Disneyland Resort is set to launch a focus group of guests who previously stayed at the Star Wars: Galactic Cruiser hotel to see why it failed. After numerous delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Star Wars-themed hotel, which offers a two-night role-playing experience for fans, officially opened at Florida’s Epcot Resort Area in March of this year. So far, the hotel has received some unflattering reviews and more than a few complaints about its price.
The idea behind the Galactic Cruiser is a straightforward yet ambitious one: allow fans to experience the thrills of space as an actual character within the Star Wars universe. The Cruiser can accommodate up to 350 guests at a time, and customers are encouraged to participate in the journey’s interactive storylines, which include a variety of Star Wars characters as well as fellow passengers. During the 48-hour stay, guests are served five Star Wars-themed meals and can stare out at the vastness of space from the craft’s specially designed virtual windows. A spot on the journey will cost a single passenger around USD $750.
Much has been said about the hotel since it opened and while it’s a dream come true for some Star Wars fans, others have kept their distance. Whether due to lack of interest, cost, or being confined with others for 48 hours, Star Wars: Galactic Cruiser hasn’t exactly gotten off to the game-changing start it was intended to. That could be the reason why Disneyland Resort is now asking a focus group made up of the Cruiser’s past guests to provide information about their stay. According to DLnewstoday, those who participate in the group will be given a $175 Disney Gift Card.
At present, it’s not known for certain if Disneyland Resort is preparing to launch its own Galactic Cruiser hotel. If so, it would make sense they'd want to avoid the Florida attraction’s mistakes. What is known is that those who received an email about the focus group were first asked to complete a 5-minute survey about Walt Disney World before selecting whether or not they would be interested in taking part in the focus group. The focus group will be 90 minutes in length and conducted virtually between June 20 and 23. If Disney is trying to avoid the same path as its Florida resort, asking fans who were actual guests is a great place to start.
Some might argue that the reason why the Star Wars: Galactic Cruiser isn’t the hit it was expected to be is entirely down to cost. For the price of two nights in what some have described as a claustrophobic experience, it’s very clear that a wide variety of other real-life destinations (and resorts) could be visited. Yes, there will always be those for whom money isn’t an issue, but for even the most dedicated Star Wars fans, parting with their hard-earned money for two fleeting days of confined experiences could prove to be an issue.
Source: DLnewstoday