In fact, the artificially intelligent D3-O9 is accessible in every guest cabin to speak to. According to ComicBook.com, D3 will evolve as she “listens, remembers, responds, offers advice, and becomes part of the experience and story alongside the guest.”
Artist concept only: D3-O9 is droid guests may see appear on viewscreens onboard the Halcyon starcruiser during their stay aboard Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, the two-night immersive vacation experience debuting March 1, 2022, at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Disney/Lucasfilm Ltd.)
Dawson Dill, senior R&D Walt Disney Imagineer and creative lead for D3-O9, told ComicBook, “The goal was for this to be a character that you get to know, that changes based on how you interact with her, but also she’s along for the ride as well. So as the events on the Halcyon Starcruiser unfold, those events affect her and how they affect her are made up with the decisions that the guest makes. So from a development perspective, I think it was a fun challenge to bring D3-O9 to life because it was a technology piece. It’s using speech recognition, natural language, understanding, whole bunch of fancy conversational design technology that we’ve been developing.”
D3-O9 appears in the Halcyon Legacy comics
“But then you have a narrative component because at the core it’s about a character,” he said. “At the end of the day, you want to go in there and talk to a character and have that character shift and change. And also for us, the interaction is just as important as the words. So, are you betraying D3-O9? Are you trying to get D3-O9 to become your friend? Are you helping her to trick the First Order? Or are you helping the First Order to trick D3? There’s a lot of different ways we wanted to be able to play it and make sure that D3-O9 felt like just another member of the crew.”
D3-O9 acts as a test for new A.I. technology that Walt Disney Imagineering may use in the future.
“I think Imagineering, traditionally and ever and forever, has always been looking at cool new ways to elevate things,” Dill said. “I think that we see an opportunity with some of this technology to make more personalized connections and have ones that are more also connected to an evolving story. So as you see, more and more immersive storytelling like Galactic Starcruiser, having characters that take different forms and want to engage in those same persistent ways, you’re going to need a platform like this.”
“At the Imagineering R&D group, we’ve been working on this platform and D3-O9 is definitely the first, the limited play test to really put this out there for the first time. But the hope is that this is a platform that we think it can bring a lot of different Disney characters of life in different ways, on different mediums and different platforms. It’s been a long road to get here. We’ve been looking at a lot of this for a while, but this is sort of the first big stepping stone that we’ve put out in the water.”
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Dining onboard the Halcyon starcruiser engages all five of your senses, not just your taste buds, fulfilling the promise of surrounding you in a truly immersive Star Wars experience. Let’s break it down!
Disney has released a plethora of new official photos from Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, giving us a better look at some characters old and new, locations, and more.
Cruise Director Lenka Mok and Captain Riyola Keevan in the atriumLightsaber Training with the SajaThe Chandrila CollectionGuests and characters in the atriumSK-620 and Cruise Director Lenka MokRaithe Kole (right) with passengers in the Sublight LoungeRey with a young cruiser dressed as herRey and Kylo Ren locked in battleThe Datapad available on the Play Disney Parks AppGuests in the “climate simulator”
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Disney has released a full list of characters that guests can meet onboard Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, which launches its first public cruise on March 1. Guests will be able to interact one-on-one with many of these characters as the story of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser unfolds. Read about each of them below.
Captain Riyola Keevan
Charismatic, respected and trustworthy, Captain Keevan leads each voyage aboard the Halcyon starcruiser. The Pantoran is strong and decisive, and endears herself to both her crew and her passengers by being fair to all and cool under pressure – a skill she’s learned from her … “adventurous” history.
Cruise Director Lenka Mok
There is much fun to be had aboard the starcruiser, and Lenka Mok is guests’ go-to crew member to discover it all. As the captain’s right hand, Mok is in charge of onboard entertainment – it’s her job to make sure each voyage is memorable.
SK-62O
This astromech droid is Mok’s assistant cruise director, ensuring things run smoothly and on time. He keeps an eye on all the workings of the ship and is devoted to Mok and Captain Keevan. And while he loves to have fun with guests, he’s also good in a pinch if anything should go awry (one of his many hidden talents).
Sammie
Sammie’s proficiency as the ship’s newly arrived mechanic is actually not his most endearing feature. His enthusiasm and good-natured personality quickly won over the starcruiser’s crew and makes him popular among guests who happen across his path. He’s clearly eager to prove himself on such a renowned vessel, and his tasks always seem to get done … somehow.
Singer, songwriter and all-around galactic superstar, Gaya is known for her powerful voice and distinctive music. The Twi’lek provides this voyage’s featured entertainment with an exclusive performance in the Crown of Corellia Dining Room … but may also have another reason for being onboard the starcruiser.
Raithe Kole
As Gaya’s manager, it’s Raithe’s job to ensure the superstar gets everything she wants – no matter what. If he has to bend some rules to make that happen, this smooth talker is willing to do what’s necessary. While he’s not a member of the ship’s crew, he may be found in some … restricted areas. He’s just making sure all of Gaya’s unwritten contracts are being honored, of course.
Ouannii
A talented Rodian musician, Ouannii provides accompaniment for Gaya’s performances in the Crown of Corellia Dining Room. While she speaks Huttese (the same language of infamous gangster Jabba the Hutt), Ouannii’s charm and affable personality help make instant connections with guests as she explores the ship and makes new relationships in her off hours.
Sandro Alimander
Sandro is an aspiring musician and songwriter who is onboard the starcruiser to catch a glimpse of his favorite superstar, Gaya. Guests may catch the Togruta playing his stringed instrument in the Atrium, and they can even join him in a song. While Sandro’s primary goal is to get Gaya’s attention, he may discover a new goal on this journey.
D3-O9
D3-O9 is a talkative droid guests may see on vidscreens. Her primary responsibility is running ship logistics, so she knows everyone and everything happening onboard during a voyage. But her favorite part of the job is talking with passengers. Commissioned centuries ago by Chandrila Star Line’s founder, D3 has seen the ship’s history – and the entire galaxy – evolve, and she’s not shy about sharing her knowledge and opinions with passengers.
The Saja
In “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” the Empire destroys the Jedi temple on Jedha, which was under the protection of a group known as the Guardians of the Whills. Though their survivors were scattered throughout the galaxy, the Guardians remained dedicated to preserving knowledge of the Force. Descendants of this group, known as the Saja, have found safe haven aboard the starcruiser and use one of its training pods to teach the ancient art of the lightsaber. Though not Jedi themselves, the Saja can sense the Force in others and teach them how to find their own connection to this mystical power.
A legendary Wookiee warrior and Han Solo’s former co-pilot of the Millennium Falcon, Chewbacca (“Chewie,” for short) always seems to find himself in the heart of galactic conflict. He has friends aboard the starcruiser … and he always does whatever it takes to help friends in need.
Rey
A Force-wielding hero of the Resistance, Rey is recruiting people to her cause along the planets of the galaxy’s Outer Rim, including Batuu. Rey boards the starcruiser to help protect passengers from the First Order and secure information that will help the cause.
Kylo Ren
The Supreme Leader of the First Order strikes fear in the hearts of his foes with his imposing mask, long dark robe, iconic hilted red lightsaber and notoriously violent temper. As a highly trained, Force-wielding warrior, Kylo Ren is determined to root out the Resistance and is constantly searching for one of the movement’s most prominent figures – Rey.
First Order Lieutenant Harman Croy
The ambitious and intimidating Lt. Croy has taken a special interest in the starcruiser, having noticed how Resistance activity springs up at each of the ship’s ports of call. He is on special assignment to root out and expose any Resistance fighters who are rumored to be onboard the ship … and to raise his own standing within the Order in the process.
First Order Colonel Grav Talis
Col. Talis takes his duty and the mission of the First Order very seriously. Answering directly to General Hux, he is intent on ridding the galaxy of Resistance fighters – and anyone who supports them. Talis demands his subordinates perform their duties with the type of disciplined and ruthless efficiency the Order is known for … and that Supreme Leader Kylo Ren expects.
First Order Stormtroopers
The First Order’s infantry are instantly recognizable in their stark white armor. Under the command of Lt. Croy, they are onboard the starcruiser to investigate reports of Resistance operatives among the crew and passengers.
The following characters were previously announced but not included in this official list:
The Fixer
He’s a human criminal who tries to make deals with guests onboard the Halcyon. They have to pass a test to gain access to the ship’s manifest. Passengers are likely seeking the manifest in a quest for the First Order or the Resistance, but more likely the First Order since Captain Keevan would have access to the manifest. Since Lt. Croy is looking for Resistance spies and cargo, we can likely assume he wants the manifest. Described as “a well-traveled, devil-may-care human in his 40’s; a convincing and handsome schemer, he uses his charm to his advantage as he seeks out associates to enlist in his criminal enterprise.” Uses sleight of hand in interactions.
RX-Series Pilot Droid
The shuttles between the Halcyon and Black Spire Outpost are piloted by a currently unnamed RX-Series droid.
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