How Will the Galactic Starcruiser Retain Immersion for Batuu Excursions?

in Hotel, Star Wars, Walt Disney World

Posted on by TJ Muscaro 1 Comment
Star Wars Hotel Disney World

Credit: Disney (left); Bioreconstruct (right)

Another week, and another slew of aerial photos of Disney World construction projects. Once again we find ourselves looking back down on the highly-anticipated immersive Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel.

With images provided once again by Bioreconstruct, we can see the exterior of the building and surrounding area becoming more and more defined, specifically where the “shuttles” to Batuu (Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park) will “dock.” But one question is still lingering: how is Disney going to maintain the hotel’s unprecedentedly high level of immersion during this shuttle transfer?

@bioreconstruct shares a view of this area on Twitter writing,

Aerial view of where shuttles between Batuu and Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser (hotel) will dock. Top left. If you’ve ridden Rise of the Resistance you know how convincing immersive travel between Batuu and a ship can be.

While this reporter understands how immersive such a transfer can be, Rise of the Resistance establishes that Guests are moving to a shuttle on the planet’s surface and they are then moved directly into the First Order’s ship.

It was previously presumed that the Starcruiser, Halcyon, will remain in orbit around Batuu and shuttles would take Guests on excursions to the Black Spire Outpost. It could be, then, that passengers will board a similar simulator craft that they used when they checked in to go down to the surface of Batuu where they will step out onto the planet’s surface and board other transportation.

Guests would then get their first look at the planet of Batuu, one far different than the one at Black Spire Outpost.

One thing that Bioreconstruct notices that helps back this theory is the inclusion of a berm, writing:

A berm recently added at arrow. Seems to be vegetation starting where a forest will be transplanted to hide the show building and cabins. Guests to see only the Porte Cochère and the themed tall wall.

Related: NEW Details Emerge About Galactic Starcruiser Experience!

Bioreconstruct also reminds us how close Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is to Disney’s Hollywood Studios (DHS), writing:

Aerial look at roads near Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser (hotel). The bridged road at center used to be the guest entrance to DHS parking; now cast parking entrance. The berm at right used to be an overpass with theming and billboards facing guests entering DHS parking.

Related: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly – Fans React to ‘Star Wars’ Hotel

While the primary use of this berm is likely to keep drivers from being distracted, it still suggests that Disney is going to have Guests step outside, needing a berm to keep them from seeing much of the outside world and further expanding Guests’ perspective on Batuu in some small way physically. These pictures indicate that Guests will step out into a wooded area, meaning that they will see some small part of Batuu still covered in trees, appearing more like Endor.

The majority of the large trees that previously covered Batuu were destroyed in a cataclysmic event, which is why the existing Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Blackspire Outpost lacks vegetation.

There is still a lot of information yet to be revealed by Walt Disney Imagineering about the hotel’s optional extension to Walt Disney World Resort’s Star Wars-themed land, including what the shuttles will look like and where the new “docking station” will be positioned at Black Spire Outpost.

We at Inside the Magic will continue to keep our ears to the ground, updating our readers as soon as more information comes to light.

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Concept Art
Credit: Disney/Lucasfilm

Want to be one of the first to step aboard the Halcyon and experience Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser? Our friends at Academy Travel can help once reservations become available! Click here to learn more and receive your free, no-obligation quote today!

Are you excited about this new hotel? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments!

TJ Muscaro

A Tampa native back home after earning a B.A. in Writing from Spring Hill College and working in Ft. Myers, Phoenix, and Miami. TJ’s a lifelong Disniac (Disney+Maniac) who loves travel, hockey, fishing, freediving, and music.

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