Everyone seems to be raving about the brand new Star Wars Hotel (Galactic Starcruiser to you Star Wars folk) so why don’t I feel the same way? Here is my very own Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser review (at face value) without needing to visit!
With every experience, I’ve ever been to I tend to watch many vlogs and videos beforehand except if it’s something I’m incredibly excited about, then I like to keep the mystery.
After watching around 30 Galactic Starcruiser vlogs I can safely type this article knowing exactly how I would feel if I experienced this ‘once in a lifetime’ accommodation experience.
Spending $6000 for a family to board a fictional starcruiser and spend a vacation onboard a ‘ship’ that doesn’t go anywhere sounds like a comic-con prison to me.
Being locked or contained within this Star Wars experience is very strange. Like being stuck at Comic-Con where the shutters have come down and you have to suffer from the inhabitants that remain whilst the food and merchandise are thrown in your face around every corner and paying $6000 (for a family) for the pleasure.
On day 2 of your experience you get to visit Galaxy’s Edge so are you are let free from your captivity but until then you get absolutely nothing other than what Disney call the ‘Climate Simulator Room’. Yes, that’s right this is a small outdoor patio space with tall walls so you can get some fresh air should you need it.
Do you know what that reminds me of? Prison.
I will say that the transport shuttle to Batuu is very clever as you board what looks like another transport unit (essentially just a loading truck) and are driven to Galaxy’s Edge with visuals around you to seamlessly immerse you in that transfer. I love that, I think it’s great although without seeing outdoor light for quite some time mother nature is going to burn your retinas harder than Mustafar lava when you disembark your vehicle.
It’s Disney, of course, the theming is incredible, the costumes are incredible and even the food looks incredible but considering you can pay the same amount for 3 or 4 nights at the Burj Al Arab (the world’s only 6-star hotel) I’d expect a little bit more here than just a nerdy getaway.
For starters, this is a hotel experience without windows only screens that depict galaxies and other space-themed displays to enhance your experience.
You arrived by car (or in some cases bus), I think the immersion to a galaxy far, far away ends before it begins.
The experience vs relaxing cruise break element that Disney is trying to market this as just doesn’t work. You’re constantly doing things around the ship, there’s no real-time to relax and just enjoy your stay. Marketing it as a cruise which is usually a relaxing endeavour just seems a little off-point.
The fact the Galactic Starcruiser doesn’t have a pool, gym or any other cruise or hotel amenities further proves that this experience will be anything but relaxing.
I do admire what Disney is doing to create fully immersive experiences but at that price, I just can’t wrap my head around it whatsoever. No windows to open if the air conditioning packs in and now you’re paying for a stay in an airless box. Great.
The rooms look incredibly cramped as they would be on-board a typical cruise ship and it’s clear that this experience is for the very wealthy nerds that when they see something such as a droid running around the place they will instantly feel ‘value for money. There’s no speaking sense to those kinds of fans, they’re beyond our galactical reach.
Many influencers attended a media event to experience this expensive ‘cruise’ and low and behold ALL of them loved it, as would I if I was given a free experience such as this. It truly is an incredible experience despite its restrictions and extortionate pricing.
In this video below you can get a great idea of what to expect if you choose to take part.
So whilst you may be reading this Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser review and asking yourself how I can be ‘reviewing’ something I haven’t experienced myself, watch the video above.
Do you feel relaxed? Do you feel as though you can chill out and enjoy yourself? Or does it feel rushed, tight on schedule (it was a media day so things were more rushed than normal but the accommodation experience has been noted to be on a tight schedule also) and a bit chaotic?
Whilst there are hundreds of positives from the beautifully decadent food to the world-class standards of Disney customer service and enjoyment I just can’t enjoy it. That’s my own personal taste.
If Disney reached out and gave me this experience for free (please do so I’d love to be proven wrong if indeed the videos in no way showcase the experience) then despite me absolutely loving it (because it’s free) I’ll always have pricing and what you’re getting for that price knawing away at me.
Dressing in costume is recommended (you can even buy costumes on the starcruiser for upwards of £110) and getting into the whole swing of things is part and parcel of the package. I mean after a few galactic cocktails even I’ll believe I’m flying through space and having a great time with any space creature who stops by for a chat.
But sadly two days inside this incredibly themed box, locked in with comic-con buddies and interactive character actors is my idea of a nightmare rather than a luxurious (as the price tag suggests) and immersive experience.
The activities onboard the ship such as lightsaber training are certainly aimed towards a younger audience including the shows, missions and tasks of your stay. The demographic seems to be targeted at children when the Star Wars demographic is more likely to be 20 years and up.
Get yourself on an incredible Disney Cruise (already one of the most expensive, if not THE most expensive cruise line) and you’ll save a fortune and have a truly wonderful Disney experience.
It’s certainly unique but for me, it’s just speaking to the wrong audience. People will go nuts for this type of experience and that’s exactly why it has been created but the cost vs the experience just doesn’t seem there for me and will alienate a very large portion of that target demographic.
Reduce the price to more realistic standards and not just mine buy many people’s opinions will quickly change as there’s no denying the level of detail and immersion Disney are creating here but for those who are paying the money right now, enjoy your space travel whilst I enjoy a fuller and healthier bank balance.
Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser review by Sean Evans
