Is a voyage on the Halcyon starcruiser to space worth the cost? We have the full Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser price breakdown for you!
The day we have all been waiting for has finally arrived! The very first voyage of the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser has just taken flight! It is Disney’s intention to create the illusion that you are, in fact, taking flight on the Halcyon starcruiser, the jewel of the Chandrila Star Line.
In all the years I have been a part of the Disney media circuit, I have NEVER witnessed as much controversy about a new attraction, resort, or experience as I have with the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser. Why is there so much hate and heat over something so incredible? Well, to be frank, it is the substantial ticket price for the time spent on the “ship.”
Voyages are starting at $4809 for just two nights on the Halcyon starcruiser. So, how do you justify such a high price? Well, today we are going to break it down for you so you can see first hand so you can make your own decision.
First, what is Galactic Starcruiser?
It’s a themed hotel designed to work with Galaxy’s Edge to create an immersive experience at the Hollywood Studios park in Disney World, Florida. You stay for two nights, engaging in a bunch of Star Wars-y activities and taking a trip to the planet Batuu — better known as Galaxy’s Edge — where you can engage in unique missions and get guaranteed spots on rides like Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Rise of the Resistance.
Disney described the attraction as “part live immersive theater, part themed environment, part culinary extravaganza, part real-life role-playing game.” You can interact with characters on the cruiser and choose if you want to stick to the First Order’s rules, help out the Resistance in a secret plot or work with the galaxy’s rogues.
How much does a stay on Galactic Starcruiser cost?
The cost of the Starcruiser does vary depending on the number of guests and your choice of cabin. To give you an example of some pricing we broke down the cost for the very first guests on this voyage.
- 2 guests: $4809
- 3 guests: $5299
- 4 guests: $5999
The cost does go up if you opt for a different cabin. These prices are just for the standard cabin/room on the ship that sleeps four guests. For that price you should get to actually go to space, right? Well… we actually are going to show you why you are actually getting your money’s worth and then some with your Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser voyage.
Price breakdown vs. what you actually get:
Before I get started it is important to disclose that we were in no way paid to write this, we were not hosted as Disney media, and we get nothing from Disney for writing this. I am going to write this comparison based on double occupancy with the lowest Starcruiser package of $4809.
Accommodations:
For this to work, I had to compare the Starcruiser to a resort that has a similar pricing structure at Walt Disney World. After looking at current pricing, the Starcruiser accommodations would be similar in price to the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, as it is also considered a “deluxe resort.” A night at Grand Floridian will cost you around$1200/night depending on the location of the room.
Also included in your stay is valet parking for the Starcruiser. At Walt Disney World the price for a valet is $33/day. The Starcruiser experience is 3 days of parking bringing you to $99 you would have had to pay at Grand Floridian.
So, if we are looking at the comparison, a $1200/night average per night would come to $2400 just for the room on the Starcruiser. That is at double occupancy, just like the lowest level pricing on the Starcruiser. Then we add the valet pricing and it brings us to $2499.
If you take the full price of double occupancy and subtract the accommodation price from Grand Floridian, we are now at: $4809- $2499= $2310
Dining:
The Starcruiser includes all of your food and drink, excluding alcohol. Four of the meals on the Starcruiser are equivalent to a Quick Service meal in the parks. If you average your drink, main dish, and beverage for each “Quick Service” you have included in the price of your Starcruiser voyage you come to about $25/person/meal. Four meals for two people at $25 each bring us to $200 for those “Quick Service” meals.
Two of the meals are “Table Service” signature meals. Each of those meals is a 5-course signature dining experience with live entertainment. For comparison, this would be similar to dining at Cinderella Royal Table in Magic Kingdom. Those would run you $62 per person, per night. Those four meals at $62 each bring us to $248. That is a total of $448 for dining if you add quick service and table service.
If you take our calculations from above and subtract dining we are at: $2310- 448= $1862.
Hollywood Studios Park Ticket:
While you are on the Starcruiser you are taken to Batuu, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, to take part in the full Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge experience. A one-day base ticket to Disney’s Hollywood Studios ranges between $134 and $149 for this time of year. Let’s just average that to $140/ticket times two guests bringing us to a total of $280 for tickets.
While you are in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge you also get walk-on access to both Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Millenium Falcon Smugglers Run. This would be like 2 Lightning Lane selections per person in the park! And, unlike other Individual Lightning Lane attractions that have seen their prices fluctuate depending on demand and how busy the park is predicted to be, Rise of the Resistance has consistently been at $15.00. If you take $15 for each ride for each guest that is another $60 you would have had to spend. Bringing our ticket value to $340.
If you take our calculations from above and subtract tickets we are at: $1862- 340= $1522.
Included Experiences:
While you are on the ship you will have two experiences you won’t get anywhere else. There is a 30-minute Lightsaber Lesson and 35 minute Bridge Training that would be comparable to something like The VOID 3D Experience that used to be at Disney Springs. You certainly won’t want to miss the lightsaber lessons and bridge training. Padawans will learn to wield the Jedi weapon while facing off against a remote training device and help navigate the Halcyon from the ship’s bridge. The cost for The VOID when it was open was $34.95 per person. Each session at The VOID was 30-35 mins just as the Lightsaber Training and Bridge Training. If you compare those to The VOID that would be $69.90 for each person or $139.80 for the pair.
If you take our calculations from above and subtract those experiences we are at:$1522- $139.80= $1382.20
Many of the interactive experiences will require the Star Wars Datapad smartphone app or an exclusive Galactic Starcruiser MagicBand RFID wristband — both of which are included with your voyage. The earthbound tech allows passengers to receive communications from the Halcyon crew and interact with sensors throughout the ship. If you compare the “RFID wristbands” to Disney’s MagicBand(they are the same thing) you are looking at another $40 per person or $80 for the pair.
If you take our calculations from above and subtract the Starcruiser MagicBand we are at:$1382.20- $80= $1302.20
Characters, Entertainment, & More
The Galactic Starcruiser experience is equal parts live-action role-playing game, immersive theater and culinary extravaganza dreamed up by the theme park wizards at Walt Disney Imagineering. You’re encouraged to take part in the intrigue, mystery, and adventure at every step of the journey. The entire ship becomes a stage throughout your journey. Will you plot a secret mission to assist the First Order? Have you ever dreamed of becoming an underworld smuggler? Do you want to explore the ship’s inner workings in the Engineering Room? The Halcyon is your playground.
The characters are on the ship with you the entire time. There is no waiting for them to come back when it is time for a break. Any time you are out and about on the ship you can find a character to interact with! There is no social distancing! It is truly like nothing you have ever taken part in.
A lot of people are comparing this to a Disney Cruise and asking why they would book a Starcruiser vacation if they could do a Disney Cruise for a lot less? Well, I am here to tell you that this isn’t like a Disney Cruise and shouldn’t be compared to it. The entertainment on the Starcruiser is all day and night long. Not only is the entertainment and activities non-stop, but the characters also bring you into the storytelling of the ship. You become a part of the crew and become one with the energy around you.
At some point on Day 1 there will be an “unexpected story moment” — which shouldn’t be too unexpected if you’re following the ship’s fixed itinerary. This will be your chance to join an elite smuggling ring or hide a stowaway to help the Resistance. There is always something from droid racing competitions, model shipbuilding and sabacc tournaments… you never have the opportunity to be bored.
Exclusive Merchandise
Another perk exclusive for guests aboard the Starcruiser is merchandise they can’t find anywhere else! This ranges from lightsabers, droid SK-62O, to a wide assortment of themed apparel, from tunics and robes to dresses and flight uniforms. You can also personalize your lightsaber hilt with the letter icon of your choosing written in Aurebesh, the written alphabet used in the Star Wars galaxy.
Is it worth the money?
How do you put a price on the entertainment, 24/7 characters, ship-wide missions, all-day activities, and VIP interactions? The Starcruiser is the perfect combination of Disney magic, Lucasfilm history, and Industrial Light & Magic storytelling through technology made this experience one you’ll never forget.
After all of our math, we are left with $1302.20. Is the experience on the Star Wars Galatic Starcruiser worth that amount of money? Well, that depends on your love of Star Wars. For this fan, I would say it was worth every single penny.
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