Disney’s Failing ‘Star Wars’ Hotel To Be Completely Overhauled, Report Says

When it first opened, the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser was billed as an immersive hotel experience at Walt Disney World Resort that would take Guests on a two-night all-inclusive adventure, allowing them to live out their own Star Wars story aboard a luxurious “starship” called the Halcyon.

The experience is designed to be fully immersive, with Guests interacting with characters from the Star Wars universe, participating in lightsaber training and other activities, and exploring the ship’s various decks and areas. Guests will also have the opportunity to visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the Star Wars-themed land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and experience the attractions and dining options there.

But, right from the start, it was met with backlash.

The prices for the hotel were out-of-this-world, as families would have to pay more than $3,500 per night to stay aboard the ship. The prices for the Star Wars hotel have been estimated at $1,209.00 per Guest per night, meaning that one Guest would pay more than $2,400.00 for the two-night experience.

While many Disney Park fans were willing to pay the astronomical pricepoint for an experience similar to what the Star Wars experience was billed to give, most who have boarded the Halcyon have been disappointed. Disney just offered a 30% discount for Annual Passholders on the Galactic Starcruiser, and the company has announced a new schedule for the hotel beginning this fall, as a voyage per week has been cut.

A report from ScreamScape speculates that Disney could use the new schedule as a way to offer a “discounted mid-week voyage,” or come up with an entirely different voyage concept altogether.

“The new fall schedule does give them the perfect opportunity to offer a discounted mid-week voyage if they wanted to experiment with the concept and pricing going forward,” ScreamScape shared. “And  just thinking outside the box… it would be interesting to see Disney come up with an alternate voyage concept with a different series of events that could take place over 2 days and only require a 1-night stay that would skip out on the day excursion to Batuu (aka: Galaxy’s Edge) that could be offered at an entirely different price-point.”

Of course, this hasn’t been confirmed by Disney.

There have been rumors circulating for quite some time about the future of the Galactic Starcruiser, though, and there are quite a few fans who’d like to see the experience completely overhauled and changed to provide a more immersive, and less expensive, offer for fans to enjoy.

At this point, however, it’s unclear if Disney will listen to fans or if it will continue to move forward with the voyages as they are already being conducted.

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser SELLS OUT After Prices Are Lowered

A model of the Halcyon starcruiser is viewable by guests for a limited time in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. When guests book the two-night vacation experience for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, debuting at Walt Disney World Resort in 2022, they will stay aboard this glamorous ship as they plunge into an all-immersive Star Wars story that goes beyond anything Disney has created before. (David Roark, photographer)

In a shocking turn of events, Disney’s Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser has made a drastic turnaround. Just a couple of weeks ago, the interactive voyage wasn’t able to retain Guests. The immersive hotel has been criticized for its hefty prices since it opened. Desperate to fill the empty beds on the Galactic Starcruiser, Disney offered an incredible new deal that was nearly impossible to pass up.

Back on March 1, 2022, the Walt Disney Company debuted something that had never been done before by Disney. The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser was a one-of-a-kind experience, and they were hoping that the massive Star Wars fans of the world would be obsessed. Unlike any other hotel accommodation at the Walt Disney World Resort, staying in the Galactic Starcruiser is a completely immersive experience.

Guests will board the Starcruiser for a two-night journey where they will live like a passenger and be immersed in an interactive story that will unfold before their eyes. Everything from the meals, character interactions, sleeping cabins, and entertainment is all themes exceptionally well. Guests also get to enjoy a fun interactive day at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Unfortunately, a two-night trip on the Galactic Starcruiser does cost a pretty penny. Staying at the hotel costs $4,809 for a two-night room. Obviously, this price is incredibly inaccessible for many visiting the Parks. Because of this, many Disney fans have not been booking rooms here. The hotel has remained mostly empty in the past months.

To try and salvage this, Disney just announced a special Disney Vacation Club Member Voyage. This voyage was discounted by 30%! The voyage, which will take place from August 19-21, has just sold out.

Looks like the Walt Disney Company has finally cracked the code as to why people weren’t booking rooms. Hopefully, this sellout will mean more discounts for DVC members.

Disney World Announces Widespread Cancellations, Issues Statement

Walt Disney World Resort has issued widespread cancellations for a popular Resort.

Walt Disney World is home to four magically immersive theme parks– Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom– as well as two water parks– Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park– and the Disney Springs shopping and dining district. If all that weren’t enough, there are also more than 25 Resorts for Disney World Guests to stay at.

When you stay on-site at a Disney World Resort hotel, you’re completely immersed in the magic from the moment you wake up in the morning to the time you go to sleep at night.

While we think about Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Hotel, and others when discussing Disney Resorts, one luxury hotel is reportedly failing miserably.

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser

Disney recently issued a statement that it would be canceling “voyages” for the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser beginning this fall. Except for Holiday weeks, Disney is now canceling originally-scheduled voyages and only providing two voyages per week. This is being done because of the low occupancy experienced at the Star Wars hotel.

Disney’s official statement can be read below:

“You may notice the schedule has been modified to provide two voyages per week, except for holiday weeks where we may have three voyages. We’ve been learning a lot during our first year of operation and have adjusted voyage dates to meet the needs of our Guests.”

Starcruiser

The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser immolates a cruise ship in space. Disney World Guests can explore the ship and enjoy a two-night, three-day “cruise,” which includes a stop at Batuu to experience Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The immersive land includes two rides: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run.

Though the idea for an immersive Star Wars Disney Resort hotel was received with much anticipation, Guests grew sour on the idea once they learned the price point– more than $4,000 for two Guests for two nights– and what it entailed.

Disney has seen meager crowds, especially over the last few months, for the hotel, and this led the company to the decision to cancel previous plans and move forward with just two voyages per week instead of more.

Disney Offers First-Ever Discount For Its Newest Hotel

Walt Disney World Resort’s newest hotel has been met with mixed reviews. Even though Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser only just opened in the Spring of 2022, it seems like Disney has decided to start throwing out discounts to draw in Resort Guests.

With much of the Disney news circulating around the big announcement that The Walt Disney Company has removed CEO Bob Chapek and replaced him with Disney’s former CEO Bob Iger as of November 20, 2022, we can’t help but read into this newest Disney Resort discount as a good sign.

Walt Disney World has announced a 30% discount for Disney Vacation Club Members to experience the Star Wars voyage of a lifetime. Disney Vacation Club (DVC) sent the following message via email:

Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser Dining

AN ENTIRE GALAXY OF POSSIBILITIESStep into your own epic Star Wars story and enjoy 30% off original Points Chart values on select 2-night Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser adventures! Eligible Disney Vacation Club® Members can book with Points or a combination of Points and cash. Terms Apply*.”

“Be a part of the most immersive Star Wars story ever created. From wielding a lightsaber to engaging in secret missions alongside new and familiar Characters – there’s something for everyone on this unforgettable journey. Check DisneyVacationClub.com for participating voyage dates and other important offer details.”

Is this a good sign that the new CEO, Mr. Iger, is already hard at work?

Bob Iger

Disney CEO Bob Iger has his plate full as he has arrived into several missteps taken by the former CEO Bob Chapek. Iger has already sent out a heartfelt message to Cast Members, made it clear he is here to work his magic, and has already diagnosed Disney’s issue is that it was losing its “soul.”

Whether or not offering the first-ever discount on Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser was already in the works prior to Iger’s arrival, we think it was a decision that needed to be made.

Unfortunately, the newest Disney World Resort Hotel has been met with mixed reviews. The cruise-like itinerary and Star Wars storytelling experience is exceptional, but definitely has a target market audience for Star Wars fans and those willing to pay thousands of dollars for the experience.

Hopefully, this 30% discount for Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser will help fill the hotel, but only time will tell if Disney Vacation Club Members are interested and willing to spend the Disney vacation budget or DVC points on such an experience.

Interested in booking a stay as a DVC Member on the Starcruiser? Details about the 30% on select voyages in 2023 include:

“Eligible Disney Vacation Club Members can enjoy 30% off original Points Chart values on select 2-night voyages. This offer can be booked with Points or a combination of Points and cash. Terms Apply*. This offer applies to the following departures in the winter of 2023:”

  • January 11 – 13, 2023
  • January 17 – 19, 2023
  • January 19 – 21, 2023
  • January 21 – 23, 2023
  • January 25 – 27, 2023
  • January 31 – February 2, 2023
  • February 12 – 14, 2023
  • February 28 – March 2, 2023
  • March 2 – 4, 2023

Review important offer details:

  • Members must be eligible for Membership Extras to take advantage of this special offer. Limit one cabin per offer.
  • Points must be used to pay for at least one Member; a combination of Points or cash may be used to book additional Guests. Cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts, is not transferable or redeemable for cash, and may be modified or withdrawn without prior notice.
  • Activities, entertainment and Characters are subject to change.
  • Reservation must be made prior to the last 4 months of your Use Year for stays during that Use Year.
  • Reservation is subject to Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Terms and Conditions—which can be found on the Booking Confirmation Email received after booking—and the Disney Vacation Club Cancellation Policy.
  • Offer is only available for standard cabins and not valid for suite accommodations.
  • Offer dates are not guaranteed and are subject to change without notice.

*A nonrefundable $95 transaction fee applies per confirmed Disney Collection reservation. You will receive a call requesting payment within 72 hours of completing your booking. If payment is not received within 72 hours following this call, Disney Vacation Club reserves the right to cancel the reservation.

Check out all the details about this 30% discount and book on Disney’s website here.