Last week, it was reported that Disney World is shutting down its Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser immersive experience after only being in operation for a year and a half. The hotel/immersive cruise-like experience is closing its doors this September, and the reason seems to be because of the gigantic price tag attached to the stay. Disney released the following statement about the closure:
“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.”
What we are hearing now about the company’s last-ditch efforts to try and save the hotel, is that Disney thought about re-branding the experience, and theming it around The Mandalorian. Theme park historian Jim Hill offered some insight to The Wrap (via /Film), with the report stating the following:
“Another option recently emerged according to Hill: re-theme the entire hotel to the popular Disney+ ‘Star Wars’ streaming series ‘The Mandalorian.’ Reports have since emerged that Imagineers were at the Starcruiser as recently as last week, looking at ways they could retrofit or change the experience.”
Ultimately, CEO Bob Iger shut these plans down, resulting in the whole thing being scrapped instead. Disney never officially confirmed the cost of the venture, but this report pegs it at around $1 billion. I know that at approximately $1,600 per person to stay at the Galactic Starcruiser, I was never going to go, much less take the whole fam. But if you’re a rich geek, will you be trying to get in a stay before it closes this September? Let us know.
