Is Disney's New 'Star Wars'-Inspired Hotel Turning Into A Flop?

[Jonfw2]

It’s not a flop. If bookings decrease they can slightly lower prices or offer more perks and it will still be massively profitable.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

I'm surprised by how often you act smarter than everyone and yet demonstrate something different. Income isn't success for a business - profit and profit gain are measures of success. Income from Genie+ may well be as you've described it (we don't know) - but it also may come at the cost of other things (reduced profits from ticket prices, less spending overall, guest satisfaction and long-term commitment to Disney and its properties).

Most publicly-held companies walk a tight line between honesty and obfuscation. You're not going to get complete transparency from publicly-held companies (because there needs to be room for mistakes, corrections, etc). But yet you seem to suggest Disney is completely clear about the financial health of an individual resort (how much do we know about the financial health of All Star Sports, or Old Key West, or Boardwalk), even as a new product that is just launching (which inevitably has kinks to work out)? It just doesn't work that way. It just would be nice if your posts weren't so dismissive of other people's opinions (all while being really clear with their own biases, etc).

I am not going to be baited. My POINT is that Disney may well consider Genie+ to be going well based on your viewpoint. There are certainly enough KPI's that they could point to for validate that claim.

The same is true for the Galactic Starcruiser. I think it's very premature to call it a failure yet, as many on here seem to imply it is.

 

[nancipants]

I'll repeat what I said earlier in the thread: Galaxy's Edge was a flop, too.

 

[Jonfw2]

I'll repeat what I said earlier in the thread: Galaxy's Edge was a flop, too.

My brain hurts.

 

[gorkt]

I don't think it's a flop, but I just think it's not doing as well as it could be, and I would not be surprised to see the experience altered in the next year or two. From reports and reviews I have read, the consensus opinion is that it is generally a fun time for those who are into role playing, but exhausting and overpriced. It's not an experience tailored to the average guest, or even the average star wars fan.

When I talk about the expectations, I am mostly referring the consensus on this board that this experience would book up quickly and be sold out for months in advance. That isn't the case. I can book a weekend in two months if I wanted to, which is a surprise to me. Maybe its the price point, or maybe its the experience.

I have a trip in January. I actually considered it because I thought my family might enjoy it, but I decided it just wasn't a good value for the money. I would be more interested in a more laid back experience or one night stay that was less expensive.

 

[MillauFr]

I'll repeat what I said earlier in the thread: Galaxy's Edge was a flop, too.

Why? It is packed.

 

[nancipants]

Why? It is packed.

Sorry, that was sarcasm. Everyone said it was a flop.

 

[MillauFr]

this place will even be able to get people at regular hotel rates in 10 years….

Since when does Disney charge regular hotel rates?

 

[jade1]

No idea, but was wondering what the Revenue (I know, not profit) per night likely is. In other words how many rooms does it have and about how filled is it each night on average. I realize we don't know for sure, but still.

 

[CmdrThor]

I don't think it's a flop, but I just think it's not doing as well as it could be, and I would not be surprised to see the experience altered in the next year or two. From reports and reviews I have read, the consensus opinion is that it is generally a fun time for those who are into role playing, but exhausting and overpriced. It's not an experience tailored to the average guest, or even the average star wars fan.

When I talk about the expectations, I am mostly referring the consensus on this board that this experience would book up quickly and be sold out for months in advance. That isn't the case. I can book a weekend in two months if I wanted to, which is a surprise to me. Maybe its the price point, or maybe its the experience.

I have a trip in January. I actually considered it because I thought my family might enjoy it, but I decided it just wasn't a good value for the money. I would be more interested in a more laid back experience or one night stay that was less expensive.

I can book a stateroom on the Disney Wish for 6 weeks from now. Does that mean it is a flop too? So far the first 5+ months of the Starcruiser have been completely sold. As August and September approach, maybe they will sell out, maybe they won't.

To have a more laid back Star Wars experience all you have to do is spend a half to a full day in Batuu on your own. Download the Play Disney app and complete the missions. Do the rides, build a lightsaber and droid. Get a drink at Oga's. All of that is very similar to individual aspects of the Galactic Starcruiser and it all costs a whole lot less money. The piece that is missing is the cast and connected storylines to the performances at dinner and in the atrium of the ship. I'm certain Disney researched everything from a single night to 5 night+ experiences and determined 2 nights was the optimal balance.

 

[Garyjames220]

I can book a stateroom on the Disney Wish for 6 weeks from now. Does that mean it is a flop too? So far the first 5+ months of the Starcruiser have been completely sold. As August and September approach, maybe they will sell out, maybe they won't.

To have a more laid back Star Wars experience all you have to do is spend a half to a full day in Batuu on your own. Download the Play Disney app and complete the missions. Do the rides, build a lightsaber and droid. Get a drink at Oga's. All of that is very similar to individual aspects of the Galactic Starcruiser and it all costs a whole lot less money. The piece that is missing is the cast and connected storylines to the performances at dinner and in the atrium of the ship. I'm certain Disney researched everything from a single night to 5 night+ experiences and determined 2 nights was the optimal balance.

No but your comparing the star cruiser that has 100 rooms to a Ship that has 1238 rooms, so it’s hard to compare

I doubt the star cruiser would sell out if it had the same amount of rooms as a ship

 

[CmdrThor]

No but your comparing the star cruiser that has 100 rooms to a Ship that has 1238 rooms, so it’s hard to compare

I doubt the star cruiser would sell out if it had the same amount of rooms as a ship

So you are saying the Wish is too big? Should they have made it smaller so it could sell out months in advance?

Or maybe it's possible that being sold out 6-12+ months is *not* a good thing. That would indicate there's more demand and they should have had more rooms. I would imagine Disney is quite happy with how far out the Starcruiser is currently sold, and I would assume anything above 80% occupancy is probably a huge success. I would bet they could be profitable still at only 50%. They charge a high price for a reason, they have to be able to support the cost of the actors even if the ship is not full.

 

[Garyjames220]

So you are saying the Wish is too big? Should they have made it smaller so it could sell out months in advance?

Or maybe it's possible that being sold out 6-12+ months is *not* a good thing. That would indicate there's more demand and they should have had more rooms. I would imagine Disney is quite happy with how far out the Starcruiser is currently sold, and I would assume anything above 80% occupancy is probably a huge success. I would bet they could be profitable still at only 50%. They charge a high price for a reason, they have to be able to support the cost of the actors even if the ship is not full.

not saying the wish is to big and as the sailings On the wish get closer I think they will be sold out. However I don’t think 1238 rooms on a star cruiser would sell out if it had that amount

 

[nancipants]

not saying the wish is to big and as the sailings On the wish get closer I think they will be sold out. However I don’t think 1238 rooms on a star cruiser would sell out if it had that amount

Of course it wouldn't. That's why the hotel is small. Same reason why Disney Cruise Line only had 4 ships for so long, and is only now adding a 5th, when other, less expensive cruise lines have many more ships in their fleets.

 

[New Mouse]

I can book a stateroom on the Disney Wish for 6 weeks from now. Does that mean it is a flop too? So far the first 5+ months of the Starcruiser have been completely sold. As August and September approach, maybe they will sell out, maybe they won't.

To have a more laid back Star Wars experience all you have to do is spend a half to a full day in Batuu on your own. Download the Play Disney app and complete the missions. Do the rides, build a lightsaber and droid. Get a drink at Oga's. All of that is very similar to individual aspects of the Galactic Starcruiser and it all costs a whole lot less money. The piece that is missing is the cast and connected storylines to the performances at dinner and in the atrium of the ship. I'm certain Disney researched everything from a single night to 5 night+ experiences and determined 2 nights was the optimal balance.

Was that before or after they literally told everyone that is what Batuu was supposed to be?

I wouldn't be trumpeting the fact that the dumbed down the land In order to make the a playground for the rich.

 

[New Mouse]

I can book a stateroom on the Disney Wish for 6 weeks from now. Does that mean it is a flop too? So far the first 5+ months of the Starcruiser have been completely sold. As August and September approach, maybe they will sell out, maybe they won't.

To have a more laid back Star Wars experience all you have to do is spend a half to a full day in Batuu on your own. Download the Play Disney app and complete the missions. Do the rides, build a lightsaber and droid. Get a drink at Oga's. All of that is very similar to individual aspects of the Galactic Starcruiser and it all costs a whole lot less money. The piece that is missing is the cast and connected storylines to the performances at dinner and in the atrium of the ship. I'm certain Disney researched everything from a single night to 5 night+ experiences and determined 2 nights was the optimal balance.

Was that before or after they literally told everyone that is what Batuu was supposed to be?

I wouldn't be trumpeting the fact that the dumbed down the land In order to make the a playground for the rich.

So you are saying the Wish is too big? Should they have made it smaller so it could sell out months in advance?

Or maybe it's possible that being sold out 6-12+ months is *not* a good thing. That would indicate there's more demand and they should have had more rooms. I would imagine Disney is quite happy with how far out the Starcruiser is currently sold, and I would assume anything above 80% occupancy is probably a huge success. I would bet they could be profitable still at only 50%. They charge a high price for a reason, they have to be able to support the cost of the actors even if the ship is not full.

Profitable at 50% yes but Disney's expectation on profit margins are much higher than that.

 

[middlechild]

A better question might be how long until the slow erosion of streetmosphere becomes noticeable? How long until the gift shop stocks generic WDW merchandise? How long until DVC moves in, and takes some of the rooms? In my opinion, market forces keep erosion of unique features at bay. Loose market, and erosion grows until the property is just another has been. How long until the bus between hotel and park becomes a walking path? The "space elevator" becomes an escalator?

 

[Jonfw2]

Sorry, that was sarcasm. Everyone said it was a flop.

Oh man. Sorry. Totally missed that. Yes- I agree. There’s a very weird dynamic that exists…well, here, if I’m being honest where there’s a need sometimes to demonstrate how much you love Disney by appearing to strongly dislike Disney. I’ve never understood that.

It’s sort of like not liking your favorite band anymore when they get too popular.

 

[Yarbogash]

Oh man. Sorry. Totally missed that. Yes- I agree. There’s a very weird dynamic that exists…well, here, if I’m being honest where there’s a need sometimes to demonstrate how much you love Disney by appearing to strongly dislike Disney. I’ve never understood that.

It’s sort of like not liking your favorite band anymore when they get too popular.

The flip side of it is the fans who will support Disney and argue in favour of anything Disney does, no matter how messed up or negative it might be.
And I get it, this is a fan site. That attitude is always gonna be strong here but too often that attitude makes the fans their own worst enemy. Disney was in many small ways before, and since covid in many big ways, testing the fans tolerance.
While it pains me to consider the idea that elements of Starcruiser were originally intended to be part of Galaxy’s Edge, a la Legends of Frontierland, I still consider it an enhancement. Even if I’m not gonna spend that crazy amount of money I’m still just happy it exists as an option for people.
But given it’s nature, it’s exclusivity and cost, it was always going to be a lightening rod for criticism. Looking forward it’s inspiring from an imagineering perspective and we want Imagineering to make such bold leaps. But it’s also a really bad omen from a business and attractions perspective, we want the innovation, we just don’t want it to be so exclusive and behind such a steep paywall to the point that the attraction is irrelevant to most people. And Disney has been really big on new paywalls so I understand the frustration.

 

[J-Dog]

The flip side of it is the fans who will support Disney and argue in favour of anything Disney does, no matter how messed up or negative it might be.
And I get it, this is a fan site. That attitude is always gonna be strong here but too often that attitude makes the fans their own worst enemy. Disney was in many small ways before, and since covid in many big ways, testing the fans tolerance.
While it pains me to consider the idea that elements of Starcruiser were originally intended to be part of Galaxy’s Edge, a la Legends of Frontierland, I still consider it an enhancement. Even if I’m not gonna spend that crazy amount of money I’m still just happy it exists as an option for people.
But given it’s nature, it’s exclusivity and cost, it was always going to be a lightening rod for criticism. Looking forward it’s inspiring from an imagineering perspective and we want Imagineering to make such bold leaps. But it’s also a really bad omen from a business and attractions perspective, we want the innovation, we just don’t want it to be so exclusive and behind such a steep paywall to the point that the attraction is irrelevant to most people. And Disney has been really big on new paywalls so I understand the frustration.

Yes, I also agree, and I think that this thread shows a little bit of a vibe of "I don't like or can't afford Starcruiser, so I hope it fails".

Which I understand to a point - if it does poorly, then maybe Disney will rethink such elitist destinations. At the same time, though, Disney has never been cheap or easy to afford.

Personally, I would never do it because I don't like the claustrophobic design of the hotel, but I don't hope it fails. At least it's something "different" and innovative.