I’m sorry to say, but the teaser is a bit of clickbait.
That’s because our dear friend Jar Jar doesn’t appear in Star Tours! Yeah, Star Tours is a motion simulator with more than 60 different video sequences from all kinds of Star Wars media, from the classic movie trilogy to Ahsoka, Endor, and The Mandalorian. And guess what? Our Gungan doesn’t appear in any of them. In fact, he’s not featured in the versions of Star Tours at Hollywood Studios or Disneyland either. So, what makes this ride great, or different from the U.S. versions? Let’s check it out.
What we like about Star Tours The Adventures Continue
Before we talk about the ride itself, let me say that this attraction is basically the same one you find at Hollywood Studios and Disneyland. Much like Disneyland, it features a futuristic exterior designed to look like it belongs in Tomorrowland, complete with a beautiful X-Wing on top of the main building. And much like the Hollywood Studios version, it has six different lanes leading to the motion simulator instead of the four you find at Disneyland, which helps with ride capacity. Once inside, the ride is pretty much a copy and paste of the American versions, with characters speaking either in French or in English.
So, what is Star Tours for those who don’t know? It is a motion simulator packed with Star Wars, and one of the most classic simulators you will find at Disney. Star Tours is basically a collection of short video sequences from the entire Star Wars catalog, pulling scenes from almost every movie and TV series. You board a ship and travel with C-3PO across the galaxy in randomized segments. This means that one moment you might be flying into Coruscant in a scene inspired by Episode I, and the next you are jumping to lightspeed and landing on Tatooine while being chased by Grogu and the Mandalorian.
The motion simulator itself is fairly simple, with your seat tilting side to side and back and forth, but it is still exciting to see all these characters, hear John Williams’ iconic soundtrack, and wonder which surprise will come up next. The randomness of the ride is the best aspect, and characters that may appear include Yoda, basically everyone from the new trilogy, Darth Vader, Darth Maul, Lando and many more.
The randomness kicks in even before the ride officially begins, since one guest inside the vehicle is chosen as the “rebel spy.” This part actually isn’t completely random, as a cast member selects the spy by snapping your picture with a hidden camera and then showing it on screen right after the ride starts. It is a really fun touch, and I am immensely proud to have been chosen as the rebel spy one time in Orlando.
What we don’t like about Star Tours The Adventures Continue
This is a great ride for Star Wars fans, but it is also one of the first motion simulators ever created for Disney. The technical side definitely feels a bit dated, since it is very similar to The Simpsons Ride at Universal Orlando. There are no practical effects, you are not in a vehicle moving through physical scenery, and the seat movement is pretty basic. You ride this mostly for the nostalgia, for your love of Star Wars, and for the fun randomization element.
Conclusion
I really like Star Tours The Adventures Continue, probably because I am a massive Star Wars fan. I love seeing all the different characters, the video sequences, listening to the incredible soundtrack, and nerding out about Star Wars while waiting in line. For me, the motion simulator aspect actually comes after all of that, and I imagine it is the same for many guests too.
