Disney World’s immersive Star Wars hotel will shut down in September
Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, the large-scale immersive Disney World hotel experience with surprising ties to Star Wars canon, is setting sail for its final voyage this September. The two-day Star Wars-themed resort hotel experience first opened on March 1, 2022 with a starting price point of $4,809 for a two-person weeknight experience up to a $6,000 premium two-night experience.
As for what motivated the decision to close the resort experience Charles Stovall, a Disney Parks global public relations manager, told Polygon that it was just a business decision. “Disney’s always taking risks,” he said, “We’ve always been on the forefront of entertainment experiences, we’re constantly pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation, and this was just one of the risks that we took.”
Polygon was invited to experience the Galactic Starcruiser, also known as the Halcyon, first-hand before it opened. While we found the experience compelling, and parts of it to be revolutionary, the price point certainly gave us pause. Bookings reportedly lagged behind expectations, with some two-day expeditions failing to sell out.
Stovall said that Galactic Starcruiser actors and staff would be relocated to other areas of the park in the lead up to the experience’s closure later this year. “A lot of them were on the Disney College Program, which is a very specific time limit, and they will be able to complete that program.” Stovall told Polygon.
When asked whether the price for Galactic Starcruiser was at all a factor in the business decision to end Galactic Starcruiser, Stovall emphasized that the price was commensurate with the value offered through the experience. “The price was really reflective of all of the costs to operate that
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