star tour disneyland

Star Tours - The Adventures Continue

Replay Star Tours

A Starspeeder 1000 races past the Deathstar while being shot at with lasers

40" (102 cm) or Taller
Small Drops
Thrill Rides

Visit a Galaxy Far, Far Away

When your Starspeeder accidentally starts up without a pilot, tour guide C-3PO takes the controls. Suddenly, the ship is intercepted by menacing Imperial—or First Order—forces searching for a Rebel spy. To avoid capture, you’ll take off on a thrilling, unpredictable flight that rockets you to the farthest reaches of the galaxy.

Starting April 5, 2024, embark on exciting new Star Wars adventures featuring characters and locations from some of your favorite Disney+ series. Hold on tight as urgent transmissions from Ahsoka Tano, Cassian Andor, the Mandalorian and Grogu may soon be part of your next Starspeeder flight.

With these additions, you’ll have the opportunity to experience one of more than 250 storyline variations, including a visit to the planet Seatos from Ahsoka .

Star Tours Takes Flight

On January 9, 1987, George Lucas and Walt Disney Imagineering brought the Star Wars galaxy to life at Disneyland Park .

The original Star Tours attraction blasted off to Endor. In the years since, the experience has been updated with new worlds and iconic characters from Star Wars: The Force Awakens , Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker .

The attraction now features state-of-the-art technology—including a flight simulator, digital 3D video, Audio-Animatronics characters and “in-cockpit” special effects and music.

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Safety, Accessibility and Guest Policies

Times for star tours - the adventures continue.

Based on the Star Wars films, Star Tours is one of the most fun rides in Disneyland. The technology allows for 54 different story sequences, enough to keep riders coming back again and again.

The basic tale is simple: A bumbling droid pilot accidentally takes a bunch of space tourists down the wrong tunnel at takeoff, jumps to light speed and careens through the universe before getting things under control again. You'll run into characters from many of the Star Wars films and travel through more than a few of its locales, all in quick succession. It all passes so quickly that even a devoted fan might have to ride a dozen times to catch it all.

What You Need to Know About the Star Tours Ride at Disneyland

For most visitors, Star Tours is a must-do ride — or at least ride it if you have time.

Location: Star Tours is in Tomorrowland
Rating: ★★★★★
Restrictions: 40 inches (102 cm). Regardless of height, children under age seven years must be accompanied by a person aged 14 years or older.
Ride Time: 4.5 minutes
Recommended for: Families with teens and anyone who loves the Star Wars movies
Fun Factor: High. Star Tours is one of the best rides at Disneyland .
Wait Factor: High. Use a Fastpass to shorten your time in line . The Fastpass ticket machines are across from the Star Tours entrance, near Buzz Lightyear
Fear Factor: Medium. Some scenes are exciting, but not too scary.
Herky-Jerky Factor: Medium to high. This star-chasing ride is smoother than when it first opened, but Disney still says it's not for anyone a neck or back trouble, heart problems or for expectant mothers. The motion simulator moves smoothly but simulates drops and rolls that will shake you around.
Nausea Factor: Medium to high. Take precautions or be prepared to spend part of the ride with your eyes closed. You can also ask a Cast Member to seat you in the middle, where there is less motion.
Seating: This ride is a small motion simulator room. It has several rows, and every seat has a seatbelt.
Accessibility: Contact a Cast Member at the entrance for boarding information. Guests have to transfer to the ride vehicle by themselves or with help from their companions. Some of the pre-show monitors display guest-activated captioning. Cast Members can help you with this, too. Service animals can't go on Star Tours. More about visiting Disneyland in a wheelchair or ECV

How to Have More Fun

There's lots of simulated danger on Star Tours, and it can be noisy .
If you wear prescription glasses , you can slip the 3D glasses over all but the largest frames.
The 3D glasses come in one size only and are too big for a small child’s face. A simple solution is just don't wear them. Most kids don’t seem to mind that things get a little blurry without them - and they won’t be startled or scared by things that come flying toward them in the 3-D effect. Or try perching the glasses on the child’s nose, tilt them forward and rest the earpieces on top of their head.
Rider swap is available. It's for two adults with a kid or kids who don't ride. They can wait just once and get on as soon as the first adult returns. Tell the Cast Member in the loading area if you want to use that option.

You can see all the Disneyland rides at a glance on the Disneyland ride sheet .

While you're thinking about rides, you should also download the essential Disneyland apps (they're all free!) and get some proven tips to minimize your Disneyland wait time .

When you wait in line for Star Tours, you may hear an overhead speaker paging Egroeg Sacul, which is George Lucas spelled backward.

You may also hear an announcement to move landspeeder THX 1138, another reference to George Lucas: It was the name of his first film, the license plate number in "American Graffiti", and the call sign of a stormtrooper in "Star Wars: A New Hope."

The flight simulator used to create this ride is the same one used to train airplane pilots.

For a more in-depth look into Star Wars, check out Star Wars Launch Bay in Tomorrowland .

If you're a fan of the Star Wars movies, there's a lot to see in California. Find all of the galactic sights in the guide to Star Wars film sites in California .

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Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

A building with a spaceship and a sign that reads Star Tours

Disneyland Park

Tomorrowland

Guests Must Be

40" (102 cm) or Taller

Age Interest

Kids, Tweens, Teens, Adults

Thrill Level

Small Drops, Thrill Rides, Dark, Loud

Move faster than the speed of light as you ride aboard a 3D, motion-simulated space flight to legendary destinations from Star Wars .

Explore a Galaxy Far, Far Away

Featuring the newest technology—including a flight simulator, digital 3D video, Audio-Animatronics characters and "in-cockpit" special effects and music—Star Tours—The Adventures Continue immerses you in the Star Wars mythology for an unforgettable intergalactic adventure.

Before You Board

Inside the bustling Star Tours spaceport, in the middle of a throng of projection screens and glowing scanners, you'll quickly approach R2-D2 and C-3PO as they tinker away on a Starspeeder 1000—which is your cosmic transportation vehicle.

Then, after you've woven past customs, through baggage screening and beyond a series of blinking droids, pick up a pair of 3D flight glasses and continue to your departure gate, where overhead monitors provide further boarding instructions.

Join the Resistance

As you prepare for lift-off, a series of mishaps causes your starship to launch—and C-3PO to take control! Suddenly your space cruiser is intercepted by First Order forces. Fearing capture, C-3PO pilots your ship on an unpredictable flight that will rocket you to the farthest reaches of the galaxy!

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Star Tours: The Adventures Continue

An Attraction in Disneyland

Last updated: November 25, 2023

At a Glance

Lightning Lane via Genie+
Video Captioning
Must Transfer From Wheelchair/ECV
No Service Animals

Touring Tips

Other attractions you might like Users who like Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, generally also like:

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Tiana's bayou adventure.

Here's roughly how many minutes you'll wait for Star Tours: The Adventures Continue at each Disneyland Crowd Level.

Download chart to share to social media.

Disney Dish with Jim Hill Podcast

Learn more about the latest doings at Disney with Len Testa of TouringPlans & Jim Hill of JimHillMedia.com

Learn more about the latest doings at Disney with TouringPlan's Len Testa & Jim Hill of JimHillMedia.com

Star Tours – The Adventures Continue Ride Review

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.

Haunted Mansion Ride Review

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 :

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 .

Disneyland | Where is Disneyland’s Star Tours going next?

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Ahsoka tano, cassian andor, the mandalorian and grogu will become part of the star tours attractions on april 5 at disneyland..

A new destination in a galaxy far, far away will be added to the mission of the Starspeeder 1000 when the Star Tours attraction at Disneyland is updated just in time for the annual Star Wars festival that now stretches to two months.

Former Jedi Knight and rebel spy Ahsoka Tano, Alliance intelligence officer Cassian Andor, Mandalorian bounty hunter Din Djarin and “Baby Yoda” Grogu will become part of the Star Tours attractions on April 5 at Disneyland, Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida and Disneyland Paris in France.

The updates to Disneyland’s Star Tours attraction headline the Season of the Force event returning to the Anaheim theme park on April 5 through June 2.

ALSO SEE: How Star Tours saved Disneyland at a low point in the park’s history

Star Tours currently visits 11 planets in the Star Wars galaxy, according to Touring Plans . The destinations: Tatooine, Hoth, Batuu, Coruscant, Kashyyyk, Naboo, Jakku, Crait, Kef Bir, Exegol and Geonosis.

ALSO SEE: 12 new Disney Food & Wine Festival 2024 dishes ranked best to worst

Star Tours passengers will visit the Star Wars planet of Peridea during the new Ahsoka Tano storyline, according to Imagineering.

The ancient world of Peridea is where Grand Admiral Thrawn was exiled, according to the official Star Wars website.

ALSO SEE: Disneyland restarts Magic Key annual pass sales — Here’s what you need to know

An Ahsoka journey might include encounters with Assassin droid HK-87, Chopper droid C1-10P or Grand Admiral Thrawn. Ahsoka’s T-6 Jedi Shuttle with rotating wings or New Republic General Hera Syndulla’s Ghost light freighter could also make appearances.

Star Wars characters currently show up in Star Tours in a few key ways.

Glimpses or hints of a few characters can be seen during the planetary excursions — including Chewbacca and Jar Jar Binks.

The Starspeeder is stopped by Darth Vader, Kylo Ren or a probe droid looking for a rebel spy aboard the ship during the unexpected departure at the start of the Star Tours — The Adventures Continue attraction.

ALSO SEE: Disneyland launched Star Tours 35 years ago with an epic 60-hour party

One of seven Star Wars heroes — Princess Leia, Yoda, Lando Calrissian, Poe Dameron, Admiral Ackbar, Maz Kanata or BB-8 — interrupts the journey via a hologram transmission, according to Touring Plans.

Ahsoka, Cassian, The Mandalorian or Grogu could appear as one of the hologram transmissions in Star Tours without joining the Starspeeder crew during an excursion to a previously unvisited Star Wars planet.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported Star Tours would be traveling to three new destinations in the Star Wars galaxy. The Star Tours attraction will add one new destination.

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We Rode Disney’s NEW and Improved Star Tours Ride — Check It Out With Us!

A galaxy far, far away just got a little bit bigger!

Few attractions offer the kind of unique ride experience that Disneyland’s Star Tours — The Adventures Continue offers. First majorly updated in 2010, the ride was once again updated in 2015, 2017, and 2019 to include 700 different ride experiences. Now in 2024, the ride is once again getting another update!

Star Tours — The Adventures continue at Disneyland, Disney’s Hollywood Studios , and Disneyland Paris all received an update on April 5th, 2024 to reflect new Star Wars Disney+ media and we were invited to get a FIRSTHAND LOOK! Check it out!

The new adventures include characters and locations from Ahsoka, Andor, and The Mandalorian. We got to experience these new adventures and we were absolutely blown away!

The pre-show was the same as usual. Also, our first scene was pod-racing on Tatooine — a scene we have experienced before.

Then came the exciting part — new characters! Din Djarin and Grogu sent a transmission with The Mandalorian theme song playing. Grogu snatched a flying frog while Djarin was giving us important intel which made for a fun 3D moment.

Then we made it to a planet featured in Ahsoka. There, Ahsoka showed up to help us in battle with Purrgil (space whales). Beware — you may almost get eaten by one! We weren’t allowed to grab footage, but we love these new additions to the ride. We only saw the scenes from Ahsoka and The Mandalorian — we did not get Andor on our ride.

Accompanying the new Star Tours update at Disneyland is “Season of the Force” a Star Wars- themed event that will run from April 5th through June 2nd, 2024 . “Season of the Force” will include limited-time Star Wars- themed food and merchandise as well as Fire of the Rising Moons (a NEW way to view the Disneyland fireworks from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge), Hyperspace Mountain overlay for Space Mountain , Seek and Find at The Star Trader, and Disneyland After Dark: Star Wars Nite events.

We’ll keep you posted on any updates during this event as well as on all things Disneyland, so be sure to stay tuned here at AllEars for all the latest!

Disney Announces 6 NEW Treats Coming to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge!

Which new addition to Star Tours gets you the most hyped? Share your pick and tell us why in the comments below!

Disclosure: We were invited by Disney to attend the media preview for Disneyland’s Season of the Force. This did not affect our reporting of the event — our opinions are our own.

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‘Star Tours' at Disneyland will roam a new world; Hyperspace Mountain will return, too

Disneyland resort also revealed details about the return of "season of the force" later this spring., by alysia gray painter • published march 5, 2024 • updated on march 5, 2024 at 12:58 pm, what to know.

Star Tours — The Adventures Continue is located in Tomorrowland at Disneyland Park in Anaheim
The attraction will feature new experiences inspired by recent Disney+ series; look for "The Mandalorian," "Ahsoka," and "Andor" to be featured starting April 5
"Season of the Force" returns on April 5 as well; Space Mountain will transform into Hyperspace Mountain through June 2

Galactic goings-on are always in motion, whatever the time of year and whatever the season here on Earth.

Stars are forming, asteroids are asteroiding, and the various dynamic bits and bobs of the universe are shining, bursting, swirling, ending, and doing all of the things that cosmic components have always dramatically done.

But here on our planet, specifically around the city of Anaheim in the county of Orange? We'll want to keep a keener eye on the earthly calendar, specifically springtime, specifically most of April, all of May, and a little of June.

Get Southern California news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC LA newsletters.

For that's when "Season of the Force" will return to Disneyland Park, all to give fans of the theme park, which is known for several stellar "Star Wars" attractions, events, and offerings, even more to Chewbacca, er, chew on.

It's an annual happening that always rockets back to Disneyland in time for May 4, May the Fourth, or May the Force Be With You Day, also known around the world as Star Wars Day.

But that merry "May the Fourth" energy extends beyond May 4 nowadays, at least around The Hyperspace-iest Place on Earth; you can enjoy several "Star Wars"-inspired sights and sounds from April 5 through June 2, 2024.

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This includes the new planetary adventures set to debut at Star Tours — The Adventures Continue, a beloved ride that will visit a previously unseen world, at least a world new to the Tomorrowland attraction.

"With these additions, guests will have the opportunity to experience one of more than 250 storyline variations aboard the attraction, including a visit to the planet Peridea from the 'Ahsoka' series," shares the Disneyland team.

"During their Starspeeder flight, guests may receive urgent transmissions from Ahsoka Tano, Cassian Andor, or Din Djarin and Grogu."

Just beyond Star Tours is, of course, Space Mountain, which will again transform into "Hyperspace Mountain" during "Season of the Force," complete with "Star Wars"-details, images, and audio.

And over at Galaxy's Edge, which is just a short time-hop/space-skip away from the otherworldly attractions of Tomorrowland?

Look for a "fresh perspective" on the nightly fireworks show, an illuminated experience that includes thrilling tunes and lights dancing along the land's dramatic spires.

Treats that take their tasty theming from the "Star Wars"-verse are also part of the "Force"-centered festivities, as is new merchandise.

Updated March 5

This article tagged under:

What Is Star Tours at Disneyland?

Star Tours at Disneyland is a 3D motion-simulated space flight attraction based on the Star Wars film series created by George Lucas. It’s an adventure that transports guests to the farthest reaches of the Star Wars galaxy, offering a unique and thrilling experience unlike any other attraction at Disneyland.

Star Tours at Disneyland is a 3D motion-simulated space flight attraction based on the Star Wars film series. Guests embark on an exciting journey aboard a Starspeeder 1000 spacecraft, encountering iconic characters and exploring alien worlds from the Star Wars universe. The ride features high-definition video, a Dolby 3D high-definition screen, an improved motion simulator, and various special effects for an immersive experience.

A Deep Dive into the Star Wars Universe

The ride, officially titled “Star Tours – The Adventures Continue”, takes guests on an exciting journey aboard a Starspeeder 1000 spacecraft. The attraction features high-definition video, a Dolby 3D high-definition screen, an improved motion simulator, and various special effects.

Throughout the ride, guests come face-to-face with iconic characters like Kylo Ren, Poe Dameron, and BB-8. They also explore alien worlds such as Jakku and Crait. With more than 100 different storytelling combinations, each ride on Star Tours is a unique and immersive adventure.

The Journey of Star Tours

Star Tours first opened its doors at Disneyland in 1987 and has since been updated and expanded to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris. The original Star Tours was replaced by Star Tours: The Adventures Continue in 2011, introducing digital 3D technology, additional in-theater effects, and C-3PO as the new in-cabin pilot. The ride sequence was also randomized, allowing guests to experience four out of 21 different segments during each journey, making the ride highly repeatable and constantly surprising.

Unique Features of Star Tours

Star Tours stands out for its state-of-the-art technology and immersive storytelling. Key features include a hydraulic motion base cabin known as the Advanced Technology Leisure Application Simulator (ATLAS) that provides a realistic and immersive experience, digital 3D video, Audio-Animatronics characters, and “in-cockpit” special effects and music. The simulator randomly combines different scenes from various Star Wars locations, creating a wide variety of experiences for riders.

The Star Tours Experience

Guests board the Starspeeder 1000 and are introduced to C-3PO and R2-D2, who serve as the pilots for the journey. The ride sequence is randomized, with guests experiencing four out of 21 different segments during each journey. Some of the possible destinations include a pod race on Tatooine, a speeder chase on Hoth, or a visit to Coruscant. The ride lasts approximately 7 minutes, including boarding at the Starspeeder gate, with the actual show lasting around 5 minutes.

Tips for First-Time Riders

For first-time riders, note that Star Tours has a height requirement of 40 inches (102 cm) and may cause motion sickness for some due to its simulator nature. Consider using FastPass and Genie+ to avoid long wait times, and try to ride early in the morning or late in the day to avoid peak crowds.

A Must-Visit for Star Wars Fans

Star Tours caters to Star Wars fans by offering an immersive experience that takes guests on a journey through the Star Wars universe. The ride features a motion-simulated space flight with more than 60 different combinations, allowing guests to have a new experience with every flight. The attraction includes appearances from various Star Wars characters, such as C-3PO, R2-D2, Boba Fett, Chewbacca, Admiral Ackbar, Princess Leia, and Darth Vader. The ride also incorporates scenes from different planets in the Star Wars universe, including Crait and Batuu from Episode VIII and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Star Tours at Disneyland offers a unique, thrilling, and immersive Star Wars experience. Whether you’re a die-hard Star Wars fan or new to the saga, Star Tours is a must-visit attraction that promises an unforgettable journey through the galaxy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastpass and genie+ system at disneyland and how can it be used for star tours.

FastPass and Genie+ are services provided by Disneyland to help guests avoid long lines at popular attractions. FastPass is a free service that allows you to reserve access to select attractions, entertainment, and character meets, while Genie+ is a paid service that offers additional features and benefits. For Star Tours, guests can reserve a specific time slot using these systems, significantly reducing wait times.

Are there any age restrictions for Star Tours?

There are no specific age restrictions for Star Tours. However, the ride does have a height requirement of 40 inches (102 cm). It’s also worth noting that the ride’s motion simulation might be intense for some children or individuals sensitive to such experiences.

Is Star Tours accessible for guests with disabilities?

Yes, Star Tours is accessible for guests with disabilities. The attraction offers wheelchair access and services for guests with hearing or visual impairments. However, it’s recommended to check with Disneyland’s guest services for specific accessibility details.

How often does the ride sequence of Star Tours change?

The ride sequence of Star Tours is randomized for each ride, which means you could potentially have a completely different experience every time you ride. With over 60 different combinations, it’s a unique adventure with every flight.

How long should I expect to wait in line for Star Tours?

Wait times for Star Tours can vary greatly depending on the time of day and season. On average, wait times can range from 20 minutes during off-peak times to over an hour during peak times. Using FastPass or Genie+ can significantly reduce these wait times.

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Ashley is a true theme park veteran, with insights gleaned from multiple visits to every park in the US. Her goal is to provide an insider's guide to making the most of your visit to any theme park.

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Star tours at disneyland and disney world to add ‘mandalorian,’ ‘andor’ and ‘ahsoka’ plots.

The 'Star Wars' ride will add characters and worlds featured in the Disney+ shows beginning next month.

By Alex Weprin

Alex Weprin

Media & Business Writer

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Grogu and Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) in THE MANDALORIAN.

A handful of Disney + series are about to be added to one of the most well-known rides at Walt Disney World and Disneyland .

“Star Tours — The Adventures Continue,” the Star Wars themed ride with locations in Disneyland, Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris, will add characters and locations from the Disney+ shows The Mandalorian , Ahsoka and Andor , beginning April 5.

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For the 2011 version of Star Tours, see Star Tours: The Adventures Continue . For the titular fictional company, see Star Tours (company) .

Tokyo Disneyland
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Disneyland Paris

Star Tours was a simulator attraction, based on the Star Wars media franchise. This version of the attraction has since closed at its original home of Disneyland , Disney's Hollywood Studios , Tokyo Disneyland , and Disneyland Paris , but was replaced by Star Tours: The Adventures Continue at all three parks between 2011 and 2013 , whilst it re-opened as the Adventures Continue at Disneyland Paris in 2017 .

Advertised as "The Ultimate Star Wars Adventure", the attraction was themed as a galactic travel agency and spaceport set within the Star Wars universe that is employed with droids such as R2-D2 and C-3PO and that you are traveling to the Forest Moon of Endor. However, your inexperienced pilot, RX-24 , ends up taking a journey through an asteroid field and a battle with the second Death Star .

Although Star Tours may or may not be considered canon , its StarSpeeder 3000 is referenced in canon Star Wars works. In the PC game TIE Fighter , one ship appears on a certain level, and when the player identifies it, the ship is identified as "StarSpeeder 3000," LucasArts' tribute to the attraction. The StarSpeeder 3000 is also mentioned in the Star Wars Expanded Universe novel Specter of the Past and PC game Star Wars Galaxies .

Anthony Daniels reprised his role as C-3PO for this project. RX-24 was voiced by Paul Reubens , a.k.a. Pee-Wee Herman. (Reubens also voiced a similar role—that is, a wacky alien pilot—in the Disney movie Flight of the Navigator in 1986 .)

The ride premiered in Disneyland in 1987 , in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of the Star Wars franchise. The ride was placed in Tomorrowland replacing Adventure Thru Inner Space and had to be fit in between other attractions. It debuted at the Disney-MGM Studios in 1989 and was given a much more spacious venue, complete with a large AT-AT walker outside the ride entrance. The attraction also premiered overseas at Tokyo Disneyland that same year and at Disneyland Paris in 1992.

The soundtrack was remastered and remixed in 2004 and can be found on the CD A Musical History of Disneyland .

There is a similar attraction called Nemo & Friends SeaRider in Tokyo Disneyland 's sister park, Tokyo DisneySea .

2 Attraction
4.1 Television Appearances
8 References

History [ ]

The ride that became Star Tours first saw light as a proposal for an attraction based on the 1979 Disney film The Black Hole . It would have been an interactive ride simulator attraction, where guests would have the ability to choose the ride car's route, but after preliminary planning, the Black Hole attraction was shelved due to its enormous cost - approximately US$50 million - as well as the unpopularity of the film itself.

But instead of completely dismissing the idea of a simulator attraction, the company decided to make use of a partnership between Disney and George Lucas , the creator of the Star Wars franchise, that began in 1986 with the opening of a neighboring attraction, Captain EO in Disneyland . Disneyland then approached Lucas with the idea of Star Tours. With Lucas' approval, Imagineers purchased four military-grade flight simulators for $500,000 each and designed the ride structure.

Meanwhile, Lucas and his team of special effects technicians at Industrial Light & Magic produced the first-person perspective film that would be projected inside the simulators. When both the simulator and film were completed, a programmer then sat inside and manually synchronized the movement of the simulator with the apparent movement on the screen with the aid of a joystick.

On January 9, 1987 , at a final cost of $32 million, almost twice the cost of the building and the entire Disneyland park in 1955 , the ride opened to throngs of patrons, many of whom dressed up as Star Wars characters for the occasion. In celebration, Disneyland remained opened for a special 60-hour marathon from January 9, 1987, from 10 am to January 11, 1987, at 10 pm.

Attraction [ ]

Taking place sometime shortly after the events of Return of the Jedi , Star Tours put guests in the role of space tourists en route to the forest moon of Endor , the site of an infamous battle where Rebels fought against the Empire via the Star Tours travel agency.

Much was made of this throughout the queue looking like a spaceship boarding terminal with posters advertising voyages to different planets, and a giant screen informed riders of various travel packages. This area was stocked with Audio-Animatronic characters that seemed to speak to the ride patrons (including C-3PO and R2-D2 ), as well as a life-size mock-up of a StarSpeeder 3000 , the spacecraft which riders were about to board.

Guests then entered a maintenance area where an underproductive G2 droid performed repairs on another droid while being distracted by the observing guests, and another droid inadvertently pointed out all the supposed flaws of the StarSpeeder 3000 and its RX pilots. A ride attendant escorted guests to one of several loading stations where they waited for their turn to ride.

Captain Rex (RX-24).

A television screen posted a countdown to take-off time and showed images of the Starspeeder 3000 spacecraft being serviced. As launch time approached, a safety video was shown featuring Star Wars aliens, Disney Imagineers, and their families. It instructed guests on how to fasten their seat belts and where to place belongings.

Once the doors to the Starspeeder opened, guests walked across bridges into one of several StarSpeeders, while C-3PO welcomed the riders and repeated the safety spiel. As the doors closed, the bumbling pilot droid of the ship, RX-24 or Rex (voiced by Paul Reubens ), chatted up the guests about the trip as R2-D2 was loaded onto the spacecraft.

Rex lowered the cockpit shield, and the hangar crew activated the flight platform. All went well until a slight mistake on Captain Rex's part sent the Starspeeder crashing into the maintenance bay doors, and plummeting into the maintenance yard just barely crashing the control room and colliding with a giant mechanical arm.

Once in space, Rex asked R2-D2 to make the jump to lightspeed as well, but accidentally overshot the ship's hyperdrive, and passed the Endor moon, and instead got caught inside a comet cluster. The ship got hit by several comets before getting trapped in one of the larger comets. The Starspeeder weaved its way through the comet and escaped by crashing through one of the thinner walls. Upon escaping the comet, however, the ship encountered a Star Destroyer .

Battle of Death Star III.

The ship got caught in its tractor beam but managed to get loose when an X-Wing fighter of the Alliance to Restore the Republic assisted by destroying the tractor beam's generator. With the tractor beam deactivated, the Starspeeder escaped the Star Destroyer. Soon the ship accompanied the Alliance on a massive assault on the third Death Star .

Rex used the StarSpeeder's lasers to eliminate several TIE fighters while a rebel pilot destroyed the Death Star in the same manner Luke Skywalker did, by firing two proton torpedoes into the exhaust port. The X-Wings jumped to lightspeed to avoid the Death Star's explosion, and a final lightspeed jump sent the StarSpeeder back to the spaceport, but not before a near collision with a fuel truck in the hangar. C-3PO then instructed the passengers on the existing procedure before thanking and bidding them farewell.

(In order of appearance)

Anthony Daniels as C-3PO (voice only, audio-animatronic in the queue area, onboard video)
Brian Cummings as the Vid-Screen Announcer (voice only, planetary destinations)
Stephanie Taylor as the Safety Instructor
Paul Reubens as Captain RX-24 , aka Rex (voice only)
Steve Gawley as the Red Leader (cameo, onboard video)

All are uncredited.

Muren, Gawley, and Keeler are all Industrial Light & Magic special effects staff.

Star Tours prequel [ ]

The StarSpeeder 1000 , as seen flying alongside podracers in the Boonta Eve Classic on Tatooine .

At the inaugural D23 Expo in Anaheim , California , on September 12 , 2009 , Jay Rasulo and Darth Vader (voiced by Fred Tatasciore ) [1] [2] announced that Disneyland's Star Tours attraction would be closing in October 2010 to make way for an updated version, which will open in 2011 . Tatooine was announced as one of the new destinations in Star Tours II , with footage released of the StarSpeeder 1000 speeding through a podrace.

The original Star Tours attraction at Disneyland saw its final day of operation on July 26 , 2010, and Star Tours: The Adventure Continues is now open in its place. The Disney's Hollywood Studios version of the attraction closed on September 8 , 2010, now updated to Star Tours II.

Star Tours: The Adventures Continue officially opened at Disney's Hollywood Studios on May 20, 2011 , and at Disneyland two weeks later, on June 3 .

Tokyo Disneyland closed its Star Tours on April 2 , 2012, and Star Tours: The Adventures Continue for Tokyo Disneyland opened in Spring 2013.

Disneyland Paris ' closed on March 16 , 2016 , so the original ride can be updated, opening in 2017.

Television Appearances [ ]

A Behind the Scenes look on Star Tours was featured in the 2021, Disney+ series Behind the Attraction .

Gallery [ ]

The weekend Star Tours first opened, Disneyland gave all of its guests a digital watch. All guests were also given a wristband that would let them come back to Disneyland the next day for free.
The G2 droids are the animatronic skeletons of two Geese from the defunct Tomorrowland attraction America Sings .
According to the book Disneyland Detective by Kendra Trahan, the figures of C-3PO and R2-D2 in the Disneyland attraction are actual props from the original film, modified to operate via Audio-Animatronics.
Shortly before the ride was declared non-canon , Leland Chee, Keeper of the Holocron for the official Star Wars website, stated that the Death Star depicted in the ride was indeed the third Death Star, but was not an actual Death Star. Rather, it was a fake made from an unfinished Worldcraft by warlord Ennix Devian to be used as a diversion while his men hijacked ships belonging to the Rebel Alliances' successor state, the Alliance of Free Planets.
It was featured in The Muppets at Walt Disney World , where Beauregarde forced Miss Piggy to go on the ride with him.
The original Star Tours featured an announcer calling for one Tom Morrow , as a reference to the character from the defunct Rocket to the Moon attraction.

References [ ]

↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB0mYapIez8
↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgfJrp_X8NY
2 Inside Out 2
3 Monsters at Work

THE BAD BATCH
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{:title=>"Disney Parks", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/disney-parks"} {:title=>"Ahsoka", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/ahsoka"}

Behind the scenes of the latest star tours - the adventures continue update.

Walt Disney Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald gives StarWars.com a peek behind the curtain of the latest updates to the beloved Disney Parks attraction.

As Lando Calrissian once said, “You truly belong here with us among the clouds…of purrgil .”

OK, we may have added that last bit. Lately, some travelers aboard the Star Tours - The Adventures Continue Starspeeder have been finding themselves sailing through the air above Seatos , a new destination where a pod of purrgil puts you smack in the middle of a moment inspired by the Ahsoka series, now streaming on Disney+.

Associate Editor Kristin Baver is the author of Star Wars: 100 Objects and other books, host of This Week! In Star Wars , and an all-around sci-fi nerd who always has just one more question in an inexhaustible list of curiosities. Sometimes she blurts out “It’s a trap!” even when it’s not. Follow her on Instagram @KristinBaver .

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With the city of Anaheim unanimously voting to pass DisneylandForward , the Disneyland Resort will be forever changed.

Twice in the last 69 years, Disneyland has been significantly transformed. Four years after the park opened in 1959, Disneyland added its monorail, the Matterhorn Bobsleds and a submarine ride and expanded Autopia. It was a message that would begin to fulfill Walt Disney’s promise that Disneyland would never be completed.

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More than that, however, it revealed that Disneyland would continue to look to the future. Disneyland in 1959 showed its guests possibilities — a transportation system in the monorail that could remake urban communities, a tease of the freeway system that would reshape travel and a glimpse at the sort of deep-sea excursions only a lucky few could witness. The Matterhorn, while inspired by the film “Third Man on the Mountain,” also was meant to be a transportive experience, to not only bring to Disneyland a new kind of thrill ride but give visitors a taste of international adventure.

Disneyland’s second reimagining came much later. In 2001 the Walt Disney Co. would open Disney California Adventure, the Grand Californian hotel and the Downtown Disney District. These additions would attempt to make Disneyland, the company’s original park, one that could, in theory, rival Florida’s Walt Disney World by becoming a resort that could demand multiday stays.

This expansion succeeded as well, but not overnight.

A map illustrates the area around Disneyland in Anaheim

The original vision of Disney California Adventure proved to be lackluster, relying heavily on on-the-shelf rides and lacking emotion-driven experiences that take visitors out of their daily life. While the Grand Californian is a Craftsman-inspired triumph, Downtown Disney is in the midst of a transformation and is still attempting to outgrow its reputation as a home for chains and midtier eateries.

And now we’re entering a new era of possibilities, one that likely will look much different from the prior two. Modern Disney is centered on intellectual property — or IP, in corporate speak — rather than Walt-era idealism, and the most tantalizing prospects of DisneylandForward center on building around existing structures rather than erecting a new park.

With DisneylandForward, the company won the flexibility to redesign the resort. Zoning rules will be amended so that Disney can add new attractions alongside hotels on the west side of Disneyland Drive. These will, if they come to fruition, likely be extensions of Disneyland or Disney California Adventure rather than a third park. Additionally, a new shopping, dining and entertainment district can be created to the southeast on what is currently the Toy Story parking lot at Katella Avenue and Harbor Boulevard.

Company brass and the DisneylandForward materials have offered teases of what could be built. Most of these have centered on recent expansions at Disney’s international parks, such as the World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland or Zootopia at Shanghai Disney Resort. There’s been little ideological talk about the future of Disneyland, as the focus has centered squarely on popular properties and franchises rather than the resort’s status as a cultural hub and gathering space.

But DisneylandForward came with a pledge. The Walt Disney Co. has promised to spend a minimum of $1.9 billion on Disneyland attractions, lodging, entertainment, shopping and dining in the next 10 years. That money can go quickly, with modern attractions costing sometimes in the high six figures, but the Walt Disney Co. also is in the midst of doubling down on its theme parks. Disney has guaranteed to spend $60 billion over the next 10 years in its experiences division, with at least half of that total dedicated to parks and resorts, according to a recent SEC filing .

It’s safe to say that the next 10 years will shape Disneyland for decades to come. While there’s much to be revealed, there are, perhaps, some safe bets. Here are a few educated guesses as to what to expect with an expanded Disneyland in the near term.

Get ready for Pandora

DisneylandForward materials reference everything from “Tangled” to “Peter Pan” to “Tron” as possible experiences that could come to Anaheim. One word, however, is missing, and it’s one that’s been regularly referenced by Disney brass in recent weeks: “Avatar.”

Disney CEO Bob Iger mentioned it at a recent shareholder meeting, even sharing the “Avatar” concept art, which was referred to as “inspirational artwork.” Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, wrote in a blog post after the shareholder event that further news on Disneyland-related attractions such as the “Avatar” experience was tied to the approval of DisneylandForward.

“We are excited about the stories our guests could experience at Walt’s original theme park destination after approval of DisneylandForward — including the chance to experience all-new Avatar adventures with a visit to Pandora,” D’Amaro wrote . And last night in Anaheim, Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock again teased “Avatar” at the DisneylandForward hearing and vote. Finally, one of Disney’s most respected theme park creatives even posted the “Avatar” concept art on Instagram , expressing the hope of sharing more on the project in the future.

Princess Tiana, in a green explorers outfit, is one of Disney's most lifelike robotics.

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With new droids at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and some of the most lifelike characters ever created at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Disney is looking to wow guests.

April 4, 2024

Consider a large-scale “Avatar”-inspired land all but a done deal, and the art shared for Disneyland isn’t an exact replica of Florida’s Pandora — The World of Avatar, which resides in that coast’s Animal Kingdom park. Now where to put it? Expect Pandora to be bound for Disney California Adventure. There’s been speculation that it could replace the area currently served by water ride Grizzly River Run or move into a largely vacant slot of Hollywood Land, but neither is ideal. The latter requires a rerouting of the monorail, and Grizzly River Run remains a popular attraction.

Here’s betting it’s positioned in one of the DCA expansion areas near the Pixar Place Hotel, as that would allow the company to give the James Cameron property a plethora of space, especially if Disney must hide a large show building behind an illusion of floating mountains.

Colorful renderings of potential hotel and dining space.

Expect more hotel options

With Disneyland lacking the acreage of Florida’s Walt Disney World, hotel prices in Anaheim are at a premium. Rooms for the recently revamped Pixar Place Hotel — Anaheim’s “budget” option — can routinely top $500 per night. More hotel space is needed, and if Disneyland goes all-in on “Avatar,” expect lodging and more entertainment options to follow close behind. Disney has long touted development of the Toy Story Lot as prime space for hotel, dining and entertainment modeled after Florida’s Disney Springs district.

The DisneylandForward materials mention the land as “the perfect location to cater to locals, conventioneers, hotel and Disneyland Resort guests with restaurants, hotels, live music, shopping, ticketed shows and theme park experiences.” A new proposed parking structure to the north would solve the parking issue, and Disney has done extensive research on this already, as it was part of an earlier, pre-pandemic planned development known as the “Eastern Gateway.”

Walkways to and from the new parking structure would connect the current resort to the new entertainment area. And while fans may want Disney to rapidly fill the available space with theme park attractions, if the resort is planning to increase capacity it’s first going to need a spot for those guests to park. Additionally, Iger at a recent media event said the company likely would hold back some of its theme park funds so the organization could move on the popularity of new films or franchises.

“We actually have a fairly good idea in the near term of what’s being built, but we’re purposefully not going to allocate it all,” Iger said. “Because who knows? In five years we can end up with a giant hit movie — think ‘Frozen’ — that we may want to mine essentially as an attraction, or a hotel or restaurant in our parks. So you want to maintain some flexibility.”

Arendelle, the fictional kingdom in "Frozen," at twilight.

What about ‘Frozen’s’ Arendelle? Or a ‘Coco’-themed experience?

Beyond “Avatar,” which seems a sure thing as it’s been mentioned by Iger on multiple occasions, any future aspects of DisneylandForward become pure speculation. But a couple of franchises may have higher priority than others.

Disney now has a “Frozen” attraction in Walt Disney World, a land in Hong Kong and experiences in the works for Disneyland Paris and Tokyo DisneySea. Walt Disney Imagineering, the company’s secretive arm devoted to theme park experiences, clearly has done the work on bringing “Frozen” to life in physical spaces, and it stands to reason that expansions to the original Disneyland Park, with its fairy-tale feel, would go more of a Fantasyland-inspired route.

What’s more, re-creating Arendelle in the expansion plots located near the Disneyland Hotel would give Disney the opportunity to construct a second castle, as any extensive changes to park centerpiece Sleeping Beauty Castle are prohibited due to structural limitations . The enduring popularity of “Frozen” seems relatively assured at this point, so bringing the franchise to Disneyland is far from a risk.

Guests onboard the simulator attraction Star Tours, with droid C-3PO in the captain's seat.

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April 9, 2024

But if the company opts to create something unique for Southern California rather than importing Hong Kong’s World of Frozen or Shanghai’s Zootopia, one franchise that seems to be routinely brought up by executives is “Coco.” When mentioning blue-sky concepts last year year at an investor event in Florida, D’Amaro teased “Coco” as a key film that has yet to be properly explored in the Disney parks.

Potrock again mentioned “Coco” in an op-ed in the Orange County Register touting the benefits of DisneylandForward, writing that the initiative could pave the way for “the chance to celebrate Dia de Los Muertos in a ‘Coco’-themed experience.” Disney California Adventure, of course, is home to a Dia de Los Muertos celebration that does center a short “Coco” show, and the property seems especially ripe for Southern California and our heavily Latino communities. That makes it an opportunity to give Disneyland an unique land not found in other parks while also tapping into the region’s diverse fan base. Walt’s original park deserves no less as it looks ahead to closing out its first century.

Why Disney is doubling down on theme parks with a $60-billion plan

April 24, 2024

Anaheim, CA - March 11: Visitors at Autopia in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. Environmental activists Zan Dubin and Paul Scott, not shown, recently filed a complaint about air pollution and noxious smells from Autopia with Southern California air quality regulators at Disneyland in Anaheim Monday, March 11, 2024. They want Disneyland to convert Autopia to electric vehicles, and to find other ways -in Tomorrowland and across the park - to bring clean energy into its storytelling. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Column: Disneyland just promised electric cars at Autopia. Gas will be gone by 2026

April 19, 2024

ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 18: Disneyland on Saturday, March 18, 2023 in Anaheim, CA. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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We’ll help you find the best places to hike, bike and run, as well as the perfect silent spots for meditation and yoga.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

Todd Martens joined the Los Angeles Times in 2007 and covers a mix of interactive entertainment (video games) and pop music. Previously, Martens reported on the music business for Billboard Magazine. He has contributed to numerous books, including “The Big Lebowski: An Illustrated, Annotated History of the Greatest Cult Film of All Time.” He continues to torture himself by rooting for the Chicago Cubs and, while he likes dogs, he is more of a cat person.

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Stewards check tourists QR code access outside the main train station in Venice, Italy, Thursday, April 25, 2024. The fragile lagoon city of Venice begins a pilot program Thursday to charge daytrippers a 5 euro entry fee that authorities hope will discourage tourists from arriving on peak days. The daytripper tax is being tested on 29 days through July, mostly weekends and holidays starting with Italy's Liberation Day holiday Thursday. Officials expect some 10,000 people will pay the fee to access the city on the first day, downloading a QR code to prove their payment, while another 70,000 will receive exceptions, for example, because they work in Venice or live in the Veneto region. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

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This must be Larchmont

MODESTO, CA - September 21, 2021: The confluence of the San Joaquin River, left, and Tuolumne River, right, along the Dos Rios Ranch Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021 in Modesto, CA. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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April 23, 2024

Destinations

All Holidays
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Duration 01 - 04 Days
Duration 05 - 08 Days
Duration 09 - 11 Days
Duration 12 Days Plus
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Disneyland Special

4 days tour.

Please scroll to see more information

Tour Overview

04 days - disneyland special (code: disp), tour highlights.

Disneyland® Park with entrance

Disneyland® Studios with entrance

Eiffel Tower (Top Floor*) with entrance

River Seine Boat Cruise with entrance

*Subject to Availability - In the event of the Eiffel Tower restricitng access/closure the ticket price difference for the restricted floor will be reimbursed. Eiffel Tower during national holidays or events may be substituted by Montparnasse tower or will be refunded.

Price Includes

Return transportation by deluxe AC coach from your selected pick up point

Return channel crossing via Eurotunnel or Ferry

3 nights accommodation in a 4* hotel with breakfast

2 Indian dinners & 1 Indian lunch

Entrances and sightseeing as mentioned in Tour Highlights

All tips and service charges

Premium service of a Star Tours’ Representative

ABTA Legal Protection

3 nights at Novotel Orly Rungis or similar

The Star Difference

Stay at charming 4 star hotels only

Tips and service charge included

Disney Infromation :

Download the Disneyland Paris app on your smartphone or tablet in order to consult the Disney Park Guide and access real-time information about shows and parades. The app also features attraction queuing times and details of any attraction closures.

Additional Excursions

Tour itinerary, other information, 2024 usd dates & prices.

Price per person based on 2/3 adults sharing a room

Child 2 - 11 years must share a room with 2/3 adults

Infants 0 - 23 months price is from $210 for a seat in coach only

Single supplement will be an additional $195

Discover general information about our tours by clicking here . Additionally, should you have any questions, our Frequently Asked Questions page may already contain the answers to your questions.

Country Details

Paris Illuminations Tour – The tour lasts 90 Minutes and takes you around the key sights of Paris at Night, see the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, Concorde, Invalides and the sparkling Eiffel Tower from the comfort of the coach.

In France the currency that you will need is Euros.

Passengers should exchange any spending money for their holiday before they actually travel. Whilst on tour it is very inconvenient and not all places you will visit will have ATM machines or accept credit/debit cards.

We also advise our passengers to keep some change in coins on them whilst on tour as using toilets in many parts of Europe is not free.

USD, GBP or travellers’ cheques are not widely accepted at locations in this tour.

An important point to note whilst on a touring holiday is that some long journeys are unavoidable especially when travelling from city to city.

It is advisable passengers carry necessities that they may need for the day such as water, dry snacks, cameras etc. with them in their hand luggage.

For this tour, it should be noted that the travel times are extensive on this tour.

Please see a summary of the distances you will be covering below:

Above is for indication purposes only

Breakfast will be provided at the hotels. The breakfast is usually in a separate dining area of the hotel and is usually a continental breakfast, which will consist of tea, coffee, bread, cereals, fruit and yoghurt.

Passengers can choose from different diets, including vegetarian, Jain or non-vegetarian (Halal will not always be available) meals. Passengers should advise the tour representative of their preferred diet on day one. The meals are pre-set buffet, and a choice of menu is not available. Meals will be provided with tap water only.

Lunches are not provided on this tour, where there is a possibility of stopping at a service station the choice for vegetarians may be limited. We highly recommend if you have specific dietary requirements then you should make arrangements to carry your own food for lunch.

Foreign Office Travel Advice

For the latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office click on the link below to get Country specific details

For a full list of the latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office click here

Not all hotels in this tour will have air-conditioning so you should carry a small portable fan with you especially during the summer months.

Please also note that not all hotels provide a kettle so if hot water is required for warming milk etc. in the hotel then it is advisable to carry a bottle warmer/kettle as well as a thermos flask. Passengers may also want to carry a small travel iron and hairdryer etc., as many hotel rooms may not have these facilities.

Some hotels in Europe, especially France will provide two single beds put together as a Double occupancy room, as this sort of configuration allows the hotel to use a room for multi-use, we do contract with such hotels, and you should be prepared for such eventualities.

If you use services such as the phone or mini-bar or pay TV whilst in your room, you will have to pay the hotel directly when you check out; these services are not included in your tour cost.

The maximum occupancy per room on this tour is 4 person(s).

Other Advisories

Disneyland® paris.

Disneyland Paris can get busy, especially at peak times, so it makes sense to orientate yourself before you arrive by going onto the website and looking at the latest map. There’s a lot to see so you might like to prioritise your must-do attractions to avoid disappointment. But one should try not missing the famous Disney Parades when the much-loved Disney characters take to the streets for a unique and interactive experience. Please note on this tour you will not be staying in Disney until it closes on day 3 so you will not see the evening firework, Parade or illuminations, however you will stay until it closes on Day 2. Should you wish to do this, then you will need to make your own way back to the Hotel, and you will miss the dinner and transfers for which no compensation will be due.

The resort itself comprises of two parks: The Disneyland Park, packed with rides and attractions, and the Walt Disney Studios Park. Your tickets will allow you access into any one of these parks.

When you arrive at the park, you might like to consider using the Fastpass service, a free service which helps you to cut down on waiting times for some of the attractions (subject to availability and operation).

Pick up and Drop off points & Times

Passengers should arrive at their pick-up point no later than 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Your pick-up point, address and time will be stated on your invoice. If you have selected a pick-up time outside of Wembley, Southall or East Ham then you will be confirmed your pick-up time.

Return journeys from the continent are scheduled to arrive at Dover or Folkestone between 19.00hrs and 20.00hrs approximately. We will then proceed to the original pick-up points in London (arrival time between 22.30hrs and 00.30hrs+1)

Outside London pick up points: Transportation may be arranged by a private car, minibus or an alternative coach for your journey to and from London. On rare occasions, there may be up to an hour wait for a connecting transfer on the return. Passengers can expect to receive a call from Star to confirm details a day prior to their departure. Star Tours reserves the right to amend any pick-up time 12 hours prior to departure.

The below pick-up points may not be available for this tour:

Dover (subject to availability)

Calais (subject to availability)

Schengen Visa Details

Visas & passports.

A passport valid for three months beyond the length of stay and issued within the past 10 years is required by all nationals. Except EU nationals holding a passport or national ID card which is valid for the duration of stay.

If you hold an Indian, Pakistani, or Bangladesh Passport, you will need to obtain Schengen Visa prior to travelling. Many nationalities do not require Schengen visas, such as British, EU and American nationals. Should you need further clarification, please contact us.

Weather in much of Paris tends to be the same as England and is very unpredictable. Regardless of the time of the year, it is advisable to carry an umbrella. Temperatures vary from place to place, and it is a good idea to check online for average temperatures for the destination(s) being visited depending on the time of the year.

Passengers can be well prepared by ensuring they are carrying appropriate clothing, footwear and accessories. Passengers should also be aware that during the winter months most of the sightseeing will be in the dark as, in Europe, the day becomes dark very early during winter. Passengers should consult with Star Tours at the time of booking if they are unsure.

Wheelchairs & Child Seats

We will accept lightweight manual wheelchairs for travel, subject to them being capable of being stowed in the luggage hold of the coach. It is also essential that a family member is also on tour to push their wheelchair. Star Tour’s will also request hotels for suitably equipped rooms; however, this is only on a request basis and cannot be guaranteed. It should be noted Eiffel Tower and some rides at Disney are not fully accessible for a wheelchair users.

In most of Europe, the use of child seats in coaches is mandatory for children under the age of 12 or who are shorter than 150 cm. Children under 7 years old or less than 125 cm tall must use a child seat with a harness or a restraint system. Children between 7 and 12 years old or between 125 and 150 cm tall must use a booster seat or a seat cushion. It is the responsibility of the child's parent or guardian to provide the appropriate child seat for their child.

Useful links

Home pick-ups.

The map below can be used to check the price of a home pick-up. The map shows the price bands for each area we service.

Unfortunately, there are no home pickup locations at this moment.

Pick-up points.

Below is a list of pick-up points available on this tour.

Early Bird Offers

Book your tour, number of passengers.

Star Wars Takeover: ‘Season of the Force’ Returns to Disneyland Resort

S outhern California’s Disneyland Resort has just released fresh details about the offerings guests can expect to see during the highly anticipated Season of the Force limited-time event, coming April 5 through June 2, 2024. The celebration of all things Star Wars universe will feature new experiences, including attraction overlays, nighttime spectaculars , character encounters, and themed food, beverages and merchandise.

All-New Experiences

This year, guests can look forward to the never-before-seen park productions and experiences, like the new nighttime spectacular “Fire of the Rising Moons” at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge . On select nights, starting April 5, this unique spectacle will showcase Disneyland’s stunning fireworks display from a very different vantage point, presented alongside iconic musical selections from legendary composer John Williams’ Star Wars film scores.

Also starting April 5, the epic Tomorrowland attraction, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue , will introduce new elements inspired by popular Disney+ series, such as “Ahsoka,” “Andor,” and “The Mandalorian.” It was recently revealed that the planet Seatos will be Star Tours’ newest destination, but Star Speeder passengers might also encounter urgent transmissions from newly introduced characters like, Ahsoka Tano, Cassian Andor, and Din Djarin and Grogu.

Also new this year from Disney PhotoPass service, prospective bounty hunters can come to the outer-rim planet of Batuu at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and pose with a Magic Shot holopuck, joining the likes of Din Djarin, the Mandalorian, and his faithful foundling, Grogu. Other, returning Star Wars Magic Shots and themed Disney PhotoPass Lenses will also be available to guests who purchase the Disney Genie+ service, giving them additional opportunities to immerse themselves in a galaxy far, far away.

More Limited-Time Delights

Regardless of whether you consider yourself a First Order loyalist or a rebel, a devotee of the dark side or the light, everyone can agree that Star Wars-themed attractions overlays are a highlight of the Season of the Force.

The fan-favorite overlay of the high-speed coaster Space Mountain, known as Hyperspace Mountain, will return to Tomorrowland for a limited time only, maintaining its residency through June 2. Guests will once again be able to board their rocket-cars and race through the cosmos, this time dodging laser blasts from some pretty terrifying TIE fighters and even soaring past a Star Destroyer along the way.

During the Season of the Force, be on the lookout for the many limited-time food and beverage offerings, brand-new, limited-edition merchandise and more. Star Wars-themed specialty treats, snacks and sips are sure to be everywhere you turn, including the Star Wars sugar cookie. We’ll know more soon, as the full menu will be rolled out once the Disney Eats: Season of the Force Foodie Guide is released in the coming weeks.

Other new releases include a never-before-seen collection of Star Tours – The Adventures Continue merchandise, which is making its way to both the Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. You can find it at Tomorrowland’s Star Trader retail outlet in Disneyland park or the Star Wars Trading Post, located in Downtown Disney District.

Select retail items will also become available online at DisneyStore.com later in the year, but, if you want to choose your galactic gear from among the full selection, you’d better come to the parks in person!

“Fire of the Rising Moons” nighttime spectacular at Disneyland's Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

‘I took the kids to Disneyland Paris and walked 20,000 steps a day’

It's a physical and emotional work out...

I was raised by (lovely) parents who spent holidays hiking the Pembrokeshire coast path while staying in an off-grid cottage way before a digital detox was even a thing, so a trip to somewhere like Disneyland was never on the cards growing up.

Fast-forward to my own parenting years (two sons aged 8 and 12) and I have a more open outlook when it comes to family travel, in that I'll go pretty much anywhere with them - the best being a trip to Petra in Jordan, the worst being a choppy ferry journey to Ireland during which they vomited on me so I arrived on the Emerald Isle covered in sick. Happy days.

So when the kids said their dream holiday was Disneyland, it wasn't an initial 'no way', though Orlando was instantly ruled out due to cost. But Disneyland Paris? The French capital's cheaper and easier to reach in a weekend and, after some excellent campaigning from the kids outlining the charms of its exciting rides, restaurants styled like Ratatouille and Sleeping Beauty’s iconic pink castle (ok the last one was me), I booked.

How do you get there?

The journey was equally as efficient, particularly the meal served at our table, aeroplane-style, with a hostess serving a choice of two meals from a trolley - I opted for beetroot salad and a glass of wine. How civilised.

sleeping beauty's castle at disneyland paris

A couple of hours later we glided into Gard du Nord in the heart of Paris, from where we took a 30-minute transfer to Hotel L’Elysée Val d’Europe, our base for two nights and just a (free) ten-minute shuttle ride from Disneyland Paris.

First impressions of the parks?

First surprise? it’s two parks: Disneyland Paris and the smaller (though size doesn’t matter, right?) Walt Disney Studios Park. Second surprise? It's SO. BIG.

The moment you step through the gates (there are two sets, security and then each park has its own entrance), you’re transported to another world, one where you can chat to Cinderella, have an Avenger’s burger for lunch and get lost in an Alice in Wonderland’s labyrinth.

Everywhere you look people of all ages are wearing Mickey and Minnie headbands – we even saw some excited punters dressed in head-to-toe Disney merch (yes, they were adults). When we arrived a parade along Main Street USA had just started, so we were instantly immersed in a carnival atmosphere complete with colourful floats carrying characters from Frozen, Peter Pan etc .

Okay tell me about the rides...

I’m starting with the rides my sons BOTH voted the best. Number one – the shiny new Spider-Man W.E.B Adventure in the Marvel-themed Avengers Campus (Walt Disney Studios), where we climbed aboard a W.E.B slinger vehicle and shot spider-bots with web from OUR HANDS *Spidey web hands gesture*. It’s fast, furious and, even though I caught the least bots, I get why this one was such a hit.

spiderman at avengers camp in disneyland paris

The rest of the Avengers Campus went down a storm, including Flight Force (warning, this twisty, turney coaster isn’t for the faint-hearted). Meeting Spider-Man in the Hero Training Centre was a great photo opp, though we left feeling like we probably didn’t have enough training to rid a city of criminals. Sadly, I couldn’t drag them into the Pixar Musical Adventure , ‘a journey through Toy Story, Monsters and Finding Nemo ‘ (too babyish, apparently),

Over in Disneyland Paris, the kids’ favourite ride was Star Tours: The Adventures Continue found in the Discoveryland area. We put on a pair of 3D specs, stepped aboard a Starspeeder 1000 and sped through a galaxy far, far away, with thrilling glimpses of the Death Star, C-3PO and underwater realms. It’s incredibly realistic and everyone wanted to go on it again (me included!).

big thunder mountain at disneyland paris

We gave Stars Wars Hyperspace Mountain a swerve, though it did look thrilling, and headed instead for another white-knuckle coaster: Temple of Peril , a slightly terrifying Indiana Jones-style coaster where putting your hands in the air and screaming is obligatory. You can get more adrenaline rushes on Big Thunder Mountain plus Crush’s Coaster and The Twighlight Zone Tower of Terror in Walt Disney Studios.

Rides aside, the shows are not to be missed. Frozen fans will want to make a beeline for Elsa and crew at Frozen: A Musical Invitation (Walt Disney Studios) where you can belt out Let It Go . The Lion King’s equally enticing and apparently Alice in Wonderland is due to take the stage in Walt Disney Studios this spring.

All three of us thought Adventureland was excellent, a lush land of towering bamboo, spooky caves, wobbly rope bridges, an enormous (fake) tree housing the Swiss Family Robinson’s cabin, souks from Aladdin and a massive pirate galleon. Think the best play park you’ve been to on steroids.

Got younger kids? There’s loads for little ones, particularly in Fantasyland, where we saw Peter Pan’s flight (you get to fly through a virtual Never Land) and tots can spin around in the Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups, fly in Dumbo and ride on the gentle Le Petit Train Du Cirque .

And is the food any good?

It’s a good job you easily walk more than five miles exploring the parks, because the restaurant offering at Disney’s off the scale. Seriously, I’d be happy to just do a food tour. If your main aim is to meet Disney characters, you’re going to want to book a table at fancy French restaurant Auberge de Cendrillon in Disneyland Park, where Cinderella, Elsa and co make an appearance. Or Plaza Gardens pavilion for a chance to meet Mickey over the all you can eat buffet.

chez remy restaurant at disneyland paris

For an authentic Ratatouille vibe, it has to be Bistrot Chez Rémy – think over-sized cocktail umbrellas, cookbooks and cutlery. While Marvel fans will want to refuel at PYM Kitchen in the Avenger Camp for the novelty value – the food, zapped by PYM particles (see Ant-Man and the Wasp ) is fun-sized, from mini burgers to massive pretzels.

For snacks/pit stops, March Hare in Fantasyland is very sweet (literally, it sells lots of ice cream), and we couldn’t resist a round of Nutella-loaded waffles from one of the many food trucks. See more dining options here .

Where's the best place to stay?

We slept 10 mins (by complimentary shuttle bus) from the parks at super four-star Hotel L’Elysée Val d’Europe . If you're not a die-hard Disney fan, believe me you'll appreciate arriving back in the real world after 10 hours of fantasy.

Our spotless family room had two enormous squishy double beds, WiFi faster than a Disney ‘coaster and a tub, the perfect place to wallow in bubbles (the foamy kind) and ease tired legs. If there are more than four in your clan, book an XL Family Room which can fit up to eight people.

Although the food at Disneyland Paris is great, our favourite meal of the weekend was at Le George, the hotel’s swish restaurant. Starters of light tuna tempura and duck, followed by succulent steak frites (the kids menu is simply smaller portions of the adults, so French). Even the wine, a glass (ok two) of recommended Cote-Rotie (€12), was superb.

The boys left the table between courses to explore ‘the jungle’, a mini Kew-like double-storey glass room filled with trees, tropical ferns, banana plants and flowers. There’s a long dining table in the middle of all the foliage which you can book if you’re in a bigger party.

L’Diplomat Bar’s a cosy spot for a post-Disney cocktail - it looked like that’s exactly what many of guests were doing, though most had removed their Minnie ears - and it also serves a rich hot chocolate for kids.

Try and carve out a little free time to visit huge shopping centre Val d’Europe opposite the hotel, which is like adult Disneyland – upstairs dedicated to fashion and beauty and a lower floor full of French food. I picked up a tube of French beauty editors’ must-have secret potion A313 Pommade from the pharmacy and a pair of black ankle boots, not bad for a 25-minute dash.

Want to stay in-park? Disneyland Hotel (themed around Disney royalty) has just reopened its doors (after a two-year, multi-million pound reno) and it’s gone down a storm with reviewers. The upsides? Reception resembling Sleeping Beauty’s castle, getting to eat breakfast with Disney characters, pillow menus, five-star Clarins spa and a private entrance to the park. The downside? It’s £1,501 per night in April, though this is for a family of four and does include two-day park passes.

Download the Disneyland Paris app: BEFORE you go. Seriously, everything you could possibly ever need is on the app , from interactive maps, to opening times and the ability to book lunch. And take a phone charger, because if your phone shuts down, the magic will too.

Don’t try and cram in too much : These parks are BIG. Better to go for two days and spread it out, if you can.

Pack like you’re going on a hike: You’ll walk for miles (I’m talking 20,000 steps a day), so it’s important to be prepared. Trainers, tick. Comfy clothes, tick. Waterbottles (there are plenty of drinking fountains), tick. Snacks, tick.

Beat the queues for rides with Disney Premier Access Ultimate : If you’re not prepared to wait for up to 45 mins to get on some of the more popular rides and attractions, you can snap up premier access on the app (around €90pp per day for up to 16 rides low seasons, up to €190pp per day in peak) then simply scan the QR code at the entrance to the ride and, voila , you’re in the fast lane.

Arrive early, but not too early: The parks open at 9.30am and the queues were pretty lengthy even in low season (Feb), however by 10.30am they appeared to have eased off a little.

Take rain gear : You’re in FRANCE not FLORIDA. Rain happens, and you don’t want to spend extra money on see-through ponchos you’ll never wear again.

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Inside Out’s Sadness Is Going Viral For Busting A Move At Disneyland, And The Internet Can't Get Enough

It's such a mood.

This week, Pixar Fest debuted at Disneyland Resort , and it’s apparently so much fun that even Inside Out ’s Sadness is getting down on the dancefloor, and knowing Sadness, that took a lot of prodding! As the festivities got underway at the California theme park, Sadness has gone viral for her dance moves, especially because it’s such a meme-able mood.

One Twitter user shared a video focusing on the character of Sadness at Disneyland’s Club Pixar For Kids, which is a massive dance party for the family to enjoy while at the theme park. Here’s what it looks like when the Inside Out character decides to bust a move:

Sadness is walking on sunshine … sorta. pic.twitter.com/DxEUOEpuOE April 25, 2024

While the other dancers around Sadness are bringing tons of energy to the dance performance, Sadness is really in character. She can be seen doing the moves more slowly than her Pixar crew and even wiping away tears as she does the choreography. As Scott Gustin wrote, “Sadness is walking on sunshine … sorta.” He is referring to the song in the background “Walking On Sunshine,” which hilariously foils the mood Sadness is bringing to her dancing.

The video has gone absolutely viral, landing over six million views in the past two days. It’s especially gaining traction thanks to people adding their own captions to the video. Check out these comments:

"I’ve never felt so seen in all my life."
“Me at work everyday”
"Me adding a 5th exclamation point to a work email."
“when i’ve been at the club more than an hour”
"🎶i'm so depressed i act like its my birthdayy, every day🎶"

While Rewatching Inside Out, I Found A New Appreciation For One Specific Emotion Character

Sadness is of course a relatable emotion to anyone, considering its one of the basic emotions everyone has in their repertoire, as imaginatively illustrated in Pixar’s Inside Out . On Twitter , tons of people added their own commentary to the video, sharing how it felt very relatable to their inner feelings, especially when it comes to working that 9-to-5 or being on the dancefloor a tad too long.

One of the best and most popular reactions involved quoting one of Taylor Swift ’s new songs, “I Can Do It With A Broken Heart.” In the song from Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department , the singer describes performing in her record-breaking Eras Tour amidst dealing with sadness of her own. This video of Sadness busting a move just goes with the lyrics all too well!

Sadness will return to cinemas this summer, when Pixar’s Inside Out sequel is released on the 2024 movie schedule on June 14. The movie will follow the inner workings of Riley’s mind as she becomes a teenager. You can check out what other upcoming Disney movies are on the way here on CinemaBlend. And hey, if Sadness strikes, maybe dancing it out is the right energy!?!

CINEMABLEND NEWSLETTER

Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News

Sarah El-Mahmoud has been with CinemaBlend since 2018 after graduating from Cal State Fullerton with a degree in Journalism. In college, she was the Managing Editor of the award-winning college paper, The Daily Titan, where she specialized in writing/editing long-form features, profiles and arts & entertainment coverage, including her first run-in with movie reporting, with a phone interview with Guillermo del Toro for Best Picture winner, The Shape of Water. Now she's into covering YA television and movies, and plenty of horror. Word webslinger. All her writing should be read in Sarah Connor’s Terminator 2 voice over.

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Disney World | Star sighting: Hayley and Derek Hough at…

Things To Do

Theme parks, disney world, disney world | star sighting: hayley and derek hough at disney’s animal kingdom.

Hayley and Derek Hough pose near Tree of Life at Disney's Animal Kingdom. (Olga Thompson/Walt Disney Co.)

Derek Hough, dancer/judge/six-time champion of “Dancing With the Stars,” and his wife Hayley Erbert Hough visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park recently as they kicked off another leg of the Symphony of Dance tour.

The couple, along with the rest of the tour’s dance cast and crew, went to Animal Kingdom on the day before their performance at Orlando’s Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, one of four stops in Florida.

An earlier performance in Melbourne marked the return to the stage by Hayley Hough, who had an emergency craniectomy in December after a tour performance. She was diagnosed with a cranial hematoma due to a burst blood vessel. She has since had a cranioplasty, surgery to replace part of her skull. ( People magazine reported a standing ovation for her Melbourne performance.)

The couple made a red carpet-appearance at a Disney+ event and also announced her return to the tour earlier this month. The cities on this leg of the tour were originally scheduled for late last year but were postponed by the surgery.

The couple married in August. They met in 2014 during Derek Hough’s tour with his sister Julianne Hough. Derek Hough has four Emmys for his choreography. Hayley Hough appeared as a contestant on “So You Think You Can Dance” and as a member of the troupe in multiple seasons of “Dancing With the Stars.”

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LOS ANGELES — The castle is immaculate, its gold etching regal and its towers a bold shade of sky blue. The band at its gates plays no real instruments, but the musicians look dapper and at the ready. Before it all sits an elongated train station, a mix of Victorian grandeur and small-town affability. Look in the distance — there’s a Southern-style mansion, multiple distinct mountains and even another castle, this one nestled at the top of a mound, its spires peering over a wall.

All of it is familiar. It’s Disneyland, mostly.

But the setting, the backyard of a modest suburban home in Anaheim Hills, makes it clear this is no official product of the Walt Disney Co. Yet fans flock to it, with free tickets for the rare open house disappearing often in minutes. Welcome to Castle Peak and Thunder Railroad, as David Sheegog calls his backyard garden, home to a miniature love letter to Disneyland and Disney animation. Creating this scaled-down universe has been a passion of his for about a quarter of a century now.

Over the decades, Castle Peak has garnered the attention of local media, become a social media darling and grown with the Sheegog family, as what once was meant to be a gift for his children has taken on a life of its own. The kids have left home, but Castle Peak continues to flourish.

Tinker Bell is nestled in a green forest scene with her fellow Pixie Hollow fairies.

As Sheegog, an independent architect, looks forward to retirement — he turned 65 last year but is still in practice — he speaks of Castle Peak as if it’s just getting started. Walk with Sheegog to the family garage and find not just storage but a workshop, currently home to a model for a “Star Wars”-inspired entryway that Sheegog hopes will someday lead to a new section of his backyard garden, this one inspired by Disneyland’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

This is no mere modest hobby. That’s apparent not just in the details but in the way Sheegog today thinks of entertaining guests, who are welcomed each spring and fall.

There are small but irresistible touches. Sheegog’s version of the Casey Jr. Circus Train is equipped, for instance, with its own sound module, playing the locomotive’s theme song as it chugs across a bridge. But over the years, Sheegog has embraced his showman side. A recent addition to the patio is what Sheegog calls the “enchanted tiki waterbar,” where a glass window erupts into a thunder and lightning show, complete with a mini-rain storm created by a pump and reservoir.

While the actual Disneyland Resort is just a few minutes from the Sheegog home, Castle Peak speaks to the way the theme park can become a sort of communal hub that can touch multiple generations and stand as something for which people can connect around. For many in Southern California, Disneyland sits somewhere between a landmark and a rite of passage, a place of familial and friendship rituals that stays with you long after the grand finale of the evening’s fireworks.

Sheegog believes that’s one reason why his backyard, also home to a 105-year-old Chinese elm bonsai, can barely meet its demand.

A couple pose in front of the miniature Disneyland in their yard.

“There was a woman here one time, and she was close to 100,” Sheegog says. “She worked in the park on opening day, when Walt Disney was there, and worked in the park her whole life. She had a whole crowd around her, just listening to stories about what it was like. She started weeping. As she was talking, she was reliving her life when she was 20 years old, her first love, where she met her husband. All these memories come back, and a lot of people who come here are that way because we’re in Anaheim. We grew up with the park, and it has a certain sentimental niche in your psyche. People just want to be around it, and our place provides an outlet for that.”

Sheegog kind of stumbled into model railroading. About 25 years ago he was perusing for a gift for a young nephew, now in his 30s, who was a fan of “Thomas the Tank Engine.” Shopping for the latter at a local railroad store, the Orange County native who grew up within walking distance to Disneyland was suddenly hooked by the model railroad industry. Things quickly spiraled.

“This was back in 1997 or so, and I said, ‘This will be a 10-year project.’ As I developed the model — I built a model on our dining room table — we had to decide on the major structures,” Sheegog says. “Most of the garden railroads I had seen people had bought pre-made kits of little plastic buildings that are all about 12 inches by 8 inches. They look like premade little buildings, like a barber shop. No. I wanted to build this from scratch, and wanted them to be impressive, like 5 feet across and 4 feet tall. Or in the case of one our castles, 7 feet tall. I had to plan these out as to where the major buildings would be.”

At the time, he was thinking of set pieces that would look akin to mini-golf buildings. Sheegog once worked at Disneyland on the Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes, and the family’s eldest daughter is named Ariel after “The Little Mermaid.” Thus, Disneyland was a natural theme for the family to explore for the backyard garden. And the Walt Disney Co., of course, has a romanticized history with railroads, as Walt Disney once had a backyard railway of his own and is said to have dreamed up Mickey Mouse on a cross-country train trip.

The Skyway, which no longer exists in the IRL Disneyland, is preserved as a reference in the Sheegogs’ backyard attraction.

A Disney-inspired backyard is not, necessarily, an anomaly in American suburbia. HGTV once ran a show dedicated to the practice, and in the early days of the pandemic it became a social media trend to re-create Disney rides at home, with fans experimenting with rudimentary special effects and bringing pets into the action. Some have even built makeshift roller coasters in the yards.

And today, there are host of businesses that attempt to tap the Disney fanbase. One can find elaborately themed homes for rent, as well as pop-up bars such as Montclair’s the Set , a speakeasy that rotates among Disney motifs throughout the year.

Sheegog’s creation has both a professional sheen and a do-it-yourself quality. It’s important to note that it will always be free, as the family doesn’t want to attract the attention of corporate lawyers — timed reservations are required solely to make sure the home and neighborhood aren’t overrun. Aside from Sheegog’s heavily detailed, multiple foot structures — he’s re-created references to the now-defunct Splash Mountain and Disney/Pixar films such as “Up” — he’s also peppered in hidden nods to most every Disney or Pixar animated film from 1937 (“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”) to 2021 (“Encanto”).

“That will be the last one,” Sheegog says of “Encanto.” “I’ve finally put a cap on it. I’ve got 80 films out there. It’s a bunch. I’m running out of room. If they keep coming out, I can’t keep doing something. All my energy is going into other projects with the railroad.”

Young visitors look out onto a portion of a railroad and lagoon-like setting within the Sheegogs’ massive attraction.

When Sheegog builds a structure, it’s no simple feat. Occasionally, he says, he’ll get inquiries from guests on the cost of hiring Sheegog to build, say, a Sleeping Beauty Castle. “They think you can do it for $300 or $400, and I say, ‘It’s probably going to be about $70,000 to build that thing again,” he says. “It takes someone six months of their life to build that.”

Money isn’t a topic Sheegog likes to discuss — “We are not wealthy people here, and I’m trying to figure out a way to retire because there’s not a way to do it right now” — and he’s quick to add that the castle didn’t cost him tens of thousands; he’s simply factoring in labor costs. He estimates that over the last two decades he’s sunk what would be the equivalent of buying a pool into his backyard Disneyland.

The investment shows. His initial Sleeping Beauty Castle was built utilizing plywood, PVC, wood turnings and cast resin veneer, but he has since updated the structure with largely polyurethane foam boards and 3D-printed materials. There are detailed galleries on his website documenting the builds of a number of structures, including Rapunzel’s tower and Beast’s castle.

A key appeal of Castle Peak is that it doesn’t try to re-create Disneyland, per se: an equal number of miniatures reference animated films as they do park attractions. For the latter, Sheegog includes some that no longer exist, including the Skyway, a set he purchased from Von Roll Model Ropeways rather than built, as well as some references to Florida’s Walt Disney World.

Nothing feels incongruous. Disneyland, after all, exists as much in our memories and our imaginations as it does at 1313 Disneyland Drive.

Today, Sheegog is talking about moving the retaining wall on the house to further expand Castle Peak, wanting two new sections, one that nods to Disneyland’s Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland, which closed to make way for Big Thunder Mountain, and the aforementioned Galaxy’s Edge expansion. Time and money are hurdles, though, and he’s considered crowd-funding for Castle Peak’s continued development.

And yet that’s another aspect to Castle Peak’s enduring appeal. Like Disneyland, it’s never finished. “It’s like little home additions,” Sheegog says. “But rather than putting on a new bedroom we’re going to do another mountain or another rock feature.”

And it’s all in the name of capturing a little bit of magic.

Fans lift themselves up over brick walls to look a little closer at the miniatures laid out in front of them.

Castle Peak and Thunder Railroad

Where: Anaheim Hills (exact address provided upon reservation)

When: Open houses typically are staged in the spring and fall. The next ones are scheduled for weekends in May. Sign up for the Castle Peak mailing list to be notified when registration opens.

Info: cptrr.com

Martens writes for the Los Angeles Times. This article was provided by Tribune News Service.

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Woodburn: Angel’s share and Titanic tears

Contrary to its worldwide catchphrase, Disneyland is not, according to one kilt-wearing tour guide in the Highlands of Scotland, The Happiest Place on Earth.

Leaving Loch Ness, which seems The Remotest Place on Earth almost, our tour group drove along a road so narrow that whenever we passed a vehicle coming the other direction our bus had to suck in its breath like a person trying to button a familiar pair of pants after gaining ten pounds.

Along this breath-holding drive we passed breathtaking scenery and passed through a small town and in doing so passed by a wee little whisky distillery — no “e” in whisky’s spelling in Scotland as apparently “whiskey” also sucked in its breath.

Directly across from the distillery was a neighborhood of timeworn cottages all built of sandstone blocks, all with stone fences so ancient they leaned off balance as if having consumed too much whisky. Despite the visual suggestion of hardscrabble lives within, our guide told us the residents were The Happiest People on Earth.

“Every day they open their windows and get drunk on the air and sunshine,” Callum said. Noting the steady rain coming down, he added: “Or they open their windows and get drunk on the air and Scottish mist.”

After requesting we open the bus windows a crack, he explained that as whisky ages in oak casks about 10% evaporates annually and this is called “the angel’s share.”

Sweeping a hand towards the humble houses Callum went on: “So you see, they are The Happiest People on Earth because they are stealing their fair share from the angels.” He inhaled through his nose, deeply, as if cookies were baking — smiled — and added with a wink: “Now before we all get drunk, close the windows.”

Continuing his playful sommelier’s soliloquy, Callum said: “In Scotland whisky is distilled twice while Irish whiskey is distilled three times. Three times might sound better than twice, but this is not the case at all — the Irish do one extra because they can’t get it right in two tries.”

A mist of gentle laughter floated through the bus and days later similarly did so in the tasting room at Jameson Distillery in Dublin, Ireland, when its tour host buoyantly reversed the punch line: “The Scots are too lazy to do it the right way which is three times.”

There was no laughing inside the oppressively somber and, fittingly, impressively gigantic Titanic museum and shipyard in Belfast where the infamous ship was designed, built, and launched.

Among the heart-wrenching artifacts on display, and echoing the whisky-and-writers theme that emerged on this trip, was a silver flask belonging to Helen Churchill Candee. On fateful April 15, 1912, she was a 53-year-old American author and journalist.

While Candee would live to 90, her story, as related on a placard, caused an angel’s share of tears to well up in my eyes: “As ship was sinking, she was helped into Lifeboat No. 6 by her First Class companion, Edward Kent. She did not have pockets in her coat, so entrusted Kent with her hip flask — a cherished family heirloom. Tragically, Kent did not make it to safety and died in the icy waters. The hip flask, however, did find its way back to Helen. It was recovered from Kent’s body, and returned to its owner after the authorities traced her family through the Churchill family motto engraved on the flask —”

Here, fact proves far more creatively perfect than fiction.

“ ‘—Faithful, but Unfortunate.’ ”

Next week: Serendipity smiles at St. Andrews Golf Club.

Woody Woodburn’s new novel “The Butterfly Tree” is available at Amazon, other online bookstores, and brick-and-mortar bookshops. He can be reached at [email protected] .

Preplanned tours
Daytrips out of Moscow
Themed tours
Customized tours
St. Petersburg

Moscow Metro

The Moscow Metro Tour is included in most guided tours’ itineraries. Opened in 1935, under Stalin’s regime, the metro was not only meant to solve transport problems, but also was hailed as “a people’s palace”. Every station you will see during your Moscow metro tour looks like a palace room. There are bright paintings, mosaics, stained glass, bronze statues… Our Moscow metro tour includes the most impressive stations best architects and designers worked at - Ploshchad Revolutsii, Mayakovskaya, Komsomolskaya, Kievskaya, Novoslobodskaya and some others.

What is the kremlin in russia?

The guide will not only help you navigate the metro, but will also provide you with fascinating background tales for the images you see and a history of each station.

And there some stories to be told during the Moscow metro tour! The deepest station - Park Pobedy - is 84 metres under the ground with the world longest escalator of 140 meters. Parts of the so-called Metro-2, a secret strategic system of underground tunnels, was used for its construction.

During the Second World War the metro itself became a strategic asset: it was turned into the city's biggest bomb-shelter and one of the stations even became a library. 217 children were born here in 1941-1942! The metro is the most effective means of transport in the capital.

There are almost 200 stations 196 at the moment and trains run every 90 seconds! The guide of your Moscow metro tour can explain to you how to buy tickets and find your way if you plan to get around by yourself.

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PHOTOS, VIDEO: Star Tours Blasts Back Into Orbit with Physical

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Disneyland, Star Tour 2

COMMENTS

Star Tours
Star Tours Takes Flight. On January 9, 1987, George Lucas and Walt Disney Imagineering brought the Star Warsgalaxy to life at Disneyland Park. The original Star Tours attraction blasted off to Endor. In the years since, the experience has been updated with new worlds and iconic characters from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: The Last ...
What to know about Disneyland's updated Star Tours ride
April 9, 2024 3 AM PT. Disneyland's Star Tours: The Adventures Continue has proved to be one of the theme park's most versatile attractions. Though perhaps no longer the groundbreaking ...
Star Tours Ride at Disneyland: Things You Need to Know
Paul Hiffmeyer/Disneyland. For most visitors, Star Tours is a must-do ride — or at least ride it if you have time. Location: Star Tours is in Tomorrowland Rating: ★★★★★ Restrictions: 40 inches (102 cm).Regardless of height, children under age seven years must be accompanied by a person aged 14 years or older.
Star Tours at Disneyland Park Celebrates 35 Years of Galactic
For some, it may feel like we jumped straight into hyperspace - but believe it or not, this Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, marks 35 years since the original Star Tours attraction debuted at Disneyland park!. Jan. 9, 1987, is the date that's been long remembered, as it marked the first time guests were able to hop aboard a Starspeeder on Star Tours, blasting off to a galaxy far, far away for an ...
Star Tours
Star Tours was a motion simulator attraction at several Disney theme parks, based on the successful Star Wars film series created by George Lucas.Set in the Star Wars universe, the attraction sent guests on an excursion trip to Endor, whilst being caught in an altercation between the New Republic and an Imperial Remnant.The attraction featured Captain "Rex" RX-24 along with series regulars R2 ...
Star Tours
Star Tours - The Adventures Continue is an attraction located at Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris.Set in the Star Wars universe, Star Tours - The Adventures Continue takes passengers on a turbulent trip across the galaxy, as droids C-3PO and R2-D2 attempt to safely return a spy to the Rebel Alliance. ...
Star Tours: The Adventures Continue 2023
Fly through the Star Wars galaxy on Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, a motion simulator ride at the Disneyland Resort.0:00 Queue0:56 Pre-Show1:54 Star To...
Star Tours
40" (102 cm) or Taller. Age Interest. Kids, Tweens, Teens, Adults. Thrill Level. Small Drops, Thrill Rides, Dark, Loud. Move faster than the speed of light as you ride aboard a 3D, motion-simulated space flight to legendary destinations from Star Wars. Explore a Galaxy Far, Far Away. Launch into outer space on a thrilling tour of the Star Wars ...
Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
Star Tours: The Adventures Continue. When Disney's first modern flight simulator ride debuted in 1987, guests lined up for hours for their hyperspace voyage into a galaxy far, far away. But time and technology march on, and Star Tours received a top-to-bottom overhaul in 2011 with cutting-edge digital 3-D screens (the sharpest and clearest ...
Star Tours Attraction Review
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 ...
Where is Disneyland's Star Tours going next?
Star Tours sits near the entrance to Tomorrowland inside Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Tuesday, March 1, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG) A new destination in a galaxy ...
Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
Before there was Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, there was Star Tours, Disneyland's motion simulator ride taking guests into the world of George Lucas' Star Wars f...
We Rode Disney's NEW and Improved Star Tours Ride
Star Tours — The Adventures continue at Disneyland, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disneyland Paris all received an update on April 5th, 2024 to reflect new Star Wars Disney+ media and we were invited to get a FIRSTHAND LOOK! Check it out! Star Tours. The new adventures include characters and locations from Ahsoka, Andor, and The Mandalorian. We got to experience these new adventures and ...
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What Is Star Tours at Disneyland?
Star Tours at Disneyland is a 3D motion-simulated space flight attraction based on the Star Wars film series. Guests embark on an exciting journey aboard a Starspeeder 1000 spacecraft, encountering iconic characters and exploring alien worlds from the Star Wars universe. The ride features high-definition video, a Dolby 3D high-definition screen ...
Star Tours
Star Tours - The Adventure Continues is Disneyland's first motion simulator ride, opening on January 9, 1987! The ride went through an extensive refurbishment in 2011, adding new technology and effects.
Star Tours at Disneyland and Disney World to Add 'Mandalorian,' 'Andor
The original Star Tours opened in 1987 at Disneyland and two years later at Disney World, transporting guests into the world of the Star Wars films. A new version of the ride, The Adventures ...
Star Tours
Star Tours was a simulator attraction, based on the Star Wars media franchise. This version of the attraction has since closed at its original home of Disneyland, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris, but was replaced by Star Tours: The Adventures Continue at all three parks between 2011 and 2013, whilst it re-opened as the Adventures Continue at Disneyland Paris ...
Behind the Scenes of the Latest Star Tours
"Each time we look at updating Star Tours, we search for iconic moments from Star Wars that would lend themselves to a unique adventure," says Tom Fitzgerald, senior creative executive at Walt Disney Imagineering. "George Lucas once referred to Star Tours as a 'Greatest Hits Attraction,' and we are excited that with our partners at Lucasfilm the adventures can continue to…continue.
DisneylandForward: What new attractions will come to Disneyland?
Star Tours has become one of Disneyland's most versatile attractions, and its latest update nods to series such as 'The Mandalorian,' 'Ahsoka' and 'Andor.' April 9, 2024
04 Days
3 nights accommodation in a 4* hotel with breakfast. 2 Indian dinners & 1 Indian lunch. Entrances and sightseeing as mentioned in Tour Highlights. All tips and service charges. Premium service of a Star Tours' Representative. ABTA Legal Protection.
Star Wars Takeover: 'Season of the Force' Returns to Disneyland Resort
Also starting April 5, the epic Tomorrowland attraction, Star Tours - The Adventures Continue, will introduce new elements inspired by popular Disney+ series, such as "Ahsoka," "Andor ...
'I took the kids to Disneyland Paris and walked 20,000 steps a day'
Over in Disneyland Paris, the kids' favourite ride was Star Tours: The Adventures Continue found in the Discoveryland area. We put on a pair of 3D specs, stepped aboard a Starspeeder 1000 and ...
Inside Out's Sadness Is Going Viral For Busting A Move At Disneyland
This week, Pixar Fest debuted at Disneyland Resort, and it's apparently so much fun that even Inside Out's Sadness is getting down on the dancefloor, and knowing Sadness, that took a lot of ...
Derek Hough and wife Hayley Erbert visit Disney World while on tour
Derek Hough, dancer/judge/six-time champion of "Dancing With the Stars," and his wife Hayley Erbert Hough visited Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park recently as they kicked off another leg ...
628DirtRooster
Welcome to the 628DirtRooster website where you can find video links to Randy McCaffrey's (AKA DirtRooster) YouTube videos, community support and other resources for the Hobby Beekeepers and the official 628DirtRooster online store where you can find 628DirtRooster hats and shirts, local Mississippi honey and whole lot more!
He built a mini-Disneyland in his backyard; you can walk through it
"There was a woman here one time, and she was close to 100," Sheegog says. "She worked in the park on opening day, when Walt Disney was there, and worked in the park her whole life.
Moscow Metro 2019
Themed tours; Customized tours; St. Petersburg; SMS: +7 (906) 077-08-68 [email protected]. Moscow Metro 2019. Will it be easy to find my way in the Moscow Metro? It is a question many visitors ask themselves before hitting the streets of the Russian capital. As metro is the main means of transport in Moscow - fast, reliable and safe ...
Woodburn: Angel's share and Titanic tears
Contrary to its worldwide catchphrase, Disneyland is not, according to one kilt-wearing tour guide in the Highlands of Scotland, The Happiest Place on Earth. Leaving Loch Ness, which seems The ...
Moscow metro tour
Moscow Metro. The Moscow Metro Tour is included in most guided tours' itineraries. Opened in 1935, under Stalin's regime, the metro was not only meant to solve transport problems, but also was hailed as "a people's palace". Every station you will see during your Moscow metro tour looks like a palace room. There are bright paintings ...

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What Is Star Tours at Disneyland?

A Deep Dive into the Star Wars Universe

The Journey of Star Tours

Unique Features of Star Tours

The Star Tours Experience

Tips for First-Time Riders

A Must-Visit for Star Wars Fans

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Are there any age restrictions for Star Tours?

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How often does the ride sequence of Star Tours change?

How long should I expect to wait in line for Star Tours?

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ALL OF YOUR STAR WARS FAVORITES NOW STREAMING ON DISNEY+

{:title=>"Disney Parks", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/disney-parks"} {:title=>"Ahsoka", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/ahsoka"}

Walt Disney Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald gives StarWars.com a peek behind the curtain of the latest updates to the beloved Disney Parks attraction.

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