We’ve enjoyed living out our own epic adventures in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (and we’ve gotten pretty good at piloting the Millennium Falcon without crashing it too badly, if we do say so ourselves).
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
But, we’re all eagerly awaiting the day when we’ll really get to immerse ourselves in the world of Star Wars at the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, or as many call it — the Star Wars Hotel. We drove past the construction site the other day to see how the project has progressed and we found something…we weren’t expecting!
Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is an immersive Star Wars experience that is being built in Disney World. Although many call it the “Star Wars Hotel,” it’s not really a hotel. A stay at the Galactic Starcruiser will feel much more like an all-inclusive, cruise-ship-like, lock-down experience.
Star Wars Resort Concept Art Lounge
As part of this experience, you’ll be able will live out your own Star Wars story during a 2-day, 2-night stay aboard the “intergalactic cruise ship” called the Halcyon. You’ll get to meet and interact with Star Wars characters, wield a lightsaber against a training remote, and so much more. There will even be a “land excursion” available to Black Spire Outpost in Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Star Wars Resort Concept Art
Despite the park closures and the impact that COVID-19 has had on the Walt Disney Company, Disney has recently confirmed that the Star Wars Hotel is on its priority list of construction projects and will be moving forward.
Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Concept Art
We’ve gotten some arial views of the Hotel in the past, but this time we got a look at it from the ground. The exterior of the building appears to be generally complete, with windows in place and exterior staircases on the side.
Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Construction
::Record Scratch:: Wait WHAT? Windows in place?! Our understanding was that this was going to be a wholly immersive experience…e.g. ONLY SPACE VIEWS! AND SPACE THINGS!
According to the concept art we’ve seen, the “windows” in the rooms will look out into space scenes (much like what we’ve seen in terms of concept art for the Space 220 restaurant coming to EPCOT). I’m not an imagineer, but it would be WEIRD to have a galactic landscape outside and then…oh, well, there’s blue sky and a highway?!
Star Wars Resort Concept Art
So what’s gonna happen here? Are those windows going to be overlaid with…space stuff? Are they there for safety requirements and building code, but will be covered by other show elements? If you’re a construction guru and know why there are windows when you’re supposed to only see Disney-approved space scenery, let me know.
OK, back to normal reporting. The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel is still very much an active construction site. There’s a mound of dirt and construction equipment and other items near the hotel. You can also see the spires from Batuu in the background of this photo. We’re interested to see what the land excursion from this spot to Galaxy’s Edge will be like.
Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Construction
Currently, the Disney World website notes that guests will be able to go on this special adventure in 2021. Reservations were also scheduled to become available later this year. Since this project is one of the ones being prioritized, we expect to continue to see construction moving forward and more news released as 2021 approaches. We’ll keep an eye out for more information, and let you know what we find.
Savi’s Workshop will be reopening soon in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge soon! Click here to read all about it.
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What do you think of the Star Wars Hotel? Will this experience be a must-do for you and your family when it opens?
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Hotel rooms are legally required to have windows. I’m sure Disney will find something cool to do to keep the immersion.
Maybe it’s a fire code. Need another way to get people out of the building if there is a fire?
I’m sure it’s a fire code reason, and probably will be hidden (but still accessible) somehow
Yeah, agreeing with above. It’s a fire hazard to not have windows & several ways of emergency egress.
I’m pretty sure it is meant as a fire escape. If you look at the concept art of the cabin, just left of the man with the brown vest, standing at the viewport, seems to be a movable wall panel, with a door handle at waist hight.
In the new photos of the real cabins and even the photos of the cabin mockups from IAAPA, the door handle is clearly visible, in the mockup, there is even a sticker visible above the handle, probably saying “Only open in case of emergency” or so.