Is Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser worth the cost?

When word first broke that Walt Disney World would be opening an amazing Star Wars hotel, it seemed like a dream come true. The chance to live your own Star Wars story for three days while on a “cruise” through space sounded amazing. However, later we found out exactly how much this “cruise” would cost, and it was quite a lot. However, could Star Wars: Galactic Stasrcruiser possibly be worth thousands of dollars? After participating in the full experience as part of a press preview, we actually know the answer – and it’s a bit complicated.

The costs

First, let’s talk about how much it costs to stay aboard the Halcyon ship in the center of Galactic Starcruiser. Similar to an actual cruise, this depends on the number of people in your group. All in all, this is a three day and two night experience. The price breakdown is as follows:

Group of 2: $4809 Group of 3: $5299 Group of 4: $5999

There are higher rates for larger groups and even suites at Halcyon, but these are publicly available rates. The top package would be four to eight guests staying in the Grand Captain Suite.

What does this include?

Much like an actual cruise, the Galactic Starcruiser is an all-inclusive (for the most part) experience. The price includes not only your stateroom, but all your meals, a ticket to Disney Hollywood Studios for a “trip” to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and plenty of entertainment on board – both the captivating story elements and the activities as a musical performance during dinner the first night.

And this won’t be standard theme park food. Like on a cruise, the food is top notch. The main difference is that everything has a Star Wars twist. Breakfast and lunch are all served buffet style, while both evenings are formal dinners with multiple courses, all inspired by story elements and locations from across the Star Wars universe.

What is not included are things like alcoholic beverages, specialty non-alcoholic beverages and merchandise.

How does the price compare to actual cruises?

This is where it gets interesting. Even the cheapest Galactic Starcruiser trip costs more than a Disney cruise in the Bahamas. For example, while a two-night stay for two on Halcyon in a standard cabin costs $4,809, a four-day cruise aboard Disney Wish in a Deluxe Ocean View Stateroom for the same number of people costs $3,126. That’s over $1500 less for a cruise twice the length.

Is it worth the price?

That is the question, and the answer will vary depending on who is asking. While a two-person party on the Galactic Starcruiser costs over $2000 each for a two-night stay, it’s much more sensible to get a bunch of friends together to squeeze into a standard cabin.

The standard cabins can accommodate up to five people. There is a queen bed, two sets of bunk beds and a trundle bed in the wall. It would be cramped, but if you and your friends (or family) are interested in living your own Star Wars story, you probably won’t spend much time in your room.

And this is where the deciding factor for the price comes into play. As mentioned in our look at the full experience, there are parts of Galactic Starcruiser that work really well, while others don’t. What works is the immersive storytelling, and it’s an experience Disney has never had before at its parks or aboard its cruises.

You can choose the type of role you play and immerse yourself in it as much or as little as you like. The branching storytelling includes a team of cast members playing characters day and night, actual hotel staff attending to your needs, areas of the ship that could serve as film sets in the next Star Wars film, and integration with the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is landing at Hollywood Studios – largely through interaction through the Play Disney Parks app.

The most likely reason Galactic Starcruiser costs so much is that it’s a unique experience. While Disney has dabbled in immersion with Galaxy’s Edge, Pandora: The World of Avatar, and Avengers Campus, this is a much higher level. And while there are issues with the end product – from the staging of certain major events to the length of certain activities – what has been achieved here is impressive. And chances are it’s just the beginning. Honestly, you know there must be some sort of Marvel project in the works that will allow you to be an Avenger-in-training or something.

But while this is a unique experience, it won’t be for everyone. One of the most important things to note is that this is not a relaxing holiday. When you leave you will be tired of being so engaged for three days. So if you’re hoping to get some rest during your stay, maybe you should just book a hotel somewhere.

Also, you have to think about the age in your party. If you are visiting as a family, your children may be too young to fully appreciate what is happening. During our trip, lightsaber training just didn’t interest certain younger guests, who appeared to be around seven or eight years old. Pretty early in the activity, three of them went to the back of the room to play games on smartphones or take a nap. Other children looked very engaged. So when considering whether it’s worth the expense, consider the guests you’re bringing with you.

And that is ultimately the biggest determining factor. If you and your close friends really love Star Wars and want to live it out for a few days – and you happen to have the expendable income – Galactic Starcruiser will be a fun experience. It won’t be perfect, but it will be exciting. After all, you essentially lock yourself into an elaborate Star Wars escape room for three days. If that sounds appealing to you and you can afford it, chances are you’ll have a good time.

Star Wars: Galactic Stasrcruiser opens March 1 at Florida’s Walt Disney World.

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