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

[MakiraMarlena]

when I see people freaking out over the box truck, I wondered what they expected, maybe a real space shuttle. A friend said they thought it ought to be something similar to Hogwarts Express at Uni. That's a little much for a 100 room per show every 2 days experience. if they do the truck right inside I'm for it

 

[kimwoje]

I pictured a themed bus actually. Like a cool tour bus/limo bus transport with themed interior that would also make people passing it say “Wow! That looks awesome!”

 

[cdnewton]

when I see people freaking out over the box truck, I wondered what they expected, maybe a real space shuttle. A friend said they thought it ought to be something similar to Hogwarts Express at Uni. That's a little much for a 100 room per show every 2 days experience. if they do the truck right inside I'm for it

People freaked out at the price, scheduling transparency, a promo video, then the emailed video, a box truck, cast member uniforms, transportation to resorts, and now "change" in schedule. At this point its like a bunch of sheep just finding anything to complain about! If a real space cruiser landed, there would still be haters!

 

[sm8680]

I pictured a themed bus actually. Like a cool tour bus/limo bus transport with themed interior that would also make people passing it say “Wow! That looks awesome!”

View attachment 645871

 

[kimwoje]

More like this actually but The Partridge Family bus would be thinking outside the “box” anyway!

 

[floribr1]

I pictured a themed bus actually. Like a cool tour bus/limo bus transport with themed interior that would also make people passing it say “Wow! That looks awesome!”

Perhaps... But I think the idea is, nobody is really going to see the transport from the outside. And even if it is seen, I doubt Disney would want to advertise what it is -- it wouldn't really be keeping with the immersive theming. The Halcyon passengers are supposed to be in "space," and transported down to Batuu via a space transport. A box truck with exterior theming wouldn't exactly be in sync with that.

 

[sm8680]

Kimwoje you weren't far off from this post last year
Work Continues Backstage on Galaxy's Edge Transport Connection to Starcruiser (blogmickey.com)

 

[GADisneyDad14]

when I see people freaking out over the box truck, I wondered what they expected, maybe a real space shuttle. A friend said they thought it ought to be something similar to Hogwarts Express at Uni. That's a little much for a 100 room per show every 2 days experience. if they do the truck right inside I'm for it

With all due respect to the bloggers…and of course we’re all entitled to our own opinions… but the box truck thing makes me chuckle/roll my eyes. For those that have never been back stage, it ain’t all that pretty in most places. Why on earth would they theme something a guest never sees?

 

[PrincessofAlderaan]

With all due respect to the bloggers…and of course we’re all entitled to our own opinions… but the box truck thing makes me chuckle/roll my eyes. For those that have never been back stage, it ain’t all that pretty in most places. Why on earth would they theme something a guest never sees?

Running backstage during a runDisney event and passing the waste water treatment plant...

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I can understand how you are feeling! And I don't think you are being negative at all. I reached my P.I.F. date last week... I had to take a couple of deep breaths before clicking "send" on the payment instructions to my travel agent, that's for sure.

I am guessing you must be listening to some of the "haters" on YouTube; I know I have watched a few of those videos, as it is hard to resist. Just keep in mind that so much of that is simple click-bait. The rants/hate tend to get so many more views than honest reporting, so the rants trend better. After I came to that realization, their power over my emotions disappeared. [E.g., if 10 dates that were previously sold out suddenly show availability, that does not mean that everyone rushed out and "cancelled" those voyages!]

As another example, did Disney really make it out that the individual LL for RoTR and MF is "such a huge and special perk?" Or did Disney simply clarify that, yes, that is included as part of the experience. I know many people here on this board and elsewhere were asking the question whether the ILLs were included, so it seems natural for Disney to clarify.

One final example - re: the transport from the Halcyon down to Batuu being a "box truck." If you as a guest feel like you are being transported through space on a transport ship, do you really care what it looks like from the outside? Here's some news for all of the haters: everything at any theme park is fake, no matter how real it looks from the outside. Ask anyone who has been on a backstage tour, and they will tell you how jarring it is to see what Main Street is actually like behind the beautiful (but ersatz) turn-of-the-century facades. Also, the trip each way will probably take less than 5 minutes, so I doubt air quality will be anything to worry about. Let's not forget, Disney has been doing this for a looonng time now.

I thought this was really well said. Matches a lot of what we are thinking.

This will obviously be the new punching bag offering for awhile because it’s easy, and that’s OK.

Like many Disney things, places like the DIS, this thread, Facebook groups, other online communities, etc with people that have actual experiences will prove the most valuable. A lot of the other stuff is just noise, in my humble opinion.

As for me, I’m personally pumped - which is sort of funny because everything about this experience kind of cuts against my personality. But I like shiny new things and they just happened to catch our family at a moment where something other than the parks/something different had strong appeal. The itinerary that was in my app for a bit made us even more excited as it seemed like a nice fit for our family and a lot of fun.

 

[polynor]

Initially we wanted to see what the reviews were and wait for all the kinks to be worked out. Lately however, we keep looking for cancellations for the dates we want (March) because we think with all the bad blogger press, Disney will make a big effort to knock it out of the park for an experience. Those complaints about a box transport, meh, if the inside of the box is amazing, who cares about the outside…
so for those going, I hope you have a great time!

 

[Nabas]

Initially we wanted to see what the reviews were and wait for all the kinks to be worked out. Lately however, we keep looking for cancellations for the dates we want (March) because we think with all the bad blogger press, Disney will make a big effort to knock it out of the park for an experience. Those complaints about a box transport, meh, if the inside of the box is amazing, who cares about the outside…
so for those going, I hope you have a great time!

The problem is, "trying to knock it out of the park" hasn't been the Disney way for decades. Quite the opposite. Imagineering goes all in on a design and leadership ends up cutting tens-of-millions from the budget.

It's going to be a lot easier (and cheaper) for Disney to use its typical approach to make sure the press and bloggers provide overwhelmingly positive reviews. Otherwise, they will lose access and all the trinkets that go along with it. (Typically, if you do not write a good review, you do not get invited to the next opening.)

Just look at the recent Space 220. It had some great reviews initially but most paying Guests say it's a one-and-done experience.

More likely, the Galactic Starcruiser will have some growing pains, similar to most new WDW experiences. Eventually, the Starcruiser will find its sea (OK, space) legs.

I wish I could predict which way this is going to go. Either it's going to be a big success and those who went early will consider the prices they paid to be bargains, or bookings will slow after the initial excitement and within a couple of years we'll start to see discounts. I tend to believe it will be the former, as I am sure Disney did their market research. Of course, they also did their market research on MagicBands, FastPass+, and the entire My Disney Experience, and that pretty much collapsed never became what it was supposed to be. But creating a monstrosity like MDE is very different than creating a boutique experience like the Galactic Starcruiser.

I'll be surprised if most reviews are not along the lines of, "it was the most incredible experience ever!"

 

[DarthEsquire]

Itinerary Update. As previously mentioned by many people most of the itinerary had been taken out of the datapad for activities that would be going on during the experience. Yesterday, while those items are still gone, my itinerary was updated with specific times for the lightsaber training (25 minute block) and bridge training (45 minute block). My lightsaber training will be right after the muster (which is still on the itinerary) on day 1.

 

[Primerz]

If I may, how many days out are you? We are 32 days as of today, and do not have those items scheduled at this time.

 

[DarthEsquire]

I am on the March 1st one.

 

[DarthEsquire]

If I may, how many days out are you? We are 32 days as of today, and do not have those items scheduled at this time.

I am on the March 1st one so three weeks out.

 

[SgtTibbs]

I don’t know why but I am getting very anxious about our trip! There will be 9 voyages completed by the time we have to pay in full or cancel and I am on pins and needles waiting for the first reviews for this VERY EXPENSIVE experience. I can’t put my finger on the exact reason I am getting more hesitant but the uncertainty around transportation, ship activities changing or disappearing from itineraries for those departing soon, box trucks taking us to and from GE (air quality?) and I think the fact that they made it seem like such a huge and special perk to get a LL for RoTR and MF. IDK but it all feels much less than original scope that set my expectations at least. I very much hope to be proven wrong and that the paying customers are blown away when it comes down to it! Sorry, I don’t mean to be negative. Just feeling a bit of pressure for our first trip back to WDW since 2019 and not having yet experienced GE yet at all!

When the Skyliner was being built there were thousands of posts critical of it. It will be too hot, I don't like heights, it's too slow, it will be too crowded, on and on for page after page. Now it's just an easy way to get to the parks. Don't put too much stock in pre-opening jitters. You have the luxury of waiting for unbiased reviews from people who have had the full experience. Wait and listen to what they have to say and make a fact based decision later on.

 

[Tiggerette]

Itinerary Update. As previously mentioned by many people most of the itinerary had been taken out of the datapad for activities that would be going on during the experience. Yesterday, while those items are still gone, my itinerary was updated with specific times for the lightsaber training (25 minute block) and bridge training (45 minute block). My lightsaber training will be right after the muster (which is still on the itinerary) on day 1.

When is your bridge training?
Mine is on day 2 afternoon. Lightsaber day 1 an hour after muster. Initially I was told by a phone CM that saber and bridge training were to happen on the same day. Poor phone CMs keep getting the run around with information changing all the time, or maybe I keep getting a phone CM that is basing their advisement on their specific playtest. So far, all the phone CMs I speak with have done a playtest.

 

[DarthEsquire]

When is your bridge training?
Mine is on day 2 afternoon. Lightsaber day 1 an hour after muster. Initially I was told by a phone CM that saber and bridge training were to happen on the same day. Poor phone CMs keep getting the run around with information changing all the time, or maybe I keep getting a phone CM that is basing their advisement on their specific playtest. So far, all the phone CMs I speak with have done a playtest.

My saber training is at 430 the first day and my bridge training is at 630 the first day. I have the second dinner service. I have Savi's for a family member on day 2 and Oga's on day two so it may have been more difficult to put specific timed things on the schedule that day.

I hope they have some "open" hours for the lightsaber training and possibly being on the bridge during some times but I understand where staffing and timing probably won't allow for that.

 

[Narcoossee11]

If there is no pool, is there a fitness center?

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