With relatively low attendance, should this classic Star Wars ride be next to get the ax?
There was a time when Star Tours was all we had, not just in Hollywood Studios, but in the world. If you wanted to be truly immersed in the Galaxy Far, Far Away, you had Star Tours, and your imagination. That was it.
Today, Star Tours – sitting in its own slice of the Forest Moon of Endor between Backlot Express and the land that will become Monstropolis – is a bit out of place. There’s more, and better, Star Wars attractions a couple of football fields distance down the path.
Even the signature AT-AT walker outside has a better version in the newer Galaxy’s Edge.
And with change being the watchword at Hollywood Studios, and attractions that don’t pull their weight being on the chopping block, it has left many to wonder if Star Tours is long for the Hollywood Studios world.
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What is Star Tours?
A throwback to the earliest of partnerships – in theme park terms – between Disney and the Star Wars mastermind, George Lucas.
The ride, featuring multiple ground-breaking 3D motion simulators, debuted in Disneyland in 1987. It represented the best technology of its time. Then, as today, space tourists got caught up in a battle between the New Republic and the remnants of the Imperial Government.
The original version of the ride took guests to the Forest moon of Endor – the site of the last battle of the original trilogy in Return of the Jedi – hence the wooded theming, AT-AT, and Ewok treehouses.
In 2010, the ride closed and returned in 2011 as Star Tours – The Adventure Continues, featuring improved video, improved 3D screen, and improved motions simulators.
They also moved the timeline around a bit so that more characters could make appearances without breaking the timeline.
They also added more possible destinations, adding variety to the ride. They’ve continued to add possible destinations and currently, including the various characters you might interact with on the screen, there are 60 possible outcomes on Star Tours.
Why would Star Tours be on the chopping block?
There are a few reasons. First, the wait times – for the most part – remain incredibly low. Disney has indicated that low wait times are generally seen as guest apathy and something that needs to be addressed. In a park full of bangers with longer wait times, Disney needs each attraction to pull its weight.
Disney would prefer, I believe, two attractions with 30-minute wait times than one with a 10-minute wait and another with a 50-minute wait.
Also, it takes up a lot of space. It has the massive outdoor theming, a large indoor queue that is rarely needed, and the unused Jedi Temple that used to host the Jedi Training show pre-pandemic. It’s a lot of real estate for a ride that is essentially a walk-on most of the time.
Consolidation. The haphazard way Disney added Star Wars attractions to the park left Star Wars in three different sections. Launch Bay has been closed to make way for the Animation Courtyard. Now, Star Tours is separated from Baatu by a few hundred yards. It’s not terribly logical.
Not that Disney is in the process of loosening up the canon issues with having Star Wars attractions and characters from multiple eras in the same place, it would make sense to consolidate its Star Wars efforts.
Motion simulators are losing popularity as well. Modern rides like Rise of the Resistance, and new rides at Epic Universe, use screens in a different way. They make them part of a practical ride versus bouncing you around to match a screen.
Also, Star Tours is a bit tortuous for those who – like me – get motion sickness. I love Star Wars enough that I ride Star Tours anyway, but I inevitably will have to close my eyes at some point through the ride to endure it.
What’s the argument for keeping Star Tours?
We’re in a bit of tricky territory. I’m on record as agreeing with some of Disney’s more controversial moves in the name of better park functionality. It’s not that I didn’t like the Muppets show or Rivers of America, it’s just that I think Disney can and will do better.
It would be hypocritical of me to turn around and lament a potential loss of Star Tours for something new and probably better.
Still, I think there are places in the parks for rides, attractions, and shows with shorter wait times. I’m a supporter of making space for relatively inexpensive flat rides that families with kids – especially smaller kids – can hop on and off a few times feeling like they did more than just wait in line.
I would support a Star Wars spinner or other type of flat ride in Baatu, which needs something with less wait times.
Ultimately, I think it would make sense as part of Phase II or III or IV of the makeover of Hollywood Studios to close Star Tours and bring it back in a new incarnation in Baatu, opening up the space for an expansion of Monstropolis or something else.
And, not least of which, it’s a really fun ride if you can endure it. The ability to travel to different worlds is really cool. The addition of the Purgils from Star Wars: Ahsoka is visually stunning whether you’re a Star Wars fan or not.
You get to go to Hoth, Tatooine and Kashyyk, the Wookie planet. There’s no other ride that puts you in places like that.
Claim offer
Disney would prefer, I believe, two attractions with 30 minute wait times than one with 10 and one with 50.
Disney, I believe, would prefer two attractions with 30-minute wait times rather than one with a 10-minute wait and another with a 50-minute wait.
As long as they’re making Star Wars content and updating the ride, I think it’s worth keeping. Similarly, I suspected the Muppets 3-D theater will return near Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.
Also, it allows me to use some of my favorite Star Wars quotes.
“I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
“Now, THIS is pod-racing!”
“Bantha Poo doo!”
“That’s no moon.”
“It’s a Trap!”
And when C-3PO says, “I’m not the captain”, I reply, “I’m the captain now.” You’re free to use that one!
What’s our official review?
Star Tours serves a needed purpose in this time of change at Hollywood Studios. It makes for great photos outside the attraction, offers a break with air conditioning, and is a fun ride that serves as a much-needed walk-on in a park full of longer queues.
It does have its issues, including being something of a vomit comet. Also, the technology picks an empty chair to be the rebel spy. Lastly, it doesn’t pull its weight in terms of guest attention.
But, Disney paid a heckuva a lot for the Star Wars rights. They ought to find a way to continue getting a return on its investment.
