
Just a year after it first opened its doors, the Star Wars hotel, located at Walt Disney World in Florida, is set to close. This hotel, which offered guests $20,000 (£16,100) stays, is planning to shut down.
The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel was promoted as an immersive experience for series enthusiasts, with prices varying from $1,200 (£966) per person per day to $20,000 for the overall trip.
The hotel, which was a part of the $1 billion (£805 million) Star Wars-themed area of the park launched during the 2019 D23 Expo, is due to open its doors on March 1, 2022.
The hotel has been heavily criticized by fans for its exorbitant pricing and absence of windows since its launch, despite receiving a prestigious Thea Award for exceptional performance in themed entertainment.
After just one year in operation, the hotel is set to embark on its final voyages in September.
Disney’s spokesperson made an announcement, stating: ‘Our Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser project has been one of the most innovative and has received positive feedback from our guests. It is celebrated for raising the bar in immersive entertainment and innovation.’
‘This premium and unique experience allowed us to experiment on a smaller scale of 100 rooms. As we get ready for its final voyage, we plan to apply what we’ve learned to engineer future experiences for a broader range of our guests and fans.’
The hotel will continue to transport guests to a Galaxy Far, Far Away until October 1, 2023, when its doors will be permanently sealed.
The cost for a family of three adults and a child is $5,999 (£4,832), while a two-person cabin will set guests back $4,809 (£3,873). Trios will have to shell out $5,299 (£4268).
News of the hotel’s closure comes just a few months after it reduced its prices for October, November, and December weeks. The Daily Mail reported that the hotel received only three or four reservations per week during this period.
Recently, Disney filed a lawsuit against Florida’s Republican governor, and potential 2024 Presidential candidate, Ron DeSantis concerning the management of the theme park district.
The suit claims that DeSantis carried out a ‘targeted campaign of government retaliation’ against Disney after the corporation opposed the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ legislation. This state law, commonly known as the Parental Rights in Education Act, imposes restrictions on sexual orientation and gender identity education in lower-grade schools.