Modeled as a cruise to a galaxy far, far away, the Galactic Starcruiser has more in common with a river cruise or ocean liner than a typical hotel. But spoiler alert: You can leave the nausea meds at home; you’ll never leave solid ground.
The Galactic Starcruiser is located adjacent to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, home to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and builds upon the immersive theme park experience.
“They were actually developed together, which gave us some excellent opportunities to weave the stories of these two locations together,” says Sara Thacher, creative lead in research and development with Walt Disney Imagineering. “We think about it as act one on the Starcruiser, then as our passengers go down to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, go on their planet excursion to Batuu, they actually continue their story.”
So what does an immersive cruise through fictional galaxies entail?
Upon arrival, guests will enter a launch pod, jumping to hyperspace before docking with the Halcyon, your “ship” and home base for the next two nights. Once the airlock doors open with a satisfying whoosh and you step into the ship’s atrium, you are fully in the Star Wars universe.
Think of it as a real-life role playing game—a brand new story with familiar characters. During their two-day voyage, guests will encounter Chewbacca, Rey, and Kylo Ren, as well as droids and members of the crew who all become part of the story. Parts of your stay will be planned out—there’s a visit to the ship’s bridge to learn about its defense systems (this may come in handy later), lightsaber training, and an excursion to Batuu (aka Galaxy’s Edge) where you can engage with the First Order on the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ride and have a chance to pilot the Millennium Falcon.
“Intermixed with all of those scheduled events, we have all sorts of unexpected twists and turns as our characters lead us through this experience,” says Thacher. “Our passengers are going to get to make some choices, which characters they want to help, whether they want to aid the Resistance, help the First Order, maybe go on a heist with the underworld.”
Guests of the Galactic Starcruiser will be the first to take part in a new lightsaber experience. Earlier this year, Disney shared a glimpse of a lightsaber that looks incredibly true to the films. The blade seems to appear out of thin air and isn’t an illuminated physical shaft. It’s yet to be seen if guests will be able to wield it themselves, but Thacher said they have something special in store.
“We haven’t shared a lot of it, but we’ve developed a brand new lightsaber experience for our guests as part of lightsaber training,” Thacher says. “It’s going to let guests not just wield the lightsaber, but actually feel the Force and have that same experience we all got to see, for example, Luke have on the Millenium Falcon as he’s first learning how to use the Force and anticipate those blasts.”
Dining is sure to be an adventure on its own, with your first night’s dinner in a supper club atmosphere complete with musical entertainment. The second night, the dining room celebrates a Taste Around the Galaxy, showcasing dishes inspired by planets throughout the galaxy. Passengers can choose from the first or second seating, and upgrade to seating at the captain’s table for $30 per person.
When it’s time to settle in, every one of the Halcyon’s 100 cabins and suites has a view of space—and you never know what you might see out the window. A standard cabin sleeps five, with two adult-sized bunk beds built into the wall, or you can book the two-bedroom Grand Captain Suite which sleeps eight and has three windows for even more views into the unknown.
Booking opens to the general public on October 28, with early access available to Disney Visa cardholders, Disney Vacation Club members, and Walt Disney World annual passholders. Details and availability are available online, but all reservations will be made the old-fashioned way—over the phone. Booking instructions will be posted online closer to the availability date.
As for the price, it will cost quite a few galactic credits to board. Rates in a standard cabin start from $1,209 per person per night for a party of two, or $4,809 total. A family of four will pay $749 per person per night for three adults (age 10 and older) and one child, or $5,999 total. Similar to a standard ocean cruise, solo travelers will pay a double rate for cabin occupancy. Pricing includes one-day admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios (for your excursion to Batuu), all meals, and onboard entertainment. While you may transfer to or from another Disney World resort hotel, the Galactic Starcruiser is a two-night experience.
Can’t wait to head to space? Get a taste of the Starcruiser experience (without the Star Wars immersion) with Space 220, one of Disney World’s newest restaurants at Epcot. Set in the “slight future,” the restaurant simulates a space station 220 miles above earth. You’ll board a “stellarvator” from the lobby, watching the Florida peninsula shrink beneath you courtesy of a clever (and realistic!) video screen. Inside, the restaurant has a very relaxing vibe, almost as if you’re at a day spa in space, with panoramic views of Earth down below. Out the window, you’ll see other guests of the space station float by, and if you’re lucky you might even see one guest taking their dog for a walk in its very own space suit.
While the food here isn’t an afterthought, the ambiance is certainly the main draw. Reservations at Space 220 are available for the main dining room (a prix fixe menu at $55 for lunch, $79 for dinner), but we recommend sampling the menu from the lounge, where you can relax with a space cocktail before heading back out into the bustle of the real world below.