Disney Tips Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
For more than three decades, Star Tours has taken Walt Disney World guests on adventures across a galaxy far, far away. But as Disney’s Hollywood Studios continues evolving, one of the park’s longest-running attractions could eventually find itself without a place in the lineup.
The arrival of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge changed how Disney brings the franchise to life, offering experiences that go far beyond what Star Tours originally introduced in 1989.
Now, with newer attractions commanding attention and Disney continuing to rethink older sections of Hollywood Studios, the future of its original Star Wars ride raises an interesting question.
Could Star Tours be approaching its final years?
Star Tours Could Eventually Face Permanent Replacement
Star Tours opened at Disney-MGM Studios on December 15, 1989, quickly becoming a favorite among Star Wars fans.
In 2011, Disney introduced Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, updating the original experience with new technology, destinations, and randomized adventures.
Additional updates have introduced characters and destinations from newer Star Wars films and television series.
However, those improvements don’t guarantee the ride’s long-term survival.
Hollywood Studios has undergone major changes, replacing longtime experiences with attractions based on popular Disney franchises.
The Great Movie Ride closed to make room for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, while other areas have undergone redevelopment.
Star Tours could eventually face a similar fate as Disney considers how to use valuable space within the park.
Disney hasn’t announced closure plans, but the attraction’s location presents challenges.
Galaxy’s Edge Has Changed the Star Wars Experience
Perhaps the biggest challenge facing Star Tours is Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
When the themed land opened in 2019, it changed what guests could expect from a Star Wars attraction.
Instead of boarding a simulator, visitors could explore Black Spire Outpost, encounter familiar characters, and experience attractions that immerse them in the story.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run allows guests to pilot the famous spacecraft, while Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance combines multiple ride systems, elaborate sets, and impressive effects.
Both offer experiences that Star Tours wasn’t designed to deliver.
There’s also the issue of location.
Star Tours sits outside Galaxy’s Edge, separated from the park’s primary Star Wars destination. This creates a situation in which Disney operates two distinct Star Wars areas rather than a single immersive land.
As Galaxy’s Edge continues expanding its experiences, Star Tours may feel increasingly disconnected from the park’s vision.
That doesn’t mean Disney needs to eliminate the attraction, but it raises questions about whether the company could eventually use that space differently.
Wait Times Tell Another Part of the Story
Star Tours also faces competition from Hollywood Studios’ newer attractions.
While the ride continues attracting guests, it generally doesn’t command the same sustained wait times as Rise of the Resistance.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run can also attract considerably longer lines, particularly during busier periods.
Star Tours frequently offers a shorter wait, making it an appealing option for visitors who don’t want to spend an hour in line.
Of course, shorter waits don’t automatically mean an attraction is unpopular.
Star Tours has substantial capacity, and its relatively efficient loading process helps move guests through the experience.
Still, when Disney evaluates how to use its limited space, guest demand and the ability to attract visitors remain important considerations.
A newer attraction could potentially generate more excitement, especially if Disney introduces a franchise that doesn’t already have a major presence at Hollywood Studios.
Disney Could Redevelop the Entire Star Tours Area
If Disney eventually retires Star Tours, the company could pursue something bigger than replacing the simulator.
The surrounding area could undergo a larger redevelopment, including the attraction building and nearby spaces.
Hollywood Studios has already demonstrated its willingness to transform established areas.
Several Disney franchises could inspire a replacement.
Stitch is one possibility, given the character’s popularity and potential for a science-fiction adventure.
Big Hero 6 (2014) could also fit the park’s identity. An attraction featuring Baymax and San Fransokyo could offer an entirely different experience.
Another possibility involves WALL-E (2008).
The Pixar film’s futuristic environments, robots, and space-travel storyline could inspire an immersive family attraction.
These are hypothetical concepts, not confirmed Disney proposals. Disney has not identified Stitch, Big Hero 6 (2014), or WALL-E (2008) as potential replacements.
Still, they demonstrate how Disney could introduce another franchise into the space.
Is Star Tours Really Running Out of Time?
Star Tours remains an important part of Hollywood Studios’ history, and Disney has continued to update the attraction rather than abandon it.
For longtime fans, that history alone makes the possibility of losing it difficult to imagine.
However, nostalgia hasn’t prevented Disney from replacing beloved attractions before.
With Galaxy’s Edge offering a more immersive Star Wars experience and Hollywood Studios continuing to evolve, Star Tours could eventually become a candidate for redevelopment.
For now, its closure remains a possibility rather than an announced plan.
But after more than 36 years, the question isn’t necessarily whether Star Tours can continue operating. It’s whether Disney will ultimately decide that the space could serve a bigger purpose.
