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Despite the company’s failed attempts to woo fans into a quasi-immersive stupor of existence somewhere in George Lucas’s famous galaxy far, far away, Disney is breathing new life into Disney World’s now-defunct Star Wars-themed hotel, the Galactic Starcruiser.
Credit: Disney Parks
An Out-of-This-World Attraction Goes Awry at Disney World
Many moons ago, in March 2022, Disney World proudly and excitedly opened a brand-new immersive attraction that doubled as a Disney World Resort hotel.
The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser experience was among the 23 announcements made about upcoming changes and additions to Disney Parks around the world at the 2017 D23 Expo in Anaheim, California. Two years later, at the 2019 D23 Expo, Disney revealed the name of the simulated starship aboard which Guests would be “transported” to the galaxy far, far away, during their experience at the Galactic Starcruiser. It was called the Halcyon.
Credit: Disney Parks
Disney touted the two-night experience aboard the Starcruiser as a “revolutionary experience where Guests are the heroes,” skipping over the part about the exorbitant price guests would pay for a minimum two-night stay aboard the Halcyon and focusing instead on the Starcruiser being the “first-of-its-kind Star Wars adventure” that would allow guests to experience “the most immersive Star Wars story ever created—one where you live a bespoke experience and journey further into a Star Wars adventure than you ever dreamed possible.”
And for a while, it seemed to work.
But soon enough, guests adjusted their thinking or came to their senses, perhaps, and realized that the two-night stay aboard the Halcyon Starcruiser that came chained to a minimum cost of more than $5,000 per stay was simply a ridiculous concept. It would seem that guests decided the experience wasn’t quite immersive enough to justify the out-of-this-world cost.
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(We could have told them that. In fact, we did tell them in this post about the many, many experiences and items–including a grand total of 1,200 Dole Whips–guests could purchase for the same cost as a two-night sleepover with other Star Wars fans aboard the Halcyon.)
Just 18 months after Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser opened, the location forever closed its doors, and since that time, there have been copious amounts of rumors and speculation about what Disney World might do with the now-defunct Star Wars hotel.
Credit: Disney Parks
Next week, however, a piece of the Galactic Starcruiser experience is being brought back to life for guests at Disneyland Park.
‘Star Wars’: Season of the Force
A special limited-time offering, Season of the Force, is coming to Disneyland Park beginning April 5, 2024. The event will run through June 2, 2024, and the offerings will be out of this world!
The event, which has been hailed as a “tiny microcosm of the Galactic Starcruiser experience,” will allow guests to experience a Star Wars adventure of their own making–and for a fraction of the price that Disney World charged guests to board the Halcyon.
Beginning April 5, Oga’s Cantina at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park will serve cocktails that were once enjoyed by guests aboard the Starcruiser. Souvenir glassware from the Halcyon will also be available, though guests can purchase beverages without the souvenirs.
Among the offerings will be the Fiery Mustafarian, made with El Mayor Añejo Tequila, Aperol Aperitivo Liqueur, peach purée, peach syrup, and lime juice and served with a dropper of spicy lava syrup, and the Silver Sea Martini, made Hendrick’s Gin, Minute Maid Lemonade, ginger syrup, honey, and mint syrup and topped with a shimmery butterfly pea flower tea.
Drinks and drinkware from Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser are debuting at Oga’s Cantina at Disneyland during Season of the Force, April 5-June 2: The Silver Sea Martini and Fiery Mustafarian + Chandrilan Chalice and Chandrilan Orb Glass. pic.twitter.com/mutUpKUeC6
— Brooke Geiger McDonald (@BrookeGMcDonald) March 25, 2024
Both are available without the souvenir glassware, per SFGate:
Both drinks are available without souvenir glassware, but if you want the martini with something from the Starcruiser, you’ll order the Chandrilan Chalice. For the spicy cocktail, you’ll order the Chandrilan Orb Glass. Both cocktails and souvenir glasses were served on the Starcruiser’s Sublight Lounge and come emblazoned with a “Chandrila Star Line” logo. In the now-closed hotel, the storyline was that you were taking an interstellar cruise on the Chandrila Star Line, aboard the Halcyon Starcruiser.
There’s a lot more to Disneyland’s Season of the Force, per Disney Parks Blog:
Season of the Force will feature limited-time offerings, plus new experiences to continue your Star Wars story at Disneyland Resort. [Here are] more details on what to expect, including a new nighttime experience at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, along with food, merchandise, and more!
On select nights starting April 5 at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, you will be able to take in “Fire of the Rising Moons,” a nighttime experience that debuts a different view of the stunning Disneyland Park fireworks display with musical accompaniment.
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During this special gathering, villagers and visitors will come together to celebrate their freedom and to honor the heroes and legends of the galaxy who came before them. As the skies over Batuu light up in bursts of color, imaginations are ignited with the iconic music associated with tales from across the galaxy. It will be a powerful moment you won’t want to miss!
“Fire of the Rising Moons” can be experienced from multiple areas in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, including the Black Spire Spaceport, the TIE Echelon docking platform, and the speeder garage. Your MagicBand+ will also add to the ceremony’s atmosphere with colorful lights and ambient vibrations.
Also, beginning April 5, the Star Tours attraction at Disneyland Park will feature new characters and new scenes inspired by the Disney+ series Ahsoka, Andor, and The Mandalorian. The Planet Seatos will serve as the attraction’s newest destination, and during your flight, there’s a chance you’ll receive urgent transmissions from Ahsoka Tano, Cassian Andor, or Din Djarin and Grogu.
Credit: Disney+/Disney Parks
Hyperspace Mountain will also return to Disneyland for a limited time.
Hyperspace Mountain/Credit: Disney Parks
The high-speed Space Mountain overlay, known to fans as Hyperspace Mountain, will return to Tomorrowland. Fans will get to experience the adventure of racing through the galaxy and encountering TIE fighters and a Star Destroyer along the way–but only until June 2.
And, of course, there will also be exciting new merchandise, food, and beverage offerings at Disneyland during this special event. Specialty-themed food and drinks will be available for a limited time and include things like the Star Wars sugar cookie. To see more offerings, click here to view the Season of the Force Foodie Guide from Disneyland!
Credit: Disney Parks
Don’t miss this year’s Season of the Force at Disneyland–and help resurrect at least a piece of the Halcyon Starcruiser!
