anyone other than yourself?
Love from the UK.
Thanks for the kind words. I only write here and on travelcaffeine.com. Writing for myself more than occupies my time! 🙂
holy moly how did I not know this? There’s an entire Bricker archive over at travel caffeine stretching back to 2013? It’s like binge-watching the Sopranos years after it ended! Ah, the delights of living vicariously,..
I would absolutely take my family and stay at a Star Wars themed hotel. I really hope they build it.
I’d rather they revisit the idea of a new resort for the monorail route. Although I do think a resort near Hollywood Studios is a good idea.
This makes me say take my money!! If only our two year old wouldn’t scream this is crazy every time we try to watch Star Wars.
I love the idea but a little expensive. I can go on a cruise
All for it – just as long as I get my morning cup of Blue Milk.
Um,,,, I guess I’m not excited about this at all. Isn’t the new Star Wars land supposed to be inclusive and exclusive, like HP in Universal? Isn’t all this supposed to be included in the admission price? If this new SW land is anything as immersive as WWOHP, it will be great. So, why then, should there be more? I know that young families with young SW crazy kids would love this immersive experience, but I feel that it is another money making scheme to bring in more and more SW cash, IMO only – no flaming please. It seems like a trend to build on attractions with exclusive, expensive “experiences”, which used to be a part of your regular park ticket. That’s all. Just my 2 cents worth.
For many Star Wars fans, I think there’s an insatiable desire to always have more Star Wars. So adding a layer on top of what most average guests will deem sufficiently immersive, to me at least, makes sense.
Beyond that, there’s the issue of capacity. If this is anything like a normal LARPG, the capacity would be incredibly low, making it impossible to accommodate the number of guests Star Wars Land (on the whole) will see in a given day. I suspect that, in large part, normal guests won’t be aware of the additional experience hotel guests are having.
Based on what I’ve read, it sounds like this would be more akin to Wild Africa Trek in Animal Kingdom (if that included a hotel component) than the immersive experience at Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It’s also worth noting that even WWoHP has those pricey wands that activate part of the experience. If you don’t buy a wand, you don’t get that experience. 🙂
The wands part may be true, but they don’t have a separate HP themed hotel with special experiences, etc, etc. So, comparing wands to hotels, I guess???:):)
I don’t think anyone can beat WWOHP at this point in time, but Disney can’t be beat with their massive following, which I am definitely one:) It just seems like there is a new upcharge, special event coming up every other week, and of some things that were always free before to everyone. That’s all…I still love going to WDW and always will, unless they continue their money grabs!
Disney resorts run at a high occupancy rate so the demand is certainly there. That being said this is either going to be a small boutique hotel with high prices or it’s going to be an offshoot near an existing Hotel. I’m guessing with the large demand for on property hotel rooms this will not be a small hotel but will be possibly on the scale of a moderate Hotel with Deluxe prices to cover all the costs of the extra entertainment.
New construction costs are always very high so I am guessing that Disney will not be able to deliver the experience that people are already creating in their mind at a price that is affordable. If you consider the extra cost involved in staying at the Art of Animation Resort for value resort level amenities I think this is the type of Star Wars hotel that will actually wind up being built.
The people that are just saying that they would pay $1,000 for this experience without it being actually fleshed-out might be surprised at what will wind up being built, especially when it doesn’t meet their lofty expectations.
The trend at Disney is to turn as many things as possible into some sort of an upcharge. I can see having a basic
Star Wars decorated resort with up charge experiences like themed dining, character experiences and specialized wings with interactive rooms.
We shall see what the future brings.
If you asked me what I expected from a Star Wars hotel at Walt Disney World a few days ago, I would’ve responded with something like Art of Animation (and something nearly that size). I’m surprised by the boutique nature, and am still not totally sold on that being what we’ll be getting–especially at the rumored prices.
Blue sky concepts are almost always more ambitious than what’s actually built, so I think your ‘we shall see’ approach is probably right. Either it’s going to cost more than rumored, or isn’t going to encompass everything rumored.
“Good value” and “Star Wars hotel” are not concepts I see going hand-in-hand.
So I’ll play the skeptic. If its so immersive, with lots of things to do and see – and all of your meals included – and only 2 nights – would you leave? Yes, maybe star wars land – but it really is being built as a cruise ship on land, where everything is provided for you and the experience makes you stay. If I don’t account for cost – I would say you would stay for 2 nights then move to another resort (that is if they only allow you to stay 2 nights). In other words – would you even see the rest of WDW if this is so immersive?
I love this idea, and I would totally pay $1,000 for an experience like that! However, what I think would be really awesome would be a highly-themed hotel that is sometimes just a themed hotel and sometimes used for immersive experiences, or perhaps instead of a “club level,” have an “immersive experience” level, so that guests can still enjoy the Star Wars hotel without having to pay the higher price for the immersive experience. Of course, I don’t know if either of my ideas would work out on a practical level, but I’ve actually been expecting to find out that Disney plans to add a Star Wars hotel… As i believe you already said, it seems like a no-brainer. I’m excited to find out if any part of this rumor is true!
Having the Star Wars option would make Disneyworld worth the expense to visit! Go Chubacca!
Take my money! My son and husband are totally SW obsessed, and considering we just paid the upcharge for the 7-hour Star Wars tour at Hollywood Studios when we visit in June, I know they’d find a way to justify a whole 2-day experience. Not that I would object, it just would end up being super expensive for a largish family.
I read the WDWNT article, saw the concept art and this really does sound amazing! They had me at “robotic droid butlers.” Yes, Disney, please continue to take my money, lol!
I’d love a hotel by Hollywood. I love the hotel area between Epcot and Hollywood since the Star Wars attractions plus the World Showcase being 2 of my favorite things at Disney. I worry an immersive experience would be directed towards little kids.
shut up and take my money! while that is a hefty price point, if it’s all inclusive, it doesn’t seem that bad. especially if it’s only two nights and you can move to a cheaper hotel for the rest of the trip if you want to stay longer.
That price point is enough to make me say “tempting… but I’ll pass”. and for my wife to say “no way”. But I can see how it would be appealing to some. It’s not priced terribly far off of a short Disney Cruise (list price those run ~$1200pp for a 3-night cruise in the summer) and they don’t seem to be hurting selling cruises. This could potentially offer at least that level of service with even better entertainment and immersion.
I’ve seen some people speculating that this might not be a new resort (as in constructing a new resort), but rather a retro-fit of an existing resort or hotel. What would you say to that speculation?
If this happens, I think there’s a 90%+ chance it’ll be a new resort.
The *ONLY* way it’ll be a retrofit would be if Disney gets cold feet about the idea and decides to do themed rooms elsewhere. Given that this is a slam-dunk, no-brainer idea, I cannot see them getting cold feet about it.
Take my money! I like that it would just be a 2-day option. I am certainly surprised that Universal hasn’t built a Harry Potter themed hotel with exclusive access to those themed areas of the park. I would pay to stay in a recreation of Gryffindor tower!!!
My guess is that Universal would love to build a Harry Potter themed hotel, but J.K. Rowling has nixed the idea. She has a ton of creative control there.
I would be so tempted… but with a family of 6 it would be about $6000, which is about what we spend for an entire trip. So I would probably not do it.
That said, when my 10 year old heard about the possibility of choose your own adventure style interaction at Star Wars land she was so excited and is already planning what she wants to wear. So I may end up trying a Star Wars resort once.
Disney’s lesson from Harry Potter land seems to be “more immersion”!! and I think it’s definitely the right path.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was a game-changer from the immersion perspective, and I think its influence will be seen on lands (including Pandora) for decades to come.
I’d expect Star Wars Land to expand, refine, and downright re-write the playbook Universal established with WWoHP.