Inside Disney World’s new Galactic Starcruiser -Star Wars buffs won’t be disappointed
WE got an exclusive look inside Disney World’s new Galactic Starcruiser, which opened this week – and Star Wars buffs will NOT be disappointed.
It offers fans the ultimate immersive experience with missions to role-play, grub fit for a Jedi and an overnight stay in a spaceship.
There is a catch, though. The attraction can only be booked over the phone in the US. But at more than £3,350 per couple or up to £5,150 per family of four for two days on board the spaceship, you have time to get saving . . .
DURING our welcome aboard by Captain Ryola Keevan, there was a twinkle in her eye as she insisted: “This may be more than your regular cruise.”
She was not wrong. The next 48 hours led us into an epic story beyond the movies with Chewbacca, Rey Skywalker and Kylo Ren.`
Welcome to Walt Disney World’s latest — and possibly greatest — creation in the heart of Orlando.
The Galactic Starcruiser is an immersive two-day roleplay experience in the Star Wars realm that includes an overnight stay on the Halcyon Starcruiser.
And it IS like a cruise, with a set time to embark, activities, cabins and even a “shore excursion” to the planet Batuu (the Star Wars land in the neighbouring Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park).
We reached the Halcyon by shuttle (a simulator) and were immediately plunged into space-faring adventure.
The futuristic atrium is dazzling. And the price is pretty out-there too.
Two adults sharing a standard cabin costs £3,350 and a family of four could pay £5,150 in peak season.
Even including food and soft drinks, entertainment, admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and valet parking, that is a lot — especially when a two-day stay at Disney’s top hotel, the Grand Floridian, with a day’s theme park admission, all meals and additional entertainment is £1,850 for two. So is it worth it?
Apparently so, as the experience is fully booked throughout this month, April and most of May and June.
Inside the Starcruiser, “windows” provide panoramic galactic views and there is a very sci-fi bridge featuring holographic images and a keen-as-mustard crew. Oh, and there are characters.
Lots of characters keen to take us along in their light-speed wake, weaving a complex story in which we all have roles to play.
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Cruise director Lenka Mok had prepared a full array of activities for each passenger, including a chance to fire the ship’s laser cannons.
The headline activity, though, was lightsaber training in a specially equipped pod, where we learned how to parry and block blaster fire.
Half an hour of that felt like a serious workout.
The unique nature of this “cruise ship” carried over into the cabins.
Our cosy quarters had their own window on to the starry void outside, plus D3-09, an on-screen “logistics droid” that acted as our personal assistant for the voyage. Siri eat your heart out!
You’ll also be treated to galactic haute cuisine while on board with special techniques that turned things such as curried chicken salad into an alien work of art and served up blue shrimp on a platter smoking with dry ice.
In true Star Wars fashion, the bread was purple and the milk blue, presumably from banthas. If that sounds bizarre, it looked and tasted sensational (especially the seared Kashyyyk whitefish, which seemed suspiciously like grouper).
But we were really here for the adventure and, in that respect, the Starcruiser delivered a spaceload. Via our “datapad” (an app you download to your phone), we were able to plug in to the underground story happening all around us in whispered secrets.
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We chose to join the Resistance and were linked to a series of “missions” to help out at key moments in a bid to foil the onboard elements of the First Order, culminating in an epic battle between Rey and Kylo Ren — with us passengers open-mouthed bystanders.
Whether you are willing to pay the hefty price will depend on how much of a Star Wars fanatic you are. For lots of Skywalker wannabes, the adventure will be priceless.
