Disney's new Star Wars-themed hotel, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, is such a different product that it feels like it.
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There is a display of a starcruiser.
Travel Weekly has put together a slideshow of photos from the Star Wars hotel experience at Disney.
The experience at Disney's Galactic Starcruiser is more like a cruise than a hotel. Once you leave the terminal, you are whisked into space via launch Pod for a stay aboard the Halcyon.
The Halcyon is the flagship of the line. The ship, which is celebrating its 275th anniversary, has a rich legacy in the Star Wars universe, from diplomatic missions to the honeymoon spot for Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa.
There is a terminal just outside of Disney's Hollywood Studios. It is rather subtle. A building with a safety video opens onto a hallway and a room. Guests enter the launchpods.
There are two narrow windows at the top of the Pod that give a view of trees that quickly change to stars and space.
The Halcyon's bridge can be seen from the atrium. Jamie Biesiada has a photo.
The hotel lobby is similar to the atrium. It has access to the bridge, Sublight Lounge, bar, and store, as well as passenger services. The main gathering spot on the ship is where most of the action happens.
The stage for much of that action is a balcony that goes around half of the bridge. A gift to the ship from Princess Leia is backed by a large piece of artwork on the center of the balcony.
I received a datapad with the Play Disney Parks app on it. The two-night stay was dependent on this. For each guest, the datapad holds their itinerary, communications with key characters, a map and other interactive elements.
There is no light on the ship. There are large screens in the bridge and in the atrium that show a scene such as a jump to hyperspace or planets and ships.
A simple hotel is not the location of the Galactic Starcruiser. Guests will enjoy the storyline that begins when they arrive. The muster on the first day is one of the key events that occur when all passengers are together.
Each guest has a datapad that is key to their experience. Jamie Biesiada has a photo.
The bad guys from Star Wars get involved in the cruise from the beginning. The good guys are also aboard. The story is driven by new characters like cruise director Lenka Mok and Capt. Riyola Keevan.
Each guest will have their own experience. The choices they make impact what they do and when. I helped Mok with a mission on the planet Batuu. I was invited to a secret meeting with about a dozen others that helped forward the plot for those in attendance.
On the second day of the experience, a ship-wide alert brings all passengers to the atrium. It has everything from lightsaber fights to gunfire to Force chokes.
A ship is not a ship without quarters for passengers. The Halcyon is the same. The cabins are similar to cruise ship staterooms. The space has a pull-out bed if needed.
Each cabin has a viewport that depicts space outside the ship. Jamie Biesiada has a photo.
cabins sleep five They have a queen-size bed, a pull-out bed, and two twin-sized bunks.
I chose the top bunk. It felt like a room within a room.
The standard room has a queen-size bed and two bunks. Jamie Biesiada has a photo.
The bedding is amazing. While the queen bed has traditional sheets, the bunks have comforters that open down the side like a sleeping bag so guests can sleep inside after a long day in space.
The shower was large and had a large rain shower.
The only time I didn't have a real window was in the early morning. Without a clock, it was impossible to tell what time it was. I think this might be a selling point.
The room was not claustrophobic. A large viewport took up half of the wall, with a video screen showing space. It was enough to make the room an attraction.
The design, storyline and activities of the ship are impressive, but the thing that stood out most was the crew. It felt like I was on a cruise line.
Riyola is the captain of the Halcyon. The photo is from Disney.
Several crew members already knew me by name after a few hours on the ship. The waiter and bartender at the Sublight Lounge remembered drink preferences. The cast members who were portraying characters on the ship got to know guests and remember some memorable moments.
Disney is known for its cast members and customer service, and the Halcyon is no exception. I would consider it the new pinnacle.
The same applies to character interactions. Guests are drawn into the story by cast members. I was approached by multiple characters and recruited to complete some missions on land the next day after sitting in the atrium for my first night. An extra element of fun was added by the interactions.
It was even funnier when I was asked to report back the next day.
Disney introduced space-themed dining at the Star Wars:Galaxy's Edge theme park in Florida and California in 2019. The food at the theme park is different. It is familiar enough to appeal to a wide audience.
The Halcyon has a dining room called the Crown of Corellia. Jamie Biesiada has a photo.
An example is the Ronto Wrap. The ronto is an animal from the planet Tatooine. It has roasted pork, grilled sausage, a peppercorn sauce, and a slaw.
The tradition continues with The Halcyon.
Breakfast and lunch are served in the dining room during the day and dinner is served at night. Dinner is at the table.
On the first night of the cruise, dinner was a three-course affair, starting with dumplings, then moving on to Bantha Beef Tenderloin, Stewed Shrimp and Tip Yip Chicken, with accompanying sides.
A blue shrimp cocktail. Jamie Biesiada has a photo.
A fruit that has appeared in the Star Wars universe inspired the dessert.
Gaya and Ouannii perform. Neither is a human. Their performances were lively and fun, and left me wondering why I couldn't buy a Gaya album in the ship's store.
The second night was a series of courses that were inspired by planets in the Star Wars universe. The blue shrimp from Felucia was the highlight. The shrimp were blue throughout the cocktail. They tasted great and were fun to eat.
All meals had plant-based options.
Cocktails have a similar feel. The Pod Chaser is a whiskey old fashioned served in a stemless glass with a large metal sphere to chill the drink.
The drink is named after a lava planet and is made with Mezcal and served with a tube oflava extract that changes the heat profile of the drink depending on the quantity added.
Ouannii is a Rodian musician. The photo was taken by Matt Stroshane for Disney.
What is a shore excursion on a cruise? On the second day of their voyage, guests can get off the ship at the Halcyon. The planet Batuu is the setting of Star Wars:Galaxy's Edge.
The Halcyon has a Climate Simulator. Jamie Biesiada has a photo.
The Climate Simulator is a room on the ship that is designed to mimic outdoor conditions. The room is lined with plant life. It is a clever way of giving guests a chance to get some fresh air.
A transport shuttle that is fully enclosed and mimics a transport Pod takes guests to a back entrance.
Guests can access Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance on the ground. Lunch is included.
Guests are given missions based on their affiliation on the ship. First order? Cast members can refer to guests as visiting Halcyon passengers, who can be identified by special pins they wear.
The Halcyon was mentioned by every cast member I interacted with. It made for some great conversations when I was doing datapad-driven missions. The Oga's Cantina bartender passed along some useful information.
A number of activities take place on the Halcyon, from card games to costume contests. On the first day, the ship tour is a must.
Bridge and lightsaber training are some of the highlights.
Guests learn how to use weapons during bridge training. As the storyline progresses, this is useful.
Passengers are learning how to wield a weapon. The photo was taken by Matt Stroshane for Disney.
Every kid dreams of lightsaber training. You need to use your lightsaber to diffuse the light in the room. It is similar to the scene in the original Star Wars film, when the blaster fire from a floating orb does not hurt guests.
Everyone gets plenty of time with the lightsaber while they are divided into groups. They might get the chance to hear from a famous Jedi as their skills develop.
You can gain access to restricted areas of the ship like the engine room and the cargo hold if you have a personal datapad and ship consoles located throughout the Halcyon. A little white lie in the name of the Resistance never hurt, even though crew members will question what you're doing.
The first public voyages of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will be on March 1. There are still voyages available through the end of September. Travel advisors have reported that the suites sold out quickly once booking opened in October.
For two guests in a cabin, the cost is $4,814, for three guests, $5,299 and for four guests, $5,999.
A hallway leads to cabins on the Halcyon. Jamie Biesiada has a photo.
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