Galactic Starcruiser Hotel to Close in September

[corpcomp]

Per USA Today:
“Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is one of our most creative projects ever and has been praised by our guests and recognized for setting a new bar for innovation and immersive entertainment. This premium, boutique experience gave us the opportunity to try new things on a smaller scale of 100 rooms, and as we prepare for its final voyage, we will take what we’ve learned to create future experiences that can reach more of our guests and fans," a Walt Disney World spokesperson said in a statement to USA TODAY.

The final voyage will be September 28 through 30. In coming days, Disney will contact guests who had reservations booked for later dates about rescheduling or canceling their plans.

In the meantime, new reservation bookings will be paused until May 26.

I don't know about anyone else but I was not all that interested in shelling out $5000+ for two nights. So what do you think they learned?

 

[Nursemanit]

I thought they would convert it to a DVC

 

[Cadiewampus]

In other words, they learned it was a complete and utter failure.

 

[Spivey378]

That is unfortunate.

 

[Maddysdaddy]

I don't know about anyone else but I was not all that interested in shelling out $5000+ for two nights. So what do you think they learned?

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that they learned most people have no interest in shelling out $5,000+ for a two night stay...

 

[WxKristin]

My family was interested, more so than going on a cruise at least, and the most recent discounts for DVC/AP almost had us ready to try it. But attempting to find the right timing with school breaks and discounts was pretty much impossible to make work.

I'm glad they tried something unique and immersive and I understand the cost associated with doing that, but it was definitely outside our budget to consider without discounts.

 

[corpcomp]

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that they learned most people have no interest in shelling out $5,000+ for a two night stay...

You are right, like 99% of the people coming to WDW cannot afford that on top of the hotels / food and park tickets. I read somewhere the average American family saves for 3 years just for a week at WDW.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

Wow big surprise. I saw tours of the “Star cruiser” on YouTube and it looks like a cheap mental institution. You knew it was toast when they decided to move people from the hotel to Hollywood studios in a Ryder truck. Universal put it best (lol):

 

[CraigInPA]

I think the reality of having what amounted to an immersive ad-lib show with performers going 16+ hours a day proved to Disney to be impossible to staff. That, coupled with the $5k price tag for two nights, the low demand, and the cheapening of the experience because they couldn't cast it, killed it.

I think it could come back as a deluxe dining experience, but the 100 room hotel isn't, IMO, salvagable.

 

[AvidDisReader]

I think the reality of having what amounted to an immersive ad-lib show with performers going 16+ hours a day proved to Disney to be impossible to staff. That, coupled with the $5k price tag for two nights, the low demand, and the cheapening of the experience because they couldn't cast it, killed it.

I think it could come back as a deluxe dining experience, but the 100 room hotel isn't, IMO, salvagable.

I could see this being re imaged as a DVC resort with the hook of having its own entrance to Hollywood studios.

 

[Anthony1971]

I thought they would convert it to a DVC

They likely will just not as a star cruiser. Imagine how popular this will be for access to HS... an entrance outside the front door with fast easy access to star wars land that is a HUGE selling point.... There was always talk about a DVC hotel years ago ironically right where this thing is located. Lesser walk to the sky liner then BW or BC for super easy EPCOT access. I would book a melenium Falcon view. Cant beat that for view even if you not a star wars fan.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

They likely will just not as a star cruiser. Imagine how popular this will be for access to HS... an entrance outside the front door with fast easy access to star wars land that is a HUGE selling point.... There was always talk about a DVC hotel years ago ironically right where this thing is located. Lesser walk to the sky liner than BW or BC for super easy EPCOT access. I would book a melenium Falcon view. Cant beat that for view even if you not a star wars fan.

But what is the fast easy access? A Ryder truck that takes you in the back door? It’s just weird and basically a bus ride. Seems like a PITA to me.

 

[The Jackal]

I could see this being re imaged as a DVC resort with the hook of having its own entrance to Epcot.

Epcot? It is right next to Hollywood Studios. You can’t have a separate entrance where you just come and go. The people at this ship had limited time in HS and then they lined up for the box truck ride back to the ship. Disney would have to spend a lot of cash to make this a normal resort. It has no pool, no parking lot, no bus stops etc…. Anything can be done, but it will take some time and money. I don’t think DVC can afford to have 6 or 7 resorts on active sales.

 

[corpcomp]

The Falcon is below the top of the building with that ride. No way you could see anything other than the backs of the buildings and the parking lot. And on the other sides you have World Drive and Osceola Parkway intersecting. a DVC would be a difficult selling point unless you had windows with screens showing other theme oriented views like in the actual Rise of the Resistance. They would need a lot of trees to block those views. I think it might be a selling point for conventions to experience a few hours of Star Wars. The Convention Group could charge a lot for that.

 

[AvidDisReader]

Epcot? It is right next to Hollywood Studios. You can’t have a separate entrance where you just come and go. The people at this ship had limited time in HS and then they lined up for the box truck ride back to the ship. Disney would have to spend a lot of cash to make this a normal resort. It has no pool, no parking lot, no bus stops etc…. Anything can be done, but it will take some time and money. I don’t think DVC can afford to have 6 or 7 resorts on active sales.

Yep, was typing faster than thinking. Thanks for correction, I updated my original post

 

[kristenrice]

Unfortunately, this was a money grab, plain and simple. The concept was fantastic, but when they got greedy and charged such an exorbitant amount for it, the internet exploded. The cost became the talking point (negative) which grossly outweighed the superior experience (positive). When it first opened, all you would read about was how EXPENSIVE it was, but buried deep into the articles was how well it was presented. Perhaps if they had started out at a reasonable price point, and had it sold out for 1-2 years, it would have been touted as a great EXPERIENCE and worth the cost (we all know Disney is expensive), THEN they could have slowly started to increase the cost to entice new guests. By the time they realized that bookings were down, discounts were not going to help because there had already been so much negative press about it, even though it was based on the cost, not the experience.

 

[paults]

they should keep the pricing and make it a 7 night stay. You will need to be in a mental institution after that.

 

[DonMacGregor]

they should keep the pricing and make it a 7 night stay. You will need to be in a mental institution after that.

If they pad the walls and put extra locks on the doors, they can just start charging the state from night 8 onwards.

 

[paults]

Don, I agree

 

[Kennywood]