Did you feel that? A disturbance in the Force, as if millions of fans cried out at the same time, saying, “Wait, is Disney World bringing back Galactic Starcruiser?”
For those not in the know, the high-end immersive Star Wars experience first launched at Walt Disney World on March 1, 2022. At the time, guests were taken to the titular Galactic Starcruiser – actually a hotel, but given the theming was set “in continuity” with the Star Wars movies. Over the course of two days, guests would live in the galaxy of Star Wars, either helping the Resistance, or the First Order (this was set during the time of the sequel trilogy), as well as eating Star Wars food, interacting with characters, and much more.
It was also, and I know I’m editorializing here, prohibitively expensive. Like, “two months rent” expensive. Given the bougie nature of the Starcruiser, it abruptly closed on September 30, 2023, with one last “voyage.”
…and now, it looks like something is happening in the former site of Galactic Starcruiser.
On February 3, WDW News Today reported that the entrance to the Galactic Starcruiser in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios had been turned into a check-in spot for private photoshoots… A far cry from the entrance into a galaxy far, far away that it used to be. So that sort of thing should put a lid on any rumors that the experience is returning.
Not so, says Orlando’s Fox 35. The local Florida station reports that a Notice of Commencement was filed last month, indicating that some sort of construction was about to take place on or in the site of Galactic Starcruiser. They continue that a Notice of Commencement is required to indicate, “construction, improvements to, or for the alteration of repair of improvements to real property.”
The documents were filed by Sunstate Awning and Graphic Design on January 25, which, no shade to Fox 35, does not necessarily indicate a full overhaul of Galactic Starcruiser to set it during the events of Empire Strikes Back or something, so much as “it’s getting a new awning.”
Meaning, we're a ways away from shouting that it’s a “fully operational” Star Wars experience, is the joke I was trying to set up.
TripSided has reached out to Walt Disney World for clarification and comment, and will update this piece if we hear more.
That said, there are indications that there could be more to come with the hotel. Fox 35 continues to add that Disney Parks Chairman Josh D'Amaro told The Points Guy that something would happen in the site.
Just a suggestion, to editorialize here again… Pretty much everyone who visited Galactic Starcruiser was bowled over by it, yet often used the phrase “overwhelming” to describe the two-day experience. Perhaps if Disney was to make this into “just” a Star Wars-themed hotel, where you don’t have to pay for the full, immersive experience and can instead sleep there, enjoy some experiences, and spend the rest of your time in the parks it would be far more successful? And maybe slightly cheaper? And make more money?
As Emperor Palpatine might say: do it.