Resort Thread STAR WARS: GALACTIC STARCRUISER Official Information & Questions Thread

[Lewisc]

Well that is odd... The plot thickens!

Why is that odd? Seems obvious Disney will be having some test "cruises" before the official inaugural "cruise". Call it a soft opening. CMs. Contest winners. Maybe media? I'm surprised we are only seeing one winner from one contest.

 

[macnbc]

Yeah, I think it's pretty obvious that the sweepstakes is an easy way for Disney to get some "beta testers"

 

[E2ME2]

Did anyone else notice that the sweepstakes travel dates in the official rules are actually before the Starcruiser officially opens?
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I had not noticed that - That would be too sweet, as we will be in WDW(DVC) over those dates

 

[Spazz2k]

We were talking a few weeks ago with a bartender at the House of Blues at DS and a friend of hers who worked on the construction of the hotel won a pre-start trip in Feb.

 

[floribr1]

Why is that odd? Seems obvious Disney will be having some test "cruises" before the official inaugural "cruise". Call it a soft opening. CMs. Contest winners. Maybe media? I'm surprised we are only seeing one winner from one contest.

I guess I was just a bit surprised. Whether or not it is "obvious," this was the first I had heard about any voyages prior to March 1.

 

[kirisk]

Just a note for the group list that we are traveling on the 5/10 voyage. Can’t wait!

 

[gharter]

I just read that it is booked solid for the first month to two. Curious if this will continue or just pent up demand.
At the price, I know we won't be there.

 

[foodiddiedoo]

I just read that it is booked solid for the first month to two. Curious if this will continue or just pent up demand.
At the price, I know we won't be there.

The fact that 6 months of bookings are available to anyone at this point, and the first three months are only seldom fully booked (on and off cycle of having a cruise or two available) makes me believe the demand is much lower than expected. There's only 100 rooms in the Starcruiser, and they only make rooms available every 3 days. That's approximately 10 sailings a month or 60 sailings with "6000" cabins available. Seems surprising they can't book up 6000 rooms in six months when POR has 2000 rooms and is often completely full for a single night. Clearly the price point is too high.

 

[Lewisc]

t. Clearly the price point is too high.

The starcruiser is sold out for the next 6 months. That suggests the experience might be underpriced. The target market for Port Orleans and the Starcruiser isn't the same. Selling out too early leaves no availability for.guests who book on shorter notice and are willing to pay $$$.

 

[Spazz2k]

It is not sold out for the 1st 6 months of the booking window....only March, April and May are sold out. You can still do June thru September... I also agree that I do not think demand is what was expected. Sure the die hards slammed the system the day it went on sale, but since then...not so much. I think it is too high for most people...hell I am booked...but I know I am crazy like that.

 

[Lewisc]

t is not sold out for the 1st 6 months of the booking window....only March, April and May are sold out.

First available date is in June, more then 6 months from today.

A lot of people don't book.a year in advance.

Disney is comparing this to a cruise. I think .better comparison would be with the adult fantasy sports and rock band camps.

 

[foodiddiedoo]

First available date is in June, more then 6 months from today.

A lot of people don't book.a year in advance.

Disney is comparing this to a cruise. I think .better comparison would be with the adult fantasy sports and rock band camps.

But the opening date is in March, so they only sold out March, April, and May bookings (which continually open up as folks cancel their bookings). It's not open now so saying that 6 months are sold out doesn't work.

 

[Lewisc]

But the opening date is in March, so they only sold out March, April, and May bookings (which continually open up as folks cancel their bookings). It's not open now so saying that 6 months are sold out doesn't work.

Of course it works. I didn't word my point clearly. Read the Disney fan boards and you'd think everyone books a year in advance. That's not true. Many people book trips a few months in advance. It's sold out, subject to openings as people adjust their plans, for anyone who wants to book a trip 6 months or less from today. A complete sellout, within a month or so, of reservations opening up suggests the experience is under priced.

The big question is what happens at final payment date. Are there a lot of cancellations? What does Disney do? Offer even a modest discount and guests may jump. or does Disney maintain price integrity. Disney could either let some cabins stay empty, give away cabins to CM or very targeted offerings to selected guests. Should Disney dump cabins after final payment date prospective customers may wait to book until Disney dumps cabins. I'm thinking people who live in Orlando. People who's work schedule allows for booking a few days off at short notice.


A complete sell out would suggest Disney did something wrong in pricing.

I think there is a group sale market. Top XX salesman will start, or end, the convention with starcruiser.

 

[floribr1]

The fact that 6 months of bookings are available to anyone at this point, and the first three months are only seldom fully booked (on and off cycle of having a cruise or two available) makes me believe the demand is much lower than expected. There's only 100 rooms in the Starcruiser, and they only make rooms available every 3 days. That's approximately 10 sailings a month or 60 sailings with "6000" cabins available. Seems surprising they can't book up 6000 rooms in six months when POR has 2000 rooms and is often completely full for a single night. Clearly the price point is too high.

I am a bit confused by your line of thinking... As soon as a a single party cancels a reservation, by definition it will cause a day to not be "sold out." So if one of the parties who booked super early decides they would prefer a later departure, this is somehow a sign that the demand is "lower than expected?"

There is actually one departure available every 2 days (not every 3 days). That works out to 15 or sometimes 16 voyages per month. So approximately 9,200 rooms to sell. However it is apples-to-oranges to compare a Starcruiser voyage to a night in moderate hotel room. The Starcruiser is a super-premium, fully-themed experience and at the end of the day POR is.... just a hotel.

 

[foodiddiedoo]

I am a bit confused by your line of thinking... As soon as a a single party cancels a reservation, by definition it will cause a day to not be "sold out." So if one of the parties who booked super early decides they would prefer a later departure, this is somehow a sign that the demand is "lower than expected?"

There is actually one departure available every 2 days (not every 3 days). That works out to 15 or sometimes 16 voyages per month. So approximately 9,200 rooms to sell. However it is apples-to-oranges to compare a Starcruiser voyage to a night in moderate hotel room. The Starcruiser is a super-premium, fully-themed experience and at the end of the day POR is.... just a hotel.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that I honestly believed the demand was high enough that they'd sell out almost EVERY date in their first six months and there would be a waiting list for future voyages. So from my point of view i was surprised to see so much available still (with several weeks of bookings and presales already having happened). My thinking is that the demand isn't there to completely sell out because the price point is that of a much longer Disney Vacation.

 

[macnbc]

Go look at any Disney resort for next September and find how full those places are. They're not sold out. By your logic that would be saying there isn't demand for Disney World vacations in general.
Some people just aren't ready to book an expensive trip 8 months in advance. That's not an indication of lack of demand. If they still have units open 90 days out, that's a different story.

 

[macnbc]

Another sweepstakes for people to go check out the Starcruiser during the pre-opening period. This one allows multiple entries (1 per day!)
https://starwarsbringhomethebountysweepstakes.com/

 

[mrsap]

Members of the Media were given a test run-through of the Galactic Starcruiser. Thought you guys might be interested. (No interior pics, just descriptions of what she saw/experienced.)

Story posted HERE.

 

[mrsap]

FIRST LOOK: New Characters Join the Galaxy Far, Far Away as Part of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser at Walt Disney World Resort

 

[foodiddiedoo]

Go look at any Disney resort for next September and find how full those places are. They're not sold out. By your logic that would be saying there isn't demand for Disney World vacations in general.
Some people just aren't ready to book an expensive trip 8 months in advance. That's not an indication of lack of demand. If they still have units open 90 days out, that's a different story.

Fair enough, I see your point as well!I honestly did think that the pent up demand since the announcement a few years back, would be enough to fill all the rooms pretty much immediately. I agree if 3 months before we don't see these rooms full, I'd be very concerned.