Disney shutting down Star Wars hotel

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wanted to go so bad. Since it’s not a hotel, but a role-playing experience, I actually hope the concert it into a resort. Or at least an interactive restaurant.

It is a hotel. If it was booked solid you think it would stay open.

But it’s not just a hotel. You can’t book like 4 nights there. You’re signing up for a two night immersive role playing game. There was a lot of confusion in the beginning because people thought it was going to be a Disney resort. That’s what I mean by I hope they turn it into a resort.

I just sent the article here to my cousin and she said - I hope they don’t tear it down and just turn it into a regular hotel. Now I think that’s what they’re going to do.

Crossing my fingers for this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At least in part it has to do with DeSantis declaring war on Disney.

How do you figure?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know why they just don't lower the price. 5000$ a night is way out of reach for most people. They already have it built--charge 1-2000 a night and see what happens! Maybe it would be sold out completely.

It wasn’t $5000 a night. The base price was around $5000 for a room for the two-night experience (same price for 1 or 2 people), which included 6 meals, the immersive experience/storyline/events, and time at Hollywood Studios with lightning lane access to the 2 Star Wars rides. Add $700/person to add a 3rd and 4th person to the room. Yes, it was expensive (prohibitively so for many), but not $5000/night, and was a premium experience..

[Anonymous]

No way they tear it down. It will just be another pricey deluxe hotel now.

[Anonymous]

They will be closing more

This is just the beginning

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They will be closing more

This is just the beginning

The price increases the last 5 years have been astronomical. And I say that as someone with a healthy income who enjoys WDW! We cut way back - I couldn’t believe how long demand held on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wanted to go so bad. Since it’s not a hotel, but a role-playing experience, I actually hope the concert it into a resort. Or at least an interactive restaurant.

It is a hotel. If it was booked solid you think it would stay open.

But it’s not just a hotel. You can’t book like 4 nights there. You’re signing up for a two night immersive role playing game. There was a lot of confusion in the beginning because people thought it was going to be a Disney resort. That’s what I mean by I hope they turn it into a resort.

I just sent the article here to my cousin and she said - I hope they don’t tear it down and just turn it into a regular hotel. Now I think that’s what they’re going to do.

Crossing my fingers for this.

This is in WSJ so makes me feel like it’s possible.

“But the construction cost wasn’t the biggest issue—it was the massive staff of Disney “cast members” required to maintain the aura of the immersive Star Wars experience, as well as technical and hotel staff, that made the project so expensive to operate, Mr. Shull said.

“Galactic Starcruiser as a hotel is a pretty simple facility—it only has about 100 rooms, which is very small by Disney standards,” he said. “The entertainment staff, the technical staff, that’s where the costs sort of added up.””

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know why they just don't lower the price. 5000$ a night is way out of reach for most people. They already have it built--charge 1-2000 a night and see what happens! Maybe it would be sold out completely.

It wasn’t $5000 a night. The base price was around $5000 for a room for the two-night experience (same price for 1 or 2 people), which included 6 meals, the immersive experience/storyline/events, and time at Hollywood Studios with lightning lane access to the 2 Star Wars rides. Add $700/person to add a 3rd and 4th person to the room. Yes, it was expensive (prohibitively so for many), but not $5000/night, and was a premium experience..

I tried to book it for spring break and it was about $7,200 total. The lowest price they show online was just for a few weeks at the end of the summer. Most other dates it was higher. It’s why we pulled the plug on booking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They will be closing more

This is just the beginning

Agree. We went last year, but it was crazy. It’s all too expensive and definitely not as ‘magical’ as it once was.

[Anonymous]

They had to pay professional union actors to play the various aliens who made the experience immersive. They couldn't just throw some kid in a costume out there. This was hugely expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At least in part it has to do with DeSantis declaring war on Disney.

Disney effed this one up on their own before DeSantis got involved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This seems utterly ridiculous to me. They put a ton into building that place and it’s been booked pretty well solid. Can they really be losing money on it? If so, why not raise the rates? I have a family member that went for a milestone present and loved it.

It was booked solid the first few months, but demand dropped off pretty quickly. It’s a very niche concept, and an expensive one at that. There have been articles for months about the voyages being half full, and cutting back how frequently they departed.

It would ruin the immersion, but one option could have been to allow non-guests to sign up for the activities and meals a la carte when space was available. I think there would be a lot more interest from the general population playing Star Wars for an hour or two, rather than playing it for 3 days.

[Anonymous]

Everyone who wanted to go and was willing to pay already went. That’s how many people meet both criteria. I’m not sure it’s even profitable to operate a 100 room hotel. That’s like bed and breakfast size to Disney. Not sure the scale is there to run it at all.

[Anonymous]

That’s a real shame. I think it should just be a Star Wars themed hotel vs. the fully immersive aspect. It’s really too expensive for most people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That’s a real shame. I think it should just be a Star Wars themed hotel vs. the fully immersive aspect. It’s really too expensive for most people.

Did you see it only has 100 rooms though? If they drop it down to Grand Floridian/Polynesian pricing it will surely sell out but I’m not sure 100 rooms is profitable at that price point. Maybe. We’ll see.