Opened: Originally opened on December 15, 1989. Reopened May 20, 2011 in 3D after a refurbishment.
Location:
Echo Lake to the right of Jedi Training Academy, Backlot Express, and the exit to Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular.
Extra Magic Hours: Morning, Evening.
Ride Length: 5 minutes.
Type: Motion simulator.
Similar To: Mission Space Green Team (the version without the spinning).
Requirements: Must be 40” or taller to ride.
Scary Factor: Low. The biggest problem people run into on Star Tours is the jerkiness of the motion. The vehicle careens from side to side throughout the ride. This may make the ride a no-go for those with serious back or neck problems, though most people should be fine. Those with severe motion sickness should consider skipping.
What to Expect: Riders sit in a 40-person motion simulator vehicle inside of a room themed like the inside of a Starspeeder 1000 spaceship. A 3D movie plays on a screen in the front of the theater and the ride vehicle tilts, bumps, vibrates, sways, etc. so it feels like you’re actually inside of the Starspeeder making the journey that you see in front of you.
While there are technically 54 ride variations, there are basically four sections with two or three different variations within each section. In other words, you will likely experience all of the scenes after seven or eight rides. Still, it’s a lot of fun to experience new parts of the Star Wars universe, so you may want to plan three or four rides if Star Wars is a big deal and you don’t necessary care about maximizing the number of rides on Toy Story Midway Mania, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and Tower of Terror.
Where to Sit: Each row seats eight across.
Views are similar from most seats, but the center of the middle row provides the best view. You’ll experience the most motion in the far left or right seat in the back row.
FastPass+: Yes, high priority. Most people will be looking at booking Star Tours and Tower of Terror in advance.
What You Miss Using FastPass+: You’ll likely breeze through most of the queue.
Serious Star Wars fans may want to ride at least once in standby to take in the full queue, which is complete with animatronics and a variety of effects and things to look at.
FastPass+ users do have an opportunity to see the entire indoor queue – you may just feel rushed with few people in front.
Total Average Experience Time with FastPass+: 20 minutes.
4th FastPass+ Availability:
Expect to Wait:
When To Go: Ideally, ride before 10:30am to experience waits in the 10 to 15 minute range. Thanks to a hefty capacity and lower waits, Star Tours is the lowest ride priority at the Studios, but peak waits often hit at least 30 minutes. Waits are also typically short in the last two hours of operation. Because Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular lets out next door, waits can jump 15 to 20 minutes immediately after a show gets out. Try to avoid getting in line 30 minutes after an Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular show begins. Check your Times Guide to verify times.
Rating: 9/10
Commentary: Star Tours uses 3D technology to make it feel like you’re actually a part of the Star Wars universe and has been a crowd favorite for more than 20 years (in its 2D iteration). The newly refurbished attraction is even more fun and the different possibilities make each ride feel unique. Even the queue area is more fun than most. Overall, Star Tours is a must-ride for anyone even remotely interested in Star Wars.
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