Disney likes to keep us on our toes regarding announcements for both the theme parks and entertainment. However, there is a special event coming up that almost always means we will be getting some exciting announcements about Disney’s future plans.

D23 Media Event

We never know what sort of plans Disney might announce during this event, but there are always a few things we are hoping to hear more about! And we are hoping for a very specific announcement this summer. 

D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event is taking place this summer from August 9th through the 11th, 2024 in Anaheim, California. During this event, Disney executives will run panels and presentations where we will learn about future plans for entertainment and the theme parks. This event usually has some BIG announcements, and we can’t wait to see what may be announced during this year’s event.

©Disney

One announcement we are hoping that Disney might make revolves around an abandoned building in Disney World. We are talking about the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel. This hotel was a unique, immersive experience into the Star Wars world. The experience was a 2-night voyage that provided guests with a new way to experience Star Wars. While many guests raved about the unique experience, Disney made the decision to close the experience on September 30th, 2023, saying that it “didn’t perform exactly like [they] wanted it to perform.” Just 19 months after the maiden voyage, the Galactic Starcruiser hotel had its last voyage.

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser

However, since then, the building has remained abandoned next to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. While the hotel is smaller than most Disney World hotels, it is by no means an unusable space. We have seen a couple indications that Disney is not done with this building yet. There have been two different permits filed for this space, Disney guests received a survey after the closure, and Disney has already mentioned they want to learn from the failed experience. So, the logical next question is, what are Disney’s plans for this abandoned building? We haven’t heard much about the future plans for this area, but could we find out more during D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event?

Dining on the Galactic Starcruiser

We would love to see this space utilized for something, and we know Disney has some pretty great creative minds. We are hoping that the D23 Expo may feature a plan for the Galactic Starcruiser hotel. Or maybe we could at least get an update on what is going on inside? Curious minds want to know if it is still being cleaned or if it just going to turn into an abandoned, dusty building. What is the future for this building and what types of plans does Disney have for learning from this creative project? Previously, Disney has stated that they will take what they have ” learned to create future experiences that can reach more of our guests and fans.”

Galactic Starcruiser’s Atrium

We could theorize all day about what could become of Galactic Starcruiser. Disney could reopen it as a Star Wars themed hotel, without as much immersion. They could also retheme it completely and create a somewhat similar immersive experience. Or retheme it and take out the immersive aspects entirely. They could also turn it into offices or meeting spaces, or even completely tear down the building. There are lots of options for this area and we could get an announcement about it during D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. Only time will tell!

In the meantime, we are covering all the Disney news, so make sure to stay tuned to DFB!

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What announcements are you hoping to hear at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event? Let us know in the comments!