Step into a world where the galaxies come to life and adventure awaits at every turn – welcome to the thrilling realm of Star Tours at Disneyland! As you embark on this intergalactic journey, prepare to be transported to far-off planets, encounter iconic characters, and experience the magic of the Star Wars universe like never before. In this article, we’ll explore the wonders of the Star Tours ride, from its cutting-edge technology to its immersive storytelling, ensuring that every moment spent on this cosmic odyssey becomes a memory etched in the stars. So buckle up, fellow travelers, as we delve into the excitement and wonder that awaits you on Disneyland’s Star Tours adventure!
Average Wait Times: Star Tours can experience variable wait times depending on the day and season. During peak hours, wait times can range from 30 minutes to over an hour.
Height Requirements: To board Star Tours, guests must be at least 40 inches tall. This requirement ensures the safety and comfort of all riders, as the motion simulator involves dynamic movements that may not be suitable for younger or smaller guests.
Single Rider: Single Rider is available on this attraction.
Ride Duration: The total experience, from pre-show to the end of the ride, typically lasts around 20 minutes. This includes the time spent in the queue, the pre-boarding area, the 3D motion simulator experience, and any additional post-show elements.
Genie+ and Lightning Lane: Genie+ and Lightning Lane are available for this attraction, which provides expedited access to the ride, reducing wait times for those who opt for this premium service.
Rider Switch: For families with young padawans who may not meet the height requirement, Disney’s Rider Switch service allows one adult to wait with the non-riding child while the rest of the party experiences the attraction. Afterward, the waiting adult and another guest can switch places without having to wait in line again.
Disability Access Services (DAS): Disneyland is committed to providing a magical experience for all guests. The Disability Access Service (DAS) program is available for those with disabilities, allowing them to obtain return times for attractions, including Star Tours, based on current wait times.
Best Time to Ride: Weekdays, especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays, tend to see lower attendance, translating to shorter wait times. Additionally, early mornings and late evenings are opportune moments to visit, as crowds are typically thinner during these times. Check out our crowd calendar for best times to visit!
I remember the first time I went to Disneyland in 1995. Star Tours was the very first attraction I ever went on, and continued to be a tradition for my family as the first attraction we always went on when we went to Disneyland. Of course, since then, a lot of changes have happened, including a total revamp of the attraction into what it is today.
Star Tours, as I’m sure you’ve gathered, is a Star Wars experience where guests are invited to take a tour from planet to planet aboard a starspeeder. Your job is to simply sit and enjoy the ride as the pilot drives you to your destination. Of course, if this actually happened, it would be the most boring attraction ever. So that’s not what happens!
The original Star Tours was the same ride every time you took it. Rex was your pilot, a robot with some quirky flaws and a sense for danger and adventure. After this attraction received its revamp, it became a lot more interesting. Rex the pilot was replaced by C3PO (Rex is now found over in Oga’s Cantina in Galaxy’s Edge) and what was once the same every time is now available in over 40 different combinations.
Disney teamed up with Lucasfilm for the revamp and decided to make the attraction 3D, with the ability to tell a different story each time. Basically, there are 4 sections that make up your adventure. A beginning scene which determines how you exit the docking bay, a second scene after coming out of light speed, a transmission message from someone and then a final battle scene that concludes with you docking the ship.
Because there are multiple versions of each of these 4 sections, you could see a different adventure each time you board Star Tours. It’s actually quite fun and keeps things interesting. And since Disney purchased Lucasfilm several years back, they continue to add new scenes from the new Star Wars films as they come out.
One of the cooler things that happened after the revamp is the inclusion of a Star Tours guest into the story each time you ride. Before the attraction begins, a photo is taken of a randomly selected guest, who is then inserted into the story as a Rebel Spy. They very lightly become the focus of the mission (or some missions) as Star Tours races to deliver the spy safely.
I’ve been the Rebel Spy twice in all my years of riding, and it’s actually pretty fun. They even have a tee-shirt that you can purchase in the shop afterward that says, “I am the Rebel Spy,” or something along those lines.
So here’s what you can expect when you ride Star Tours at Disneyland Park: There are three lines available for this attractions. First is the standby line, which I can’t describe very well at the beginning because I’ve never waited in it. You can expect to wait about 30-45 minutes in this line before being boarded.
The second line is Lightning Lane (LL) and that takes you directly into the main building and past the standby line but through all the same rooms.
The LL line typically takes you right into the second room before you come to a stop, so there’s a decent amount of line that you skip. You can expect to wait about 10-15 minutes before boarding.
The third line is a Single Rider line that they added in 2019. It basically does the same thing as the other 2 lines but it usually much faster. Keep in mind that you’re typically separated from your party when loaded at the gates, though this attraction gives you a better chance of being loaded with someone in your group than most.
Once you enter the main building, you’ll weave through one room that features a Starspeeder with R2D2 and C3PO.
You’ll then take a ramp into a second room, where you’ll be entertained by 2 robots, both voiced by the ever-talented Patrick Warburton. From here you’ll be boarded into different gates based on the number of people in your group. Once you arrive at your gate you’ll also be boarded into rows, again, based on the number of people in your group.
You’ll stand here for a little while and watch a video on what’s going on in the hangar as you wait for your Starspeeder to arrive. You’ll also be given some instructions. Once it’s your turn to board, the doors in front of you will open, and you’ll enter the ship and take your seat. Store all your backpacks and jackets under the seat, put your seatbelt on and prepare for a seatbelt check with a Cast Member.
Once the seatbelt check is completed, you’ll be advised to put your flight glasses on. The room will go dark after a few seconds, and then the ride begins! C3PO has no idea what’s going on, and you’re about to get into a whole lot of trouble and fun. Since each experience is different, I won’t describe them, but you’ll have fun not matter what.
This is a simulation attraction that has 3D glasses and moves up and down and side to side. If you are prone to motion sickness, you may want to skip riding or take some medicine beforehand.
When your ride is over, you’ll remove your seatbelt and exit the ship. Be sure to turn in your flight glasses and enjoy some Star Wars shopping!
Here’s a video of one of my last experiences with Star Tours at Disneyland:
Tips
- Star Tours is a Lightning Lane attraction, which I would recommend using early in the morning if you really want to go on it, as spots fill up quickly.
- If you’re looking for a really fast boarding and don’t mind being split up, use the Single Rider line.
- If you really want to try and be the rebel spy on your adventure, then try sitting in the very back row, about 3-4 seats in from the exit side of the attraction.
- This attraction does have a height limit, so make sure you plan accordingly with smaller children. Use the Rider Switch if needed.
For more attraction reviews, be sure to visit Park Savers main Disneyland Resort Attractions Review page. I also have a great planning guide for guests who are going to the Disneyland Resort soon. For discounted tickets to the parks, be sure to see Park Savers current ticket pricing.
