Disney’s Shuttered Star Wars Hotel Will Officially Be Converted for a Much Less Magical Use After Over a Year

The Star Wars Galactic Star Cruiser hotel is being repurposed more than a year after it made its last voyage.

The ambitious project, which was part hotel and part interactive role playing experience, opened in March 2022. However, after park-goer criticisms about the hefty price tag (starting at $4,800) and reports visitor interest in the two-day stay wasn’t what Disney had hoped, the company announced in May 2023 that it would close that September.

Now, PEOPLE confirms the elaborate, purpose-built structure located just behind Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios park is reportedly being repurposed for a less thrill-filled use: office space for Walt Disney Imagineering.

The property will be a new creative hub for the Disney Imagineers working on a number of the resort’s most highly anticipated projects, including the new Tropical Americas land replacing DinoLand U.S.A. at Animal Kingdom, the new Villains land and Frontierland expansion at Magic Kingdom, and the new Monsters Inc. land at Hollywood Studios, according to the Wrap.

The Galactic Starcruiser faced a number of challenges during its limited run. Perhaps the greatest being the price and perceived value: The New York Times reported at the time Disney announced it would close that the starting cost was more than $4,800 for two people and around $6,000 for a family of four.

Before its new use was confirmed, fans speculated that the building could be made into a more digestible Star Wars-themed experience, such as a dinner show that would make use of the Halcyon ship’s large dining room and other worldly menu or the moody bar-lounge off the lobby that could have potentially drawn visitors.

Transportation may have been a contributing factor in the decision to not have the building be accessible to guests going forward.

The “pods” that shuttled hotel guests to and from the nearby Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge land could only hold a few people and entailed a bumpy, somewhat claustrophobic journey through backstage areas. The main entrance to the hotel’s earthly launch pad was in an un-themed parking area disconnected from the park.

While office space sounds dull on the surface, the projects being worked on there are some of the most intriguing coming to Disney World in the next several years.

At the Disney Experiences showcase at D23 in August, it was revealed that a new Indiana Jones-themed ride and Encanto-themed ride will arrive at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 2027.

Billy Crystal appeared onstage at the convention to announce that a Monsters Inc. land will be coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. There, a ride that travels through the door factory from the film will mark the first-ever suspended coaster for a Disney park.

A long-rumored Villains Land is coming to Magic Kingdom featuring The Little Mermaid‘s Ursula, Snow White’s Evil Queen, Aladdin‘s Jafar and many more.

Plus, new Cars-themed attractions will soon be replacing Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America ferry boat at Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland.