Three Disney World Hotel Changes You Weren't Expecting, But Here We Are

The only part of Disney World that does NOT change…is, well, change.

Things are ALWAYS changing. New rides open. Old rides close (and sometimes get reimagined as NEW rides). New restaurants open. Guest policies get updated. Even hotels at Disney World are constantly changing.

But what have been the BIGGEST hotel changes we’ve seen recently? Well, here are three that may have TOTALLY surprised you.

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Closing

The biggest and most unexpected surprise to hit Disney World hotels this year was Disney’s announcement that the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser would be closing just a little more than a year after it opened. Technically, this is not JUST a hotel, but an entire two-day experience that includes dining, interactive experiences, and immersive activities.

The final voyages on the Galactic Starcruiser will take place from September 28th to September 30th, 2023. Dates are currently selling out fast for the experience’s final journeys.

Disney Executive Reveals What Went WRONG With the Star Wars Hotel

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Changes

Many Disney World fans were surprised when Disney announced that the Spirit of Aloha show, which had been on hiatus since Disney World’s reopening in 2020, would be permanently closed. It was announced that the building that housed the show would be demolished to make way for new Disney Vacation Club (DVC) villas.

Current construction on the new DVC villas at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Right now, there’s a LOT of construction happening on those villas over at the Polynesian, but the change DOES offer NEW DVC options at the resort.

The Return of Free Parking

Perhaps one of the biggest changes at hotels was Disney’s announcement that Disney World hotel guests would be able to get FREE overnight self-parking.

Previously, overnight parking cost hotel guests $15 per vehicle at the Value Resorts, $20 per vehicle at the Moderate Resorts, and $25 per vehicle at the Deluxe Resorts. All hotel guests also receive free parking at the parks.

So many other Disney World hotel changes have happened, of course, Disney’s BoardWalk Resort already got a new coffee shop and a new restaurant, with another bakery cafe on the way. We’re also seeing an update to rooms at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. Change is going to happen at Disney World, but sometimes, those changes DO catch us by surprise.