What happened to the widely heralded attraction? Turns out the galaxy doesn't contain enough Star Wars die-hards willing to pay for such a high-touch, high-cost experience, industry observers and experts say.
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Former Disney Imagineers give their take on Galactic Starcruiser's failure. ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Disney announced earlier this year that the company would be closing its Star Wars-themed “Galactic Starcruiser” hotel, with its final voyage scheduled from Sept. 28-30.
With stories that take two days to tell and a full cast of eight main characters, it is tough to ensure continuity for the guests and create a sustainable work schedule with enough backup performers to keep the whole thing running.
Disney Parks made a surprising announcement in May: its Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser experience in Orlando, Florida, will close in September after just ~18 months. During the Walt Disney Company's Q3 earnings call, the company revealed that the closure would result in a $250m loss.
But the Starcruiser was also said to be immensely costly to operate, primarily because it employed a cast of about a dozen core actors who had to perform and interact with guests in full-day shifts. The Galactic Starcruiser features about a dozen core actors who interact with guests throughout the two-day experience.
BAY LAKE, Fla. – Walt Disney World's Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is beginning its final voyage Thursday before closing permanently. Walt Disney World announced back in May that the immersive Star Wars hotel experience would be closing after nearly two years in operation.
– Disney announced earlier this year that the company would be closing its Star Wars-themed “Galactic Starcruiser” hotel, with its final voyage scheduled from Sept. 28-30.
Staffing alone was a huge cost, but that's not it. Starcruiser had far more 'moving parts' than a standard hotel, so maintenance and upkeep also would've been significant costs. It's also probable that $300 million does not represent the entire cost of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.
Another of their articles cites 100 cabins, which consists of 94 Standard cabins, 4 Suites, and only two Grand Captain Suites. That equates to 506 possible guests, so basically the same number. It's important to note that both of these calculations are with every bed of every room filled to capacity.
Barely open a year, Disney's $5,000 Star Wars hotel forced to slash prices. FILE - Los Angeles Times columnist Todd Martens sits in one of the bunk beds inside a room in the Disney World Galactic Starcruiser on March 1, 2022.
– Disney announced earlier this year that the company would be closing its Star Wars-themed “Galactic Starcruiser” hotel, with its final voyage scheduled from Sept. 28-30.