The Galactic Starcruiser Is Closing

By Published On: May 19, 2023

The Galactic Starcruiser Is Closing

By Published On: May 19, 2023

After barely a year in operation, the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser is no more. While it will likely return in a new form, the hotel can now be called one of the worst failures ever for Walt Disney World Resort.

 

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.

— The Walt Disney Company, Official Statement

It should be no surprise that The Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser is closing. I predicted they would have to do something this past winter. Instead, they hoped to make it through this year. Now, with the announcement that September will be the end, we can all begin to wonder how they will retool the experience. After all, there’s no way this thing is getting River Country’ed.

The announcement about the Starcruiser came as Kathleen Kennedy was entering the theater at Cannes. It seems to have been timed for maximum damage. It’s strange that it came from the company that employs Mrs. Kennedy. Make of it what you will.

There were many who said the Galactic Starcruiser was fine. They said that those disenfranchised from Star Wars were just a disgruntled minority — a bunch of rubes. That can now safely be put to bed. Star Wars is in trouble. The sequel trilogy has damaged the brand immensely. And boutique experiences are no longer manageable for a franchise that has largely sent its most ardent fans packing.

Meanwhile, Nintendo is bringing Mario and Zelda to Orlando (more on the latter soon). We’re about to see what true fan enthusiasm looks like. It wasn’t to be found at the Starcruiser.

For all the latest news that should be fun, keep reading That Park Place. As always, drop a comment down below!

About the Author: WDW Pro
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WDW Pro is an opinionated commentator on all things Disney and Entertainment. First becoming well-known on WDWMagic.com, the author was brought on to work at Pirates and Princesses. Pro has previously released exclusive details on a variety of rumors and leaks before they were made public. Some exclusives have included breaking info on new Epcot attractions, detailing the light saber experience at the Star Wars hotel, reporting a Harrison Ford injury severity before anyone else, revealing Hugh Jackman was coming to the MCU, Storm would be linked with Wakanda and more. WDW Pro has written articles viewed by millions of readers while maintaining an 87% accuracy rating for revealing "insider" information in 2020. In 2021, the author had a better than 90% accuracy on reported leaks and rumors. Pro joined That Park Place on June 22nd, 2021. The author's accolades include being featured on The Daily Wire, cited by Timcast, numerous references by YouTube personalities, as well as having material tweeted by Dr. Jordan Peterson. WDW Pro is honored, and grateful, while hoping to make the world a better place. In 2023, a third party audit found Pro's accuracy for rumors and scoops to be 92.5%.

After barely a year in operation, the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser is no more. While it will likely return in a new form, the hotel can now be called one of the worst failures ever for Walt Disney World Resort.

 

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.

— The Walt Disney Company, Official Statement

It should be no surprise that The Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser is closing. I predicted they would have to do something this past winter. Instead, they hoped to make it through this year. Now, with the announcement that September will be the end, we can all begin to wonder how they will retool the experience. After all, there’s no way this thing is getting River Country’ed.

The announcement about the Starcruiser came as Kathleen Kennedy was entering the theater at Cannes. It seems to have been timed for maximum damage. It’s strange that it came from the company that employs Mrs. Kennedy. Make of it what you will.

There were many who said the Galactic Starcruiser was fine. They said that those disenfranchised from Star Wars were just a disgruntled minority — a bunch of rubes. That can now safely be put to bed. Star Wars is in trouble. The sequel trilogy has damaged the brand immensely. And boutique experiences are no longer manageable for a franchise that has largely sent its most ardent fans packing.

Meanwhile, Nintendo is bringing Mario and Zelda to Orlando (more on the latter soon). We’re about to see what true fan enthusiasm looks like. It wasn’t to be found at the Starcruiser.

For all the latest news that should be fun, keep reading That Park Place. As always, drop a comment down below!

About the Author: WDW Pro
Avatar photo
WDW Pro is an opinionated commentator on all things Disney and Entertainment. First becoming well-known on WDWMagic.com, the author was brought on to work at Pirates and Princesses. Pro has previously released exclusive details on a variety of rumors and leaks before they were made public. Some exclusives have included breaking info on new Epcot attractions, detailing the light saber experience at the Star Wars hotel, reporting a Harrison Ford injury severity before anyone else, revealing Hugh Jackman was coming to the MCU, Storm would be linked with Wakanda and more. WDW Pro has written articles viewed by millions of readers while maintaining an 87% accuracy rating for revealing "insider" information in 2020. In 2021, the author had a better than 90% accuracy on reported leaks and rumors. Pro joined That Park Place on June 22nd, 2021. The author's accolades include being featured on The Daily Wire, cited by Timcast, numerous references by YouTube personalities, as well as having material tweeted by Dr. Jordan Peterson. WDW Pro is honored, and grateful, while hoping to make the world a better place. In 2023, a third party audit found Pro's accuracy for rumors and scoops to be 92.5%.
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TimW
TimW
10 months ago

I wonder if it was actually timed to damage Governor Ron DeSantis, but the Galactic Starcruiser closing was overshadowed by the Lake Nona Project cancellation. So perhaps a two for one. Kathleen Kennedy’s Indiana Jones Die of Diversity was poorly received and reviewed so she got a double whammy with the Starcruiser closure.

Mark N
Mark N
10 months ago

My best guesses as to what Disney will do,
1 find something else garbage-trilogy related to do. Disney seems to be disconnected from the laws of logic and reason and basic business sense, so the most illogical thing to do is probably what their going to try.
2A. retheme to mandalorian…right after the disasterous season 3… oof (Poor imagineering just can’t catch a break right now.)
2B retheme to one of the less successful shows
2C Retheme the hotel to something else entirely. I’m not sure what that would be, Perhaps a frozen hotel, an encanto hotel, but Disney would find something stupid to do with it.
3. bring on the bulldozers!!… Given how harmonious went down and the fact they’ve gone ahead and torn the thing apart, I wouldn’t put it past them to just let the bulldozers roll. Although I’m fairly sure many Angry fans will happily light the place on fire for Free, provided they don’t get locked up as a result.

4. retheme to OT or Clone Wars era… Although given how horrible of a makeup and costuming job they’ve done with ahsoka in Mando, I don’t trust their makeup jobs for aliens. When you’re failing miserably against ameture cosplayers there’s a problem…
5. Offer multiple experiences, one CW era, one OT era, one GARBAGE era replace with Mando when that proves unpopular, if Mando isn’t similarly tanked.
6. ADMIT DEFEAT. SELL THE FRANCHISE. or at least fire Kennedy.

Blink
Blink
10 months ago

Small potential customer base due to high cost
Looked more like the Star Trek world than Star Wars – positioning it as a “tramp steamer” would have been more exciting.
Grandiose, all inclusive cruise-like role play become short, one-off ‘experiences’ and pay-to-play even as they were taking first reservations. Once the realty hit, interest really went down.
Most guests were comped, discounted, ego centric ‘influencers’ who snort pixie dust.
Disney has believed its own b.s. too long. Finally catching up to them.

KJ
KJ
10 months ago

I felt like this was a prison. No windows. Must be in a secure bus to get yard time.

A potential solution is to increase voyage time. Disney could run 2, 4, and 5 night cruises.

But the prison feel is likely why they have a small voyage time.

Brad B
Brad B
10 months ago

If memory serves, part kf the reason for another Ray movie was to trying and salvage the character because of the investment made in this facility. If they are shutting it down (or at least repurposing it), what’s the justification for the movie now? Do you think this makes that movie less likely now?

TG
TG
9 months ago

I’m a fan of your YouTube content and a fan of Star wars. Like other fans, they lost me with the new Star wars trilogies. I have a movie plot that would bring together the new trilogies with the original 6 films and it would kick start three more trilogies after that.
I don’t want to give the plot in this comment. I don’t know if I could email or talk to me and I could share the plot with you. If you feel like the plot is good enough. You can discuss it on your channel. I think it would solve the problem that the new trilogies created and allow a reboot of Star wars. It won’t work with KK in charge.
The 10th movie would include Rey a younger Luke and Leia. The reboot movies could include Luke, Leia, Han, Chewy, Rey, Mandalorian, Ahsoka and more. The possibilities are unlimited as long as nobody messes it up. I think John, Favreau and Dave Filoni would be great to fulfill these new movies.
I had to put in my email to write this comment, so I assume you could email me. Also, I came up with this plot while listening to your YouTube channel.

Hope to Hear from you!
A Star Wars fan.