Returned after an extended closure that began with the March 2020 COVID-19 shutdown; the show did not reopen with the park in July 2020 and stayed dark 644 days until this date.
Everything that changed here
across the land, newest first- 2025
Removed the signature runaway-boulder element after the 400-pound prop dislodged from its track and injured a cast member during the 4 p.m. performance; the idol scene was altered to omit the boulder pending a safety review.
- 2024
Added a new destination, the planet Seatos with purrgil space whales, plus transmissions from Ahsoka Tano, Cassian Andor, and Din Djarin & Grogu drawn from the Disney+ series, expanding the ride's randomized storyline to 250-plus variations.
- 2021
- 2021
Permanently dropped the long-running audience-participation segment (guests chosen as on-stage 'extras' for the Cairo street scene) when the show returned from the COVID-19 closure.
- 2020
Returned to the Hyperion Theater after an extended COVID-19 closure, becoming the first major Actors' Equity stage show to come back at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
- 2020
Mickey Shorts Theater opened, debuting the roughly 10-minute compilation short 'Vacation Fun – An Original Animated Short with Mickey & Minnie' in the former Star Wars: Path of the Jedi space; it premiered the same day as Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway.
- 2020
Refurbishmentat For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
Went dark when Disney's Hollywood Studios closed for the COVID-19 pandemic, then stayed closed past the park's July 25, 2020 reopening amid an Actors' Equity Association dispute over live stage performers.
- 2019
Added new segments to the ocean moon Kef Bir (with Death Star wreckage) and the Sith world Exegol from The Rise of Skywalker, debuting on the film's release date.
- 2017
Added new segments to the mineral planet Crait from The Last Jedi and a preview flight to Batuu, the planet later realized as Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.
- 2015
Added a new destination segment set on Jakku from The Force Awakens, featuring a wrecked Star Destroyer field, the Millennium Falcon pursued by TIE fighters, and a crash-landing escape sequence.
- 2015
Relocated to its permanent home in the Hyperion Theater in Echo Lake, taking over the space vacated by The American Idol Experience.
Premiere Theater (Streets of America)→Hyperion Theater (Echo Lake) - 2014
Debuted at the Premiere Theater in the Streets of America as part of the 'Frozen Summer Fun' event, hosted by two Royal Historians of Arendelle with appearances by Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff.
- 2011
Reopened as Star Tours – The Adventures Continue after the original closed September 7, 2010 — a full reimagining to a 3D high-definition motion-simulator system with a randomized, branching storyline visiting multiple destinations aboard the Starspeeder 1000.
RX-24 single fixed Endor flight (2D)→randomized 3D multi-destination adventure -
Changedat Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!
Replaced the Nazi swastikas on the show's German trucks, aircraft and actor uniforms with the Balkenkreuz cross, removing the symbol from the production.
swastika→Balkenkreuz - 2000
Reopened after a roughly six-month refurbishment that rebuilt and enlarged scenes and added new state-of-the-art lighting and sound, also readying the show for FastPass.
- 1989
Original Star Tours opened at Disney-MGM Studios (now Disney's Hollywood Studios), a Starspeeder 3000 motion simulator on a single fixed flight to the Forest Moon of Endor piloted by the rookie droid RX-24 (Rex).
- 1989
Opened at Disney-MGM Studios as the park's marquee live stunt show, restaging scenes from Raiders of the Lost Ark with on-stage pyrotechnics and the runaway-boulder set piece.