Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser

[GadgetGuru]

So this may be a stupid question but, So what if this Star Wars--Galatiic--Starcruiser doesn't bring in the guest like they want? What are they gonna do once the hype wears off for people to stay there, what would they do leave it empty or redo the property into something different, like Andy's Toy Box hotel. Just curious, I see some people will do this, I may even do it at some point next year. Just a question that has been in my mind, and decided to ask you guys, because the other place to ask this question, i am not apart of but check it sometime.

They’re starting this off very slowly. There’s not many rooms in this first phase. There’s been rumors of more rooms being added if the first phase succeeds.

I don’t think they’ll retheme the hotel. If the hotel shows signs of slowing, they just won’t build the next phase.

 

[Nick]

So this may be a stupid question but, So what if this Star Wars--Galatiic--Starcruiser doesn't bring in the guest like they want? What are they gonna do once the hype wears off for people to stay there, what would they do leave it empty or redo the property into something different, like Andy's Toy Box hotel. Just curious, I see some people will do this, I may even do it at some point next year. Just a question that has been in my mind, and decided to ask you guys, because the other place to ask this question, i am not apart of but check it sometime.

They could easily change this to be just a regular hotel if occupancy is so bad that they’re losing money.

 

[Scott W.]

This looks so underwhelming. I know it's early days in construction but where's the weenie here?

You're paying cruise ship money without getting that scale of a gigantic cruise ship when walking up, you're not getting the luxury feel of a high end hotel, no pool. It looks like a converted motel 6 with a space view instead of windows.

The more I see, the less confident I feel that this will be a success.

 

[Legacy]

This looks so underwhelming. I know it's early days in construction but where's the weenie here?

You're paying cruise ship money without getting that scale of a gigantic cruise ship when walking up, you're not getting the luxury feel of a high end hotel, no pool. It looks like a converted motel 6 with a space view instead of windows.

The more I see, the less confident I feel that this will be a success.

I think it’ll succeed, short-term at least. It’ll booked solid for 8-12 months immediately upon reservations becoming available. Disney’s challenge is threading the needle between people who want a Star Wars LARPing experience and those who can afford this experience. The more I see of this thing, the smaller that market gets. Once everyone who wants to do this does it, will they want to do it again? Will they be able to convince their friends? Those questions, I think, are going to lean towards “no.”

I do think you touch on something though—There’s a misperception about the “scale” of all this. Anyone excited for this (I think, rightfully) has expectation of scale for their luxury space cruiser. The Star Wars universe is expansive and massive. Its ships are of unfathomable size. This this, in universe, is absurdly bigger than the Millennium Falcon.

Yet, guests are going to be limited to a lobby, a narrow rock garden, a small bar/restaurant/game room, a bridge (which I maintain should be off-limits in canon), and the brig. It’s nowhere near the scale that’s being narratively presented.

But that makes sense too. A “boutique” hotel values experience over size. There’s a disconnect though that Disney is leaning into rather than addressing.

The reception to this thing is going to be intriguing, that’s for sure.

 

[FlattestMatt]

I guess if it doesn't make money then they'll scale back the immersion and personalised experiences, and just make into a generic Star Wars hotel with low occupancy. They'll have to reduce the prices to around a moderate but there's always going to be a market for a Star Wars hotel.

 

[Nick]

I think it’ll succeed, short-term at least. It’ll booked solid for 8-12 months immediately upon reservations becoming available. Disney’s challenge is threading the needle between people who want a Star Wars LARPing experience and those who can afford this experience. The more I see of this thing, the smaller that market gets. Once everyone who wants to do this does it, will they want to do it again? Will they be able to convince their friends? Those questions, I think, are going to lean towards “no.”

I do think you touch on something though—There’s a misperception about the “scale” of all this. Anyone excited for this (I think, rightfully) has expectation of scale for their luxury space cruiser. The Star Wars universe is expansive and massive. Its ships are of unfathomable size. This this, in universe, is absurdly bigger than the Millennium Falcon.

Yet, guests are going to be limited to a lobby, a narrow rock garden, a small bar/restaurant/game room, a bridge (which I maintain should be off-limits in canon), and the brig. It’s nowhere near the scale that’s being narratively presented.

But that makes sense too. A “boutique” hotel values experience over size. There’s a disconnect though that Disney is leaning into rather than addressing.

The reception to this thing is going to be intriguing, that’s for sure.

I would’ve agreed with you 6 months ago, but now, I’m not quite sure. Especially since the country is already worried about a potential recession and this is not cheap at all.

 

[Mad Dog]

Short term 'might' do moderate to well. Long term success, I would doubt. The weakness of attendance for GESWL is showing the market for SW is not as strong as most of us thought. Especially the market for an experience that probably doesn't include much concerning the original trilogy, which is what the hard core fans with money are most interested in.

 

[SeventyOne]

They could easily change this to be just a regular hotel if occupancy is so bad that they’re losing money.

I'm not sure that would be "easy." In addition to having to lay off the entire entertainment staff (ok, that one easy enough for Disney bean-counters), they'd have to create room for a bus depot, probably reconfigure dining from a cruise model to a TSR or even fast-casual model, hire additional lobby staff (check-in no longer limited to two hours three times a week), and probably a dozen other things that don't jump to mind immediately. And also own up to corporate failure.

Even if they did--it's still a resort without a pool. I think the only response will be deep discounts, probably tied to additional stays at the resort.

 

[Nick]

I'm not sure that would be "easy." In addition to having to lay off the entire entertainment staff (ok, that one easy enough for Disney bean-counters), they'd to create room for a bus depot, probably reconfigure dining from a cruise model to a TSR or even fast-casual model, hire additional lobby staff (check-in no longer limited to two hours three times a week), and probably a dozen other things that don't jump to mind immediately. And also own up to corporate failure.

Even if they did--it's still a resort without a pool. I think the only response will be deep discounts, probably tied to additional stays at the resort.

If not having a pool is the biggest problem, they’ll be ok bc they can add one whenever they want.

 

[Legacy]

I think if it gets “downgraded” from a cruise to a hotel, a pool is the first add. Really, I feel like it should be the first add regardless.

Structurally, I feel like the timeline for these “cruises” are going to be pretty tight.

• Check-in mid to late afternoon
• Dinner
• Couple hours of downtime before bed
• Morning excursion to Batuu
• Likely lunch reservations at SWGE
• Return to cruiser/prep for dinner
• Dinner
• First Order attack
• Bedtime
• GTFO

Looking at it, there’s not a lot of downtime. And that’s probably more a feature than a bug. But that’s also not a lot that guests are paying a premium for.

Unless they’re only spending a couple of private hours in Batuu, but even then they’d end up missing half the experience (cocktails at 8 am?).

The more this whole thing gets dissected, the harder it gets to put my finger on what Disney is going for here.

 

[OrlLover]

People are already predicting the downfall of something not even open. That is why I have to take breaks from the forums too much pessimism for my liking.

 

[Nick]

People are already predicting the downfall of something not even open. That is why I have to take breaks from the forums too much pessimism for my liking.

It’s hard to sit here and try and convince myself that a 2 day experience at this price point is going to be an overwhelming success given how SWGE has flopped.

it’s not pessimism, it’s being realistic.

 

[Ultimate17]

Hopefully someone is planning this out already. Have a "transport pod" like the one used to enter the space restaurant at Epcot. Then make the pool area a large totally enclosed canopy with stained glass to not clearly see out and realize its just Florida swamp outside. Theme it to a "tropical oasis planet" with a lazy river, palm trees and a slide or two. Not perfect for getting a tan, but at least guests wont feel quite to locked in to the dark recess or space. Could even use projection tech at night for "swimming under the stars". Project some stars, couple moons. Have some spacecraft battle even if they want to go all out.
I don't think anyone would book a vacation just for this experience, but it would go a long way for guest satisfaction.

 

[Scott W.]

I'd be willing to bet that if Star Wars Episode IX bombs and crowds don't improve when Rise opens, this will be cancelled before it can ever open.

People are already predicting the downfall of something not even open. That is why I have to take breaks from the forums too much pessimism for my liking.

Speculation is a huge part of this forum. If you can't say anything negative, then you shouldn't be able to say anything positive either.

 

[SailwiththeTide]

It’s hard to sit here and try and convince myself that a 2 day experience at this price point is going to be an overwhelming success given how SWGE has flopped.

it’s not pessimism, it’s being realistic.

The bar for this one is pretty low. With such a minimal capacity it could be sold out for years. What is the measure of success for this? and I am not sure if SWGE has flopped. Under performed sure but Rise has not even opened yet.

 

[SeventyOne]

Vacationed in Florida for almost 5 decades, lived here for two. I've seen exactly three indoor pools. All were nasty. Not saying Disney can't do better, but it's going to take money, just like a bus loop. A lot of money to throw at something that at the this hypothetical point in the future will be perceived as a white elephant. I think they discount it to a show-free version of what was already offered or let it go Pop Century Classic Years.

 

[darkridelover]

If this is made for hard core Star Wars fans who love the original trilogy, it's going to be a let down when they find out it's all based on the new trilogy.

 

[Nick]

Vacationed in Florida for almost 5 decades, lived here for two. I've seen exactly three indoor pools. All were nasty. Not saying Disney can't do better, but it's going to take money, just like a bus loop. A lot of money to throw at something that at the this hypothetical point in the future will be perceived as a white elephant. I think they discount it to a show-free version of what was already offered or let it go Pop Century Classic Years.

That indoor pool that is (was?) at that Radisson was NASTY.

On the other hand, there’s Great Wolf Lodge.

 

[Scott W.]

Given the total immersion that they’re going for and being ridiculed for, does a pool belong in space?

This is being aimed towards the wealthy and being treated as a luxury space but Star Wars doesn’t have that. The run down environments shown in the movies is part of its charm and made it stand apart from similar sci-fi movies of the time.

 

[SeventyOne]

That indoor pool that is (was?) at that Radisson was NASTY.

It was (think it's permanently abandoned now). Desert Inn in Daytona (also RIP) even worse--I'd swear the walls just had a layer of slime on them.

On the other hand, there’s Great Wolf Lodge.

Not in Florida. No snark intended, plenty of indoor pools north of DC seem to work fine, so I can only blame Florida's climate.

Given the total immersion that they’re going for and being ridiculed for, does a pool belong in space?

This is being aimed towards the wealthy and being treated as a luxury space but Star Wars doesn’t have that. The run down environments shown in the movies is part of its charm and made it stand apart from similar sci-fi movies of the time.

The casino artwork kind of looked like the casino in Last Jedi--so this is your chance to emulate the characters who enslave children and space horses.