Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Disney’s hugely ambitious Star Wars Starcruiser hotel that cost $2,400 a night forced to close after 18 months

Immersive experience which puts guest in Starcruiser themed rooms from Star Wars will carry out its final ‘voyages’ in September

Helen Coffey
Sunday 21 May 2023 11:49 BST
Comments
Disney to Shutter Star Wars-Themed Hotel

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Disney’s $2,400-a-night Star Wars hotel, which opened to much fanfare just over a year ago, is set to close in September.

The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, which launched in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, on 1 March 2022, was initially marketed as an immersive experience.

Sold as a two-day package, a stay included lodgings in a cabin or suite; immersive entertainment, such as light saber training and participating in missions with the Resistance fighting against Kylo Ren and the First Order; food and drinks; and admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Light saber training was included in the experience
Light saber training was included in the experience (Walt Disney World News/Matt Stroshane)

Although the experience was lauded by Star Wars fans and the industry, even winning a Thea Award for outstanding achievement in a themed entertainment space, the high price point was deemed by some to be prohibitively expensive.

A cabin sleeping two guests costs $4,809, a three-guest cabin comes to $5,299, and a room for three adults and one child is priced at $5,999 (excluding taxes and fees). The price for a couple sharing a room works out as $2,405 per person for a one-night, two-day stay.

The most premium experience, meanwhile, reportedly cost $20,000 for a stay in the Grand Captain suite, which sleeps eight and features a kitchenette, living room and multiple bathrooms.

Previous reports suggested Disney was finding it challenging to fill rooms in autumn, and had reduced availability and tickets prices as a result.

The experience is now set to complete its final “voyages” in September 2023.

Disney said in a statement concerning the closure: “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.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in