When the Walt Disney Company announced in mid-2015 that they were going to build Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge lands at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, the reaction of millions of Star Wars fans was, well, pretty much exactly what you would think it was ;-).
As Orlando residents, Joe and I were able to visit the new land early on, when it opened in the summer of 2019 – here’s Joe’s response as a lifelong fan, and this was my response as someone who never really liked the movies a whole lot (spoilers: we were both impressed, but for different reasons).
In 2017, Disney announced they were going to build a Star Wars-themed hotel, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, that would offer 100% immersive Star Wars experiences. In late 2019, they hinted at what the experience would entail – it sounded amazing for Star Wars fans!
We’ve been watching the Twitter account of bioreconstruct, who has given glimpses of the construction of the Star Wars hotel, here and there. These are from September 2020:
Aerial overviews of construction at Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser (hotel). pic.twitter.com/ws84R31FQT
— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) September 7, 2020
Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser (hotel) will have 2 day cruises, with shore excursions to Batuu (Star Wars Galaxy's Edge). It's unclear how the ship tenders or shuttle flights will work. Aerial look at likely location of the transfer. pic.twitter.com/x0jxayJRYx
— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) September 7, 2020
Aerial look at scaffolding under the Porte Cochère of Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser (hotel). Guests will see only the right side of the wall. Trees at left of the wall will block view of the show building. Upon check-in guests will transfer up, and into the Star Wars timeline. pic.twitter.com/bxs2iMyhmL
— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) September 7, 2020
However the only photos that Disney had released so far were artist’s renditions. Well, until now.
At last week’s IAAPA Expo: Virtual Education Conference (IAAPA = International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions; it’s a conference that’s held at the Orange County Convention Center every year, but this year it was held virtually. Thanks, COVID!), Disney revealed mock-ups that show what the onboard sleeping quarters will look like:
PC: Disney Parks
PC: Disney Parks
From Disney’s blog:
This morning, Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, took the virtual stage at the IAAPA Expo: Virtual Education Conference, where he shared a behind-the-scenes look at the lessons we’ve learned over the past year, and the ways we’re moving forward into 2021 and beyond.
As Josh shared in his talk, the end of the year is always a time for reflection – and to chart a path for the year to come. While we never could have imagined what this year would hold for our company, we’ve learned so much: how to share that special Disney Parks magic with our fans at home during the closures of our businesses worldwide; how to reimagine our park, resort, and store experiences to meet new challenges; and how, even amid uncertainty, to plan for what we know are better days are ahead.
Now, as we look to the future, there are new and exciting milestones on the horizon. While the pandemic meant putting some projects on pause, we never stopped dreaming up new experiences. And we are looking forward to inviting our guests to see what we’ve been working on.
There are groundbreaking new updates coming to Disney destinations around the world. As Josh shared in his update today, progress is currently being made on several projects across the globe that are pushing the boundaries of innovation and storytelling like never before.
Here’s a special peek at some of the announcements Josh made today:
…In a galaxy far, far away, progress continues at Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, where guests will live aboard a starship for a 2-day, 2-night experience. Unlike any typical cruise, though, you can become the heroes of your own Star Wars story in a new type of immersive experience that only Disney could create.
Guests will cruise the galaxy in style aboard the Halcyon, known for its impeccable service and exotic destinations. Onboard, you’ll stay in well-appointed cabins, experience onboard dining, make a planet-side excursion to Black Spire Outpost on Batuu and much more. Learn more in our earlier story.
Disney still has not announced pricing for this hotel, which will only have about 100 rooms. However, everything points to it costing in the thousands for a party of 4 to have a 2-day, 2-night experience.
When originally announced, Disney said that Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser would open in 2021, with reservations opening in 2020. To date, reservations are not available. Maybe/hopefully soon.
Feature Photo: Disney parks
Want to comment on this post? Great! Read this first to help ensure it gets approved.
Like this post? Please share it! We have plenty more just like it and would love it if you decided to hang around and get emailed notifications of when we post. Or maybe you’d like to join our Facebook group – we have 16,000+ members and we talk and ask questions about travel (including Disney parks), creative ways to earn frequent flyer miles and hotel points, how to save money on or for your trips, get access to travel articles you may not see otherwise, etc. Whether you’ve read our posts before or this is the first time you’re stopping by, we’re really glad you’re here and hope you come back to visit again!
This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.