News Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser coming to Walt Disney World 2021

[ChrisFL]

Booked this morning for March 7. 5-hour, 40-minute beatdown, but I'm just happy I got it. Thought I'd share a few notes - I keep up with this thread pretty well, but the items below were new to me.

*Note* Anyone who gives an ounce of grief about me having booked this will be immediately ignored. Life is too short to spend time worrying about jealousy or trolls. I will hit the ignore and then pray you find something to fill whatever void there is in your life that leads you to constantly drag others.

OK, now that that is out of the way...

1. When you call, if you get a message that the lines are too busy to complete your booking and telling you to hang up and call back later, DO NOT DO IT! If the lines are truly full, you'll get a tone, and you can hang up. I was told that at 6:00:12 Central this morning, and I just stayed on the line. I went into a queue and at 6:18, my call was answered. The lady had to do a warm transfer to a Starcruiser specialist. At that point, I'm back on hold, BUT THERE WAS NO MUSIC. So on a wing and a prayer, I just stayed on the line until a Starcruiser booking CM answered from the silence at 9:24.
2. If you are planning on doing a pre-cruise stay (I am, because I'm neurotic, and I'm not going to trust the airlines to get me there day-of), DO NOT try to book your trip insurance during your Starcruiser booking. I did not know that, and the process of taking the insurance off was about 40 minutes, including a phone screwup that caused the CM to drop the call and call me back (make sure they have your number).
3. Travel Agents: The Starcruiser appears to be on a different system than TA booking. So even though I gave the number when I first dialed in, the rezzie was booked as a personal reservation. They were able to fix it, but you will need to make sure that they are linking this to your agency number.
4. Your Starcruiser CM cannot book your pre- or post- stay. They will transfer you to a regular agent. I was on hold another hour, and it took about 15 minutes to book the pre-stay.
5. If you are doing a pre-stay, they recommend booking insurance and Memory Maker with your pre-stay to cover length of trip. If you are doing a post-stay, book it with your Starcruiser and have it cover length of trip.
6. It sounds like you can ADD TO or CHANGE the people in your room pretty easily. Not sure about dropping.
7. It isn't listed yet, but there is going to be a photoshoot add-on at some point. I think she said that the Memory Maker would include that (kinda like the Disney Springs photoshoot).
8. I asked about the booking window for Oga's (which I presume will apply to Savi's and Droid Depot), because you have to book that reservation separately. She thinks that in my case, I will be able to book 60 days before the day I check in for my pre-stay (instead of 60 days from the day I check in to the Starcruiser). She said if it doesn't work that day, call and they will try to make it happen. But they are working through the nuances as well.

Couple of general notes:

1. If anyone is on the March 7 sailing, I'd love to meet up for a drink.
2. Going earlier was more important to me than the Captain's Table or an upgraded room, but it sounds like those are all booking up relatively quickly. There are rumors that all of the suites are booked through May 4 (current presale window), but my CM wasn't sure about that. Captain's Table is booking fast because everyone is shocked at the minimal upcharge compared to the obscene price of the experience.
3. We did not have a choice of dining seatings - only the first was available. Again, NBD, because the last shuttle back from Batuu is at 4:00 PM, so plenty of time to get ready for either dinner seating.

Standard disclaimers - this was my experience, so YMMV. But I hope this is helpful, and I'm happy to answer any questions that I can.

No trolling from me, thanks for sharing. While I may not have this high on my to-do list, I am really interested to see how this all works out!

 

[IHeartGlaciers]

$350 fee to downgrade room or remove guests from your party. Outside of 90 days you can fully cancel and try to rebook, but to modify down there is a fee. More money will be accepted without penalty

So before 90-days, if someone can no longer come it's either $350 to remove them from the reservatino or we have to cancel/rebook?

 

[pdude81]

So before 90-days, if someone can no longer come it's either $350 to remove them from the reservatino or we have to cancel/rebook?

It was a little unclear but that was my understanding. I believe outside of 90 you'd get the full deposit back in a few days and have to front a new deposit on that call unless you want to risk the room being booked. 90-30 you're already at full payment and just get back the difference minus 350 fee for any package reduction. You'd have incentive to not fully cancel at that point or you'd owe 50%.

I'll try to look at my notes on this but I was more concerned about cancellation policy than downgrades at the time

 

[IHeartGlaciers]

It was a little unclear but that was my understanding. I believe outside of 90 you'd get the full deposit back in a few days and have to front a new deposit on that call unless you want to risk the room being booked. 90-30 you're already at full payment and just get back the difference minus 350 fee for any package reduction. You'd have incentive to not fully cancel at that point or you'd owe 50%.

I'll try to look at my notes on this but I was more concerned about cancellation policy than downgrades at the time

Thanks! I was curious because I plan to book a room for myself and a few friends, but given we'd be booking for next August, there's a chance one of us might have to drop out while the others want to keep the booking.

 

[LovePop]

Yellow rectangles mark all dates that became full today.

10/12, 2 fully booked voyages: March 7, 13. Beginning of Disney Visa cardholders booking, October 12 to 16.
Quote from HoustonHorn: booking took 5 hour 40 minutes. "When you call, if you get a message that the lines are too busy to complete your booking and telling you to hang up and call back later, DO NOT DO IT! If the lines are truly full, you'll get a tone, and you can hang up. I was told that at 6:00:12 Central this morning, and I just stayed on the line. I went into a queue and at 6:18, my call was answered. The lady had to do a warm transfer to a Starcruiser specialist. At that point, I'm back on hold, BUT THERE WAS NO MUSIC. So on a wing and a prayer, I just stayed on the line until a Starcruiser booking CM answered from the silence at 9:24."
Quote from corran horn: "Booking through September", Even though the offical pre-sale window states March 1 through May 4
Quote from pdude81: "$350 fee to downgrade room or remove guests from your party. Outside of 90 days you can fully cancel and try to rebook, but to modify down there is a fee. More money will be accepted without penalty"

10/9, 4 fully booked voyages: March 3, 5, 11, and May the Fourth. End of DVC and Passholder booking period. Quote from SWGalaxys_Edge: "ALL of the "non-standard" rooms are all reserved for the March 1-May 4 booking timeframe. Nothing but standard cabins left."

10/6, 1 fully booked voyage: March 1, Maiden Voyage. End of Club 33 and Golden Oak booking period

 

[nickys]

Show up in a full Potter outfit, robes to wand. And cosplay relentlessly.

I was thinking Star Trek …..

 

[Hcalvert]

View attachment 593155
Yellow rectangles mark all dates that became full today.

10/12, 2 fully booked voyages: March 7, 13. Beginning of Disney Visa cardholders booking, October 12 to 16.
Quote from HoustonHorn: booking took 5 hour 40 minutes. "When you call, if you get a message that the lines are too busy to complete your booking and telling you to hang up and call back later, DO NOT DO IT! If the lines are truly full, you'll get a tone, and you can hang up. I was told that at 6:00:12 Central this morning, and I just stayed on the line. I went into a queue and at 6:18, my call was answered. The lady had to do a warm transfer to a Starcruiser specialist. At that point, I'm back on hold, BUT THERE WAS NO MUSIC. So on a wing and a prayer, I just stayed on the line until a Starcruiser booking CM answered from the silence at 9:24."
Quote from pdude81: "$350 fee to downgrade room or remove guests from your party. Outside of 90 days you can fully cancel and try to rebook, but to modify down there is a fee. More money will be accepted without penalty"

10/9, 4 fully booked voyages: March 3, 5, 11, and May the Fourth. End of DVC and Passholder booking period. Quote from SWGalaxys_Edge: "ALL of the "non-standard" rooms are all reserved for the March 1-May 4 booking timeframe. Nothing but standard cabins left."

10/6, 1 fully booked voyage: March 1, Maiden Voyage. End of Club 33 and Golden Oak booking period

I called this morning right at 7:00 am. I waited about 10 minutes to get through the first hurdle (verifying that I am a VISA cardholder) and now I am sitting in silence. I am glad I read your post as I am going to chance it and just stay on the line too and hope for the best. I am looking to book in early June, so I am thinking my dates are not the most popular.

 

[corran horn]

I called this morning right at 7:00 am. I waited about 10 minutes to get through the first hurdle (verifying that I am a VISA cardholder) and now I am sitting in silence. I am glad I read your post as I am going to chance it and just stay on the line too and hope for the best. I am looking to book in early June, so I am thinking my dates are not the most popular.

We were lucky enough to only have an hour wait before the verification and the ringing to an actual second human. Good luck!

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ✨ ᗩζᗩᗰ]

If this fails will we get rid of both Bobs or just Iger puppeteering from the shadows?

 

[LovePop]

I called this morning right at 7:00 am. I waited about 10 minutes to get through the first hurdle (verifying that I am a VISA cardholder) and now I am sitting in silence. I am glad I read your post as I am going to chance it and just stay on the line too and hope for the best. I am looking to book in early June, so I am thinking my dates are not the most popular.

I don't understand this. It's like Disney is playing hard to get. If it were me, I would put all SWGS bookings a priority for the phone system and just make everybody else wait longer, like a bunch of phone fastpasses.

 

[JoeCamel]

I don't understand this. It's like Disney is playing hard to get. If it were me, I would put all SWGS bookings a priority for the phone system and just make everybody else wait longer, like a bunch of phone fastpasses.

This way it seems scarce and special when you do get through. Feeds into the exclusivity illusion

 

[LovePop]

If this fails will we get rid of both Bobs or just Iger puppeteering from the shadows?

So far it's hard to tell if it will succeed or not, because Disney is making the booking process exceedingly difficult.

 

[pdude81]

I called this morning right at 7:00 am. I waited about 10 minutes to get through the first hurdle (verifying that I am a VISA cardholder) and now I am sitting in silence. I am glad I read your post as I am going to chance it and just stay on the line too and hope for the best. I am looking to book in early June, so I am thinking my dates are not the most popular.

The silence is strange but not a problem. I first had hold music, then it told me an estimated wait time for the starcruiser line (45+), and then nothing. About an hour later it rang to someone else. I assume by now you're already in the process or have booked though.

I don't understand this. It's like Disney is playing hard to get. If it were me, I would put all SWGS bookings a priority for the phone system and just make everybody else wait longer, like a bunch of phone fastpasses.

It is odd that they have this gatekeeper system. But I guess they want the starcruiser booking team to focus on that instead of checking all the other stuff up front. I just think they shouldn't pick up the phone to vet people if they couldn't send them forward, which was the problem in the first few days. Now they have that phone message to indicate that they can't send anybody on, but the window may open infrequently and you'd miss it by hanging up anyway. Once we get to 10/28 it can just be a dedicated ticket line and stop with all this madness.

 

[pdude81]

If this fails will we get rid of both Bobs or just Iger puppeteering from the shadows?

Iger will be long gone before you could even know if it failed, but it's set up so that it can't. This is such a limited thing that it'll more or less pay for itself (construction and then cost to run) within the first year while it's a super limited experience with massive cost. After that they could cut the price deeply to maintain demand and still make money. My two cents

 

[HoustonHorn]

Sounds hard!

I'm fortunate to have the flexibility in my day job to be able to work from home from time to time. So I was able to do my actual job while waiting. But unless you're retired, staying on hold for 3-7 hours (seen reports for anything between those) is crazy.

 

[Hcalvert]

The silence is strange but not a problem. I first had hold music, then it told me an estimated wait time for the starcruiser line (45+), and then nothing. About an hour later it rang to someone else. I assume by now you're already in the process or have booked though.

It is odd that they have this gatekeeper system. But I guess they want the starcruiser booking team to focus on that instead of checking all the other stuff up front. I just think they shouldn't pick up the phone to vet people if they couldn't send them forward, which was the problem in the first few days. Now they have that phone message to indicate that they can't send anybody on, but the window may open infrequently and you'd miss it by hanging up anyway. Once we get to 10/28 it can just be a dedicated ticket line and stop with all this madness.

The silence worked for me as I was teaching at the same time. I was on hold for 1.5 hours in silence, then it rung and I heard music for about 30 minutes, and booked everything after about 2.5 hours (call time 7:00-9:30am).

 

[deejf]

We'd love to book the SWGS for our vacation in Aug 2022, but will have to wait until the tickets go on general sale on October 28th. We're based in the UK so wondered if anyone has any tips... do you think it will it be the main WDW hotel reservations number (407) 939 1936 or a different one? do they open from 7am US Eastern time? Big thanks!

 

[Hcalvert]

We'd love to book the SWGS for our vacation in Aug 2022, but will have to wait until the tickets go on general sale on October 28th. We're based in the UK so wondered if anyone has any tips... do you think it will it be the main WDW hotel reservations number (407) 939 1936 or a different one? do they open from 7am US Eastern time? Big thanks!

You have a to call a particular number. When I was waiting on hold before it went silent, it said the number and it was different from the presale ones.

 

[deejf]

You have a to call a particular number. When I was waiting on hold before it went silent, it said the number and it was different from the presale ones.

Thank you - will have to keep on the look out for the number

 

[LovePop]

We'd love to book the SWGS for our vacation in Aug 2022, but will have to wait until the tickets go on general sale on October 28th. We're based in the UK so wondered if anyone has any tips... do you think it will it be the main WDW hotel reservations number (407) 939 1936 or a different one? do they open from 7am US Eastern time? Big thanks!

The last time I called a couple of days ago, it says, for general booking, to call on or after October 28th at 407-939-5209. I believe the main number also works.

Here is the entire phone message that I recorded:

Thank you for calling the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser. your call may be monitored or recorded for quality and training purposes you can read our privacy notices and learn about your privacy controls and choices at Disney privacy Center. We are currently experiencing high call volume 4 Star Wars Galactic starcruiser booking and you may experience a long wait time if you have question please check out our frequently asked questions and the start planning top at Star Wars Galactic starcruiser.com if you have an existing Star Wars Galactic starcruiser reservation and need to make changes or cancel please email Galactic star Cruiser specialist at disneyworld.com and you will receive a call back from a member of our team within 72 hours we are currently experiencing high call volume for the Disney Visa presale booking window for Star Wars Galactic starcruiser and will not be able to complete your booking at this time please hang up and call us back later the Disney Visa card presale booking window is available from October 12th through the 16th and our hours of operation are 7 days a week 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. eastern time if you are not a Disney Visa cardholder but are interested in Booking the Star Wars Galactic starcruiser experience please hang up and call back on or after October 28th at 407-939-5209