Disney World’s immersive Star Wars hotel will shut down in September

Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser will embark for its last journey in September. The immersive Disney World hotel with its surprising Star Wars connections is a large-scale experience that takes place on a massive scale. Star Wars themed resort hotel opened its doors on March 1, 2020. Prices range from $4,809 per night for two people to $6,000 for premium experience.

Charles Stovall is a Disney Parks Global Public Relations Manager. He told Polygon the reason for closing the resort was simply a business choice. “Disney’s always taking risks,” he said, “We’ve always been on the forefront of entertainment experiences, we’re constantly pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation, and this was just one of the risks that we took.”

Polygon received an invitation to test the Galactic Starcruiser (also known as Halcyon) before its opening. The price was a concern, even though we thought the ship’s experience and some parts were revolutionary. The bookings were reportedly behind schedule, and some of the two-day excursions failed to sell out.

Stovall said that Galactic Starcruiser actors and staff would be relocated to other areas of the park in the lead up to the experience’s closure later this year. “A lot of them were on the Disney College Program, which is a very specific time limit, and they will be able to complete that program.” Stovall told Polygon.

Stovall said that when Stovall was asked if price of Galactic Starcruiser had any impact on the decision to close Galactic Starcruiser he responded by saying the price was in line with the value the experience offered. “The price was really reflective of all of the costs to operate that experience: The entertainment, the food and beverages, activities like light saber training [and] expedited park admission — all to deliver a VIP experience as immersive and unique as this one was.”

As for what Disney intends to do with the site of Galactic Starcruiser or if the possibility of it returning at some point in the future, Stovall stated that Disney had no further announcements to share at this time, but nonetheless insisted that Star Wars would still play a vital role across Disney parks, including Galaxy’s Edge. “We just announced that Star Tours will be getting more scenes and characters within the next coming year. So we have plans for Star Wars, but nothing beyond what we’ve already announced today.”

Star Wars: Galactic Star Cruiser’s last cruise will be on Sept. 28-30 of this year.