Now boarding Flight 1401…
Let me get this out of the way: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is an incredible experience with an impressive ride design, and Star Wars: Smugglers Run is an innovative ride offering a new level of interactivity. But when it comes down to which Star Wars attraction is my favorite, I close my eyes and only one comes to mind: Star Tours.
Star Tours provides an immersive and exhilarating Star Wars experience that captures the excitement and adventure of the galaxy far, far away… And I believe it’s the best Star Wars attraction around. Here’s why.
Takeoffs and Landings
If you learn one thing about me, let it be that I am pro-Michael Eisner, all the way. His palpable passion, creativity, and integrity shone through the beloved attractions and elements added to Disney’s parks during his tenure as CEO. (Let’s just pretend Superstar Limo didn’t happen, okay?) Eisner was at the helm for the Lucasfilm partnership to make Star Tours happen. George Lucas was heavily involved in the development of Star Tours, working closely with Disney to ensure that the attraction was true to his Star Wars universe. Lucas referred to Star Tours as a “Greatest Hits Attraction”.
When Star Tours opened at Disneyland in 1987 (followed by Walt Disney World in 1989) it was one of the first attractions to use motion simulators and 3D technology on such a grand scale. Its innovative technology set a new standard for theme park rides. The simulator was modeled after those used for training pilots and astronauts; all those twists, turns, climbs, and dips piloted by 3PO offer a realistic flight experience. (Psst… if you like a bumpier ride, sit in the back row!)
The original version was only based on Episodes IV, V, and VI, but the premise was clear. Star Tours was a transportation agency offering flights to Endor. With it being your droid pilot R-3X’s first day on the job, he wasn’t used to his programming! As a result, we never made it to Endor. Instead, we crashed through COMETS?!, jumped to light speed, and raced through the Death Star’s trench run.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t embellish on our original Star Tours pilot, RX-24, R-3X, or simply Rex, voiced by Paul Reubens. Rex’s humorous mishaps were a recurring theme in the original version of the ride. “I’m sure I’ll do better next time!” are true words to live by. We love visiting Rex at Oga’s Cantina today!
The attraction closed in 2010 for updates, and reopened as Star Tours: The Adventures Continue in 2011, offering more Star Wars destinations and character encounters than ever before. With the storylines now based on the original trilogy, prequels, sequels and series, the randomization offers countless adventure combination possibilities for each ride, enhancing replay value (looking at you, Smugglers Run).
It’s Got Character(s)
…The most characters featured in any Star Wars attraction! We know about the rotating destinations, and with those comes featured character cameos from the various trilogies and series. From Darth Vader to Jar-Jar to Poe Dameron, you never know who you’ll run into (no, but you literally run into Jar-Jar underwater in Naboo).
Most prominently, of course, is our Flight 1401 pilot, C-3PO. Our golden boy has been in more Star Wars films than any other character. Will this agony ever end?
The Queue
Outside at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we have the large AT-AT beckoning us into the space port, alongside the Ewok Village. This entire area feels like life-size Star Wars toy sets, giving me the warm and fuzzy feelings – akin to watching the original trilogy.
Once inside, the Galactic Travel Agency queue area is designed to resemble a bustling spaceport from the Star Wars universe, and it’s packed with details. Life-size audio-animatronics of C-3PO and R2-D2 are working on the Starspeeder 1000, the ship you’re about to board.
There are many Easter eggs to be found throughout Star Tours, and maybe that’s another Chloé Love Letter™ for another day. For now, here’s a rundown of just a few of my favorite Star Tours details:
- The Star Tours announcement chime. You know the one I’m talking about. (On a personal note, this was my text alert tone for years.)
- Flight 1401: the name of every Star Tours flight we experience is a callback to Imagineering’s address, 1401 Flower Street in Glendale, California.
- While in the spaceport, listen carefully for a page to Egroeg Sacul and Mot Worrom (George Lucas and Tom Morrow spelled backwards), and an announcement to move landspeeder THX-1138 (the name of Lucas’ first film and the license plate number on the car featured in his second film, American Graffiti).
- The Star Tours logo suitcase within the luggage scan area (no seriously, I need this in my life. Hello, Disney Merchandise?). Keep an eye out for a stray R-3X in his travel case here, too!
- Aly San San is the spokesperson and flight attendant for Star Tours, ensuring all passengers practice proper flight safety… and she’s voiced by Allison Janney. Enough said.
- I know this is my ooey-gooey nostalgia seeping in… it may be an exit-through-the-gift-shop, but there’s just something special about Tattooine Traders.
In conclusion, with each jump to hyperspace aboard flight 1401, we’re essentially time-traveling between Star Wars stories – all from the same space port. Is it silly? Maybe. But you know what, Star Wars can be silly. It is silly and whimsical and wonderful while taking itself seriously. We need more silly Star Wars at the parks… BRING BACK STAR WARS WEEKENDS. Well, there I go again.
Oh, one last thing: if you do anything today, please listen to the track Star Tours by The Disneylanders. May the force be with you.
Buh-bye!
Theme Park Correspondent for The DIS | Chloé loves kitschy dark rides, roller coasters, a good background area music loop, hot Butterbeer, and all things Halloween. You’ll mostly find her wandering around Orlando’s biggest theme parks snapping pics and sharing tips… or probably talking about The Great Movie Ride.
