As an executive creative director at Walt Disney Imagineering, Thacher was one of the key creative minds in the process of bringing the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser experience to life.
Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser was an immersive two-night hotel experience. It was unveiled by Disney in 2019 and opened in March 2022, before closing in September 2023. A new type of immersive experience, it enabled guests to enjoy a cruise-style itinerary where they could become the hero of their own Star Wars adventure. Described as ‘storyliving’ rather than storytelling, visitors journeyed deeper into the Star Wars universe than ever before. On board the Halcyon Starcruiser, passengers had the power to alter their stay as they interacted with characters, crew and other guests. State-of-the-art technology was merged with captivating storytelling to create an innovative experience. The attraction won a Thea Award in 2022.
Thacher has been with Walt Disney Imagineering since February 2014, starting as a creative lead and R&D Imagineer and then moving to the role of creative director and senior R&D Imagineer in May 2017, before taking on her current position in August 2022. She also works as an independent experience designer and transmedia producer. She previously served as a senior producer and experience designer at Nonchalance, where she co-created the award-winning experience, The Jejune Institute.
Talking about the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser project, one nominator said: “Sara’s careful consideration of the guests and how they play together in this world and how every piece comes together has paid off tenfold in the reactions from the guests, who quickly formed an impressively positive community around the experience. And this is not the first time she has done this — from Haunted Mansion Ghost Post many years ago to current R&D efforts, Sara pushes the envelope of immersion, especially within the large budget, major IP realm.”