halcyonarchivist

[halcyonarchivist]

if you're interested, the "red fruit dipper" that accompanies the bubble grilled cheese is campbell's tomato bisque –the starcruiser fairy 🤍

I’m ALWAYS interested in mimicking all my favorite Starcruiser things 🙌🏻

I didn’t have any red fruit dipper in the house when we decided to make the grilled cheese, but I will next time. You gotta have that perfect flavor of tomato soup to remind you of Lady H 🥹 Thanks for the info, Starcruiser fairy ✨

^^^ gratuitous shot from lunch on my September cruise 💖💖💖

[halcyonarchivist]

Got advice from fellow passengers after my first try making the Halcyon’s bubble grilled cheese—I needed to add cheese on the bottom and top layers of the batter to get the crispy, crunchy crust I missed from the ship. It’s perfect now 😭💖

[halcyonarchivist]

Ouannii and Sandro from the Galactic Starcruiser! Yes, I'm very sad about it's closing. No, I haven't stopped on-and-off crying for the entire last week. Yes, I've had Gaya's whole album stuck in my head for days. I'm nowhere near ready to talk about how much I love Ouannii and Sandro, or how much the idea that we'll never see Ouannii again hurts. Sandro, I'm following on Instagram. That's less sad, lol.

[halcyonarchivist]

Saja exercises to soothe the soul and get you moving (or maybe it’s just me, because my whole body is complaining from being chained at my desk today 😆)

[halcyonarchivist]

Goodbye to this beautiful, incredible ship, the Halcyon. She served the galaxy well, and today she heads into dock for good. I am honored to have served on board for 8 months. May the stars always light her way. 💙✨

[halcyonarchivist]

Thursday Thoughts: The Star Wars Hotel

I listened to an episode of the podcast Into A Larger World this morning. The guest, Nick, discussed how much of the public response to Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser was based on misconceptions about what the Starcruiser actually was.

"Calling the Galactic Starcruiser a hotel would be like calling a car a chair," he said. "You sit in it, sure. But that's not why you buy a car."

I've made a few TikToks of clips from my voyage on the Starcruiser, and every once in a while, someone leaves a comment on TikTok or on the reel version of it on Instagram, saying something along the lines of, "$6000 for this?"

I delete these comments. I don't feel like engaging with them. But there's a part of me that wants to say, "Of course not. This is a sixty-second video. Nobody paid that much for merely sixty seconds of just watching. What's the point of saying something like that? What do you get out of believing that you know everything you need to know about a two-day immersive experience from this silly little video I threw together in a futile yet necessary attempt to convey - to celebrate - even a fraction of what this experience meant to me and to everyone else who was a part of it?"

I don't have much footage of my time on the Halcyon. For the first six months of my Starcruiser journey, I was a show writer on the project. Playtests had only just begun, and photos and videos were forbidden. I couldn't tell anyone about this thing we were building together, how much love we were pouring into it, how much hope we had that the world would love it, too.

I then spent a year watching from afar while guests discovered the Halcyon. While they built relationships with the characters. While they realized just how much was always going on, just out of sight. While they ate the food and dressed to fit the world and came up with their own backstories. While they became the heroes of their own Star Wars story. And they loved it. They loved it. I marveled at the knowledge that there was fanfiction, there was fanart, there were return visitors making the journey again and again, the journey I truly never thought I would make once - especially not once it was announced that the ship would close.

My friend Shelby reached out to me, with literally two weeks warning, that they'd found a room. I dipped into my savings account. And, no, I didn't spend $6000. There were five people in our cabin; I spent less than $1300, even with the merchandise I couldn't help but grab. $1300 for a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience this show as a guest, to truly see what had come of it.

I was determined not to metagame. I would not ask the performers for anything, even though I knew most of them. I would not use my pre-knowledge to seek out fun moments - though of course I made sure that my party was looking in the right direction to see Chewbacca enter the dining room, 'cause that's just me being a good friend. I was ready to have fun. I expected to have fun.

I did not expect to be completely blown away.

I've said this before, and I'm sure I'll say it again. One of the most important things to me as a writer is that I create shows that not only are loved by the audience but also by the people involved in bringing the show to life. When I hear an actor laugh while reading a script I wrote, that fills me with joy. When a stage manager thanks me for making sure they have all the information they need on time, I feel like I've done something right. Back in 2018, when I got to bring my parents to see some of the work I'd done for the Incredible Tomorrowland Expo, one of the improv performers ran up to my dad, grabbed him by the arm, and said, "Did you know she's a writer?? You should be so proud!" - and I almost cried.

When I set foot on the Halcyon as a guest, I did not know that I was actually about to experience two days straight of love. Throughout that two day show, every very little thing that every operations crewmember and performer did screamed, "I love this! I love this! I'm giving it my all!" After a year and a half of nigh-on constant performances, through the exhaustion and the stress and the internet hate and the uncertainty about the future, they were still pouring everything they had, every ounce of love, into that show. And I felt that love washing over me in every moment.

It meant the most coming from the performers. Again, I didn't ask them for anything. I told them I would be there and that my crew and I were ready to play. I went in-character, as Shira the mechanic, prepared to pretend I didn't know them.

But they kept dropping hints that they knew me.

The first time I saw Lenka, my crew was already talking to her. My friend Andrew pointed me out, and said, "She's a mechanic." Without missing a beat, Lenka replied, "Yes, I remember, she helped fix the ship after the pirate attack a few months back. It's wonderful to see you again."

Good fortune put us in the right place and the right time to greet Gaya as she came onboard the ship (yay bridge training!). She smiled at me and my friend Shelby and said, "These two look familiar. Now what are you calling yourself these days?"

On the second day, when it came time for the heist, Raithe gave me a job I would have begged for (and, again, I didn't! I wouldn't!). He put his hand on my shoulder and whispered in my ear, "I know I can trust you. I know you understand what's going on here, possibly better than anyone."

And afterwards, when the heist was a success, when I'd handed the gem to Gaya, Raithe looked at me with actual tears in his eyes and thanked me.

And I said, my voice shaking, "I am so honored to have been a part of making this story."

That's a clip I do have. I'm so grateful to Justin, the man who filmed it and shared his footage with me afterwards (and to Shelby, Shannon, Lauren, Sean, Andrew, and Wendy for the photos and videos they took throughout the trip, too). As soon as the moment had passed, I'd already forgotten what any of us had said. It was truly that emotional. The performers understood why, and so did my crew. But the most incredible thing is that that moment meant something even to the people in the room who didn't understand the full meaning of my words. Three different strangers came up to me later that evening, separately, to tell me so - to thank me, even. One of them asked me if this was my first voyage.

"First as a guest," I replied.

This was the middle of August. I'm still riding the high of that show. I am normally a very anxious artist, full of so-called "imposter syndrome." But two days straight of love and validation and pure play will do something to your brain.

$6000 for this? What wouldn't I pay for this?

Even now - even today, September 28th, 2023 - as I type this blog post, the passengers on the final voyage of the Galactic Starcruiser have already boarded, and in less than half an hour, the performers will join them. Less than two days from now, this journey will be over. But I can't believe that this is the end. The end of this show, yes - all shows end, and many before their time. But not the end of the emotion, not the end of the love, not the end of the storytelling and the joy and the play and the together-as-one. I can't believe that. Because this was something that you can't put a price tag on, something that you can't sum up in as simple and easily-mocked as the phrase "the Star Wars hotel," and, frankly, it's silly to try.

We journeyed boldly. We cherished the moment. We made something worth celebrating and remembering. And we will do it again.

To the Halcyon, and to all who made her fly - Ta'bu e tay!

[halcyonarchivist]

The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser officially closes in just under two weeks, and as someone who experienced it in many different ways, I wanted to answer some FAQs that reveal exactly how unique, ambitious, and rewarding this experience has been, and why its closure shouldn't be a celebration.

Q: Is it a hotel?

A: No. It is not just a hotel. This is a 3-day, 2-night immersive experience, and the best thing I can compare it to is an actual cruise. You probably spend the least amount of time inside your cabin, aside from getting a quick wink of sleep between each jam-packed day of constant activities.

Q: Why is it so expensive?

A: This has probably been the biggest comment I've seen even before it opened, and well before I played a part in its story. Again, no one's just paying for a room to sleep in. The price of this experience is all-inclusive. Here's what you would actually be paying for:

all your food, meals, and drinks (aside from alcoholic drinks)

a park ticket to Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park

2 Lightning Lanes, one for Rise of the Resistance and one for Smuggler's Run

16 total hours of constant immersive entertainment, with characters you get to know personally

top-tier concierge service, including luggage brought straight to your room

your room for 2 nights

additional perks and services

There's definitely more I could have added to this list as well. When it's broken down, it's similar to paying for a Deluxe Resort room along with park tickets and food. Yes, it's very expensive, but you're paying for much more than a bed to sleep in.

Q: How does it work?

A: Everything is facilitated through the datapad, a program that can be accessed through the Play Disney app with a valid reservation. This app allows passengers to view their scheduled events (including lightsaber and bridge training), share comms with key characters, access a map of the ship, and more. The datapad also works alongside unique MagicBands that can tap into ship consoles to complete missions and more.

Q: What's the story, and how do you fit into it?

A: It's the Halcyon's 275th anniversary voyage, and many special events are planned - including an excursion day to the ship's very first port of call, Batuu. Everything goes haywire when the First Order boards on suspicion of Resistance activity. The Halcyon Crew Members, the First Order, and more will call on you for help, and you're the only one who can determine your path. The story is set between the events of The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker.

Q: If it's so great, why is it closing?

A: Your guess is as good as mine. I've witnessed this experience change people firsthand, bringing shy children out of their shells and creating communities of adults who get to truly play for the first time since they were kids. It's been a 3-day escape for people to forget the stress of their every day lives and just have fun in a galaxy they love. It's one of Disney's most ambitious projects yet, and to see them give up on it so fast is very disheartening.

Hopefully one day, it'll return in some capacity, and many of you will get the chance to see it for yourselves. Until then, as they say on the Halcyon: May adventure forever find you.

[halcyonarchivist]

Queer Star Wars Characters (Round 1): General Bracket Match 35

SK-620 | Identity: non-binary (droid) | Media: Galactic Starcruiser

SK-620 is an astromech walk-around character in the ultimate LARPing experience sold as a luxury hotel known as the Galactic Starcruiser (set to be closed down). They are consistently referred to by cast members with they/them pronouns, although some merch (and most guests) use he/him pronouns. Secretly working for the Resistance, they are caught and captured by the First Order at the end of the first night. The main bulk of the Resistance mission during the second day, out in Galaxy’s Edge, for guests is finding things to help free SK from the restraining bolt, both because of the data they carry and for their own freedom. They are set free during the afternoon of the second day and hidden, making it the priority of the First Order to find them. Because of the improv aspect of the experience, specifics will vary. They’re a pretty standard good guy’s astromech, lacking the shear drive for chaos droids like R2 or Chopper have. If you’re a guest, you will packbond with it. So far, they’re the only non-binary character with merch.

Aytar | Identity: mlnb | Media: The High Republic Midnight Horizon

Aytar was a young acrobat for a traveling circus. He was so skilled it almost looked like he was Force sensitive. One day he met the Jedi padawan Kantam Sy when the circus visited the planet Endovar. Kantam became infatuated with Aytar, and the two began a whirlwind relationship. Kantam decided that they would leave the Order to be with Aytar, which was something the man wasn’t sure he wanted to happen. When Kantam did leave, Aytar felt terrible, not wanting the burden of Kantam having thrown away everything they ever known for him. Kantam realized they did this for themselves as they were confronted, allowing their whirlwind romance to continue. For a time, Kantam traveled with the circus, until one day they realized they wanted to explore the galaxy on their own terms.

[halcyonarchivist]

I can’t stop thinking about casual Gaya and Raithe back on Ryloth. How much money do I have to pay to get Disney to give Gaya a second OUTFIT

Also, spoilery stupid headcanon comic under the cut because I’m embarassed

Keep reading

[halcyonarchivist]

Source - hellomerio

[halcyonarchivist]

Source - Ordinary Adventures

[halcyonarchivist]

Gaya Appreciation Video ✨

[halcyonarchivist]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Captain Ves (@vesthescoundrel)

HAAAAH—💀💀💀

[halcyonarchivist]

Day 2 was Batuu day and boy did we have a lot of adventures! BD-4 posed for lots of pictures while we were out and about and helped me out in my business meeting for scrap metal😁

Originally BD was supposed to ride on my shoulder like usual, but their legs were acting up and so we decided it would be best if they straddled my bag and rode along that way temporarily.

[halcyonarchivist]

Our Bridge Training was the last part of Day 1. We got a surprise visit from a wonderful crew member and even got to go on a secret mission.

Go Team Rancor!

[halcyonarchivist]

BD was really disappointed we didn't get to see SK more on Day 1, just a brief moment in the Atrium while they were hiding from the First Order. Bonus Sammie being taken to the brig and Captain Keevan being discreet about Resistance work.

[halcyonarchivist]

After dinner we played some Sabbac with my family and some other passengers. BD had fun beeping at us and helping Sandro with his song. We may have contributed to his trouble with the First Order. Whoops!