Recently I got the opportunity to go on the Star Wars Galactic StarCruiser at Walt Disney World and I’ve gotten a lot of questions about this unique experience from clients, friends, and family alike. In this post, I’m going to answer the top 5 frequently asked questions about my time onboard!
The atrium is the heart of the StarCruiser and also the perfect spot to grab some great photos!
Before diving into the questions, let me explain a little bit about what the StarCruiser is. The Star Wars Galactic StarCruiser is located near Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World and is the first Star Wars themed hotel on property. But StarCruiser is so much more than just a Star Wars themed hotel. It’s a fully immersive 3 day 2 night experience during which guests set sail on a galactic "cruise" onboard the Chandrila Star Lines ship, the Halcyon. Just like with any cruise, your voyage fare aboard the Halcyon includes much more than just your accommodations, which is the perfect transition into the first of my 5 frequently asked questions!
Question 1: What is included with a stay on StarCruiser?
Your StarCruiser voyage fare includes 2 night accommodations in your cabin category of choice, valet parking, park admission to Hollywood Studios, Lightning Lane access to all attractions at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, park shuttles to and from Hollywood Studios on the day of your visit, an exclusive magic band, an exclusive collectible pin, onboard activities such as lightsaber and bridge trainings, immersive character interactions, and food and beverages including 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners, meal vouchers for Docking Bay 7 at Galaxy’s Edge, unlimited hors d'oeuvres from the Sublight Lounge, self-serve snacks in the atrium, and non-specialty beverages. Specialty and alcoholic beverages are available for purchase.
Question 2: Do I have to be a die hard Star Wars fan to enjoy this experience?
As a die hard Star Wars fan myself, I was absolutely ecstatic to be given the opportunity to experience the StarCruiser, but not all of the other agents I traveled with were big Star Wars fans. In fact, the member of our travel party who was least into Star Wars was the first one to go back for a second voyage with her family! All that to say that you absolutely don’t have to be a die hard Star Wars fan to enjoy your time onboard the Halcyon. You can be as much or as little involved as you want to be in all the interactive missions and character experiences onboard. The same is true for how you choose to dress for your time on the Halcyon. There were certainly guests who were dressed to the nines in their Star Wars garb, but there were also guests there in shorts and a t-shirt as well as guests like our party who were somewhere in the middle in Star Wars inspired outfits assembled out of standard clothing items. There are enough Star Wars Easter Eggs and activities to keep even the most committed Star Wars fan busy for days, but even if you don’t understand all the references or participate in all the missions, you will still have a blast.
Our Star Wars Inspired outfits were assembled from pieces we already owned coupled with vests and belts we purchased off Amazon.
If you don't bring your own Star Wars clothing from home, there's plenty available for purchase onboard the Halcyon.
Question 3: How is the food?
I am a somewhat picky eater and I also have food allergies and other dietary restrictions as a Type 2 diabetic, so I was a little bit nervous about whether or not I was going to be able to find enough options to eat on the StarCruiser. I’m happy to report that the dining options far exceeded my expectations. The food options may look otherworldly, but in reality they are familiar favorites that are pleasing to adults and kids alike. And I can’t say enough good things about how well the dining team handled my food allergies. Each night at dinner, our server had already spoken with the chef about which of the standard offerings I needed to avoid. My plate was clearly marked with an allergy label and I also saw many guests speaking directly with the chef about their dietary needs and restrictions. Disney is generally quite good at handling dietary restrictions and the StarCruiser was no exception. We sampled many of the items on both the adults’ and kids’ menus and there were only 2 or 3 items that we didn’t find tasty. We also sampled some of the snacks available in the atrium and the appetizers available in the Sublight Lounge (all of which are included in your voyage fare) and they were also delicious. I can highly recommend the cheese platter in particular. I also had way too many lattes during my voyage because why would I not: they were included! If you’re in the mood for signature drinks or “libations” as they’re called onboard, those are available for purchase in both the main dining room and the Sublight Lounge.
Crown of Corellia Dining Hall serves buffet style breakfast and lunch and a multi-course table service dinner.
Question 4: Did you get claustrophobic?
I get claustrophobic quite easily, so I wondered how I would do in an environment with no natural light. In all honesty we were so wrapped up in activities that I didn’t even have time to notice the lack of sunlight. But, if you find yourself in particular need of some fresh air, all you have to do is visit the Climate Simulator located on deck 4. This is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the Halcyon and soak up some sunlight. You also get to spend an entire day of your voyage out in the fresh air and bright suns of Batuu at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. I didn’t feel claustrophobic at all onboard and found that the lack of natural light in our cabin actually helped me sleep better!
The climate simulator simulates the climate of Batuu, which is remarkably similar to Earth.
This private entrance into Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is only accessible to StarCruiser guests.
Question 5: Is it worth it?
This is probably the most common question I’ve received and I’ll level with you: this experience is pricey. When you consider everything that comes included in the cost of your stay the price tag is easier to swallow, but it is definitely still an investment. For that reason, it’s not going to be for everyone. Some people would rather take that money and spend a week in a Disney value resort or at the beach. However, if you’re looking for a premium experience that is unlike anything else offered at Disney World, and particularly if you are a Star Wars fan, this experience is for you. I got to experience the StarCruiser free of charge as part of a media event, however I have plans to pay full price to come back with my family because I do believe it’s worth it. I’ve experienced a lot of what Disney World has to offer and I can honestly say that there is nothing like this experience anywhere else. The level of character interaction, the attention to detail, and the quality of the shows and activities are truly special and will have you wanting to come back and experience it all over again. If I had to explain everything StarCruiser is, I would say that it’s part hotel, part cruise, part theme park vacation, part video game, part escape room, part dinner theater, and part character meet (although that term seems inadequate in light of how much time you spend with these characters) all with a Star Wars flair. It’s exceptionally unique and the perfect vacation for anyone of any age who loves Star Wars or just wants to do something different. We saw multigenerational families enjoying StarCruiser together, we saw couples on their honeymoon, we saw groups of young professionals, we saw parents with their teenagers, parents with their young children and babies, and older couples who have probably been fans of Star Wars since it originally came out in 1977. Everyone was having a good time onboard the Halcyon!
I hope you got value out of this post! If you’d like to see daily vlogs of the full experience, check out this playlist I put together on the Marvelous Mouse Travels YouTube channel. And if you’d like to see my merch hall and my review of my time onboard, check out the video below from my YouTube channel.
If you’d like more information or a quote on this unique experience, you can access my quote form here. Booking StarCruiser with me is the same price as booking it directly through Disney, but when you work with me you have someone to walk you step by step through the booking and preparation process and give you firsthand pointers about your onboard experience. All these services come completely free of charge!
