Even earlier than Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser completely closed, there was wishful pondering amongst Walt Disney World followers that the interactive multi-day expertise can be transformed from a cruise on land to a regular lodge. This put up covers the various the explanation why we strongly consider that won’t occur. (Up to date Might 4, 2025.)
In fact, we might be incorrect. In an interview, Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro acknowledged that “one thing will occur” when requested about Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. That’s solely going so as to add gasoline to the hearth of fan pleasure in regards to the “future” of the Starship Halcyon, and brought at face worth, that undermines the complete premise of this text.
When discussing Starcruiser, D’Amaro additionally indicated that “not all the pieces’s going to work. What did work, although, is we took creativity and storytelling to a totally new stage, to a stage that had by no means existed earlier than…It didn’t work commercially. And so, once we realized that, you simply make a name and transfer on.”
With that mentioned, “one thing will occur” is fairly meaningless by itself and open to projection of 1’s personal wishes and hopes. The optimistic amongst us may suppose this can be a trace of a reimagining into an everyday resort, which might be “one thing” main taking place with Starcruiser. The extra pessimistic may suppose it’ll rot in plain sight, which can be not nothing. (Said in another way, that’s technically one thing, too!) In fact, there’s an enormous expanse of center floor between these two extremes.
Frankly, I wouldn’t put an excessive amount of inventory in a imprecise line that’s purposefully open to interpretation. Over the course of the previous few years, this web site has been very pro-D’Amaro and pro-Starcruiser, so it’s not as if we’re projecting our personal cynicism or biases, both. Moderately, we’re attempting to be realists–and would love to be confirmed incorrect within the coming years.
For now, listed below are the the explanation why we consider Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser received’t turn out to be a lodge. That’s adopted by what is seemingly within the subsequent a number of years, beginning with our newest replace as of 2025…
It’s Changing into Workplaces – It seems D’Amaro wasn’t mendacity throughout that interview practically two years in the past. One thing has occurred, with that one thing being that the constructing that previously housed Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser being transformed into places of work for Walt Disney Imagineering. WDI will probably be utilizing the constructing as a hub for a number of growth tasks taking place in Walt Disney World from 2025 by way of 2030, together with Monstropolis at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Since a lot of what WDI does is project-based and Walt Disney World is beginning a large new growth cycle, it tracks that they’d have to scale up workers and workplace area at Walt Disney World. Actually, Imagineering at present has its largest-ever presence in Florida, with the Starcruiser being simply one among a number of workplace areas.
Along with Starcruiser, there’s a brand new workplace compound in Animal Kingdom behind Kali River Rapids for Tropical Americas, in addition to a current growth on the STOL Port subject workplace and one other trailer park advanced being constructed behind Massive Thunder Mountain Railroad in help of the Magic Kingdom growth plans.
All of those are expansions to Imagineering’s presence at Walt Disney World within the final yr, above and past longstanding subject places of work in Florida. This follows the cancellation of the Lake Nona Inventive Campus, which might’ve relocated Imagineering’s headquarters to Florida (or not less than made Lake Nona their largest location).
Lengthy-term, we nonetheless anticipate a inventive campus to be inbuilt Central Florida, however for that to occur as Imagineering staffs up organically versus a compelled recollection. Each time that does occur, and even as these tasks wrap up, that’ll liberate the Starcruiser area for future use. It received’t be workplace area/places of work in area perpetually.
Tax Write-Down – Throughout a JPMorgan convention, D’Amaro instructed analysts and Wall Avenue traders that Disney would “speed up depreciation” on that Starcruiser, and that Walt Disney World expects to take a lack of between $200 million and $300 million on Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser through the fiscal yr through which it closed.
Accelerating the asset’s depreciation doesn’t preclude it being repurposed within the longer run–therefore Disney’s capacity to show it into workplace area. But it surely does imply that it can not instantly be put to make use of in a closely monetized guest-facing capability. Which means that Disney can not absolutely depreciate the asset after which instantly flip round and repurpose it absent vital reinvestment.
So until you suppose they’re going to throw good cash after dangerous and drop a whole lot of hundreds of thousands of further {dollars} on it, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser isn’t getting a reimagining quickly. It’ll seemingly be not less than a decade.
100 Rooms – Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser has 100 rooms. This makes it far and away the smallest standalone “resort” at Walt Disney World. Actually, it has a decrease room depend than even DVC add-ons like Bay Lake Tower. To place that quantity into perspective, most inns at Walt Disney World have between 750 and a couple of,000 rooms.
There are some outliers which have fewer or extra, however each single one with fewer additionally shares infrastructure with different, bigger resort complexes. The explanation for that may be a easy difficulty of economies of scale. There’s a minimal variety of Forged Members and infrastructure (buses, eating, facilities, and so on.) essential to help a resort no matter whether or not it’s 100 rooms or 400.
Clearly, it’s higher to unfold these prices out over extra rooms, in any other case there’s a state of affairs the place the breakeven level is $500 per evening and margins are meager until rack charges are over $1,000 per evening. At which level, extra shoppers balk at reserving as a result of there are cheaper and higher options. (Principally, a model of the exact downside Starcruiser had, minus the excessive leisure prices.)
No Home windows or Balconies – Starcruiser has no home windows or balconies. The individuals paying $1,000 per evening for a lodge room (or no matter hypothetical value we’re ascribing right here) usually like these forms of options.
No Pool – Starcruiser has no pool and nowhere so as to add one, both. Once more, that is the kind of factor individuals anticipate when paying luxurious value factors for a lodge.
No Facilities – Starcruiser doesn’t have a pool bar (on account of no pool). It doesn’t have tennis courts or pickleball (America’s quickest rising sport), both. Title an outside amenity–films below the celebrities, playgrounds, and so on–it doesn’t have these issues, apart from a rock backyard. It additionally doesn’t have a number of desk service eating places, lounges, character eating, or just about something you’d anticipate of a Deluxe Resort.
It does have one (1) bar and one (1) eating space. Each of those can be undersized if the resort had been expanded or accessible to the park-going public. Oh, and there’s no area to broaden any of this, exterior or throughout the Starcruiser.
Resembles Jail – I could not love the unambitious design of some newer resorts at Walt Disney World, however not less than they aren’t themed to minimum-security federal correctional amenities. That will appear to be an exceedingly low bar, however Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser does resemble a jail. This was not an enormous deal when the ‘resort’ was principally closed and tightly-controlled, as company seldom noticed a lot of the outside past the porte-cochere. That has an austere and industrial look, however it works nicely sufficient for a departures terminal.
As an everyday resort, this is able to be an enormous difficulty. As with so many different modifications on this checklist, it will require super funding to make Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser not seem like a jail.
It’s Backstage – A lot of the armchair Imagineering in regards to the conversion of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser into an everyday resort could be very clearly coming from individuals who have by no means seen it in individual. Most of that day-dreaming falls aside when confronted with the tough realities of its operations, setting, and infrastructure.
The largest obstacle to modifications or expansions (apart from cash…however let’s assume for the sake of argument that Disney is keen to lose countless sums of cash on this–there may be precedent for that, simply have a look at streaming!), is the placement of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.
The constructing is actually wedged between roads, Forged Member parking, and the bottom of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Forged Member parking might all the time be relocated…however not the Star Wars land itself. The Starcruiser constructing is all the time going to be backstage, and simply far sufficient from Galaxy’s Edge that it’s too inconvenient for strolling entry, however shut sufficient that it presents an issue.
Upkeep Intensive – Have you learnt how a lot it prices to take care of the expertise for the outer area viewports in each single visitor room and plenty of widespread areas aboard the Halcyon? Me neither, however I’m guessing it far exceeds the price of cleansing home windows!
That is only one of many maintenance-intensive parts of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser that’s not like something at conventional inns. Even when they completely deserted the entire ‘present’ options used for the interactive expertise, there’s nonetheless a obligatory minimal to take care of the theme aboard the Halcyon (in any other case it’s only a chilly ‘area industrial’ vibe…bordering on ‘relaxed jail’). And as mentioned above, these prices are unfold out over 100 rooms as an alternative of 1,000 or no matter.
It Wasn’t Constructed as a Resort – All the above might sound actually odd and shortsighted on Disney’s half till you acknowledge the truth that Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser was not constructed as a conventional lodge. They guess the farm on this immersive ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ expertise, hoping that this role-playing, hyper-themed setting, and interactive leisure endeavor. Disney actually thought it will be a hit–failure was not an choice, till it was.
In any case, it’s clear from the way in which it was constructed that Disney had no plans to pivot when creating Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. It might both be a spectacular success or colossal failure, with nearly no center floor. Though they’re speaking factors, what D’Amaro has mentioned about this being envelope-pushing, formidable, and so on., is 100% true. Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser was among the finest issues Walt Disney World has completed in many years.
Sadly, it’s additionally true that one thing so good can crash and burn so badly. (Belief me, I get the will to need to consider that received’t be the end result right here, and that Disney has an even bigger image plan. It’s extra comforting to consider that!)
They’ve Let Stuff Rot Earlier than – When you’re a more recent Walt Disney World fan, you is likely to be shocked at the concept the corporate would simply abandon the Starcruiser constructing totally. When you’ve been across the block as a Walt Disney World fan, you may keep in mind Pop Century’s Legendary Years, River Nation, Disney Institute, Discovery Island–the checklist goes on and on.
Heck, you possibly can argue that even Reflections – A Disney Lakeside Lodge and Play Pavilion are just like this (albeit not fairly on the identical scale). Suffice to say, Walt Disney World has a time-honored custom of abandoning buildings and letting them rot. It’s as a lot part of their wealthy 50-year historical past as The Wand, Sorcerer’s Hat, Large EPCOT Filth Pit, or in-park tombstones!
What Does the Future Maintain for Starcruiser?
As for the potential real looking way forward for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, my unique guess was that the constructing would sit empty for a few years whereas Disney figured it out. That completed, it’s now going to be places of work for Imagineering. It’ll seemingly serve this objective for 5-10 years, after which the tasks will wrap up and/or Disney will construct a everlasting inventive campus in Central Florida.
Sooner or later, Walt Disney World will decide that the continuing prices of safety and minimal upkeep will exceed these of demolition. In gentle of the above, I wouldn’t anticipate that to occur till the 2030s.
Demolishing the constructing looks as if the most definitely long-term end result in gentle of the accelerated depreciation. Even absent that changing into public information, I wouldn’t have anticipated the constructing to see any guest-facing utilization.
The explanations for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser not seeing visitor utilization sooner or later are roughly outgrowths of assorted entries on the checklist above. Some followers have speculated that Walt Disney World might use the restaurant area for a dinner present, which does make sense in concept.
In spite of everything, that dinner present has already been developed and the eating room exists contained in the Halcyon. Given the recognition of Oga’s Cantina and different dinner reveals at Walt Disney World, it’s protected to say it will promote out even at $100 to $150 per individual. So why not recoup some prices?
The issues pertain to infrastructure. Parking is inadequate exterior the Starcruiser, the entire constructing and grounds would have to be staffed and secured, and bus service would have to be accessible from the parks. These are numerous added prices that will shortly erode the profitability of a dinner present held contained in the Starcruiser constructing.
Nevertheless, that doesn’t imply a dinner present received’t occur. The plain different can be merely constructing one in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge–within the precise area that was initially put aside for a restaurant over by Oga’s Cantina! The venue might be bigger, appropriate viewing angle points with the eating room aboard the Halcyon, and it will not have the identical infrastructure points because the Starcruiser, as the prevailing land and park would help it.
That is one large instance the place investing extra would not be an instance of throwing good cash after dangerous. Moderately, it will be a savvy transfer with upfront spending growing margins and reducing working bills within the long-term. The urge for food for a Star Wars dinner present is countless, and this is able to be a license to print cash.
If D’Amaro really is honest in his sentiment that “one thing will occur,” my finest guess is that it’ll be this. Not solely that, however it will spherical out Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, strengthen the land, and enhance its numbers. It’s too apparent to not do. So it received’t be the constructing that’ll see future use, however slightly, it’ll be the spirit of Starcruiser residing on elsewhere.
Past that, I wouldn’t be stunned if different parts of Starcruiser make their approach into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The “what” of this actually relies upon upon how a lot of the R&D is rolled into the accelerated depreciation. Keep in mind, it’s not simply the bodily, window-less constructing that took the write-down. Even with the way in which Disney spends, that construction most likely didn’t value $300 million to construct.
It’s the tangible merchandise of analysis and growth, expertise, and fancy fixtures that had been rolled into Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. For instance, all the pieces affixed to the atrium of the Halcyon that received’t be repurposed elsewhere is absolutely depreciated. (A few of these belongings had been notably problematic and contributed to the venture going approach over finances.) If there’s no intention to reuse sure set items and props, it’s most likely fairly straightforward to bundle that into the constructing and depreciate it abruptly.
Nevertheless, there was additionally tangible expertise that was produced by way of Imagineering R&D that Walt Disney World and Disneyland may need to reuse for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (and even elsewhere). Issues like that fancy new lightsaber, the Yoda impact (attempting to not spoil it), and different showpieces.
There’s a robust likelihood of these being added to new leisure alongside the catwalks within the land, Savi’s Workshop, Oga’s Cantina, and elsewhere. A lot of this was initially supposed for the land, and it’ll simply be a matter of Disney expressing an urge for food to speculate extra into the land.
A bit past the scope of this put up, however I might undoubtedly see that taking place with a little bit of a comfortable relaunch that breathes new life into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in a marketable approach. We’re beginning to see early indicators that precisely that is deliberate for Summer time 2026, the truth is.
Disney has introduced that Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run is Getting ‘Select Your Vacation spot’ & Child Yoda Babysitter Function as a part of main updates to that attraction. Furthermore, the BDX ‘Duckling’ Droids Are Coming to Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World. Past that, we’ve already seen updates to Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland that erode the timeline and broaden the attraction of the land.
All of that will be a superb advertising ‘package deal’ for Summer time 2026. It received’t be potential to have a venue for a dinner present by then, but when the comfortable reboot of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is well-received by company, we might completely see that being greenlit and introduced on the 2026 D23 Expo.
The lack of the wow-moment options from Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is exactly what Walt Disney World and Star Wars followers are actually frightened about once they hope that it has a future and is reinvented as one thing totally different. There are some who’re hoping for an additional likelihood to step aboard the Starship Halcyon, however a lot of the Starcruiser devoted should not lamenting the lack of a windowless, prison-esque constructing nestled backstage by a car parking zone. They’re frightened that the issues that made the Starcruiser a magical expertise that captured lightning in a bottle will probably be gone for good.
Regardless of the future holds won’t ever be the identical as Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. A few of what made it so particular to so many–particularly the sense of neighborhood and camaraderie–will probably be gone for good. However there’s a saying to the impact of, no good thought actually dies at Imagineering, it merely fuels one other sooner or later. That holds true right here. The constructing itself and a lot extra weren’t good concepts, however there are kernels of greatness right here and there, and people will seemingly discover properties within the decade to come back in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and past.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Suppose D’Amaro is honest in saying “one thing will occur” with Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser? Or do you observed the attitude of this text is extra real looking, and the constructing is probably going going to be demolished ultimately with the great concepts filtering down into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and past? Ideas on Walt Disney World completely closing Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser and taking a $300 million write off? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
