As crews continue to renovate and gut the former Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser venue, Walt Disney Imagineering has filed a new permit for the building. As you may know, the former immersive theater hotel was shuttered permanently in October 2023. Since then, Disney has remained quiet about what is next for the space, but strong rumors have pointed to the space being renovated to be utilized as an office space for Walt Disney Imagineering. Now, WDI has filed a new permit for the structure. Here’s the latest.
Imagineering Files New Permit for Former Starcruiser Hotel
Following the October 2023 closing, rumors started swirling about what the former Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser could be used for next. In fact, before the venue shut its doors, then-Parks Chairman and now-CEO Josh D’Amaro teased that “something will happen” with the space. It sounds like whatever plans D’Amaro had at the time fell apart. By January 2025, longstanding whispers turned to formalized rumor when a report said that the space would be used as an office building for Walt Disney Imagineering.
In September 2025, the first signs of construction at the former immersive theater hotel were spotted.
In October 2025, BlogMickey.com obtained permitting information that shed new light on what was happening inside the space. The information called for “demolition and reconfiguration of existing space for use as an office” – the first confirmation that the former Starcruiser would find a new use as an office space.
The demolition within the space was extensive, with permit info saying that there will be “few exceptions for historic value” when demolishing and reconfiguring the space. Disney says that beyond those few exceptions, the building will be “completely reconfigured for its new use”.
A permit filed earlier today does not give us any new information about the work beyond inferring that it has reached a new stage. Perhaps now the space has been fully gutted, or will be fully gutted soon, and this new permit covers work related to creating office spaces.
The new Notice of Commencement permit lists Balfour Beatty as the contractor, and it employs the vague “general construction” description as the scope of work. Balfour Beatty was listed on an August 2025 permit for “general construction” as well.
Where this new permit may get interesting is that it was filed by Walt Disney Imagineering. The August 2025 permit was filed by Disney’s Facility Asset Management group, which is more concerned with the nuts and bolts of a structure. When Walt Disney Imagineering gets involved, the scope of work is usually creative in nature, often linked to final theming elements.
It is not expected that the former Galactic Starcruiser building will be guest-facing, so the inclusion of Walt Disney Imagineering on the permit is an interesting one. Honestly, I don’t know what to make of it.
It’s also worth noting that the permit, while related to the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser complex, actually utilizes an address for a nearby administration building – not the guest-facing Starcruiser itself.
In the photo below, the administration building is the rectangular building to the right of the guest rooms wing, and behind the large atrium/show area.
While we may never know for sure what the inside of the space will look like as offices, it’s likely that it will not be recognizable as one of the biggest swings that Imagineering ever took when it came to immersive experiences. We were fortunate enough to experience the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser multiple times, and it was the best expression of immersion that we’ve ever experienced from The Walt Disney Company.
Soon, it will be an office building.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!