Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser CLOSING FOREVER & Lake Nona Imagineering Move CANCELED

In this news update, the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will be taking its final voyage on September 28-30 before shutting its doors in less than two years, plus Disney has officially canceled their plans to move Walt Disney Imagineering and more to Lake Nona in the Orlando, Florida area.
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[@chrispeters3466]

Do you all hear that??? That's the sound of Pete laughing hysterically. Hotel Ishtar is NO MORE.

[@solcarlosofficial]

I wish they had put that much effort in theming and immersion to galaxy edge something more fans can enjoy

[@TheFtm22]

Would Pete PLEASE make a guest appearance on the Tuesday show just to discuss the HOTEL ISHTAR????!!!!!! I just want to hear him talk about the Hotel Ishtar because he said it so well. Craig, I feel for you as I know you enjoyed the experience. I feel for the actors who seemed to be doing a great job despite the situation. Just a bad execution.

[@g3powerbook335]

Would love to see Pete attend the last day to fully immerse in Nerdville and "Let the fun begin."

[@neil3467]

Just too damn expensive and not even all inclusive.

[@spencerjohnson8714]

Pete’s reaction would garner a million views!! Lol

[@sunnydaze2712]

Starcruiser would be awesome as a dinner theater with pre dinner access to the main atrium, bridge, gift shop and starlight lounge. I feel bad for the cast members.

[@abrandenburg10]

They have finally priced people out. They actually did it

[@nicoleturner6858]

I'm just waiting for the Defunctland video.

[@BertisFat]

If they’d expand it into a proper premium hotel, keep the theming, and build a separate entrance into Galaxy’s Edge, I’d stay there in a heartbeat.

[@JrSlacker]

Cost aside as a huge Star Wars fan I had zero desire to go to this thing, zero shock that it got shut down. It just blows my mind how Disney bought a golden goose with Star Wars and keeps fumbling with the franchise so much.

[@slowazzd2165]

If you had no desire to do this you aren't a star wars fan you're just someone who liked the movies

[@TheLocalForecast]

​@@slowazzd2165 lmao what?

[@JrSlacker]

@@slowazzd2165 Sorry but no, I've been reading Heir to the Empire and Tales of Bounty Hunters since I was a kid (Until Disney said they weren't the real EU, but funny enough keep cherry picking from it). The last thing I want to do is go on a "cruise" to role play in the sequels. But hey, assume all you want.

[@KarlSainte]

To be fair, everyone I’ve every talked to or watched on YT said they loved the experience, even those who aren’t crazy about the sequel trilogy. I kinda agree , besides the sticker shock price, they probably should have placed the story in between the OT and ST. Less tied to any particular story. ( I say this as someone who loves TLJ and hates ROS )

[@iestyndavies7287]

@@slowazzd2165 - Genuinely one of the most self entitled nonsense replies I’ve seen in a while. You might as well just say ‘I can piss higher up the wall than you’ or ‘my dad is bigger than yours’ Sanctimonious bellend.

[@Palidor19]

Wow, I didn’t see this coming………….said no one

[@jenniferrundle6870]

😂

[@GiaBlinks]

Exactly what I was going to type out

[@GiaBlinks]

@@cruisinusa5110 just give us the oldschool Starr Wars. I'd be pissed if Universal opened Harry Potter land, but created their own damn, watered down, version of it instead of the storyline that everyone loves. Sidenote: I know it's not called Harry Potter Land, but that's what it is.

[@eggnogaddict6287]

@@GiaBlinks Disney had a chance to do Harry Potter, but Iger in his arrogance wanted to have control. JK Rowling said no way, went over to Universal who couldn’t believe it, and said they’ll do anything Rowling wants in design. Fast forward: Disney has ruined Star Wars, it takes them over half a decade to bring in a new coaster, while Universal is rocking and rolling with one of the greatest IPs ever: Harry Potter.

[@GiaBlinks]

@@eggnogaddict6287 oh, I'd be storming the castle if they gained control of Harry Potter

[@343Films]

They should turn it into a regular, moderate-plus priced hotel. Do two dinner shows a night, one restricted to those staying at the resort and one open to public reservations. Make stuff like the lightsaber training something that happens every 90 minutes and is free to people staying at the resort (with a reservation) and $40 per person for the public. Oh, and add a star wars themed pool! Guarantee they'd bring in even more money and please way more people this way.

[@justinschrank4806]

Pete called this 2 years ago. This is why we still need Pete on this show. Nobody reads the tea leaves like he does.

[@laurad2442]

A lot of us called it, Justin. Anyone could see this never had any long range sustainability after a few years at most with that astronomically insane price tag!

[@douglasmurphy1113]

Disney: Targets the ultra-rich with quality meant for a middle income family. "Why isn't this making us money??"

[@Chellekathryn]

I am not surprised a concrete block with no windows didn’t sell well to Disney fans. Especially at that price point.

[@Chellekathryn]

@@alexhein1738 Sure Jan.

[@nicoleturner6858]

I, called when it opened, that it would close a little after it opened.

[@ballergolfer2945]

Please Pete... stop by for the "I told you so".

[@tpg5974]

The worst part is that all the money spent on this project, that by many accounts was doomed from the start, could have gone a long way to improving other more proven aspects of the resort. Imagine if all that money was spent on ride improvements, shows, cast members, resorts...

[@paulmcgarry4466]

Obviously. This looked terrible and was way too expensive.

[@srb2834]

“Too the cast members who have already moved, we will speak to you individually about your situation, w/ the possibility of moving back” - That’s a super ominous statement and would have me nauseous if I was one of those employees. Say you don’t move, you’re then at risk of getting the: “well we don’t think this position is suitable for remote work, and really needs to be back here in California”

[@88COR88]

Maybe this is overly optimistic but the Florida Imagineers have been doing their jobs since they moved (so they have proven it can be done) and I would guess their skills are not easily replicated so hopefully Disney will let them work where they want. When I first heard that comment, I interpreted it more about the financial impacts and how much Disney would reimburse the employees to move. Since they came from California they may have sold a house they can't afford to buy back and asking them to move back to something smaller/further away would not be acceptable. The fact is, Disney told them their job was moving to Florida. Then they changed their minds. Should the employee be punished for reacting quickly on those plans? I don't think so.

[@kahristah]

I want to say I can’t believe it, but I actually can. Lol

[@richardscott5155]

Well said

[@laurad2442]

Disney could easily turn this failure into a Deluxe hotel with reasonable pricing, offering a character breakfast for outside guests, and also either a character dinner experience or an immersive dinner theatre show! They would just need to add a few things on to the property like a pool and maybe some more rooms before reopening it.

[@JDizaster]

Cue Pete's victory lap.

[@Wanderlustwithjess50]

Craig, I share your hope, however, I don't think we will ever get back to the original Walt Disney World!

[@Shonufff88]

I kind of wanted to do the starcruiser, but the cost and me needing to interact with cast members for the full experience held me back.

[@katcalico9142]

Same. Personally I am an introvert and felt having to interact or be part of of the story would be anxiety provoking. Being trapped in a bizarre stars wars themed murder mystery weekend.

[@sweezey1981]

Same....its unfortunate star wars line dancing just wasn't enough to pull me out my shell. lol

[@darkinetix]

I just really want to know what the leadership at the time were smoking on when they approved Galactic Starcruiser as it is. Unbelievable price for what's included, especially against actual cruises and considering a recession.

[@alexhein1738]

5k a night is inane.

[@jeffs2149]

Idea for the area…..construct a revamped “Great Movie Ride” attraction!!!!

[@hillelhalevi]

And Horizons

[@veronicagreenbaum884]

It was mainly the price, maybe one more day, not enough time to do everything. Also for the original Star War fans they needed the old theme and characters, you couldn’t keep us out , Veronica and Todd

[@nicquiann2u]

Actually they could make the galactic cruiser a day excursion that includes a meal and entertainment. Something like Animal Kingdom's Africa Wild Trek

[@Xelku9]

Now that sounds like a grand idea! Course, what about all the other stuff they had to do in that area?

[@ironwolf56]

I think we all anticipated a price drop or even re-theme was inevitable but a full shutdown? It must have been doing even worse than we thought.

[@spiritedsamph]

Capacity was its main problem. They can't cut the price to any sort of reasonable level because it wouldn't cover the overhead with so few rooms, and they can't increase the capacity while keeping the immersion. A heavily themed hotel at a reasonable size (say 1000 rooms like POFQ) but without the immersive storyline would have been crazy profitable, I think.

[@SweetestHoney86]

Between this and the harmonious barges, The company is just throwing away money. They could be investing better into the parks.

[@davidbutton3500]

They are fixing past mistakes. That in its self is an investment. Could the barges been used elsewhere? Maybe but the cost of maintaining them was likely too high.

[@kingoglow2186]

@@davidbutton3500 Maybe they could have been used elsewhere, but Disney wanted to take the tax impairment charge write off, so they disassembled them completely.

[@katcalico9142]

I like Star Wars, but as an introvert that does not want to interact, it sounds miserable. And I would be pissed if this was how we spent our vacation budget when we could go to actual Disney, or Europe, or Hawaii, or take a cruise - all of which have something for everyone in the family to enjoy. The price combined with the forced participation/hotel Ishtar vibes make it hard for a lot of families. While some in my family might enjoy it, I am the type that likes freedom and does not want to role play. Unless you have the budget to have the people in your family that want that experience to go while still allowing for a family vacation that EVERYONE can enjoy, it is a no go.

[@lisareckmeyer9745]

The Galactic Starcruiser is closing? I'm shocked, shocked I tell you! 🤣🤣🤣

[@taralounsbury8139]

I am not surprised about lake Nona! Why would Disney want to spend more money and force cast members to move to a state that will not support their company or families!

[@mindyschocolate]

You just know those two statements were aimed at meatball head too.

[@megansmith3535]

The build up to the Galactic StarCruiser was exciting... an immersive experience, being transported to the world of Star Wars. It sounded awesome. Cracks started to show when they released the welcome video (the purple lady holding what looked like an iphone) and the trailers for it which were then taken down. It felt like they had over-promised and under-delivered what the experience was actually going to be (sleeping in a bunk bed, playing with lightsabers?) Then of course they released the prices and everyone laughed. It has been doomed from the start. I'm surprised this is happening so quickly but it's better to fail fast than to keep pumping money into it.

[@LightSparkDaniel]

I kind of hope they take some elements of the Star Cruiser and put it into Galaxy's Edge , like having Gaya and her band do a show in the land would be amazing. A Star Wars themed show would be a fun immersive experience that would add capacity to the park.

[@caryrae73]

Guess they could turn the star cruiser into the lake Nona campus.

[@chronomatt6990]

Thanks Bobby Iger and Katie Kennedy. Yeah, and those of us with a decent amount of critical thinking ability, who were not looking for free preview trips and Disney goodie bags, called it a failure from the start. We were called “haterrrrrrrrrrrrrrz.” And many of us haterrrrrrrrrrrz have also predicted, it will be “re-imagined” and reopened as a deluxe tier, standard-style hotel without all the dramatics, and will open to the public during specific day and night hours for high-ticket lunch and dinner experiences.

[@LARKXHIN]

Well....Hotel Ishtar indeed.

[@natashafreeman2220]

Axing something that Nobody can afford is a step in the right direction.

[@edstrong597]

Love the DIS keep up the good work. I saw Molly in your video, that’s awesome ! Thanks for your news updates.

[@stroyer2103]

NBA experience last longer 🤣🤣

[@tps178]

Pete called it repeatedly. Craig, Ryno, Panda and John somehow thought it was a great idea. I think Pete wouldn’t go because he is knew he would be too honest to hide his feelings about it.

[@Reinate]

I've got a booking for that Final Cruise date, Its going to be so sad going, knowing that noone else will be able to go.

[@KarlSainte]

Did you have a different date before and Disney rescheduled you or did you just happen to have that date? I figure that last date will sell out quick I

[@Reinate]

@Karl Sainte I had booked it last Christmas as a Christmas present for my parents who are massive star wars fans

[@KarlSainte]

@@Reinate That’s great! I’ve been considering it with the 30% off discounts they’ve been giving. This may have forced my hand…

[@njjedidreamer]

Good riddance to the Lake Nona Project ! Good riddance to that overpriced Starcruiser !

[@weatheredseeker]

Insane that they wouldn't just reduce the price

[@DISUnlimited]

It’s probably a situation like Disney+ where they can take an impairment charge if it’s closed completely.

[@svandean92]

Wonder if they are going to just turn it into a normal resort

[@sethschroeder]

Without windows and in that location? Doesnt really make sense.

[@awefawn7793]

unfortunately, i don’t think that’s an option. they built the hotel with the idea that only maybe 300-500 people at most would be inside at once, and probably even less than that. I could see them maybe trying to do a day experience here; but honestly i really don’t know what they’re going to do.

[@jackylsmith8138]

It would need some work. No pool, no parking lot, etc.

[@laurad2442]

They either have to cut their losses or sink more money into it to make it a proper Deluxe hotel with upgrades. I could easily see them doing quite well with a character breakfast and either a character dinner experience or immersive dinner show.

[@JL-1123]

I want Kevin and Pete to livestream the final voyage so badly... #EliteContent

[@franklinmimi]

I would like to see them join the discussions sometimes .

[@n8nawesome]

Discovery Island is gone, River Country is gone, Disney Quest is gone, Galactic Starcruiser is next.

[@roxannebeaman5645]

Sad,but we knew this was going to happen.

[@triciagrant2315]

Josh D'Amaro needs to take Pete to lunch and ask what Disney does wrong.

[@TheJAMMER55]

Wow what a day

[@amydoran9987]

I’m not that surprised. The price tag was way too high.

[@citizenofcorona8783]

I really hope you guys bring back DIS Daily Fix

[@GBanner]

Saddened to hear the closure of the Starcruiser, but I’d suggest it was simply out of reach for almost 90% of the population with prices of £4000 for 2 nights. I would have loved to have got the chance to go, let’s hope they have plans for it rather than to knock it down. Thoughts with the cast members and as you mentioned in the video Craig, I am glad they will be relocated so they don’t have the stress of losing their jobs in this current stressful financial climate.

[@davidbutton3500]

Re-theme it to a Muppet Labs, or better yet Pigs in Space Hotel experience!

[@plato363]

Maybe Disney can reuse the space- what about an NBA experience

[@tonyd300g7]

Pete was right!

[@rosskrattermusic]

I wonder if some of the Imagineers who didn’t want to relocate (i.e. Kevin Lively) will come back to the company.

[@elizabethlicciardone7487]

Thank you for the updates!

[@srb2834]

I hope Disney turns it into a “regular” hotel. They could get pretty creative with building a pool into the theming, and still charge a premium bc of location, but is the limited number of rooms not allow it to scale up to an acceptable level?

[@Lil_Angry_Bitch]

And there's no swimming pool

[@MichelleS2892]

They should've made it a boutique hotel from the start. Add an indoor pool with a "view" of space. Add a nice spa. Make the bar/lounge bigger. Have the storyline/cosplay stuff as an option not mandatory. The cost along with the mandatory cosplay is such a small niche group of people.

[@kevinfraser7815]

I love the breaking news music!

[@TheCoasterGays]

“Florals in spring……groundbreaking “. As a former Disney nut, we all saw this coming. It was TERRIBLE. The story, the food, the “amenities” and much more. Stop slapping Star Wars on stuff and half a****g it. And then charging us thousands to “experience” bs. Thanks but no thanks Disney.

[@stevec4110]

I wonder if some of the immersive experiences in the Galactin Starcruiser will be added to Galaxies Edge? Too much to hope for maybe . . . . .

[@People_of_the_Mouse]

neither is shocking.

[@helen.highwater]

I'll be honest, I'm low-key heartbroken. Coming from the UK, I could never have justified affording it, but...boy, did I want to experience it at least once. 😢

[@kdub1516]

I understand why it closed but it’s still my favorite Disney experience I have ever done. Sad to see it go

[@mighty_01]

This is sad news, Disney really put their best talent into this experience!

[@maximoo79]

They’ll probably turn it into a regular Star Wars themed hotel.

[@katielouise3924]

Well, not surprised by either decision but sad for the people who were saving to go to the SWGSC. What will that facility turn into, I wonder.🤔 The Lake Nona Project: I felt bad for the Imagineers who didn’t want to relocate. Am sad FL is going through a rough time, though. That’s all I’m gonna write about my home state right now. 😞

[@Daedalus_Dragon]

That sounds insane! Imagine how much money that Star Cruiser cost to build - and they are just going to close it? Wow! Guess I am not gonna get to see it.

[@Mph-ut4bs]

Bob Iger issued order 66 on the Star Cruiser

[@jjgravante]

I can almost guarantee that Starcruiser will be just converted into a Deluxe hotel. They'll just drop the high-cost show elements, make the story you live all passive and app-based, and pull the food options from the overall package so you have to pay for them a la carte instead of it being all-inclusive (less alcohol). The reason the price was so high is 1) they had a huge capex they needed to payback and 2) the operating expenses were insane. Can't do anything now about how much it cost to build, but they can reduce the operating expenses so it's at least breaking even on a cash basis. It's a business after all, and you can't operate at a loss forever.

[@CrazyManhog]

Maybe they can make 5th Park there and add another Star Wars Themed Area. I believe that could be the reason since Universal is making a new park.

[@pcar928fan]

So very sad! Unreal! The only problem with the Star Cruiser was the price. I know many many folks who would love to have experienced this one of a kind vacation, but just couldn’t justify $5000 for two days! That is me…I just can’t afford to spend that on 2.5 days of vacation. Hell, I usually don’t spend that on a 10 day Disney vaca!

[@People_of_the_Mouse]

the disney rule is always go right when it opens cause value usually only goes down and sometimes out. i rode EE with a real yeti becuase we happened to be there during the soft opening. a couple of thousand people have a heck of a story to tell about 2 nights in a brutally paced space experience.

[@stevenweatherman7325]

Please convince Pete to attend the final sailing of the Hotel Ishtar...dressed as Princess Amidala.

[@affordableadventuretours]

It will become a regular hotel. Which is what it should have been all along.

[@garrettcarter5622]

All that money that could have gone into refurbing Spaceship Earth or actually making that Mary Poppins ride, DOWN THE DRAIN.

[@keouine]

omg You're right. Dang I bet 3 rides could have been developed for that money.

[@66whitewater]

I bet it gets reimagined into an immersive attraction.

[@mst3kpimp]

they could call that hotel anything as it had very little that was legit sw. just generic space stuff.

[@zartdart]

I hope the poor old Walt Disney Company survives their record-breaking billions in profits, and can get back on track by making trillions in profits. Maybe then we can realize Walt's vision of a park that every family that makes an eight-figure income can enjoy together.

[@hillelhalevi]

Make it into pet hotel

[@michaelmason2227]

Great intro music!!!

[@Bynbrooke]

Hotel Ishtar is gone?!?!

[@IWillBeHers]

Pete is absolutely cackling 😂

[@hatingontruth9118]

Ohhh no.. what am I going to do with this 5k that I was going to spend on the Star Cruiser? Maybe something a bit more responsible.

[@michellebull9184]

I love the new intro! ❤

[@jenniferrundle6870]

I have to believe they'll re-purpose the Starcruiser. If they are smart enough to follow the blogs of the biggest Disney supporters they would see that people are willing to pay Deluxe Resort prices there. Just not that original price tag. And some people are too shy to participate in the experience as it was originally set up...but they would fill up those restaurants and do a la carte experiences!

[@trey1941able]

5 Grand for 2 nights 😂

[@caryrae73]

More like a day and a half. Half a day 1st day then whole 2nd day, then off at 9:30 am 3rd day.

[@ddc163264]

Other than this channels hosts, this was clear to see. The false star wars hotel was doomed to failure. Only you media and rich liked this because it was something that you could laud over and separate from us lowly regular riff raff. As far as Lake Nona, they already lost many imagineers over this and were going to lose more.

[@People_of_the_Mouse]

notice the way epic has the lands seperatable but also has an in the hub presence store/qsr at the entrance to each land. double down on the SC. add a ‘hogworths express’ real transport, add a pool and add another building or 2. but if it doesn’t have a direct quality connect to GE it never should have been built. the box truck killed a billion dollar peppery.

[@margaretriley9146]

WDW should use Starcruiser as a Boutique Hotel..!!!! Don't shut it down all together..!! 😢

[@kingoglow2186]

I said it before and I will say it again. If Vloggers are allowed to post the story in its entirety, there is no reason for most people to ever go to the experience. The end is always the same; Rey wins and none of the time that the First Order guests invests can ever change that. That can't feel great. So what we have is a very expense two days where you can't 'really' impact the story, a story that has already been spoiled online. Why paid money for that? I feel bad for the actors and cast members that invested so much effort into the experience and hope that they find something else that they find fulfilling.

[@TheFtm22]

I don't blame the vloggers. I blame the cost and the choice to market to people with more money than sense.

[@drnkwtrr]

The 'story' was only a framework for the interactions on an individual basis. The magic was in the improv interactions with the cast members. So many people go on about the magic of the cast members in the parks (or lack of it compared to the 'old days'). The magic of the interactions with the improv performers on the Halcyon was on another level, literally out of this world.

[@kevinbetts6254]

When I initially heard about this project, I thought it might be a new Star Wars themed resort and was really excited about it. I think it would be filled year round if they did that correctly. What a fail!!!

[@mr.patrickaloysiusbartholo4727]

Pete called it once again! Another onnnnnnneeeeeee!!! 😢

[@beckyw9000]

I love, love, love the breaking news intro!!!!

[@cassandrahitt8530]

Love the intro….not sure if it was new or jot

[@RLucas3000]

I’m sad, why not change it to a hotel? It would be easy to run it just on the weekend and make it a regular moderate hotel during the week!

[@leeprice2849]

Even if Galactic Star Cruiser was Original Trilogy based it had maybe 2 years of Full occupancy before the inevitable decline. It just cost way to much. The business park was canceled because Disney is crippled financially because of Iger's overspending.

[@argophontes]

I'm so completely shocked that $5,000 for a 2-person room for two nights isn't sustainable, especially when there's the added amenities of full-price drinks and crappy views of the dinner show. There's just so many people out there with 5 grand burning a hole in their pockets, it's just wild that they aren't able to keep it running. 🙄

[@georgirancour198]

Good for Iger.

[@kellykristine1238]

Love the intro