Disney World’s Star Wars Hotel to call it quits in September – 18 months after opening
Star Wars fanatics came and went and the once highly anticipated Galactic Starcruiser hotel experience at Disney World is shutting up shop.
The immersive section at Walt Disney World Florida originally opened in March 2022 for all the hardcore Star Wars fans to live as their favourite sci-fi heroes.
Bookings were required to last two nights for the narrative arc that’s played out during the experience and the average “voyage” cost was $4,800 for a two-person cabin in the lowest price tier.
Following some negative reviews, lacklustre vacancy and the roll outs of discounts, it started to look like the writing was on the wall. So in March a spokesperson told SFGATE that bookings were being cut back due to low demand, but there was availability still listed through to the end of 2023 at this point.
It was officially confirmed to SFGATE that the Starcruiser will shut its doors in September and the company will look to assist cast members in finding new opportunities after the hotel closes.
“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,” Disney said in a statement.
“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.”
Some hotel-stayers weren’t so impressed with their stay. With the high price tag looming over the experience, some guests reported feeling a bit cheated.
As the experience was to take place in space, guest rooms were tiny and there were no windows to the outside world, leading some to describe the hotel as a “windowless bunker.”
The Galactic Starcruiser Hotel lacked a pool or other fitness amenities commonly found in other luxury hotels and the full-price cocktails in the hotel’s only bar left a sour taste in traveller’s mouths (metaphorically of course, unless they ordered a sour cocktail).
It looks like if the Star Wars experience is something you crave you’re going to have to get yourself a couple lightsaber toys and pretend to use the force on your friends. Which has given the Travel Weekly team a great idea of how to spend our Friday afternoon.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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