Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser to downgrade to partial weeks this fall

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, the expensive and immersive Star Wars themed hotel at Walt Disney World, will downgrade its operations to two voyages a week (most weeks) starting in October 2023. The Starcruiser had passengers every day of the week since its opening last year. This switch is assumed to be because of a lack of bookings.

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Downgrade To Partial Operation

There has been one major mindset about the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser since it was first announced: it is very expensive. On average, a family of four can visit competitor Universal Orlando Resort for five days, including a hotel suite, express passes, multi-park theme park tickets, water park access, and a Harry Potter Wizarding World exclusive breakfast, for $2,000 less than a family could stay at the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser for just two nights.

If you want to compare to other Walt Disney World options, you could do a budget vacation or a more luxurious vacation. For budget, you could stay at the Pop Century Resort for four nights, with five days of one-park per-day admission, water park access, and Memory Maker photos, for the same price as the Universal Orlando Resort offer. Or, you could stay in a deluxe resort at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge for four nights, with a savannah view, with five days of one-park per-day admission, water park access, Memory Maker photos, and still save $500 over going to the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser for just two nights.


Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser – Full 3 Day Experience, Shows, Food, Characters, Room Tour & Finale

Now, don’t take this as us attacking the immersive experience. Yes the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will downgrade days. But the experience is exclusive and impressive. The premium price point just appears to not align with Disney’s target demographics.

Seen above, we experienced the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser when it first opened. The food was some of the best Disney has ever offered. The storyline was incredibly immersive. The entertainment was fantastic. The experience was everything you could ask for. Some Star Wars fans wish it was the original trilogy instead of Disney’s sequel Star Wars films. That aside, we got to look out at the stars, drink unlimited blue milk, talk to an alien, witness a hologram, and watch a lightsaber fight.


4K Walking Tour of the Halcyon Ship – Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser at Walt Disney World

In a world where many are complaining about egg prices due to inflation, the idea of spending $2,500 a day to visit a themed hotel is outrageous to many. Disney doesn’t always aim for the general public for pricing, that can be seen with VIP Tour offerings, suites at The Grand Floridian Resort, or admission fees to Club 33. These premium prices are offered to a significantly smaller portion of the Disney fan group, and it seems this group has been quickly tapped out for this Star Wars experience.


Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser One Bedroom Suite Tour with Hidden Secret Tunnel

Disney has already offered discounts to Disney Vacation Club Members. They have also offered hotel extension discounts and recently offered 50% off pricing to their cast members. But even with a 50% discount, it would take a front-line cast member’s entire wages for a month to visit this hotel for three days.


httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S\u002d\u002dZpe7BTQg

The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser downgrade doesn’t mean a loss of quality or offerings on the Halcyon ship. All food and non-alcoholic drinks are still included. Admission to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, with Lightning Lane access for both attractions, is still included. Top-tier actors are still working the major themed elements. Guests will still see masterfully made illusions by Walt Disney Imagineers. Guests will still enjoy Star Wars-esque music with live alien vocals by Gaya.


VR180: Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser 3D Ship Tour

Ultimately, the issue with the hotel price has already been debated time-and-time again. Disney has offered discounts, but a major price drop has still not yet been seen. With a loss of days instead of a drop in price, it might not be feasible for this hotel to offer a significant price drop.


As mentioned, and shown in the many videos above, this hotel is unlike any other. It is essentially a cruise ship on land with a multi-day storyline. Disney Cruise Line pricing was initially used to compare to the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. Shown above is not only Disney Cruise Line pricing, but cruises during special events. These still are around $3,000 less than the Star Wars hotel for the same amount of days.

The difference is the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser offers “virtual views” with all rooms, instead of these interior cruise rooms. The Star Wars hotel also has significantly less guests, which means less waits at the bar, disembarkation, and for food. It has a continuous storyline and a highly-immersive theme. But the Disney Cruise Line ships actually move and visit destinations in the Caribbean and the Bahamas. These cruise ships have more than one buffet option. These ships also have more characters.

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser downgrade days with mass openings.
You can see all the open dates for booking in the next few months here.
A look at how the available dates change starting in October 2023.

For now, plan your Star Wars adventure accordingly. For eager fans who were out of the price range, now may be the time to start saving up. Perhaps Disney has some extra discounts or single day visit passes coming along soon?

MouseFanTravel

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2 Comments

  1. This is a unique Disney offering and I’ll admit more than a bit pricey. You need to be a die hard Star Wars fan to want to go here in the first place. But after having been to different immersion offerings ( Van Gogh) they are spectacular. Msybe as inflation drops Disney will have some different pricing and as mentioned may offer some single day immersion experiences with complimentary pricing.

  2. Had it been based on the first three movies released, people would figure out a way of paying the steep price. I was a fan of that era and cannot stand the material they based this on. We have the money and will never go.