Walt Disney World has announced some truly impressive expansion plans for its theme parks over the past year, which include the complete reinvention of Epcot, and the addition of a Tron roller coaster at the Magic Kingdom. However, one of their most exciting projects has actually been flying a bit under the radar, but could finally be ready for its big reveal: the Star Wars Boutique hotel. While we’ve gotten a few hints and teases over the past few years about this project, Disney hasn’t officially revealed much about this project. But hopefully that will change soon! But in the meantime, here’s everything we know so far!
1. This will be an “extension” of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Image: Disney
Last year it was revealed that in an effort to extend the Star Wars experience beyond Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge a specialty hotel was being built that would allow fans to experience the Star Wars universe in a whole new way. 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 be able to take part in an immersive experience designed from the ground up to be a living adventure that gives guests the chance to become the star of their own Star Wars Story.
To help facilitate this, Disney is building this now hotel right across from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge on the south side of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. And now it looks like according to permits filed with the South Florida Water Management District, this experience will be a lot more exclusive than we thought, with the building only being two stories tall, and occupying a small footprint on the side of the park with a simple bus loop for transportation, and not much else.
Image: South Florida Water Management District
In fact, even though there aren’t going to be that many rooms (some have estimated this facility might only be able to house about 100 rooms total), the parking lot will be even smaller, leading some to speculate that for guests not using valet, a reserved corner of the general parking lot for Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be used for guests staying this hotel.
But parking concerns aside, the size of the hotel is definitely an indication that Disney is trying to go for a more intimate and exclusive experience with this new hotel. And of course, since rooms will be limited, Disney can really charge top dollar for this experience, which is already rumored to cost upwards of $1000 per guest, for an all-inclusive 2-night stay.
2. Construction has already began, and this new location will likely open as a “phase two” of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Image: Disney
Construction on this new hotel started earlier this year, and though it might not look like much right now, based on photos shared via social media it looks like the outside of the building structure is coming along nicely, with new concrete walls and steel beams going up every day. Though there’s no way to know for sure what Disney’s internal timeline is for opening this hotel, we’d guess that we may be looking at either a late 2020 or early 2021 opening date for this new hotel, likely coinciding with a “phase 2” announcement for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
3. There will be some kind of connection to Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Image: Disney
According to the permit, this new hotel will be connected to the Disney’s Hollywood Studios park in some way, which isn’t exactly surprising news considering the hotel is being built right on the edge of the park. However, we still don’t know exactly how Disney is planning to connect the hotel with the park. Some have speculated that a special walkway will be built between the hotel and a new, private entrance inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, while others think the transportation link will be a simple shuttle. Either way, hopefully we’ll know more as Disney gets ready to (finally) give us more information on this project at the D23 Expo, happening in just a few weeks!
