Disney cuts prices for its ludicrously expensive Star Wars hotel (but not really)
By Dan Selcke
The Galactic Starcruiser, a Star Wars-themed hotel experience, opened in Walt Disney World in March of last year and immediately made headlines. People were interested in what you could do — it’s a two-night adventure where you interact with Star Wars characters and live aboard a starship — but also by the price: a minimum of $5,000 for a two-night stay, and the price goes up the more people in your party.
Look, if you charge people 5k to stay in a hotel, it better be spectacular. And while the Galactic Starcruiser certainly looks fun, there have been some complaints. The rooms are small, which I suppose is consistent with a simulated luxury cruise. Drinks at the bar are full price, there’s no pool or exercise area, and there’s a lack of windows, the better to obscure the fact that you’re in Florida and not a galaxy far, far away.
When the Galactic Starcruise opened, it was booked solid, but that’s tapered off since. At this point, you can go pretty much whenever you want to. Several outlets are now reporting that Disney has “slashed prices” in an effort to book the rooms…but that’s really not what’s happening.
No, Disney isn’t slashing prices for its Star Wars hotel
So back in November, Disney offered 30% discounts on Galactic Starcruiser tickets to members of Disney’s Vacation Club, its timeshare program. According to SF Gate, that’s an unusually steep discount for DVC members, but most people aren’t in that program. What about the rest of us?
Well, for us, Disney is keeping the 5k-a-stay price the same, but it’s offering discounts if we book nights at a different Disney hotel before or after our Starcruiser stays. You’d get $350 knocked off your room per night if you book at the Beach Club, Grand Floridian or Yacht Club resorts…but again, that’s only if you also shill out at least $5,000 to stay two nights on the Galactic Starcruiser.
The offer is valid for stays between February 5 and September 30, with some blackout dates in there. But I don’t know if it’ll change anything, because it doesn’t make things any easier for the market Disney is currently shutting out: people who don’t have enough money to spend 5k for a weekend getaway in the first place.
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