“Why Disney’s Star Wars Hotel Failed to Meet Expectations and Is Closing Down”

Disney is closing its Star Wars hotel in Florida. Only a year and a half after the opening, the plug is pulled from the very expensive science fiction experience. The last intergalactic guests will be received at the end of September.

The entertainment company only cites “business considerations” as the reason for the closure, but it was no secret that the number of guests fell short of expectations: booking a room was not a problem, which is striking in such a prestigious project.

In the Galactic Starcruiser hotel, fans are completely immersed in the Star Wars universe: the hotel is decorated like a starship that transports guests to another planet. The staff behave like aliens and the guests are also asked to wear appropriate costumes.

During the stay, visitors can participate in a storyline and participate in activities such as lightsaber training or piloting a spaceship and enjoy an alien concert.

The project, part of Disney World in Florida, got off to a rocky start last spring. The high expectations were not met in a first preview that Disney put online. The amateurishly acted commercial showed few realistic sets and no celebrities like Yoda, Darth Vader or Luke Skywalker. The reactions were so negative that Disney quickly withdrew the commercial.

Tickets for this space cruise were also expensive: for two nights, two people pay $ 4,800, a family of four costs $ 6,000, not including the trip to Orlando. Visitors also complained about the mediocre food and the stuffy rooms, with no windows to maintain the illusion.

Although there were also plenty of guests who gave the full five stars on review sites, the Galactic Starcruiser is now disappearing into a black hole. Those who have a booking later than September will be called to discuss an alternative.

“This exclusive, bespoke experience gave us the opportunity to try new things on a smaller scale of 100 rooms,” a Disney spokesperson said. “As we prepare for our final journey, we will take everything we’ve learned into future projects.”

The spokesperson could not yet say what will happen to the interior of the star hotel.