Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser, Disney’s ambitious attempt to create an immersive hotel experience in a galaxy far, far away has failed, and the space is reportedly being converted to office space for the company’s Imagineers. In the wake of this news, many writers and YouTubers have rushed to create their eulogies for this ambitious project and how much of a waste of money it was (some sources have claimed it cost as much as one billion to create). However, what almost nobody has stopped to appreciate is that the failure of this hotel is the perfect metaphor for Disney’s failed handling of Star Wars itself.
Why The Star Wars Hotel Failed
Before the Star Wars hotel failed, it seemed like a good idea, giving fans a Westworld-esque opportunity to live inside an interactive world filled with props and trained actors. Sadly, though, the exorbitant price tag of this experience kept the majority of fans away, and many of those who went described the whole thing as an overpriced disappointment. Now, the whole thing is being turned into offices where Imagineers can create future rides based on older IPs, and this is where our metaphor for the Disney era of the franchise begins.
Disney’s Failure with Star Wars
When Disney first purchased the world’s most lucrative science fiction IP, their biggest challenge was innovation…simply put, they had to prove they could deliver Star Wars content of the quality and imagination that George Lucas did. That’s why The Force Awakens was a soft reboot of A New Hope: they didn’t want to rock the boat too much, so they gave fans a reskinned version of a movie they already liked. This was followed by the insanely controversial sequel The Last Jedi, and negative fan reaction to that film made Disney start playing it safe with Star Wars at almost every turn.
Soon, most Disney+ series in a galaxy far, far away began focusing on familiar characters like Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Ahsoka. Speaking of familiar, J.J. Abrams came back to direct The Rise of Skywalker, and he filled the movie with famous faces ranging from Emperor Palpatine to Han Solo. Just like that, the franchise that began with so much innovation was done taking creative risks and simply hoped that fans would accept warmed-over leftovers.
The Star Wars Hotel as a Metaphor
So, what does all of this have to do with the Star Wars hotel that failed? At first glance, making a Star Wars-themed hotel seemed like a no-brainer because Disney has made a killing over the years with resorts featuring their famous characters. Making a themed hotel with the same level of detail as Galaxy’s Edge was the resort’s equivalent of making The Force Awakens as a soft reboot because they could simply add a Star Wars twist to a proven formula.
However, resort execs eventually got ambitious, a bit like Rian Johnson did when making The Last Jedi. They decided to turn the Star Wars hotel into a fully immersive experience like nothing the company had ever done, but it was an utter failure…in point of fact, it was simultaneously a bad hotel (cramped rooms, a short stay, few basic amenities) and a bad game (unclear instructions, confusing interactions, limited roleplaying possibilities). Throw in the exorbitant cost (minimum cost of $4,800 for two people!) for what was only a 2-day experience and this hotel was dead on arrival.
The Failure of the Star Wars Hotel and the Future of Star Wars
Because the Star Wars hotel has failed, the space will be used by Imagineers working on attractions related to familiar IPs like Indiana Jones, Cars, and Monsters, Inc. Now, their failure (and the metaphor) is complete: after taking one big risk with Star Wars and seeing it fail, the execs are turning a hotel that reportedly cost one billion to make into corporate offices focusing on the hit films of yesteryear. This is what Disney as a studio has been doing ever since The Last Jedi flopped…pumping out corporate-approved content focusing primarily on legacy characters.
Conclusion
The Star Wars hotel has failed, but like a midichlorian, that failure is just one small part of a larger issue. The creators behind this franchise are unwilling to take more risks and will serve up endless slop with familiar characters and stories rather than do anything new and innovative. And until the powers that be behind Star Wars are willing to make bold moves yet again, this is one franchise that may become one with the Force sooner than any of us could ever have guessed.
FAQs
What Went Wrong with the Star Wars Hotel?
The hotel was an overpriced and underwhelming experience, with cramped rooms, a short stay, and few basic amenities. The exorbitant cost of the experience also kept many fans away.
Why Did Disney Purchase Star Wars?
Disney purchased Star Wars to tap into the lucrative franchise, but they struggled to deliver content of the same quality and imagination as George Lucas did.
What is the Future of Star Wars?
The future of Star Wars is uncertain, as the franchise continues to focus on familiar characters and stories rather than taking risks and trying something new.
Is the Star Wars Hotel Going to be Replaced?
No, the Star Wars hotel is being converted into office space for Imagineers working on attractions related to familiar IPs.