The following article contains spoilers for the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser experience, as well as potential spoilers for a future iteration. This article is partially based on rumors and speculation; no part of this article should be taken as a statement of absolute fact. No part of this article is part of official Walt Disney Company public statements nor public disclosure.
“Orlando, we have a problem.”
That might be the distress signal you’re hearing out of the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser preparing to launch its first “flights” in March of 2022. Already the hotel larping experience has had a promotional video yanked off the internet by Disney, scores of cancellations have opened up availability on numerous occasions, even making dates open for the first two weeks of its operation. The problems creating this kerfuffle are numerous. The aesthetics of the hotel are underwhelming and generic. The games on the “bridge” are along the lines of Space Invaders from the eighties, but with graphics from last generation video games. People aren’t thrilled about a purple Kathleen Kennedy being their “captain”.
Many have asked both publicly and privately exactly how Disney can fix the problem they’re in. But the answer is not simple. First, Disney is not yet convinced there absolutely is a problem; if they can make sure the first flights are positive experiences, perhaps they can rebound the public perception? Sure, they’re not allowing videos or photos inside most parts of the hotel, but influencers will receive exceptions and their reviews will be glowing. Otherwise, how will they get invited to future premieres?
But what if there is a problem? What if Disney can’t book the hotel consistently like they need to make a constant flow of profit.
There is a Plan B.
While a backup plan, or “plussing”, is not totally solidified, I have been informed by sources I feel are solid that Disney is working out how to generate new interest in the hotel should the launching version fail. If you thought Disney would sit on their laurels while the ship goes down, think again. I can absolutely take one option off the table for readers, however: this building is not going to be used as a standard hotel at any point in the foreseeable future. In fact, to do so would be a major expense for Disney.
So the leading option that I’m hearing about right now is that Disney may try to ditch the timeline of the current Galactic Starcruiser. If you read past this point, big-time spoilers are on the way. You have been warned.
Disney knows that the sequel trilogy is a mess and fans are generally less enthused about those three movies than any other Star Wars material they have outside of High Republic. Yet Galactic Starcruiser is currently tied to both the sequel trilogy and the High Republic. The last evening of the Galactic Starcruiser experience has Rey board the ship to defeat Kylo Ren, who has taken over the structure. It involves a lot of pyrotechnics, acrobatics, and everything is above you so that guests have great views without ever being in the way. One of the problems is, however, that nobody really cares that much about Rey defeating Kylo Ren. Sure, there are some fans of those characters, but they’re not enough to sustain the thing.
Baby Yoda (a.k.a. Grogu) on the other hand…
So the leading option for the Galactic Starcrusier’s first changeup is to have Grogu on board the hotel and revealed on the first night. He’s a stowaway, being taken by Chewbacca across the galaxy to avoid detection by Admiral Thrawn. During the second night, however the ship would be boarded by unnamed baddies; they’ll be there to take Grogu. One of the scripts allegedly calls for Grogu and Chewbacca giving themselves up so that the rest of the guests are not harmed instead. Just as Grogu is being handed over to the bad guys, Luke Skywalker would arrive and save Grogu once again. A thank you message potentially could then be played for the guests from Princess Leia, expressing gratitude for their help in protecting “the child”.
Now that could be total bunk. But the source on this one has been early and right for me on many occasions. Will it come to pass? I don’t know. Disney will be watching the ratings for The Book of Boba Fett closely before they commit to any changes. As I’ve said before, however, everything is now going to be Grogu-centric for Star Wars. He sells the merch, and he may save hotel experiences.
