Last year, we said goodbye to the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser forever.
Although the experience of being on the Starcruiser was unique, Disney decided to close it because “it didn’t perform” the way Disney had hoped.” Many blamed Disney’s marketing for the experience, while others believed the high price made it mostly unobtainable for many Star Wars fans. Well, now, the building that held the Galactic Starcruiser is just sitting empty, but we’re seeing indications that Disney isn’t quite done with it just yet.
Permit for “general construction”
The first clue we saw that indicates Disney hasn’t completely abandoned the Galactic Starcruiser building was a permit filed in August 2023, for “general construction” at 201 S. Studio Drive, the address for the Galactic Starcruiser. The contractor on the permit was Colwill Engineering, which has worked with Disney in the past. This company has expertise in engineering, mechanical, electrical, and technology work. Hmmm….
The permit didn’t include anything that makes us believe a big update was happening at the location, but the fact that it’s happening AT the Galactic Starcruiser address is interesting, to say the least. Disney has not stated that it has plans for the building, but SOMETHING is happening there.
Learn more about this permit
Disney sent a survey to Galactic Starcruiser guests AFTER it closed
Something else that we found interesting is guests who were on the Galactic Starcruiser’s final voyages received a survey via email from Disney after the experience closed. The questions on the survey suggest Disney is considering doing something NEW with the space. The survey has four sections, each dedicated to an experience on the ship. There was also an additional section for guests to fill out about “Moments That Shaped My Halcyon Starcruiser Experience.”
Some questions were specific, while others were more general, but why would Disney feel the need to have that information for something that’s since closed? The most obvious answer is that Disney wants to do something else with the space and is putting out feelers to see what guests most liked about the experience.
Here’s more about that survey
Disney filed ANOTHER permit for the space
Disney recently filed a SECOND permit for the space occupied by the former Galactic Starcruiser. The company filed a Notice of Commencement on January 25th, 2024 for “general construction” at the same address as before. The contractor listed this time is Sunshine Awning & Graphic Design, suggesting the space is getting some cosmetic changes.
Granted, permits need to be filed for all sorts of work, even when it’s minor, so there’s no guarantee this permit means anything. However, it still means that Disney hasn’t completely abandoned the space. This is the second permit, after all, so, again, Disney is doing SOMETHING there.
More details about this permit
Disney mentioned it wants to learn from the failed experience
Disney’s initial statement about the Galactic Starcruiser’s closure suggested that at least some of the ideas explored with the experience could return. Disney said, “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.”
Okay, so Disney doesn’t say where those future experiences could happen, but considering this, in addition to the two permits and guest survey, we could believe the company is wanting to bring it back in some way with what it’s learned.
Disney’s full comments about why Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser closed
So those are clues that Disney isn’t quite done with the Galactic Starcruiser just yet. Again note that Disney has not revealed any plans for either, but we’ll continue to look out for more signs that something is happening there.
Here’s our idea of what Disney could do with the Galactic Starcrusier building and concept
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What do you think? Do you think Disney has plans for the Galactic Starcruiser? Let us know what you’d like to see in the comments!
Joezero says
OMG not another over priced upcharge restraunt or specialty attraction for an upcharge. Please just make it another attraction for something to do in HS.
I’d go if I was not shaken upside down to experience the place or do an activity there. A show or theater. A ride or walk through, mabey a lightsaber trainning area.
Up charge to see a closed hotel or charater meet and greet “forgetaboutit”
Pris says
“Disney wanted to learn from their failed experience”??? Seriously??? All they had to do was ask customers BEFORE wasting all that money on a doomed project! And, why would they only contact previous guests to answer the questions? I think the data would be more accurate if it were opened to general Disney customers.
People_of-_the_Moise says
Hers my opinion on the changes:
– 3 nights not 2
– ‘day off’ from the intense gaming
– night time event in GE
– let DCL market it
Raquel says
Maybe they could make it a one night hotel. Take out some of that role playing but still have some emmersion like the Jedi training, the ship flying, have an in house band near their bar. Have a lunch and dinner that has some Star Wars influences that u pay a la cart and that ANYONE can go to. But pull back that price to be more like a Deluxe hotel.
Scott says
Add even more rooms to make it a proper hotel. Eliminate the role playing. Staff should be characters and costumed. Deliver guests to the park on an immersive bus as originally planned. Done.
Return of the Jim says
Keep the original (too late now) once a week. Then run a cheaper, very watered down version the rest of the time.
Star Cruiser wasn’t the best for families with little kids which is Disneys bread and butter.
Ashley M says
I’m a Huge Star Wars/ Disney fan but the price tag was too high. And my family isn’t into cosplay. But if it was more of a deluxe resort with good food and a nice bar like Olga’s that’s not in the park… and you can cosplay if you are into that… I’d be tempted to go. And make it less about Rey and more the original Star Wars. Maybe throw in Thrawn! (Maybe they did but I couldn’t afford to find out.) my family would rather stay at Yacht & Beach Club
naturaldisastergirl says
It’s great that they are doing research, and I hope they find a way to continue to use it as a SW themed location. But, as others have said, I don’t know that it is a big mystery that it was too little time for too much money. We are big Star Wars and WDW fans, and we never went on the Starcruiser, but mostly because we would have never traded off what we could get in the resorts/parks for the price of what this was. Or what we could get in terms of a real Disney cruise! It’s a natural to ask previous customers who did go what they think, but as someone else also said, they should ask people who took comparably priced (or more expensive) WDW vacations and ask them if they didn’t take or consider a Starcruiser voyage, why not. Undoubtedly, one of the other big issues fro Disney in solving this is that not everyone wants the same experience. I will just say, there is no way I would pay that price (or that I would be able to talk my family into going) if the experience was basically the same as being in a park or a regular resort, and subject to the same drawbacks as visiting the parks. I think it is a great idea to divide booking times/experiences into “cruises” some of the time and more typical “hotel” experiences at other times, but that would probably be too complicated to pull off. And they’d still need to find a way to make the “cruises” longer/offer more if they want to keep prices that high.