End of an Era: Star Tours Closing July 27

[Staff]

It's the end of an era: the Star Tours ride is going to be closing its doors for good on July 27th at Disneyland and September 8th for Disney World. I remember going on Star Tours a long time ago when I first moved here to L.A. It was AWESOME. And every time after that whenever I went to Disneyland, I made sure it was the first ride we went on. The ride is being replaced with a Podracing ride which is just not epic enough in my opinion. I'm going to try and go one last time. Too bad LEGO didn't make a Starspeeder 3000 set. Wouldn't that have been awesome?

Anyways, if you've never been on it, you can enjoy it through the magic of Youtube. There's a bunch of videos of the ride on there, one is embedded below.

Source: Gizmodo.com
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Permalink: http://www.fbtb.net/2010/05/20/end-of-an-era-star-tours-closing-july-27/

[Andi]

Why??
It looks awesome

[CommanderKeller]

Wow I am officially sad...I used to go on that ride every time I went to Disneyland. Even walking in was cool. There were all kinds of droids walking around.

How long has it been around?

[Cradok]

21 years. I went on it the year it opened, I was only 7 and it was the best thing ever. Still really good now. It's a shame they have to get rid of it rather than use lot space to put in a second ride.

[enchantedknight56]

I am deeply sad. This was my favorite ride at Disney Hollywood Studios in Disney World. I'm happy I'm going there in a few days. I'll get to enjoy it one last time...

[SIMAFOL]

I'll be taking my 2.5 year old on it for her first and last time on Sunday for SW Weekends. If anyone else is in the FL area and attending, feel free to meet up with us. I MIGHT be wearing my LEGO Fett costume and meet ALL the Fetts to get a photo.
-S-

[Diaaabo]

That was made of pure awesome. I remember when I was 8, at Disneyland Paris... along with Space Mountain, the Western and Indiana Jones roller-coasters they're my favorite park amusement

[Oky Wan Kenobi]

I, for one, am not sad at all. But then again, I practically live around the corner to Disneyland and have had an annual pass for like three years now, so as awesome as the current ride is, it gets boring after a while. I think it had a good run, and now it's time for something new. And how can you get more epic than podracers?! Besides, I think I read somewhere that it wont be just podracing, but a couple of scenes from the PT. I could be wrong though.
I'm not even sad that we haven't gotten a set of the starspeeder yet. Its shape is really quite unimpressive in my opinion. Not even the idea of getting a minifig of that pilot droid excites me. I hate that little droid so much because he always says it's his "first flight" and because he never manages to get me to Endor!

@ CommanderKeller: I don't think they are changing the entrance area, just the ride itself. Or at least not much. We'll see.

[MouseketeerCole]

'A podrace ride' isn't quite right! Star Tours 2 will be the first ever simulator with random event sequences in it. Rather than fly to Endor every time like at the moment, in Star Tours 2 you might fly to Tatooine on one trip and get caught up in a podrace, the next time you go on you might fly to Bespin and get chased by Boba Fett, and the next time you might fly to Hoth and run rings around AT-ATs.

Coupled with brand new 3D, don't worry about it being "just not epic enough" - it's gonna blow people away!

[banthafodder]

I, too, remember when it first opened and waiting in line for hours. It was awesome then. However I do think it is time for a change. I don't think podracing is the way to go though. Maybe battle over Corresant would be more epic. Or they could finally bring back the journey through inner space ride. I loved that one as a kid theough I was always worried that I would remain permanently shrunken. Now I wish I could permanently shrink my gut.

[twentythree]

I'm going to ride the one at Disney World all summer (starting this Saturday) and am tempted to buy a ticket to the Star Tours night party that is happening during Celebration V this August.

[starwarslegoguru]

Being an offical Disneyland nerd, allow me to clarify some points. Star Tours isn't going away, it's merely getting updated. IT IS NOT GETTING REPLACED WITH A PODRACING RIDE! From what I know, It will feature many different ride sceniaros, one of them is visiting a podrace. Don't get your hopes up too soon folks, it ain't going away forever..yet

[Oky Wan Kenobi]

@ MouseketeerCole: Yes, I think that's what I read too. I really hope that's true, because in my opinion, they should have had alternate rides from the beginning. I'm really excited for this!

[CommanderKeller]

Thank God they are keeping the entrance(fingers crossed). Epic ideas about those different themes mouseketeer. I have no problem with the change, just wish they could keep it around star tours....so many memories.

[Big C]

Any other oldbies out there remember that German kid Kris who was a member here? Think he got banned, but dude was OBSESSED with Star Tours. Like, to the point of no return. It was crazy.

[MisterFubar]

While it was a fun ride, I do think it's a little dated.

I remember riding it at MGM shortly after it opened and it was just about the coolest ride I'd ever been on. Each time I rode it throughout the years it became less exciting as other rides got better. The last time I rode it was about 4 years ago and I remember thinking it was about time to update it.

[scandell]

I remember waiting in line for this rid for over an hour....now the average wait time is 15 minutes

[Legopino]

I remember that ride! It was pretty cool, and it's a pity they're closing it.

[Inzane]

While it was a fun ride, I do think it's a little dated.

Agreed. It was cool when I first experienced in Florida back in '89. But more recently my wife and I have been to both parks, WDW in 2005 and DL in 2009 and Star Tours is way behind the technology curve today.

It doesn't hold a candle to some of the vastly superior motion theme rides now. The Simpsons at Universal LA is a prime example.

I would be curious if they completely redid a Star Wars themed ride. And I'm sure they will.

[thepatient]

...Or they could finally bring back the journey through inner space ride. I loved that one as a kid theough I was always worried that I would remain permanently shrunken. Now I wish I could permanently shrink my gut.

That was my favorite as a kid. At first I was bummed when the inner space was gone, but Star Tours easily made up for it. It's the one ride I have to ride when I go to the park. My son turns 5 this year and we will be taking him to DL for the first time. I might have to do a couple of repeats for old times sake.