CEO Bob Iger Rejected ‘The Mandalorian’ and Other Retheme Ideas for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser

Shannen Ace

CEO Bob Iger Rejected ‘The Mandalorian’ and Other Retheme Ideas for Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser

The Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger rejected ideas to retheme Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser or offer tours to day guests, The Wrap reports.

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser

Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser featured

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will be permanently closing this September after a little more than a year and a half of operation. Disney has not stated what will happen to the facility after that, but there were behind-the-scenes conversations about retheming Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.

According to The Wrap, there were talks of turning Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser into an experience inspired by “The Mandalorian,” perhaps the most popular “Star Wars” property right now. It was also suggested to give day guests “tours” of the hotel that would include access to the bar, dinner, and gift shop.

CEO Bob Iger decided to instead shut Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser down.

As a Disney insider told The Wrap, only a small portion of wealthy guests were able to visit Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. “Once you went through the one-percenters who could afford it and the fanatical ‘Star Wars’ fans who would sell their mother to do it, you were done,” they said.

Another Disney insider told The Wrap, “No one connected to this came off well.”

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Closing

starcruiser
Halcyon starcruiser passengers enjoy a meal and performance by Gaya in the Crown of Corellia Dining Room in Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kent Phillips photographer)

Last week, Disney made the surprise announcement that they’d be closing their themed hotel aimed at immersive storytelling permanently after only one year and a few months of operation. Starcruiser has been burdened since before its opening, shrouded in financial troubles, budget cuts, high prices, low occupancy, and inconsistent levels of satisfaction when individuals compare what was delivered with what was initially promised in conceptual stages. Above all, the struggling resort was prohibitively expensive for the vast majority of potentially interested guests, with costs frequently exceeding multiple thousands of dollars for a brief, two-night stay.

Several days ago, the final voyage in late September sold out.

Though Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser did not perform as well as Disney had hoped, it will be a $300 million tax write-off.

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser also has the distinction of winning the 2022 TEA Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement in Brand Experience.

Curious about the full experience? Check out our guide to everything on the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser and our honest, in-depth review.

Take a look at our recent Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser coverage using the links below:

What are your thoughts on the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser closing? We’d like to see your opinions in the comments below.

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