New images have surfaced.
What began as one of Disney’s boldest immersive storytelling experiences has now reached its final destination—office space. The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, which launched in 2022 with great ambition, concluded its voyages on September 30, 2023. Now, the former Halcyon starcruiser is being reimagined not for guests, but for the creative minds behind its very existence: Walt Disney Imagineering.
An aerial image shared by @bioreconstruct shows recent activity at the site, including equipment trucks and rental vans. Sunbelt equipment vehicles on-site suggest construction is underway to convert the building into office facilities for Imagineering. The irony hasn’t gone unnoticed. “That’s pretty cold to make them sit and work inside their failure,” wrote Robert M. (@robertmclaws), while Louis D. (@DoleIV) added, “Literally looks like a prison lol.”
When it was first revealed at the 2017 D23 Expo, the Galactic Starcruiser promised to break new ground in themed entertainment. The two-day experience allowed guests to live out their own Star Wars saga, complete with character-driven missions, themed dining, and an excursion to Batuu in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It was an immersive, interactive vacation concept unlike anything the company had done before.
However, the hefty price tag—nearly $5,000 for a standard cabin—sparked debate from the beginning. Although early guests were intrigued by the storytelling and level of detail, interest began to taper off, and Disney later extended select discounts to boost attendance.
Prior to Disney confirming its office space plans, speculation abounded among fans about what the Halcyon facility might become next. Ideas floated across social media, some hoping for a retheme, others suggesting a different immersive offering altogether.
The Galactic Starcruiser was a product of a larger push to bring more of Disney’s intellectual properties into its parks. After acquiring Lucasfilm in 2012, Disney introduced Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in 2019 at both Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World in Florida. There, guests encounter droids, pilots, and Resistance fighters as they journey through Black Spire Outpost, pilot the Millennium Falcon, or join the Resistance in a battle against the First Order.
And the trend toward immersive IP-based storytelling doesn’t stop with Star Wars. After its acquisition of Marvel in 2009, Disney launched Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure and Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris, offering guests a chance to team up with their favorite heroes in person.
The legacy of Walt Disney World Resort continues to evolve as well. From its opening in 1971 with Roy Disney at the helm, fulfilling Walt’s dream for “The Florida Project,” the resort has grown to encompass four theme parks, two water parks, and over 20 themed resort hotels.
Now, as the Halcyon transitions into a different kind of vessel—one for creativity and innovation—it leaves behind a chapter that blended storytelling with hospitality in a groundbreaking way.
What would you envision for the Starcruiser’s next life? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
