The following article is based on a tip from a source that may remain anonymous. However, should the source wish to be named in the future, we will update with proper credit given. For now the source is withheld to protect potential unwanted disclosure.
Allegedly, the reveal of Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser to the press has not gone as The Walt Disney Company has wanted. While the reviews of journalists and influencers are positive overall, within their actual articles they often bury the lede. Yes, they my title their article in a beneficial way for Disney, and they may conclude on a happy note… but the interior paragraphs often express skepticism or disappointment. They certainly aren’t sure about a price tag that can go north of six-thousand dollars for a family of four on a two-day “excursion”.
Thus is the contortion of an influencer or journalist who wants to maintain credibility with readers but also wants continued access with the biggest entertainment company on the planet. Give a bad review on the Galactic Starcruiser and see how quickly Disney will want you to come back for a future all-expenses-paid review.
Len Testa of Touring Plans is a lovely person who tries to present information about Walt Disney World in the most unbiased fashion possible (we may work together on a future article about Lightning Lanes). Yet even Testa is coming out with an assessment of the media’s relationship with Disney that should cause everyone to pause when reading some of these first-waver reviews:
With the Galactic Starcruiser media embargo ending tomorrow, here’s a couple of consumer advice points:
1) Many writers about to tell you how great this is, don’t believe it themselves
2) Disney pressures media outlets to say only positive things
From people inside right now: pic.twitter.com/JtBy38BVIO
— Len Testa | mastodon.social/@LenTesta (@LenTesta) February 24, 2022
We’ve heard the same from Steve of WDW Magic posting on the WDW Magic Forums… people with connections are getting the real scoop from those who have boarded the Galactic Starcruiser.
So I’m hearing interesting buzz coming out from the media who have been staying there. “$6k. No way.”
Who is going to dare say it/print it.
There is, however, a much larger problem for Disney Parks. No matter how the reviews are officially put together for print in the big, national media outlets, the real reviews are about to happen as guests with skin in the game start the experience. That’s where things could get ugly. Regardless of what the first-wave of reviews have said, the videos that people are seeing is one of those situations where you have to ask yourself: who do you trust, the influencers or your own lying eyes?
Note the people yelling in awe are not guests… these are influencers, journalists, and cast members. If you think this is worth six-thousand dollars, feel free to spend that money how you see fit.
There are two reasons why the videos are a major problem for Disney:
- The poor reception of the videos is an indicator that Disney’s Imagineers or management are not in sync with the market. If they anticipated this would drive interest, they were badly mistaken.
- Because the videos are actually harming public interest, it is likely reviews from real guests will not be as positive as desired, and that is likely to dry up support even more.
Now, will we see reservations go up in the short term? Surely. There are going to be plenty of people buying up reservations as a result of commercials, network television specials, and more. And there’s no doubt that this experience is for a very specific demographic. If you’re into role-playing, larping, Star Wars, and the Kathleen Kennedy style of a Galaxy Far, Far Away… this might be something you will enjoy. Does this website want to rain on your parade? Far from it. We hope everyone who goes has a wonderful time and we wish Disney all the success in the world.
It’s just that I’m also a realist.
Realistically, you should know that a source very close to everything going on with the Galactic Starcruiser is reporting to That Park Place that Disney is developing a contingency plan. It may be that the Star Wars hotel cannot sustain enthusiasm sufficient to keep it going even until a refurbishment date after a year-or-so. That’s quite disappointing, allegedly, to Disney management, but they do have a way to mitigate the public relations fiasco as well as a means by which to put the company in a good light.
Check this video out before the explanation:
The bantha in the room: the #StarWars #GalacticStarcruiser is quite expensive ($4,800 to $6,000 per voyage), and for many fans, it’s out of reach. Here’s how Disney creative execs Wendy Anderson and Ann Morrow Johnson answered when I asked if the experience is “worth it”. @Newsy pic.twitter.com/4EiwThBe2h
— Clayton Sandell (@Clayton_Sandell) February 25, 2022
What if Disney could fill the Galactic Starcruiser while simultaneously making themselves look altruistic in the process? Enter the reported Plan B:
According to our source, the four and six hour excursions aboard the Galactic Starcruiser that some influencers had was not a one-off event. No, these were trial runs for a Plan B Mode that may be implemented if the Galactic Starcruiser is unable to fill enough passengers after the initial opening rush. We’re talking about September-ish of 2022, as well as the early months of 2023. The concept is simple: declare that you want to make the experience available to families that previously could not afford it, open it up to rotating multi-hour experiences, and lower the cost. Continue to provide the full experience on more limited days, and try to salvage the situation while appearing to be on the side of the working class that can’t (or won’t) drop many thousands on what you’re seeing in the videos.
And as I’ve written in the past, there is a potential refurbishment rewrite that Disney may go to if Rey and Kylo Ren just won’t drive fans:
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”.
Is there any doubt that Grogu, Mando, Luke and Leia would sell more tickets? And if any of these alternate plans have to happen, is there any doubt that the Pablo Hidalgo / Kathleen Kennedy / Story Group push that influenced this hotel (and Galaxy’s Edge) will be even further diminished?
All of this depends on the guests, though. Who can say for sure what will happen. After all, none of these changes occur if guests are satisfied with what we’ve seen so far. And in that case, Star Wars will keep right on trucking down the path they’ve been on for a decade… box truck and all.
Let us know what you think in the comments below, and as always, keep checking out That Park Place for all your latest Star Wars updates!
