Disney's Star Wars Galactic: Starcruiser hotel to close after a year
The Walt Disney World's Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel in Florida will have its final voyage for guests this September—almost two years after it had just opened.
The resort announced on Thursday, May 18 (US time) that its immersive Star Wars-themed luxury hotel in Orlando, Florida will be shutting down this year due to "a business decision," as reported by CNN.
“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," Disney said in a statement.
“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,” it added.
Rates for the voyages start at $4,809 (P268,000) for two persons and can go as high as $5,999 for four. The package includes a two-night stay, food and beverages, admission to the Disney's Hollywood Studios, valet parking, immersive and interactive entertainment, and exclusive Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser MagicBand.
In May 2022, CEO Bob Chapek said that there is a "continued high demand" for the hotel. However, five months later, WDW News Today reported that the demand for the experiential hotel "have stalled," having no sold-out dates in 2023 and a number of vacancies throughout 2022.
It was also reported that cancellations increased after opening.
On its website, Star Wars Galactic: Starcruiser paid tribute to its cast members and imagineers, and thanked their guests for their patronage.
"We are so proud of all of the Cast Members and Imagineers who brought Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser to life and look forward to delivering an excellent experience for Guests during the remaining voyages over the coming months. Thank you to our Guests and fans for making this experience so special," they wrote.
They added that new bookings for available voyages through September 28-30 are "temporarily paused" but will soon reopen on May 26, 2023 for available voyages through September 28-30, 2023.
Guests who previously booked voyages on or after September 30 will be contacted “to discuss their options and modify their plans.”