Why is Disney closing the Star Wars Hotel?

“It didn't perform exactly like we wanted it to perform, so we decided that we were going to sunset this in September,” the company's parks and resorts chairman, Josh D'Amaro, said at the JP Morgan Global Technology, Media & Communications Conference this week.



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Pushing Buttons: Why the closure of Disney's Star Wars hotel isn't the end of immersive gaming. 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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– 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.

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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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Disney Reveals Just How Much Money It Lost on Overpriced Star Wars Hotel. In its most recent quarterly report, Disney revealed an embarrassing $250 million loss on its overpriced Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel.

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The marketing surrounding Galactic Starcruiser didn't quite manage to show you what to expect, especially in the first few promo spots – Disney actually scrapped their initial “first look” promos due to incredibly negative backlash, and the reputation of the Starcruiser never really recovered.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Your Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser vacation package includes: 2-night stay in a cabin or suite. Ongoing, immersive and interactive entertainment, where choices determine your experience*

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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.

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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!

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What if you need to leave in the middle of your stay? Passengers are able to leave the Galactic Starcruiser at any point throughout their stay.

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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.

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Alcoholic drinks on board the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser are not included in the vacation package and must be paid for separately. Some non-alcoholic drinks are included (like soda and coffee), but alcoholic and non-alcoholic specialty drinks require additional payment.

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Your starcruiser voyage includes a 2-night stay in a cabin or suite with cosmic views of planets, stars, and other ships traveling through the galaxy. Standard Cabins can comfortably sleep 4 to 5 passengers, Galaxy Class Suites sleep 4 passengers, and Grand Captain's Suites sleep up to 8.

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If you will be the only person staying in a cabin during a Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser voyage, you will be charged the same total package price as 2 adults staying in the same cabin. View sample standard cabin rates.

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Disney has not commented on just how much Galactic Starcruiser took to construct, although the Washington Post estimated a cost of close to $1 billion. Now, the company can add another $250,000,000 to that total, according to Disney's interim CFO Kevin Lansberry on the August 9 earnings call.

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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.

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Now that we know what you'll do each day, we ask: Is the Disney Star Wars hotel itinerary worth it? The answer is a resounding yes. In short, if you love Star Wars and you're looking for an action-packed, immersive experience, this hotel is definitely worth checking out!

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