Funny definition of "discount" for Galactic Starcruiser

I imagine they would have to change the story if they want repeat visitors. That might be challenging too because they're considering what goes on there to be canon.

The best comment I've seen on social media was, "of course it's failing [Narrator: it isn't.], they're forcing you to pay $4000 for two nights in a hotel!!!" That's what we're dealing with here.

That made me curious about the most expensive hotels.

https://theluxurytravelexpert.com/2020/08/03/most-expensive-hotel-s...the-world/

How expensive is it really? Two nights at a standard hotel room at the Grand Californian in June will run you nearly $2k. That doesn't include theme park tickets or anything else. That said, I wouldn't pay close to those prices for either experience.

I've splurged on concierge/club level rooms a few times in hotels and on cruises. Kind of worth it in some situations. That's my sticking point with Starcruiser, because in the other situations you're usually getting free drinks, extra food, various perks and lounges and such. You don't get anything like that on this "voyage."

Mulfinator:

How expensive is it really?

For our family of 4 the cheapest cost of admission would be $6,000.

I know what the actual cost is. Compared to a stay at higher end Disney hotel it isn't completely out of line. In my situation both are insanely overpriced. I'm fully aware that I am not the target audience for either. I say that as we prepare to check in to Grand Californian this weekend. But that's through DVC so the cost structures are a bit different.

It isn't? I just looked up the Grand Floridian for two nights in June (A Monday - Wednesday) and it's $571 (versus $3,000) per night. I get that it doesn't include tickets to Hollywood Studios for a short "excursion" and standard food, but that seems like a pretty good gap.

That's fair. A better comparison would be a deluxe resort down the road and not across the country. :)

Those other deluxe hotels offer amenities like a pool, gym/spa, concierge, room service, a balcony, access to the sunshine. The Galactic Starcruiser gets you 2 nights in a concrete box.

Just like if you view driving as a way to get from point A to point B, you aren't BMW's target audience, if you view the Galactic Starcruiser experience as 2 nights in a hotel (let alone a concrete box), you aren't Disney's target audience. And if you tend to look at what you get at other hotels for the price when evaluating GS, you aren't the target audience. To a certain extent, the "if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it" rule applies here.

We have discussed it before here but its not clear if there are enough people who have an interest in this experience who are willing to pay the freight to make the project work long term. But given Disney's track record for getting things right way more often than getting them wrong, I would bet the over if I had to make a bet.

Given how crazy so many people are about everything Star Wars, I expect there are a number of people in the "I can't afford this" camp who are doing a lot to figure out a way to be able to afford it. I am not a Star Wars fan and this type of experience is pretty much the opposite of what I look for in so many ways. So totally not the target audience. Not in BMW's target audience either. Both Disney and BWM are fine with that. As am I.

Are there any big upcoming Star Wars movies coming out? I know there is stuff on Disney+ but without some huge blockbuster coming out to drum up interest what keeps this thing going long term? Are there enough Star Wars fanatics out there to keep the force alive?

There are talks of some being in the proverbial pipeline, but nothing concrete and no shred any clue of what the stories would even be about.

Rian Johnson is allegedly in talks to do three of them. That would be a good choice, but I think it would be important for him to work with Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni in setting up some bigger arcs. Those guys, and the variety of directors they've worked with, I think have done a lot for the franchise.

I’m still annoyed that they didn’t give all three movies to Abrams. I really like Rian Johnson’s films but I think he would have been better off doing a one off or a series on Disney +.

I will never understand why they approached that trilogy in the manner they did. I don't care who directs it, but at the very least have an idea of, you know, a story.

GoBucks89:

Just like if you view driving as a way to get from point A to point B, you aren't BMW's target audience, if you view the Galactic Starcruiser experience as 2 nights in a hotel (let alone a concrete box), you aren't Disney's target audience

Uh huh. Except I actually have interest in the driving experience, and would drive a BMW. I have 0 interest in locking myself into the Star Wars hotel.

This is coming from someone who stays in deluxe resorts. When I’m on vacation, I want to vacation, and Satrcruiser does not interest me at any price point.

I do wonder how bad the occupancy has to be for them to completely close 2 days per week in the middle of the summer and rebook all of those guests.

With no knowledge of this whatsoever, I'd guess that if they were at 50% capacity that they'd never try to discount/rebook that many people, and that they wouldn't have the room to rebook most of them if they're running at a high occupancy on the other days. So are we talking 30%? 25%?

Sounds like you are not in their target audience. Doesn't mean others aren't in it and in sufficient numbers to make the resort work from a financial standpoint.

There are thousands of Deluxe rooms at Disney World. Just 100 at Galactic Starcruiser. Expect there is a broad range of income levels when you look at people who stay in deluxe hotels and ability/willingness to spend on premium experiences. So not everyone who stays in deluxe hotels needs to be interested in the Star Wars experience (at the current price point or any price point).

And there are some people who aren't Disney people (no interest in theme parks) who will be interested in GS and for at least some of those people, the price of admission won't be an issue.

I too fall in the camp of no interest in the GS experience at pretty much any price point. Never would have been built if the world was filled with people like me but its not (thankfully for a number of reasons). No interest in a BMW either (at least not at anything near any price point that will be available). Definitely possible that Disney missed the mark on this. Price point may need to be adjusted downward (discounts during certain times of the years or other incentives offered to get more takers to maintain occupancies that work financially). May not have staying power for the long haul. I would be surprised if that were the case but not ruling it out. They have a long track record of getting this type of stuff right. And Star Wars fans seem to be many and incredibly passionate.