Credit: Steven Miller via FlickrWhen Disney closed the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser in September 2023, many fans thought that was the end of the line for one of the company’s most ambitious—and most criticized—projects. The two-day immersive experience was marketed as a “Star Wars cruise on land,” complete with roleplay missions, themed dining, and a storyline that connected directly to the galaxy far, far away. But with its sky-high price tag and limited repeatability, the venture struggled to stay afloat. Less than two years after opening, Disney quietly shut the doors of the Halcyon.
Yet if you thought Disney was ready to bury this experiment forever, the latest developments prove otherwise. Instead of fading into obscurity, the Galactic Starcruiser has now been woven back into the broader Star Wars universe, and Disney seems determined to keep its memory alive.
A Surprise Cameo in The Mandalorian and Grogu
The first trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu, set to hit theaters in May 2026, features a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it nod to the Halcyon. A mirrored Aurebesh sign in one shot clearly references “Halcyon, See the Galaxy,” complete with the ship’s logo. For fans who spent thousands to stay at the Galactic Starcruiser—or those who just read about it from afar—it’s a strange moment of validation.
On one hand, it cements the hotel’s backstory as “canon” in Star Wars lore. The Halcyon was always more than just a building in Orlando; it was pitched as an actual ship operating in the galaxy, tied into events near Batuu, the setting for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. By dropping it into a major theatrical release, Lucasfilm is signaling that the ship still matters, even if the hotel that carried its name no longer exists.
Why Keep Bringing It Back?
The easy answer is that Disney invested too much in the Galactic Starcruiser to simply let it vanish. Years of Imagineering work, an elaborate storyline, and connections to the larger Star Wars timeline created a web too big to untangle. Even after its closure, Disney filed permits to repurpose the building for Imagineering offices.
But the deeper reason may be pride. Disney billed the Galactic Starcruiser as revolutionary—an “all-new form of storytelling.” To admit defeat without weaving elements of it into the ongoing franchise would be to erase one of the boldest (and most expensive) risks the company ever took. By keeping the Halcyon alive in shows, movies, and tie-in media, Disney reframes the narrative: maybe the hotel didn’t fail, maybe it was just ahead of its time.
The Mandalorian’s Expanding Role
The inclusion also fits neatly into The Mandalorian and Grogu. The trailer keeps the plot under wraps, but it clearly shows Din Djarin pulled into a New Republic mission alongside Grogu. The Halcyon cameo may simply be set dressing—or it could be another breadcrumb in the expanding Mandalorian timeline, which has already crossed paths with major pieces of the galaxy, from Thrawn’s looming return to Zeb Orrelios’ reappearance.
Even if the ship doesn’t play a central role, its presence is a reminder: Disney is using every tool in the box to stitch together the post-Return of the Jedi era, and the Halcyon is now officially part of that fabric.
Fans Still Divided
For many, the reference is a sore spot. Some fans who paid upwards of $6,000 for a two-night stay feel burned, seeing their investment reduced to a cameo in a movie. Others, though, enjoy the nod, glad that their time on board the Halcyon is still considered “real” within Star Wars canon.
It’s a fascinating paradox: the hotel failed as a business venture, but in-universe, the ship is alive and well. Disney is choosing to immortalize it in stories, even as the physical building shifts to serve corporate offices.
Disney’s Refusal to Let Go
The Galactic Starcruiser may no longer welcome guests, but it hasn’t disappeared. By embedding it into The Mandalorian and Grogu, Disney has made clear that it will continue to mine this ambitious project for relevance. Love it or hate it, the Halcyon will live on—not as a failed Orlando hotel, but as a permanent piece of Star Wars canon.
And maybe, just maybe, that was Disney’s plan all along: if the ship couldn’t succeed in our world, at least it could thrive in theirs.