The Galactic Starcruiser is Closed… Well, Almost
In case you haven’t heard, the Disney Galactic Starcruiser attraction has closed down. Or, at least, it will be closed as of the end of September when it goes on its final “voyage.” We’re guessing that a lot of people reading this have no idea what we’re talking about because, even though it was praised by guests, it was only around for a year and a half.
Despite the fact that very few people were able to visit the Disney Galactic Starcruiser, we’re guessing that this innovative and immersive entertainment masterpiece will be talked about for many years to come. Today, we’re going to take a look at what the attraction was all about and explain why it’s being shut down.
What Was the Galactic Starcruiser All About?
The Disney Galactic Starcruiser was an interactive experience like none other. If you’ve ever seen the show Westworld, you’ll get an idea of how the whole thing worked (minus the life-like robots, though there are droids). Instead of checking into a hotel, you “boarded” the Halcyon Starcruiser, at which point you became a part of an interactive story.
The way you progressed through the adventure was up to you. You could either observe or actively participate. At any given time, you might be asked to join a game of Sabacc (the infamous card game where the Millennium Falcon was won by Han Solo) or to become a smuggler of some special cargo.
You also had the choice of being part of the First Order or the Resistance, all the while being surrounded by humans, aliens, and droids going about their daily business, each of whom you could interact with at any time.
In addition to lavish accommodations that looked like the quarters of a starship, you were given the opportunity to join in a few different Star Wars-style events, such as lightsaber training, droid racing, and model-building. Oh, yeah, and most of the food and beverages were free. We can’t forget that little detail.
Why Did the Galactic Starcruiser Shut Down?
As you can probably tell from the description, the Disney Galactic Starcruiser was incredible. In fact, it received rave reviews from guests who said that it was an amazing experience that they’ll never forget. So, what was the problem?
The price!
At least, that seems to be the biggest issue. The two-day, immersive experience was normally priced at $1,200 per person, per day. That meant it would cost a couple $4,800 for the entire experience.
There was also a group rate where four people could share the adventure together for just $6,000, which knocked the price down to $750 per person, per day. But that’s still quite pricey for most people.
Why Was the Attraction So Expensive?
The construction cost of such an ambitious endeavor as the Disney Galactic Starcruiser will always be astronomical. Therefore, they need to make up that money. Plus, there are the employees who need to be paid on a daily basis.
With this particular endeavor, many of the employees also needed to be actors. All of these things are typically figured out on a future basis, meaning that these types of endeavors don’t tend to break even until several years down the road.
The problem with the Disney Galactic Starcruiser is that the detail was so precise and innovative that the price tag meant that the attraction needed to perform very well right away. We see this all the time, where an event will open up and be flooded and sold out immediately.
Given the high price tag of the Galactic Starcruiser, however, this simply didn’t happen. Despite the rave reviews, the number of guests simply wasn’t high enough for the attraction to stay profitable.
What Might Replace the Galactic Starcruiser?
Whenever an attraction shuts down at Disney World or any other theme park, the executives typically already have a plan as to what will replace it. With the Disney Galactic Starcruiser, the company has admitted that they really don’t know what they plan to do with the space.
They may decide to use the Star Wars theme for a different kind of attraction or perhaps simply as a very fancy hotel.
But they may decide to sell the entire property to another company that can adapt its unique design to fit their own purposes.
What Has Disney Learned from the Experience?
Even though some people may consider the Disney Galactic Starcruiser endeavor to be a failure, this isn’t how Disney looks at it. Yes, they obviously would have loved for this immersive experience to capture the hearts of millions over the years, but they now see this as a learning experience.
Disney has taken the time to note what worked and what didn’t. They’ve also paid a lot of attention to guests’ compliments and criticisms. Perhaps they’ll try a similar endeavor in the future.
For now, however, they can take what they’ve learned and apply it to their existing theme parks. It might even be possible that you’ll see some of the immersive details show up in the Galaxy’s Edge part of Disney World.
Can You Still Get Tickets for the Attraction?
There are probably many people out there who are either planning or at least considering a trip to the Disney Galactic Starcruiser. But they probably assumed that it would be around for a while, so they were taking their time. Perhaps you’re thinking about getting tickets for the attraction as you read this because the experience sounds so incredibly awesome.
Unfortunately, all of the tickets for the Disney Galactic Starcruiser have now been sold through the end of its run. It’s very doubtful that anyone will cancel their plans, so your only recourse would be to purchase tickets from someone willing to sell theirs. Since this has now become a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, it’s highly unlikely that anyone will be willing to part with their tickets.
Contact World Class VIP for a Private Disney World VIP Tour
World Class VIP may not be able to get you a seat on the Disney Galactic Starcruiser, but we can make your next trip to Disney World something very special. If you’re still wanting to envelope yourself in the Star Wars universe, we can put a heavy focus on Galaxy’s Edge.
For any questions about our Disney World VIP tour or any other VIP experience that we host at various Orlando theme parks, get a free quote for your VIP tour!