Next month, Disney's immersive Galactic Starcruiser “Star Wars hotel” in Florida will shut down, less than two years after opening.
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Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will permanently close in Fall 2023, and with that, they will write off up to $300 million. This covers a new interview with Josh D'Amaro about the tax implications, plus more commentary about the decision, the timing of the closure, and more.
The company said that its Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel at Walt Disney World in Florida, which costs nearly $5,000 per couple for a two-night stay, will take its final voyage Sept.28. Travel better with news, tips and guides that make you feel like a local wherever you go.
– 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.
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.
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.
A Disney spokeswoman attributed the Galactic Starcruiser's cost to the way it thoroughly immerses guests in a fantasy world. Beyond the hotel room, the price includes expedited theme-park admission, entertainment, food and experiences like lightsaber training.
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.
One of the reasons a stay at the Galactic Starcruiser is so expensive is that it's more like a cruise experience rather than a hotel. Most meals and activities onboard are included in the price.
And while it received glowing reviews from guests, ultimately it performed below Disney's expectations, according to Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D'Amaro. “It didn't perform exactly like we wanted it to perform, so we decided that we were going to sunset this in September,” D'Amaro said.
The Galactic Starcruiser rooms are perfectly themed and make you feel like you're on a ship — just like in the movies. There's a total of 100 cabins and suites. You can book a standard cabin or choose between two suites. Depending on which room you book, you can sleep up to 8 guests.
Since it was announced that the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel was closing this year, the final voyages sold out quickly. If you were not able to snag a reservation, now is your chance!
Passengers are able to leave the Galactic Starcruiser at any point throughout their stay. Just let a Crew Member know that you need to leave and they will escort you onto a Launch Pod back to planet Earth.
Disney World is closing its Star Wars hotel that opened just last year. The immersive, and pricey, experience debuted to the public in March 2022. It's a victim of its own ambition, analysts say. We hope you enjoyed your free article.
The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel at Walt Disney World Resort is seen on April 3, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. After the Galactic Starcruiser hosts its final bookings in September, the doors will close permanently on Disney's infamous “Star Wars” hotel.
Less than a year after opening to great fanfare, Disney World's $5,000-a-stay Star Wars hotel is slashing rates in an attempt to increase bookings. The Galactic Starcruiser, which opened on March 1, 2022, only has 100 rooms, but has consistently struggled to sell out.
Scrapping the infamous Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel cost Disney $250 million, the company announced in its quarterly earnings call last week. With only 100 guest rooms, that breaks down to $2.5 million per room for the failed venture.