Why Was Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Closed?

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Back in March 2022, I found myself transported into a galaxy far, far away at Walt Disney World’s Epcot area with the grand opening of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. This immersive experience was designed specifically for fellow Star Wars enthusiasts like me, where every detail from the theming to the characters and the interactive journey across the property made it feel as if we had stepped right into the Star Wars universe ourselves.

Regrettably, by September 2023, Disney made the difficult decision to close the Galactic Starcruiser due to financial constraints. They invested heavily in constructing and equipping it, similar to how a studio would prepare for a “Star Wars” film production. Unfortunately, like many businesses, this one couldn’t maintain profitability.

The hotel’s price was exceptionally steep, making it a luxury only a few could afford due to its hefty $6,000 two-night charge, not including additional expenses such as alcohol or travel costs to Orlando. Resort stays are never cheap, and Galactic Starcruiser ultimately proved too costly for Disney to maintain, leading them to close it down. This is a rundown of the factors that led Disney executives to take this decision.

Getting to a galaxy far, far away was super expensive

Experiencing the “Star Wars” universe firsthand was undeniably exciting for fans, and the Galactic Starcruiser was marketed as the ultimate fan adventure. At its launch, it received rave reviews from franchise enthusiasts, boasting high guest satisfaction ratings and even earning a Thea Award for exceptional achievement in themed entertainment.

As a dedicated Disney enthusiast, I can’t help but notice that Disney World subtly encourages excessive spending, and it was a significant concern during my recent stay at their Starcruiser hotel. The eye-watering cost of a family room, roughly $6,000, didn’t include food and additional expenses, which could push the total bill up to an astronomical $9,500 – a figure that is simply unaffordable for most families.

The Starcruiser hotel’s limited capacity of 100 rooms was another issue, as it pales in comparison to other resort hotels of similar stature. Add to that the ever-changing airfare costs if you were flying into Orlando, and the overall expense became a significant burden.

In 2022, a three-night Disney Cruise for a family of four was approximately $2,500, but prices can vary. On the other hand, it is projected that a family of four visiting Disney World in 2025 would spend between $2,200 and $3,500 just on park admission during a weekend stay. This represents an average cost for a regular trip to the entire resort, and even this amount pales in comparison to a stay at Galactic Starcruiser.

Franchise fans — and Disney — felt the product didn’t warrant the high cost

Initially, people had a great time at Galactic Starcruiser, but as time passed, criticisms started surfacing. A YouTuber named Jenny Nicholson voiced her displeasure in a lengthy YouTube video, criticizing the hotel’s quality and labeling it more of an unsuccessful experiment than anything else. Another issue was that the hotel experience was designed to be immersive, limiting the need to explore other parks. This meant guests spent most of their time inside, which could save money on park visits, but also confined their vacation to a single experience.

Galactic Starcruiser faced a rare setback within the franchise, with Disney subsequently transforming the premises into offices for their creative team.

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2025-05-19 19:30