After Nearly 37 Years, Hollywood Studios’ Original ‘Star Wars’ Ride Faces Growing Threat

Star Tours has entertained generations of guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but the attraction’s future could eventually become a difficult decision for Walt Disney World.

The longtime Star Wars simulator has survived decades of changes, technological advancements, and major expansions across the park. However, Disney now offers an entirely different Star Wars experience just a short distance away.

With newer attractions drawing considerable attention and Hollywood Studios continuing to evolve, the original Star Wars ride could eventually become a candidate for replacement.

Disney has not announced plans to close Star Tours permanently, but several factors raise questions about how much longer the attraction will remain in the park.

Star Tours Has Survived Decades of Disney Changes

Star Tours first welcomed guests on December 15, 1989, when Hollywood Studios still operated under the Disney-MGM Studios name.

The simulator quickly established itself as a popular attraction, allowing visitors to experience the Star Wars universe in an entirely new way.

Disney eventually modernized the experience in 2011 with Star Tours – The Adventures Continue.

The updated attraction introduced improved technology, randomized adventures, and additional destinations. Disney continued adding characters and locations from newer Star Wars movies and television shows in subsequent years.

Those improvements have helped keep Star Tours relevant, but Disney’s history suggests that even popular attractions aren’t necessarily permanent.

The Great Movie Ride, another longtime Hollywood Studios favorite, eventually closed to make way for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.

That replacement demonstrated Disney’s willingness to retire established experiences when the company sees an opportunity to introduce something different.

Star Tours could eventually face a similar decision.

Galaxy’s Edge Creates a Difficult Comparison

One major consideration involves Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which opened at Hollywood Studios in 2019.

The massive themed land introduced an experience that Star Tours simply wasn’t designed to provide.

Guests can walk through Black Spire Outpost, encounter recognizable Star Wars characters, and experience attractions built around detailed environments.

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run puts visitors inside the famous spacecraft, while Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance combines multiple ride systems with elaborate storytelling and impressive effects.

Star Tours still delivers an entertaining adventure, but these newer experiences offer a different level of immersion.

Location creates another interesting situation.

Unlike the newer Star Wars attractions, Star Tours operates outside Galaxy’s Edge. Guests must visit a separate section of Hollywood Studios to experience the original simulator.

Although that arrangement doesn’t necessarily create an operational problem, it raises questions about whether Disney might eventually prefer another use for the space.

Shorter Wait Times Could Influence Future Decisions

Guest demand also provides an interesting comparison between Star Tours and its newer competitors.

Star Tours generally offers shorter waits than Rise of the Resistance, while Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run can also attract substantially longer lines during busy periods.

For visitors hoping to enjoy a Star Wars attraction without spending an hour waiting, that difference can actually make Star Tours appealing.

However, shorter lines don’t automatically indicate that guests have lost interest.

The simulator accommodates substantial numbers of riders, and its loading process helps keep crowds moving.

Still, Disney must consider how effectively each attraction uses valuable theme park space.

A replacement featuring another popular franchise could potentially generate additional excitement while introducing something Hollywood Studios doesn’t currently offer.

That possibility becomes particularly interesting when considering the surrounding area.

Could Disney Replace More Than Just Star Tours?

If Disney eventually decides to retire Star Tours, the company could explore redeveloping the attraction building and nearby spaces.

Several familiar franchises could inspire.

Stitch offers one possibility, particularly because the character could support another science-fiction adventure.

Disney could also consider Big Hero 6 (2014), using Baymax and the futuristic setting of San Fransokyo to create an entirely different attraction.

Another potential direction involves WALL-E (2008), whose robots, futuristic environments, and space-travel storyline could translate into a family-friendly experience.

These concepts remain entirely hypothetical. Disney has not announced any of these franchises as replacements for Star Tours.

Nevertheless, they illustrate how the company could approach a future redevelopment.

Will Disney Eventually Retire Star Tours?

After more than 36 years, Star Tours remains an important piece of Hollywood Studios history.

Disney’s continued updates suggest the company still sees value in keeping the experience available.

However, Hollywood Studios has repeatedly demonstrated that nostalgia alone cannot guarantee an attraction’s survival.

For now, Star Tours remains operational, and Disney has announced no plans for permanent closure.

Whether those changes will happen will ultimately depend on how Disney envisions the park’s future and whether another attraction could make better use of the space.