News Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser coming to Walt Disney World 2021

[MagicHappens1971]

I’ve mentioned it before but I think the most likely scenarios are they either write the hotel off as a loss, or use it as a Dinner Theatre space, with optional ($$$) upgrades for Lightsaber & Bridge Trainings. And then you get to see the finale that they do on the last night in some modified version.

 

[GimpYancIent]

When the portable bush screens suddenly appear, the construction (themed of course) construction walls go up and scrim (also properly themed) covers the building then we will all know the fate of the GSE, until that happens there is always hope.

 

[drnilescrane]

I’ve mentioned it before but I think the most likely scenarios are they either write the hotel off as a loss

I think this is the most likely scenario, if right sizing of capacity to demand doesn't work.

If you throw in the towel you can take a write down on the entire development cost of the project. The investment in physical plant itself is probably insignificant compared to amount of R&D and product development put into it. Any adjustments to the experience is just going to be throwing more good money after bad.

The moment you start discounting you are just eroding your margin - which is probably already thin if it's going out 25% full - and set an expectation that Disney experiences aren't worth full price. A 1 night experience is still going to have the same fixed costs, so it wouldn't have the pricing impact people expect.

Finally, from people I've spoken to around town there's absolutely some truth to the notion it's burning through actors and they are going to run into problems eventually just operating it.

Time to just accept that it's a DisneyQuest Chicago and move on.

 

[Tha Realest]

I think this is the most likely scenario, if right sizing of capacity to demand doesn't work.

If you throw in the towel you can take a write down on the entire development cost of the project. The investment in physical plant itself is probably insignificant compared to amount of R&D and product development put into it. Any adjustments to the experience is just going to be throwing more good money after bad.

The moment you start discounting you are just eroding your margin - which is probably already thin if it's going out 25% full - and set an expectation that Disney experiences aren't worth full price. A 1 night experience is still going to have the same fixed costs, so it wouldn't have the pricing impact people expect.

Finally, from people I've spoken to around town there's absolutely some truth to the notion it's burning through actors and they are going to run into problems eventually just operating it.

Time to just accept that it's a DisneyQuest Chicago and move on.

Yeah, the equity actors and their specialization is something that can’t really be easily replaced/switched out, and a paring back of “sailings” makes this a less than enticing opportunity

 

[note2001]

from people I've spoken to around town there's absolutely some truth to the notion it's burning through actors and they are going to run into problems eventually just operating it.

Being a Disney cast member is hard enough. I can't imagine how it must be to stay in character dealing with people who've spent $5000, demanding everything be catered to them. I guess we got a small taste of the arrogance of these people through the numerous vloggers who've been there.

If you throw in the towel you can take a write down on the entire development cost of the project. The investment in physical plant itself is probably insignificant compared to amount of R&D and product development put into it. Any adjustments to the experience is just going to be throwing more good money after bad.

I agree, this is probably what will come to pass. Disney may say they love recycling and reusing, but that's all just PR. Fact is the company has no problem with creating waste. They will reuse the property if they can, but if the dollars scream "knock it down" then that's the direction they'll go.

 

[J4546]

I really really wish they had build GE differently and put all of the Starcruiser budget into the FL GE and given it a massive sit down food/entertainment, lightsaber stuff, areas to explore, pretty much everything except the bedrooms I woudld have put into GE and made the GE in FL the best version. Because DHS is the smallest park and needs massive expansion

 

[drnilescrane]

You know, on this one I’m not going to fault them for trying. Imagine if it had worked - they would have opened up a whole new line of business.

I was certain that the total addressable market for this was tiny, but clearly they thought it was worth trying.

The bigger problem I have is this: Westworld was a cautionary tale. Not an ideal to aspire to. They literally codenamed SW:GE “Delos”. I can’t believe that went over the head of the entirety of Glendale and Burbank.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

You know, on this one I’m not going to fault them for trying. Imagine if it had worked - they would have opened up a whole new line of business.

I was certain that the total addressable market for this was tiny, but clearly they thought it was worth trying.

The bigger problem I have is this: Westworld was a cautionary tale. Not an ideal to aspire to. They literally codenamed SW:GE “Delos”. I can’t believe that went over the head of the entirety of Glendale and Burbank.

I think this model has room to expand but the price point is the largest problem

 

[drnilescrane]

I think this model has room to expand but the price point is the largest problem

I don't think you can do it at a price point that justifies redirecting the resources from another line of business.

Labor is a finite pool, especially in Central FL. They'd be better off putting the entertainment in the parks, and bringing the Grand Floridian up to at least Forbes 4 star.

Also, to quote Kathie Lee Gifford, the whole point of a cruise is you have a range of activities to "do what you choose". At the very least, you get to go somewhere. This experiences forces you into a very narrow band of activities, and no I don't think there are enough people willing to commit to it in a way that makes it a viable business.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

You know, on this one I’m not going to fault them for trying. Imagine if it had worked - they would have opened up a whole new line of business.

I was certain that the total addressable market for this was tiny, but clearly they thought it was worth trying.

The bigger problem I have is this: Westworld was a cautionary tale. Not an ideal to aspire to. They literally codenamed SW:GE “Delos”. I can’t believe that went over the head of the entirety of Glendale and Burbank.

I feel exactly the same way. This type of experience was never appealing to me and I had my doubts there was a huge market for it, but it's not the worst thing they've blown money on even if it fails. It might just be one of those things they had to try before they could see if it worked.

If it fails, though, I think they'll throw in the towel rather than keep throwing money at it to try and turn it into a profitable facility. Seems like a classic case of sunk costs and it's such a custom-designed facility that trying to find other uses for it seems like a waste of time and resources given the potential benefits. Even just as some kind of dinner experience, is the restaurant really big enough or equipped for the kind of production it would need if the whole focus of the experience was to be the dinner entertainment?

 

[flynnibus]

I'd wager how they staff this is a big part of the cutbacks. You need performers that basically cover 15hr days... up close and personal with guests and with adlib scripts. This makes the roles very difficult to switch out, swap out with new performers, etc. I wonder if they struggled to find a rotation that fit their staffing expectations.

On the flipside.. the lost revenue is so high, you'd think they'd just eat the lack of efficency in performers and just have more people for the roles.

Are they that strained they won't run cruises at lower capcities? Or maybe they are noting from customer bookings the demand is irregular for the days of the week.

Would be so interested in the real data they have...

 

[kingdead]

Finally, from people I've spoken to around town there's absolutely some truth to the notion it's burning through actors and they are going to run into problems eventually just operating it.

I still don't understand what they thought was going to happen with this in terms of actor burnout. The closest comparisons I can think of are certain escape room experiences and Secret Cinema productions, and those are still much shorter in run time, don't run as frequently, and don't have as much personal interaction. This involves how much interaction over the course of what, 12 hours total of face time? During which they're expected to both act out scripted events and interact with the guests. I'm sure they get breaks but that must be intense.

 

[TP2000]

Wait, I was told by very confident people that there was only one cabin available each night there was availability.

This can't fail! I mean, experts said it was a wild success. Experts! Only one cabin available!

 

[Tha Realest]

You know, on this one I’m not going to fault them for trying. Imagine if it had worked - they would have opened up a whole new line of business.

I was certain that the total addressable market for this was tiny, but clearly they thought it was worth trying.

The bigger problem I have is this: Westworld was a cautionary tale. Not an ideal to aspire to. They literally codenamed SW:GE “Delos”. I can’t believe that went over the head of the entirety of Glendale and Burbank.

WestWorld at least lasted four seasons before it was axed.

What are the odds this still exists come March 1, 2026?

 

[MisterPenguin]

Wait, I was told by very confident people that there was only one cabin available each night there was availability.

That's a lie and you know it.

Prove me wrong with a quote.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

That's a lie and you know it.

Prove me wrong with a quote.

Even if he could find a quote it was most likely from the summer. Almost every summer voyages were at 99% capacity. They fell to below 50% capacity directly after, picked back up for Christmas time and has fallen back to below 50% since.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Even if he could find a quote it was most likely from the summer. Almost every summer voyages were at 99% capacity. They fell to below 50% capacity directly after, picked back up for Christmas time and has fallen back to below 50% since.

How do you know what the capacity is for any specific day other than a few people reporting how 'full' it felt on specific days?

 

[MagicHappens1971]

How do you know what the capacity is for any specific day other than a few people reporting how 'full' it felt on specific days?

I have friends that work there. They post a manifest for every cruise with occupancy numbers.

 

[corran horn]

Being a Disney cast member is hard enough. I can't imagine how it must be to stay in character dealing with people who've spent $5000, demanding everything be catered to them.

I'll just say I think 'demanding' is a little much. I'm sure the assumed privilege is pretty high at other Disney locales as well.

 

[Tha Realest]

I have friends that work there. They post a manifest for every cruise with occupancy numbers.

What of recent reports that occupancy fell below 25%?