A 'Star Wars' hotel that will make you feel like you're on a giant ship is coming to Disney World in 2021. Here's everything we know.
- Construction of the highly-anticipated "Star Wars" hotel is underway at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida and it's not just a hotel, it's an experience.
- The hotel will make fans feel like they're on a giant ship called the Halcyon.
- Insider was on hand at 2019's D23 Expo as former chairman of Disney Parks, Bob Chapek, and executive producer and creative director of Walt Disney Imagineering, Ann Morrow Johnson, walked fans through what to expect.
- The two-day, two-night experience will make fans feel like they're boarding an actual ship and will allow them to make allegiances with cast, crew, and other passengers. You'll also have the opportunity to train with a lightsaber.
- On Tuesday, Insider received new mockup designs for what one of the cabins will look like in the hotel.
Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida is constructing a "Star Wars" hotel. First announced in 2017, the highly-anticipated experience, called the "Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser," will open in 2021.
At Disney's D23 Expo in August 2019, Insider learned all about the two-day, two-night "Star Wars" adventure fans will take onboard a giant ship called the Halcyon.
"Once onboard, you'll cruise to the galaxy for two days and two nights while becoming the hero of your very own 'Star Wars' adventure," said Bob Chapek, former chairman of Disney Parks, at the Disney Parks' presentation at the Anaheim Convention Center.
Chapek called it the most "immersive experience" they've ever imagined for the parks, likening it to one of the company's Disney cruises.
Keep reading to see everything we learned about the Halcyon.
The "Star Wars" hotel will make you feel like you're on a giant starship.
Disney Parks debuted a giant display of the ship fans will feel like they're on at the D23 Expo.
Here's how it looked from the showroom floor when Insider stopped by:
To be clear, the "Star Wars" hotel will not be shaped like the ship above. Instead, when fans are inside the hotel, they'll be made to believe they're on the Halcyon.
The model of the ship was shown side-by-side with the Millennium Falcon to show just how enormous in scale the ship is supposed to feel.
The hotel stay is two days and two nights and is a lot like a Disney cruise.
"Your fellow guests will board and depart together," said Chapek.
Executive producer and creative director of Walt Disney Imagineering, Ann Morrow Johnson, described the Halcyon journey exactly like one of Disney's cruises.
"We want to create a cruise experience that everyone can enjoy," said Johnson. "Whether that means kicking back and watching the stars drift by or diving in to every action-packed activity on board."
How does this all work?
After checking into the hotel at a terminal, groups are led into a Launch Pod that will blast you off into space.
"Through the window above, you'll see stars whooshing by until you see the starcruiser in the distance," said Johnson. "It gets closer and closer until you connect up with the Halcyon."
After docking, guests will go through a set of doors and head into a giant atrium to begin their journey.
You'll be able to see out into space from every room in the hotel.
Any time you look out a window, you'll be able to see out into a galaxy far, far away.
"Here, you spend the next two days and two nights living on board the space ship and everything from an alien crew to the fact that absolutely every window has a view out into space," said Johnson.
According to Johnson, you won't see the same thing over and over again when you look through the windows. The scenes outside the window will continue to change throughout your stay.
Tuesday, a Walt Disney World representative shared two new mock-ups of the starship cabins with Insider.
They're not necessarily representative of the final room's look, but still give a sense of what fans can expect.
A space display can be seen on the window and a monitor inside the room appears to show how far visitors are from their trip to Batuu.
Guests will get to have individual experiences while on board the Halcyon.
In 2017, it was announced that every guest will get to experience their own journey at the hotel. That's still the case.
At D23 Expo, Johnson said you'll come across some new "Star Wars" characters during your stay. You may also see some familiar faces like Rey and Chewbacca.
Not only will you be able to interact with the "Star Wars" cast and crew, but you'll also be able to interact with other passengers on board the starcruiser.
"Because this is 'Star Wars,' you might suspect that not all is going to go according to plan," said Johnson.
"Be wary of who you make allegiances with because the choices you make affect the course of your journey, and ultimately determines how your 'Star Wars' story unfolds," she added.
During your stay, you'll be able to try out a bunch of activities and on board dining experiences.
If you've ever wanted to do more than just wield a lightsaber and swing it around, then you'll finally be able to do so onboard.
"For the first time, both kids and grownups alike will get to face off against a training remote while wielding a lightsaber," said Johnson.
A piece of concept art seen above shows a young girl practicing her Jedi skills just like Luke Skywalker in "A New Hope."
Guests will also be able to visit working portions of the ship, including the bridge where guests will learn how the ship is navigated and how to defend it.
"While the Halcyon never anticipates any Galactic conflict these defense skills might come in handy later," said Johnson.
You'll also be able to discover hidden spaces aboard the ship. Johnson says this will be where secret allegiance members will hold meetings or where guests may be called upon to become a hero.
Guests on board the Halcyon will get to travel to Disney World's newest themed land, "Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge."
Guests will be able to leave the Halcyon on the ship's "port day" to visit the planet of Batuu at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
There you'll be able to visit the Millennium Falcon, build your own droid and lightsaber, and try out the park's impressive ride, Rise of the Resistance, which is one of the park's best attractions.
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