by Ray Keating
News/Commentary
DisneyBizJournal.com
August 6, 2021
News Flash: High-end hotels that most of us cannot afford have been around for a very long time.
Nonetheless, when Disney announced this week how much it would cost to stay at its immersive Star Wars hotel – that is, the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser – at Walt Disney World, the online complaints ranged from claims of unfairness to assertions of greed to the crudest of observations.
No one should be surprised – either by how Disney is pricing a stay on the Halcyon (the name of this starcruiser), by the reactions, or by the fact that Disney (barring another pandemic-like hit to the economy) likely will have little problem filling the 100 cabins in this immersive Star Wars experience/hotel.
Let’s first review some key details on the experience and then the pricing.
Disney refers to this as “part live immersive theater, part themed environment, part culinary extravaganza, part real-life role-playing game—and yet so much more.” Two-night vacation packages will feature a cabin or suite; food and beverages (except alcoholic and specialty drinks) on the ship, plus a quick service meal at Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo (or other select locations in Disney’s Hollywood Studios); and an assortment of “exclusive experiences, missions and activities.” Among the highlights:
• New and familiar Star Wars Characters need your help and will invite you to delve deeper into the story—interact with them like never before, embark on secret missions and create alliances.
• Wield a lightsaber as you face off against a remote training device.
• Explore the Bridge and operate the ship's systems and controls.
• Take an exclusive transport to the planet Batuu, where you’ll have the opportunity to engage in unique missions and experiences that extend the story of your adventure.
• Your story may even lead you to discover the inner workings of the ship in the Engineering Room.
Also included is a visit to Batuu (that is, to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and the rest of Disney’s Hollywood Studios), and valet parking.
The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will open in Spring 2022, and there will be three options among the 100 cabins.
• The Standard Cabin sleeps 4 to 5 passengers, and among the offerings is a window with a view out into space.
• The Galaxy Class Suite sleeps four passengers, and includes “an integrated seating area and … all the comforts of Standard Cabins plus a double vanity bathroom, bar area, 2 windows with views out into space and a few extra Star Wars surprises.”
• The two-bedroom Grand Captain Suite sleeps 8 passengers, and features all the comforts of Standard Cabins plus a main suite with a double vanity bathroom, a second bathroom with a single vanity, a bar area, 3 windows with views out into space and a few extra Star Wars surprises.”
And the price? Disney offers Standard Cabin rates on its website for most weeknights covering August 20 to September 20, 2022.
• At two guests per cabin, $1,209 per guest per night, or $4,809 for the total voyage.
• At three guests (2 adults, 1 child) per cabin, $889 per guest per night, or $5,299 for the total voyage.
• At four guests (3 adults, 1 child) per cabin, $749 per guest per night, or $5,999 for the total voyage.
Is this pricey? Sure. Will everyone interested be able to afford it? Nope. That’s kind of how life works. Will people continue to complain about the price, and hurl accusations (often quite nasty) rooted in envy and entitlement? Yep. That’s how life works as well.
Will Disney fill the cabins? It's highly likely, as there are plenty of Star Wars fans with the money for such a journey – indeed, probably regular journeys on the Halcyon. But if Disney gets the price wrong, then they’ll adjust accordingly. That’s how business and markets work. And to those who say that Disney shouldn’t charge so much, well, perhaps they’re the ones being selfish, as they seem to be saying, “Price this hotel so I can afford to stay there, never mind those who work at Disney and the company’s shareholders.”
If you’re planning on taking a voyage on the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, enjoy! Until the family budget can swing such a trip to a galaxy far, far away, I say, “Bon voyage!”
__________
Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of the Pastor Stephen Grant novels and assorted nonfiction books. Have Ray Keating speak your group, business, school, church, or organization. Email him at raykeating@keatingreports.com.
The views expressed here are his own – after all, no one else should be held responsible for this stuff, right?
Keating has three new books out. Vatican Shadows: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel is the 13ththriller/mystery in the Pastor Stephen Grant series. Get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed books at www.raykeatingonline.com. Past Lives: A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story is the 14th book in the series. Again, get the paperback or Kindle edition at Amazon, or signed book at www.raykeatingonline.com. And order the 15th book in the series What’s Lost? A Pastor Stephen Grant Short Story – grab it at Amazon.com or signed editions at www.raykeatingonline.com.
Also, check out Ray’s podcasts – the Daily Dose of Disney, Free Enterprise in Three Minutes, and the PRESS CLUB C Podcast.
You also can order his book Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York from Amazon or signed books at RayKeatingOnline.com. His other recent nonfiction book is Free Trade Rocks! 10 Points on International Trade Everyone Should Know.
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