Walt Disney World is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and one of the most anticipated new attractions set to open during its semicentennial is the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel. While Walt Disney World has released concept art of the experience, actual photos haven’t been available — until now.
A Look Inside The Starcruiser
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, work on the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel is proceeding on schedule.
Guests will become the heroes of their own Star Wars story in what Disney calls an “all-immersive adventure” cruising the galaxy aboard the starcruiser Halcyon — as well as making a planet-side excursion to the Black Spire Outpost on Batuu. Guests will have opportunities to participate in onboard activities and interact with characters, crew, and other passengers.
Last November, Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products, shared images of model cabins. Two types of cabins are planned: regular-sized cabins and larger cabins called “Captain’s Quarters.”
D’Amaro recently toured the hotel with Jeff Vahle, president of Walt Disney World Resort, to check on the Imagineering team’s work. Vahle posted pictures of the inside of a cabin on Instagram.
“Inside we visited The Atrium and looked out The Bridge windows to what will be a galaxy far, far way,” Vahle wrote. “We even checked out the cabins in progress, including their windows to space seen in these renderings.”
New artistic renderings are also available on the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser website.
What To Expect
Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will be like a Disney Cruise in that it has a two-night itinerary and all guests will arrive and depart at the same time. The difference, however, is the interactive adventure.
It all begins at the Galactic Starcruiser Terminal, where guests will check in and enter a Launch Pod and virtually leave their planet behind. As they watch through windows, their Launch Pod will “blast off into space” and dock at the Halcyon starcruiser, where they will stay for two nights.
When the Launch Pod docks with the Halcyon, its airlock will open so guests can step into Halcyon’s Atrium. Once aboard the Halcyon, guests begin their all-immersive experience, which is expected to even include lightsaber training and operating navigation and defense systems on the ship’s bridge.
Know Before You Go
Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is not open yet, so you’ll need to check the hotel’s website for updates. We’ll share important updates in our travel news category, as well.
All four Walt Disney World theme parks are open. However, Disney World does note that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, “certain parks, hotels, restaurants, and other offerings may be modified or unavailable, limited in capacity, and subject to limited availability or closure.”
Also, keep in mind that Walt Disney World is using the park reservation system to help monitor crowds and keep the parks at 35 percent capacity. If you plan to visit Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, it will be important to make reservations far in advance.
