Disney offers 1st public discount on Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser 'hotel' packages
The most surprising thing about Disney's Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel is not meeting Chewbacca face-to-face, training with a realistic lightsaber or eating out-of-this-world blue shrimp — it's the price tag.
A two-night voyage on board Disney's cross between a "Star Wars"-themed (mostly all-inclusive) hotel and an immersive intergalactic role-playing adventure starts at just less than $5,000 for double occupancy. The amount only goes up from there. Even at those rates, when it opened in 2022 it was 100% sold-out for much of its initial months of operations thanks to "Star Wars" die-hards with deep enough pockets to hop onboard. However, looking at the 2023 booking calendar, there are currently very few sold-out voyages.
Until now, there have been no public sales or discounts available. However, with a new promotion, Disney is effectively offering a discount on a vacation that includes a Starcruiser voyage for the first time.
Related: Disney Imagineers reveal how they brought the new 'Star Wars' hotel to life
Disney has approached its first public "discounted" trip with the Starcruiser not by dropping the price of the Starcruiser itself but by deeply discounting Disney resort stays around that experience. With this offer, guests can save up to $700 on a two-night Disney hotel stay immediately before or after their two-night voyage on the Galactic Starcruiser. This offer is valid for most voyages between Feb. 5 and Sept. 30, and it varies per resort as follows:
- Save $350 per night at Disney's Beach Club Resort, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa or Disney’s Yacht Club Resort.
- Save $250 per night at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Disney's BoardWalk Inn, Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Polynesian Village Resort or Disney's Wilderness Lodge.
- Save $150 per night at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort.
Aside from Coronado Springs, these are all in Disney's top-tier resort category. This is a steep enough savings to bring the cost of a deluxe resort down to that of a more affordable moderate or even value resort. For example, imagine you booked a Starcruiser stay for July 6-8, and then you stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge for the two nights following your space voyage; you'd pay only $217.50 per night (plus taxes) instead of $467.50 per night.
If you are traveling all the way to Disney to spend two nights on the Starcruiser, you will likely want to spend a day or two at the parks while you are there anyway. In that case, up to $700 in savings can have a significant impact on your vacation's bottom line. For Disney, it can keep guests' vacation dollars in the "Disney bubble" for even longer and allows them to do so without actually dropping the price of the Starcruiser.
Aside from a recent 30% discount specific to Disney Vacation Club members, this special offer is the first promotion of any kind involving the Starcruiser and could be an attempt by Disney to bolster demand and get on-the-fence guests to click "book now."
It's easy to see why demand may be on the decline — aside from the exorbitant price and macroeconomic issues. The biggest Disney and "Star Wars" fans (who would book the experience no matter the cost) have already embarked upon the Starcruiser or at least reserved their trip within its 11 months of operation.
While your experience on the Starcruiser is a bespoke one that changes based on decisions you make and activities you complete while on board, the overarching storyline is the same on each voyage. That may make even the die-hard guests hesitant to rebook; they might want to hold out for a possible special event or new storyline ... or at least a discount.
Related: How to plan an epic Disney 'Star Wars' trip — that doesn't cost $6,000
On the other hand, guests who were interested but reluctant to hand over their credit cards may have found that their money was better spent on a Disney Cruise Line vacation, which offers more affordable and lengthier voyages for families who want to maximize the value of their vacation budget.
This initial discount could point to other changes or offerings for the Starcruiser in the future. Perhaps a special sailing themed to Life Day, an annual Wookiee holiday, or throwback sailings with Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker and other characters from the original "Star Wars" trilogy? Even a new journey with some of the same characters on board for the first voyage would be interesting.
Of course, logistically, a promotion to boost demand is easier to conjure than a new storyline.
Only time will tell what future awaits the Starcruiser and its pricing model. Whatever the future holds, keep your suitcase close and your lightsaber closer, so you can be ready to book when the time is right. If you're looking for up to a $700 discount on your adjacent nights at a Disney resort, you don't have to wait for a galaxy far, far away to arrive.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
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- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.