Walt Disney World has announced some truly impressive expansion plans for its theme parks in recent months, which include over a dozen new attractions across its four theme parks being constructed over the next five years. However, one of their most exciting projects announced last year has flown a bit under the radar until recently: a Star Wars hotel. And this new place to stay won’t just be “inspired” by a Galaxy Far, Far Away…
Get ready to live out a Star Wars adventure
Image: Disney
In an effort to extend that Star Wars experience beyond Star Wars: Galactic Edge (opening in 2019 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios) Disney has confirmed some of the first details about the plans for a hotel that will allow fans to experience the Star Wars universe in a whole new way that is unlike any other Disney hotel. Instead of just having decor “inspired” by Star Wars (like the movie-based wings of the Art of Animation) guests who stay in this hotel will take part in an immersive experience designed from the ground up to be a living adventure that allows guests to immerse themselves in an entirely new form of Disney storytelling.
Image: Disney
Inside the hotel, guests will discover a starship alive with characters, stories, and adventures that unfold all around them. Guests will be able to live and breathe their own story with themed dining, activities and more that will touch every single minute of their day, culminating in a unique journey for every person who visits. Everything from the decor to the furniture will be a part of the theme, with nothing in this hotel recalling our world. Even the windows will be themed, with views of the various planets, starships and more from the world of Star Wars visible from guests’ rooms.
Image: Disney
Though these initial details were confirmed last year, during the recent D23 Fan Expo in Japan last weekend, Disney shared some additional tidbits about the experience of staying in the hotel itself, saying that guests staying in the hotel will experience a multiday Stars Wars adventure by boarding a starship alive with characters and stories that unfold all around them during a voyage through the galaxy.
The more Disney describes the experience, the more it sounds like an “all-inclusive” cruise experience, which is probably what this experience is modeled after, complete with “shore” excursions to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Which is where this story gets even more interesting…
A hotel inside a theme park
Image: Disney
Disney also reiterated during this recent fan expo that this new property will be “seamlessly connected” to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which is interesting, as it implies that the hotel will be built in close proximity to the park, perhaps with a short tram or tunnel connecting it to the Star Wars area. The idea of a resort inside a theme park isn’t a new one for Disney, as other Disney resorts around the world, including Disneyland Resort and Shanghai Disneyland, have built hotels on the edges of their theme parks. However, if this project goes the way Disney is hinting, then this will be a first for Walt Disney World Walt Disney World, Cinderella Castle suite notwithstanding of course.
Image: Disney
Of course, with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge construction humming along, eagle-eyed guests have noticed that construction on any kind of hotel structure in or around Disney’s Hollywood Studios has not begun yet. While it would make sense for Disney to target a 2019 opening date for this hotel to coincide with the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, that seems like wishful thinking at this point, and if this hotel is to be built near Disney’s Hollywood Studios, it seems like it will likely be constructed as part of a “phase 2” of sorts for this land.
As for cost, expect this to be one of the most, if not the most, expensive hotel on Walt Disney World property. The dimensions of the room suggest that this will be a deluxe-level resort, and Disney even released a survey last year that seemed to indicate that Disney is considering a cost of around $1,000 per guest for a 2-night stay. Of course, this stay is all-inclusive and would include meals, theme park admission, etc. which could make it a decent value for Star Wars fans, but of course we’ll have to wait until the hotel is finally constructed to know more about what kind of pricing Disney will settle on.
Image: Disney
Unlike certain other projects, it looks like even though this hotel doesn’t have a name, a location, or an opening date, Disney is still going full steam ahead with this new hotel experience. What are your predictions for this new hotel? And perhaps most importantly, what do you think it will cost?
