Disney World’s Star Wars hotel opening delayed; no sign of annual passes returning yet

[Disney4me]

Disney World’s highly anticipated Star Wars hotel is opening in 2022, not this year.

View the full article

 

Disney World’s highly anticipated Star Wars hotel is opening in 2022, not this year.

Disney made the announcement on its blog in the spirit of Tuesday’s date, or “May the 4th Be With You,” that’s celebrated among Star Wars fans. The announcement did not include a specific opening date.

On the blog, Disney said guests staying at the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will get to see “real” lightsabers in use. Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro generated a buzz when he appeared to brandish one during a virtual press conference last month.

The lightsaber highlighted in Tuesday’s post was “created by Walt Disney Imagineering Research and Development. Guests who experience Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser will be the first to see it in action,” the blog said.

The hotel’s delay comes after Walt Disney World Resort completely shut down last year during the pandemic.

Some of the company’s business operations are returning. This week, Disney World said on its website it is resuming the Disney College Program next month.

One thing that hasn’t returned yet – Disney World annual passes back on sale.

Disney World stopped selling new passes during the pandemic and hasn’t resumed since while its theme parks are open with limited attendance.

“At this time, the sale of new annual passes is temporarily paused. However, current Annual Passholders may still renew their pass,” Disney World’s website says.

A Disney World spokesman who declined to be identified would not say when the resort plans to start selling them again after the Orlando Sentinel asked if new annual passes would return before the upcoming 50th Anniversary celebration that kicks off Oct. 1.

grusson@orlandosentinel.com