— Ch. 1 · Conception And Development —
Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.
~7 min read · Ch. 1 of 5
In April 2017, Disney hired the website Swagbucks to survey its visitors. The goal was to gauge interest in a possible Star Wars-themed hotel with a visitor experience based on the Star Wars storyline. Plans for the Star Wars hotel were announced at D23 Expo 2017 in Anaheim, California. This announcement came along with 22 other improvements and additions to Disney parks around the world. At D23 Expo 2019, it was revealed that the hotel would be called the Halcyon. It would be a two-night immersive experience where all guests arrive and depart together. Bob Chapek, Disney's head of Parks and Resorts, said the project would be the company's most experiential concept ever. He described it as a 100% immersive experience that would culminate in a unique journey for every person who visits. Planned features included creatures and droids acting as hotel staff. Guests could wear Star Wars costumes and interact with features as if they were really in the Star Wars universe. Marketing materials suggested visitors would participate in lightsaber training and duels. They would explore and pilot Star Wars spacecraft and go on secret missions personalized toward their experience. When the hotel opened, many of these activities were replaced by lightsaber training only. Bridge Ops training took the place of piloting the ship. Estimates of the cost to build the hotel varied from $350 million to $1 billion. The 2021 opening was delayed to the 1st of March 2022, by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ship Architecture And Layout
Early renderings of the project in 2017 showed that the new hotel would be shaped like a Star Wars starship. Renderings also showed a lobby in the style of a Star Wars spaceship interior. On the 30th of May 2018, it was announced that the hotel would be located just south of Disney's Hollywood Studios. It sat to the east of World Drive. Valet parking was available for guests arriving in personal vehicles. No self-parking existed for this property. A driveway connected the Starcruiser's main terminal to the Cast parking lot of Disney's Hollywood Studios. Guests stayed on the ship named the Halcyon for two days and two nights. The minimum room rate was $4,800 for two people. The guest rooms contained full-size bunk beds and a queen-sized bed. Some rooms had a pull-down to sleep a fifth guest in the style of Star Wars bunkers. The cost included the room, ongoing entertainment, food and drinks excluding alcoholic beverages. Admission and transportation to Hollywood Studios were part of the package. Lightning lanes for Galaxy's Edge attractions were included. A quick-service meal credit for DHS came with the stay. Valet parking and a MagicBand were provided. Guests could leave the Starcruiser at any point throughout their stay. The Halcyon contained 13 decks with four being available to passengers. Decks 4, 5, 6, and 7 were accessible areas. Deck 4 held the Crown of Corellia Dining Room and the Lightsaber Training Pod. The Climate Simulator and Transport Dock to Batuu occupied that level too. The Cargo Hold, Brig, and Engineering Room were also found there. Deck 6 contained the Atrium which led to the Bridge. The Sublight Lounge and Chandrila Collection souvenir shop sat nearby. Passenger Services' Desk was located on this floor. Decks 4, 5, and 7 hosted the guest cabins. On their second day, guests traveled to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge by a shuttle-pod transportation system. This cargo box on a flatbed truck had an interior resembling a shuttle spacecraft. The shuttle-pod terminal in Galaxy's Edge stood next to the First Order ship in Docking Bay 9.