On March 1, 2022, Disney opened its first-ever, completely immersive, Star Wars-themed hotel — the Galactic Starcruiser. The new Walt Disney World Resort hotel was more than just a hotel. Guests who boarded could decide their own adventure — from joining the Resistance or teaming up with the First Order, the options seemed endless. Unfortunately for Disney, the $1 billion hotel’s staying power was not.
Related: Disney CLOSING Galactic Starcruiser!
Less than two years after it opened, Disney announced that the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser would be taking its last voyage in September 2023. While Disney may have been shocked to see the Starcruiser fail so spectacularly, fans were not. In fact, many predicted that the Starcruiser would not last. Although a year and a half was probably less than what most people were guessing.
The biggest issue the Galactic Starcruiser had wasn’t that there weren’t enough Star Wars fans. It wasn’t the food, it wasn’t the immersive experience, and it wasn’t the cast members. No, the Galactic Starcruiser’s biggest problem was its price. The Starcruiser only offered 2-night experiences, which started at almost $5,000.
Well, it’s been just about one month since the Starcruiser officially closed, but a recent survey from Disney has people wondering if Disney is already prepping for it to make a billion-dollar comeback.
A Potential Return
TheWrap reported that it managed to be able to take a look at the survey sent to select guests. The guests were paid between $150 – $250 if they completed the survey and signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). Once the NDA was signed, the questions began.
The post-Starcruiser survey consisted of four sections (“Pre-Arrival,” “On Board,” “In Your Room” and “Overall”), with an additional questionnaire that guests were meant to fill out about the “Moments That Shaped My Halcyon Starcruiser Experience.” That questionnaire was broken down by day, with markers for the various activities (like “Return from Batuu” or “Dinner: Taste Around the Galaxy”). Some of the questions on the survey were incredibly granular, like “How long did it take you to prepare your character?” (You are encouraged – but not required – to come up with a detailed backstory before boarding the ship.) Some were far broader, like “What events impacted your personal story?” Others were even more telling, like asking, “Are you an introvert or an extrovert?”
Related: Bob Iger Rejected Multiple Ideas For Failed Galactic Starcruiser
What makes this survey particularly interesting is the fact that it is one of the few times that Disney has asked guests about how they feel about a closed experience. When things like The Disney Institute, DisneyQuest, and The NBA Experience closed, guests were not asked about how they felt about the experience.
It Wasn’t a Money-Maker, But Guests Loved It
The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is largely considered one of Disney’s biggest failures. It’s also another hit against former Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s less-than-stellar time as CEO. The Galactic Starcruiser was thought of as Chapek’s brain-child, which only enforces people’s view that Chapek didn’t know what Disney fans really wanted.
Related: Bob Chapek Calls Time as Disney CEO “Three Years of Hell”
According to TheWrap, the Galactic Starcruiser did not make Disney any money. Not one cent. The hotel was almost never full, with occupancy typically averaging 70%. However, the hotel did have occupancy as low as 20%.
Despite the low attendance, guests who managed to afford to stay at the Galactic Starcruiser reportedly absolutely loved their experience. The Galactic Starcruiser actually had the highest guest satisfaction rating in Disney history.
What Should Disney Do With the Starcruiser?
If Disney decides not to reopen the Galactic Starcruiser, that leaves the question, “What will Disney do with it?” Does it make sense to gut the Starcruiser, add some windows, and turn it into a Deluxe hotel? Should they remove it completely and do something else?
Disney has a lot of options, but one of the best things they can do is listen to their guests and create a new experience that will not only be enjoyable, but also affordable.
Would you like to see the Galactic Starcruiser return? Let us know in the comments!
yes please have it come back!
We absolutely LOVED doing the Halcyon experience (Sept 2022), and would have done it again if not for the large ticket price. I would love to see it stay as a Star Wars themed hotel, and so would a LOT of other Star Wars fans! (Just not at $5,000 or 2 nights; price it like the other Disney on site hotels, you will fill it.)
Who wouldn’t love to stay here, dressed as your SW character, “fly down to the planet”, eat and drink Galactically!
Bring it back!
NO on changing it to some other theme; it’s WAAAAY TOO COOL as it is!!