News Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser coming to Walt Disney World 2021

[TikibirdLand]

If anyone wants to come and stay in my Star Wars room it’ll only cost you $500 but if you mention that you’re on Wdwmagic I’ll drop the cost down to $499. You can play with all the lightsabers you want.
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But, does it include access to a pool?

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Practically every criticism I've seen over not having a pool falls back on the argument that people "expect a hotel to have a pool". Which means people identify Having a Pool with the idea of Staying at a Hotel. Well, Disney doesn't WANT you to feel like you ARE at a hotel . . . so, scratch the pool.

Well Disney has already failed that because "Star Wars hotel" is what this is being referred to in non-Disney media and general online chatter.

I agree with everything you said in your post, but they're still struggling to explain to people that "it's not a hotel", never mind living up to the expectations that it's going to be worth the price for people on board with what Disney is actually trying to accomplish.

 

[Disstevefan1]

They have no issues with the queue hallways on the star destroyer before the interogation room on Rise of the Resistance. They easily could have made them look similar to that. Those for sure look like Star Wars.

Good point. Therefore, the boring hallways in the Starcruiser is due to cost reduction and a true disregard of theming…

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Remember when Disney Quest was sold as an "indoor theme park"? Or Animal Kingdom having to put "Not a Zoo" in their ads?

This company does have a history of struggling with the difference between what they build and what people think they're paying for.

 

[THE 1HAPPY HAUNT]

It surprises me how many people are upset by the lack of pool on the Star Cruiser.

I'm plenty critical of the job Disney has done on this project, but not having a pool doesn't even register with me as one of the problems. It seems really clear to me that Disney isn't aiming for the kind of traditional hotel experience that would have one. They're trying to do something far more out there (even if promo material suggests they are falling WAAAY short). I feel like not including one is actually pretty well justified.

When trying to create an illusion (or a themed experience) you have to be really discerning what elements you choose to include, since the physical reality of those elements will either support or hinder the illusion you're trying to create. A Hotel that's meant to give the illusion of a Not-Hotel is tricky, because it techically is a hotel in that people will be staying there, but that's not the impression guests are intended to walk away with. Since you HAVE to provide the accomodations that are necessary for guests to be able to stay overnight, you then have to remove anything that will feed into those and accidentally suggest that where they're staying is a "normal" hotel instead of the illusory place you're trying to make. Practically every criticism I've seen over not having a pool falls back on the argument that people "expect a hotel to have a pool". Which means people identify Having a Pool with the idea of Staying at a Hotel. Well, Disney doesn't WANT you to feel like you ARE at a hotel . . . so, scratch the pool.

You already have to make the huge leap of convincing guests that the building they're in is floating in space and not grounded on earth - that's a BIIIG leap. Putting projection domes outside the windows isn't enough, the programming has to support that. The more hotel-like amenities you have, the less likely it is to feel like you're NOT at a hotel. I'm already dubious of the "weather-controlled" area the "ship" has that "replicates the climate of the destination planet" . . . unfortunately, I think most guests will see a much shorter distance between "we're obviously still on Earth and just went outside" than the convoluted story they created . . . but that's one of the liabilities you HAVE to offer as a place where people are staying overnight. You've literally got to give them space to breathe, even if it goes against your illusion. Which is all the more reason to cut anything else that works against that illusion.

Now, the REAL kicker here is that you have to offer some sort of experience that is at least as satisfying to guests, so that they don't look and say "It was fine, but I would have liked it better with a pool". You have to give them a fantastical, Star-Warsy alternative that makes them look at their next hotel pool and say "man, what they had on the Star Cruiser was WAY better than THIS old thing". But so far we haven't seen any evidence that they've done that. So, for me, THAT'S where MY criticism lies, rather than "where's the pool?"

You can skip building a pool, but for $6,000 you had better give us something better.

You pay 6 grand for a hotel there should be a pool. Period. Simple as that.

 

[durangojim]

But, does it include access to a pool?

You don’t want a pool right now in Michigan

 

[lazyboy97o]

Disney could've taken the Holiday Inn Holidome concept (for the youngins: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/holiday-inn-holidome/index.html) and changed the setup so it appears to be a cruise lounge deck in space. At least the hotel section, from the outside, looks like they could convert it over to a Hampton Inn (with an outdoor pool) if bookings slow down.

As the article alludes, notatoria are expensive to design properly, build and maintain. They’re an environment that encourages water intrusion and damage. Now add on show sets and technology and you are compounding those issues. But, again, this is supposed to be a rather highly structured experience, time to lounge around isn’t part of that sort of program.

 

[UNCgolf]

You pay 6 grand for a hotel there should be a pool. Period. Simple as that.

There are plenty of expensive, luxury hotels that don't have pools. Probably not in Florida, though.

 

[JoeCamel]

As the article alludes, notator is are expensive to design properly, build and maintain. They’re an environment that encourages water intrusion and damage. Now add on show sets and technology and you are compounding those issues. But, again, this is supposed to be a rather highly structured experience, time to lounge around isn’t part of that sort of program.

I can't wait for the 3AM "we're being attacked" emergency drill. Make you feel like a Motel 6 at 2 when someone pulls the fire alarm and you evac to stand outside in your blankies.

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

You pay 6 grand for a hotel there should be a pool. Period. Simple as that.

So then what about the Star Cruiser, which, by design, is not a "hotel"?

That's the whole point. Disney isn't trying to build a "hotel". Even if Marketing is doing a lousy job making that clear.

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

Imagine if Universal built an equally expensive Harry Potter Hotel, themed to Hogwarts, where guests could spend the night sleeping in the Hogwarts House dormitories.

Would you expect a pool?

 

[lazyboy97o]

Imagine if Universal built an equally expensive Harry Potter Hotel, themed to Hogwarts, where guests could spend the night sleeping in the Hogwarts House dormitories.

Would you expect a pool?

Yes, Moaning Mytle’s Bathroom.

 

[OceanBlue]

You pay 6 grand for a hotel there should be a pool. Period. Simple as that.

I expect a pool in Paris or NYC for that price, doesn’t sound like there’s anytime to go in the pool on the GS. It’s not even 48 hours.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

There are plenty of expensive, luxury hotels that don't have pools. Probably not in Florida, though.

Care to name a few? (If they have beach acess it doesn’t exactly count).

 

[IanDLBZF]

Care to name a few? (If they have beach acess it doesn’t exactly count).

I know the Hilton Downtown Atlanta as a good example of this.

 

[Patcheslee]

Yes, Moaning Mytle’s Bathroom.

Prefect bath would be an awesome pool... or maybe the Black Lake. I'd be more interested to see a hedge maze.

Imagine if Universal built an equally expensive Harry Potter Hotel, themed to Hogwarts, where guests could spend the night sleeping in the Hogwarts House dormitories.

Would you expect a pool?

Is it limited nights with similar schedule of activities? If so I wouldn't see the need for one. If it was the standard hotel, book as many nights as you see fit, I would expect one.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I know the Hilton Downtown Atlanta as a good example of this.

This one? I wouldn’t call $82 expensive and I wouldn’t call a Hilton luxury.

 

[GimpYancIent]

If anyone wants to come and stay in my Star Wars room it’ll only cost you $500 but if you mention that you’re on Wdwmagic I’ll drop the cost down to $499. You can play with all the lightsabers you want.
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Now that is impressive.

 

[UNCgolf]

Care to name a few? (If they have beach acess it doesn’t exactly count).

A huge number of luxury hotels in Europe. I've stayed at incredibly nice hotels in Madrid, London, Paris, and Rome that didn't have pools.

Pretty sure the Plaza Hotel in NYC doesn't have a pool, although I could be mistaken. I know the Central Park Ritz-Carlton doesn't have one.

 

[sedati]

It surprises me how many people are upset by the lack of pool on the Star Cruiser.

Is it a lot though? Or just the same few bringing it up repeatedly.
Based on this forum you could say there were tens of thousands outraged over not walking up the ramp to the Falcon, when in reality it was one person with a whole lot of time on their hands.