Walt Disney World made headlines last year when it closed its much-publicized Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel. Operating for only just over a year, the ultra-immersive hotel’s operation costs proved to outweigh its revenue. with only 100 available rooms priced at $5000 per day, most fans were unable to justify its exorbitant price, and Disney had calculated that even if the venture had been much more successful, it still would most likely not be sustainable.
A year after the Galactic Starcruiser’s final voyage, a four hour deep-dive into the rise and fall of the hotel has gone viral online. Created by YouTuber Jenny Nicholson, “The Spectacular Failure of the Star Wars Hotel” gives a firsthand account of a stay in the hotel, giving an intimate look at the immersive experience she received for $6000.
While Nicholson is no stranger to longform looks into fan culture, her piece on the Galactic Starcruiser is far longer and more in-depth than any of her previous videos. Currently sitting at nearly 6 million views in slightly over a week, it seems that a close examination into the hotel that flew too close to Tattooine’s two suns has reverberated with fans everywhere.
