DisneyTips.com Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
We all know that the feeling.
You’ve been planning your Disney World vacation for a long time, traveled far with your family, and you finally get to drive under the “Welcome” gate. That’s when your magical trip begins.
But what if things looked a little different once you drove through the nostalgic gate? Well, that’s apparently what’s happening today to many Disney Guests.
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We’ve already seen the Main Entrance gate of Disney World change from its original “Where Dreams Come True” appearance to the new 50th anniversary colors, and now, Disney is changing its road signage – to include the new Starcruiser hotel.
The eagerly-awaited Galactic Starcruiser hotel will take Guests on a (simulated) two-night voyage through a galaxy far, far away. While aboard the Galactic Starcruiser. Guests will be fully immersed in the Star Wars story and have an influence on the story of the cruise-like experience.
The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser has been described as a unique hotel that Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Chapek has promised will leave Guests “blown away”.
With the launch date of the Halcyon only months away, Disney has been making some installations and updates to Walt Disney World, including one that has baffled Disney fans.
Disney fan @millenial.on.main.street noticed something very different about their approach to Walt Disney World this morning.
The new Star Wars: Galatic Starcruiser is now featuring on Walt Disney World’s road signage alongside Disney Springs, EPCOT, and Magic Kingdom – but with a very different look that what Disney Guests are used to:
Credit: Millenial.on.main.street via Instagram
These new blue and gold signs seem to relate to the Resort’s 50th anniversary celebration, but are strikingly different from the purple road signs that many Disney Guests associate with arriving at Walt Disney World after they’ve driven under the famous Mickey and Minnie “Welcome” gates.
The nostalgic element of the road signs has gone, and been replaced by something more modern, and, some say, safer.
According to some Guests, the purple signage we’re used to has actually been proven to be less safe at night on the roads and causes more accidents. We want to confirm if this has truth behind it, but it would make sense why Disney has started to change their signs to blue.
Other Guests wonder if the current COVID-19 supply chain issues that have recently affected merchandise locations and lightsaber bags influenced the color change.
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The new Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is launching in March 2022, and has already been met to pre-opening lackluster reactions.
Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Josh D’Amaro revealed his own experience onboard the Galactic Starcruiser with a sneak peek video last year, along with a video of the live entertainment Guests can look forward to.
Criticism for these sneak peeks was high, with many Star Wars fans disappointed at the first look of the Halcyon. Most fans agreed that the Starcruiser does not live up to Disney standards of Imagineering or the incredibly high price tag of the experience.
The two-night adventure is priced at around $6,000 for a family of four, and includes 2 nights’ accommodation, 4 meals and refreshments aboard the Starcruiser, 1 quick-service meal at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, interactive and immersive entertainment, as well as admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios for a Galaxy’s Edge excursion.
This week, many Star Wars fans were questioning the lack of “show” with the new hotel as it was revealed that Guests can leave the voyage to go to Disney Springs.
Disney Springs the bus signage has been updated to include a new spot for the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. Spot 18 clearly demonstrates that Guests of the new hotel will be able to leave and visit Disney Springs, or at least be transported from there to the Halycon.
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Many Guests are wondering if the road signs shouldn’t say “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser”, but say something more akin to “Launch Bay for Halcyon” to keep with the immersive theming and cost of the experience.
