Disney’s ill-fated Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, the overpriced and short-lived hotel experience that shut down after barely a year, will not be repurposed for guests, according to a rumor from The Wrap. It will instead reportedly transform into office space for Walt Disney Imagineering.
The pricey failure, which reportedly cost upwards of $1 billion, will now house Disney’s creative teams as they plan future attractions at Walt Disney World (which also typically involves deciding which beloved attractions to destroy).
Rey and Kylo fight on the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser – YouTube, Theme Park Review
READ: James Gunn Defends Superman Footage Against Allegations of Facial CGI In Recent TV Trailer
This revelation from The Wrap confirms that Disney has no plans to salvage the high-budget disaster that priced out families and alienated fans with its absurdly high price tag of up to $6,000 for a two-night stay.
The experience, which was heavily criticized for its lackluster immersion in the controversial and unpopular Star Wars sequel trilogy and limited interactivity, became a financial embarrassment for Disney, leading to an abrupt closure in September 2023.
The company took a tax write-down on the project, essentially sealing its fate as a loss.
No Second Chances for Starcruiser – Disney Doubles Down on Scrapping Guest Access
Rumors previously suggested that Disney might repurpose parts of the Galactic Starcruiser for a Star Wars-themed dining experience, using the lavishly built sets for a more accessible dinner theater-style attraction. However, The Wrap’s sources now indicate that the building will not be open to the public at all.
Kylo Ren makes an appearance on the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser – YouTube, Theme Park Review
The logistics of repurposing the Starcruiser into a dining venue were likely too cumbersome. The facility is in a backstage area and required specially designed shuttles to transport guests. The inefficient transportation and secluded location made it impractical for an attraction open to regular parkgoers.
The Pricey Failure That Disney Wants to Forget
Galactic Starcruiser was one of Disney’s most publicized and high-profile theme park blunders in recent years. Marketed as an “immersive Star Wars adventure,” it instead became infamous for its uninspired design, restrictive itinerary, and sky-high pricing. The experience catered only to the ultra-wealthy while alienating the very Star Wars fanbase it was supposed to entice.
A scene in the Star Wars Galactic Star Cruiser – YouTube, Theme Park Review
With the Starcruiser building now serving as glorified office space, Disney seems content to pretend the entire experiment never happened. Meanwhile, the company continues to chase new projects at the expense of beloved attractions, like a Monsters Inc. themed land that will bulldoze the legacy of Jim Henson and erase MuppetVision 3D from existence.
Are you surprised that the controversial Star Wars hotel is turning into office space? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
Possibly an unpopular opinion, but the pandemic has shown us just how unnecessary a big office space has become. That’s part of why more and more companies have given up on the big city life. Why pay for an expensive office you don’t need?
It depends on the individual. Some people really are more productive at home, while others abuse WFH and ruin it for everyone because they can’t be trusted to do their jobs unsupervised. And some jobs in an office setting can’t be done from home. Most IT work is like that given how many problems require a hands-on fix or even diagnosis since too many cubicle convicts are completely tech illiterate.
Disney would have been money ahead to rent out the space to other businesses. But that would make sense and be the logical thing to do, which is why woke Disney didn’t think of it.
A creative disaster being used for offices for creatives? That’s amusing.