With its last voyage completed on September 30, 2023, the Halcyon has charted a new course—this time, not across the stars, but into the world of Walt Disney Imagineering. The building that once housed the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is now in the process of being transformed into office space for the very team that created it.
Recent aerial imagery posted by @bioreconstruct offers a glimpse into the site’s current state, showing Sunbelt equipment rental trucks and signs of ongoing work.
Social media reactions were quick to surface. “Literally looks like a prison lol,” said Louis D. (@DoleIV), while Robert M. (@robertmclaws) noted, “That’s pretty cold to make them sit and work inside their failure.”
Originally unveiled at D23 Expo in 2017, the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser promised to transport guests into a galaxy far, far away through an all-inclusive, two-night interactive experience. Guests lived aboard the Halcyon, a luxury starcruiser, with story-driven missions, themed dining experiences, and a planetary excursion to Batuu inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Despite the groundbreaking concept and creative ambition behind the project, its high price—close to $5,000 per cabin—sparked discussion from the beginning. While initial responses ranged from excitement to skepticism, guest interest gradually declined, prompting Disney to extend discounted offerings to certain audiences before eventually retiring the experience.
For some fans, the closure marked the end of an era in ambitious themed storytelling. Others looked ahead, wondering what Disney might do with the purpose-built space. The answer, for now, is a return to its roots: becoming a workspace for Imagineering, whose efforts helped launch the Star Wars-themed experience in the first place.
The Galactic Starcruiser was part of a larger movement within Disney Parks to introduce immersive experiences inspired by its most popular franchises. Star Wars became a central focus after Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012. By 2019, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened in both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, inviting guests to explore Black Spire Outpost, ride the Millennium Falcon, and battle the First Order in Rise of the Resistance.
This strategy also extended to the Marvel universe. Following Disney’s 2009 acquisition of Marvel Entertainment, new attractions and themed lands—like Avengers Campus in California and Paris—opened to let guests connect with iconic heroes through state-of-the-art rides and interactive elements.
Walt Disney World Resort itself continues to evolve more than five decades after its 1971 opening. Originally inspired by Walt Disney’s vision for “The Florida Project,” the resort now features four theme parks, two water parks, and over 20 hotels, each helping to tell a piece of the Disney story.
As the Halcyon’s physical form is reshaped, its role in Disney parks’ history remains significant. The project represented a daring leap into immersive vacation storytelling, and its legacy will likely inform future endeavors within the Imagineering portfolio.
If you had the opportunity to repurpose the former Starcruiser space, what would you create? Drop your ideas in the comments below!
They totally missed the mark on repurposing this space. The immersive experience price-point was too high for repeat business. The smarter choice would have been to repurpose the experience to a day ticket. Separate ticket than to the park, enter from GE, be able to experience all the engagement, games, and interactive experiences, dining in shifts like on the cruise, concessions available as would be seen in GE (at a cost), but everyone including cast members would go home at the end of the day. The rooms would be available for guests to rest and relax if they wanted to reserve one. At say $500 for the day rather than $2500-$4000k per person for 2 days, they would have more volume and recoup their costs.
In simple terms, I believe Disney has over-estimated the public’s interest in the Star Wars franchise.