Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is a highly-hyped new lodge providing 2-night experiences at Walt Disney World. The themed resort behind Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios is now open, and this information covers every part you could know–together with pricing, 2023 reservation data, what’s included, and extra! (Updated October 29, 2022.)
We’ve been “aboard” Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser twice now. Once for a preview and as soon as for the inaugural voyage aboard the starship Halcyon, jewel of the Chandrila Star Line. We’ll be trustworthy with you–this isn’t going to be for everybody, and even most guests to Walt Disney World. As a threshold matter, it’s best to decide whether or not that is good match on your celebration by studying our spoiler-free Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Review.
The nature of the expertise alone will remove many households visiting Walt Disney World. Then there’s the price, which makes it a complete non-starter for a lot of others. We paid $6,634.32 for a celebration of 4–or $1,658.58 per particular person. For extra ideas on this costly pricing, see Is Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Worth the High Cost?
As for what it’s, that’s troublesome to concisely clarify. Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser has an immersive ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ model story layered on high, in addition to alternatives for nearly-endless present parts. It’s an unprecedented hospitality and leisure endeavor, with the top product being superior or alienating, relying upon your perspective.
Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is not like something Walt Disney World has ever carried out, an amalgamation of a bunch of various leisure choices. It’s probably not corresponding to a theme park go to or conventional lodge keep. Instead, consider it extra like a cruise on land–because the identify suggests–with all-inclusive (largely) meals & drinks and comparable programming. Even the cabins are extra just like cruise staterooms, as you’ll be able to see in our Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Room Review, Photos & Video.
Unlike Disney Cruise Line, the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort places company within the middle of an interactive journey that they management. Think of this as a hybrid between a reside motion function enjoying sport and the all-inclusive resort hands-on ‘enrichment through entertainment’ expertise.
Disney has examined related ideas like Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser earlier than, however that is envelope-pushing when it comes to its scope and degree of immersion. It’s additionally not like a standard lodge. About the one similarity is that it has visitor cabins with beds. Many of the facilities and options you’d count on of a traditional Walt Disney World resort should not current at Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.
In truth, evaluating Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser side-by-side to a Deluxe Resort reveals that it doesn’t examine most of the similar containers. If you desire a luxurious expertise with a pool, spa, concierge, well-appointed rooms, and extra–you’ll be dissatisfied. Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser has none of these issues. It doesn’t even have home windows within the visitor rooms–it has simulated portals into outer house. Although it’s on land, it’s pretending to be a spaceship, that means it doesn’t have something you wouldn’t discover on a spaceship.
None of that is to say that Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is missing–it simply shouldn’t be what you may count on from a typical Walt Disney World resort at this worth level. The focus right here is far more on the immersive expertise, role-playing, and themed atmosphere. Suffice to say, don’t conflate “expensive” with “luxurious” as that is one thing completely different solely.
With that stated, let’s dig into all the main points, as a result of there’s a ton to learn about Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort!
Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser Updates
Voyages aboard Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser have now been launched by September 2023. Above is a take a look at November by January 2023. Fewer than half of the departures this vacation season are offered out, which is the busiest time of yr at Walt Disney World.
Worse but, there isn’t a single itinerary that’s offered out in 2023. Keep in thoughts that folks usually e book holidays–particularly costly ones like this–about 6 months prematurely. Most individuals aren’t taking multi-thousand greenback holidays on a whim. It’s in all probability regarding to the corporate that this new expertise with extremely restricted capability already shouldn’t be filling up.
With that stated, availability fluctuates a lot. Keep in thoughts that one reservation could be the distinction between “sold out” and “available,” that means that every one it takes is one cancellation or perhaps a modification to completely different dates to go from out there to not out there.
You actually need to name (407-939-1800) for correct availability in case your dates are inside the subsequent 3 months. You may discover that there are alternatives for dates that look offered out, or that some voyages that seem out there are literally gone.
If you’re already waiting for doing Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser in Fall 2023, it’s probably these gained’t go on sale till someday in early 2023. As you’ll be able to see from the supply calendar above, there’s actually no rush to make reservations even as soon as they’re out there.
The “new ship smell” has already worn off the Halcyon, so dates promoting out rapidly is unlikely to be a difficulty going ahead. If something, you may profit by ready. Walt Disney World is probably going going to wish to supply reductions sooner slightly than afterward Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.
Disney lately has been conducting paid analysis on visitor “perceptions, observations, and attitudes” in direction of stays on the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser” at Walt Disney World. It’s attainable that is both routine suggestions or there’s a higher sense of urgency and significance if the corporate must make changes to extend bookings.
With solely 100 rooms to fill, it’s probably regarding to the corporate that many peak dates this vacation season–and completely nothing in 2023–haven’t but offered out. It’ll be attention-grabbing to comply with the supply scenario to see how rapidly adjustments are made, or whether or not reductions are provided.
Even if voyages don’t promote out, it wouldn’t shock us to see Walt Disney World not provide reductions for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser till mid-2023.
Releasing particular presents inside a yr of the debut date doesn’t ship a great message to traders and firm analysts concerning the success of this pricey funding. Disney might also need to preserve the looks of a premium product–with commensurate pricing–to customers. Discounting units a precedent, and one which’s troublesome to undo.
When you do name to make your reservation, have all contact info (names, ages, and so forth.) for everybody in your celebration prepared in addition to your Disney account e mail deal with (if you happen to one way or the other don’t have one, make it earlier than calling). Also be ready for prolonged maintain occasions and being transferred a few occasions. Wait occasions are typically a number of hours; on busy days, the decision queue closes fully.
While we’ve discovered the reps reserving Galactic Starcruiser to be educated and skilled, they’re additionally very “careful” with info. For instance, they gained’t merely inform you which dates are most cost-effective or provide pricing data sure suites–you need to present particular dates and data, after which they’ll offer you a quote for these dates–and solely these dates. It generally is a bit tedious.
If you don’t need to trouble with it your self, we extremely suggest requesting a free/no obligation quote from an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and having them take care of the complications so that you don’t must. That journey company, and presumably most others, have devoted planners which might be already skilled in reserving Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser who will likely be pleased to help you with the method, show you how to select probably the most economical dates, finest add-ons, and so forth.
Just remember the fact that choices, particularly the Galaxy Class Suite, Grand Captain Suite, and Captain’s Table, are restricted and may not match the calendar above. In the previous few months, availability has fluctuated wildly. Using an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner is unquestionably the best way to go when reserving Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser–it’s simpler and so they can monitor for availability and take care of calling in to handle the reservation since nothing could be carried out on-line (and there are at all times wait occasions on the cellphone).
We’ve accomplished our first voyage on Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, paying full worth for the costly expertise. (Well, we shared the room with 2 different adults, so technically we paid half worth–however the level is that there was no low cost!) We’ll have complete evaluations and protection of the particular expertise for paying company within the coming weeks, so keep tuned.
With that replace out of the best way, right here’s every part else we learn about Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort…
Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser Experience Details
Prior to their departure, company making ready for his or her voyages aboard the Halcyon are inspired to buy Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser costumes offered completely on storeDisney.com. Options vary from $70 to $150 for adults and $60 to $100 for teenagers. Each seemingly serves a unique function, so I assume you’ll “need” to purchase a number of wardrobe adjustments to keep away from any intergalactic fake pas or model errors.
StoreDisney’s merchandise is offered for buy completely by company with a qualifying Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser reservation. Eligible company are eligible to purchase these outfits on storeDisney.com as much as 60 days previous to their Galactic Starcruiser reservation check-in date and as much as 30 days after their check-out date. In order to finish the transaction, the e-mail deal with used to signal into storeDisney should even be linked to your Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser reservation.
Following that and all different pre-departure preparations, the precise journey begins when company arrive on the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Terminal at Walt Disney World and examine in for his or her two-night expertise. Guests then enter a Launch Pod for transport into house. Through home windows, they’ll see themselves go away Florida behind, leaping into hyperspace and drawing nearer to the Halcyon, which is the starcruiser they’ll name house for the subsequent two nights.
When the Launch Pod docks with the Halcyon and the airlock opens, company step into the ship’s predominant deck Atrium to start their journey by a galaxy far, distant. A go to aboard the Halcyon turns into a multi-day story that interweaves with members of the crew, different passengers, acquainted Star Wars characters, and an tour to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
While staying aboard the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser, company work together with an eclectic group of characters each acquainted and new. This consists of the Halcyon’s robust and charismatic captain, a plucky ship’s mechanic, and a galactic famous person who can captivate a complete room with the criminal of 1 jewel-encrusted purple Twi’lek finger.
This singing sensation is a featured performer throughout one of many eating experiences contained in the Crown of Corellia Dining Room. The attractive supper membership’s identify is an homage to Corellia, the planet recognized galaxy-wide for its shipyards that gave us not solely the Halcyon starcruiser, but in addition the Millennium Falcon. The eating room is a vivid and welcoming corridor that serves breakfast and lunch to passengers earlier than transitioning every night right into a lavish multi-course menu of each otherworldly and acquainted origins.
During their all-immersive expertise aboard the Halcyon, company are invited to delve deeper into their private adventures by collaborating in onboard actions, interacting with characters, crew, different passengers they meet, and turning into a part of the motion.
Some of those actions embrace wielding a lightsaber and dealing with off towards a coaching distant, visiting the starcruiser’s Bridge to study ship programs and how one can function them, and working the starcruiser’s navigation and protection programs–abilities that come in useful throughout a journey by this adventure-filled galaxy.
Guests are in a position to discover the Halcyon and uncover hidden areas deep within the mechanics of the ship–just like the Engineering Room, which is ideal for uncovering secrets and techniques or holding secret conferences. Another attention-grabbing spot is the Sublight Lounge, the place company of all ages can take pleasure in libations and video games in a trendy setting.
On the skin, the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort seems like an industrial bunker, and not an precise starship. When you enter the lodge, you’ll solely be seeing the terminal and Launch Pod, not the Halcyon itself. Any representations of the Halcyon from contained in the lodge are simulated. The exterior of the lodge and surrounding space is extremely unimpressive and industrial.
Additionally, there are only a few visitor rooms within the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort–solely 100 rooms whole. That ought to make for an intimate (and in-demand) expertise as in comparison with different resorts at Walt Disney World, a lot of which have nicely over 1,000 rooms.
The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort is bodily positioned backstage behind Disney’s Hollywood Studios close to Cast Member parking and the present buildings for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. However, each window within the Halcyon, together with these in every visitor cabin, has a view into outer house, with ever-changing vistas because the ship progresses from place to position.
Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort shouldn’t be open for most people to go to. This is not like another lodge at Walt Disney World, and even the DCL comparability doesn’t do it full justice. A docked ship that may have facilities and services that overlap with a normal lodge, however this gained’t have issues like a pool, spa, tennis courts, or actually any outside recreation choices.
The Galactic Starcruiser is extra like a long-form, multi-part attraction or on-board cruise tour. Think of it alongside these strains–it’s an immersive expertise…that’s so lengthy it presents a spot to sleep, too.
To offer you an thought of what to anticipate, right here’s a pattern itinerary for Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser:
With some fundamentals concerning the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort out of the best way, let’s cowl different questions concerning the Star Wars lodge that we’ve been receiving from readers…
What’s Included
Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser trip packages embrace:
- 2-night keep in a cabin or suite
- Ongoing, immersive and interactive leisure, the place selections decide your expertise
- Food and drinks on the starcruiser (excluding alcoholic and specialty drinks) and a quick-service meal at Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo or different choose places at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- Admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on your planetary tour to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
- Valet parking
- Exclusive Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser MagicBand
Pricing
Walt Disney World has launched pattern pricing for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort. Above is a take a look at charges for departures on weeknights within the fall low season.
A number of issues to notice right here. First, that is the low season at Walt Disney World and it’s when rack charges in any respect lodges are at their lowest ranges of the yr. For instance, Grand Floridian rooms begin at $742 per evening for those self same dates however soar to over $850 per evening for a lot of dates in October.
Suffice to say, pricing for weekends or extra common journey dates might find yourself being significantly costlier. With that stated, we’re actually stunned by how “low” the costs are for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.
Obviously, this expertise shouldn’t be low cost. To the opposite, it’s very, very costly. Total voyage prices of ~$5,000 to $6,000 for low season weekdays is a ton of cash and suggests peak dates are hundreds of {dollars} costlier.
However, that’s nonetheless much less cash than we anticipated (a previous model of this submit predicted prices of round $3,000 per particular person). Some dates might find yourself being on the costlier finish of that spectrum, however the beginning costs–and prices for households of 4 are a nice shock. Again, it’s nonetheless an exorbitant sum of cash…simply much less exorbitant than the outrageous numbers we had been bracing ourselves for.
We’re positive many–if not most–of you’ll disagree with this. Perhaps it’s all about expectations. We anticipated this to be astronomically priced given what the expertise entails, its all-inclusive nature, and the way Disney costs each its luxurious resorts and cruises. Others may’ve had completely different expectations than us. No matter the way you slice this, it’s costly. But it might’ve been worse.
Another factor to think about right here is that the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort is actually an all-inclusive boutique lodge plus an interactive reside leisure expertise. It’s labor intensive however doesn’t have many rooms, that means that the price-points listed below are excessive.
Scarcity can be an enormous issue. Some have derided this as a lodge or expertise for the highest 1%, however that’s truly not correct. On any given day, lower than .01% of the company at Walt Disney World will likely be staying at Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort. This isn’t to say it’ll solely enchantment to the rich…simply that an infinitesimally small variety of Walt Disney World’s total visitor inhabitants will likely be staying right here.
There are loads of diehard Star Wars and Disney followers with giant quantities of disposable earnings. Look no additional than the costs Savi’s Workshop for Handbuilt Lightsabers is ready to cost for that have as a consequence of its extremely restricted capability. This resort is just like that, however with a extra elaborate and concerned expertise.
Reservations & How to Book?
Reservations for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort could be booked by calling (407) 939-1800 to verify availability and e book your voyage. Again, reservations can’t be made on-line. The solely solution to bypass lengthy wait occasions on the cellphone is by contacting an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner and having them reserve your trip bundle for you–that’ll prevent time and work, as they’ll do your planning.
If the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort is one thing that pursuits you, we’d extremely suggest reserving it sooner slightly than later. This is for a few causes. First, costs are prone to go up–Disney not often decreases costs. The ‘sample pricing’ graphic you see beneath is probably going the most cost effective Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser will ever be.
Second, that is an formidable and envelope-pushing thought, and is presently in a state of ‘pure & pristine’ Imagineering. Over time, compromises and adjustments are prone to be made in service of operational realities, altering demographics, and visitor suggestions.
Third, if for some motive this idea doesn’t work and Disney is “forced” to lower costs to draw extra company…extra of the aforementioned compromises will likely be made to protect the corporate’s margins on the Galactic Starcruiser. Cuts will likely be made to leisure or eating (charging additional for meals & beverage is an apparent solution to lower the up-front worth whereas growing total income).
This is all hypothesis on my half. However, this can be a actually unprecedented venture for Walt Disney World, and iteration is prone to proceed primarily based upon visitor suggestions and conduct patterns. This will probably start as a thematically formidable expertise with structured reside motion roleplaying plus minimal actual world intrusions. It’ll probably be aimed on the hardcore Star Wars followers who need one thing extremely immersive and all-encompassing. And that’s largely who it’ll appeal to at first–Star Wars zealots and different hardcore followers who save or splurge on this.
What the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort evolves into relies upon largely upon each the effectiveness of Disney’s messaging and potential company truly listening to advertising. Walt Disney World is already stressing that this isn’t a typical lodge keep, however that doesn’t imply individuals will hear or comprehend that.
Ultimately, it’s attainable that Imagineering will fine-tune the choices aboard the starship Halcyon, and it’ll age like a tremendous wine. This might imply new storylines, seasonal occasions, added characters, and who is aware of what else. We had been stunned to seek out the expertise firing on all cylinders throughout the inaugural voyage, and had been stunned by how nicely it appealed to company of all ages and even mainstream audiences. There’s loads of potential right here.
With that stated, it’s additionally attainable that the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort expertise will likely be diluted after its first yr or so (that is what we predicted previous to opening). The main demographic might shift from hardcore followers making a giant splurge to prosperous company wanting their first go to to Walt Disney World to include the perfect of every part–mainly, wealthy mother and father with youngsters who take pleasure in Star Wars. The latter group is much much less fascinated about thematic and storytelling integrity, and extra so in exclusivity and splendid experiences. Over time, Imagineering will iterate on the idea so it comports with visitor suggestions and expectations.
Still have unanswered questions concerning the attraction? Read our Ride Guide & FAQ for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, which covers every part you could know. If you’re planning on visiting the brand new land, you’ll additionally need to learn our Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Guide. It’s a great primer for this large addition. As for planning the remainder of your journey, now we have an intensive Walt Disney World Planning Guide.
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the addition of a boutique Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Resort to Walt Disney World? Will you be reserving this? If not, what’s your most per particular person price-point for this expertise? Would you like a extra typical lodge keep at a Star Wars-themed or embellished lodge? Do you agree or disagree with our recommendation and assessments? Any questions we will help you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!