Changes

The creation of Star Tour actually began in While Eisner was looking to renovate Disneyland. In 1984, then Disney CEO Michael Eisner wanted to find a way to attract Imagineer Charles Bright was studying flight simulators in the teenage demographic back to the parkUnited Kingdom<ref name= "Martin"/>. Disneyland Although Disney had been losing guest attendance to other theme parks planned on a motion simulator attraction in 1976 for the areaproposed Discovery Bay expansion, so Eisner the technology was determined seen as too primitive to be feasible<ref name= "updateMartin" Disneyland by replacing some of its more dated attractions/>. One such attractionNow however, Adventure through Inner Space using motion simulation was an obvious candidate a real possibility and Disney began making plans for replacement. Built during the an outer space race, the attraction had begun to show its ageor an undersea adventure<ref name= "Martin"/>.

While rough plans were being made for the motion simulator attraction, Michael Eisner was looking invited George Lucas to renovate Disneyland, Imagineer Charles Bright was studying flight simulators in visit the United KingdomImagineering department<ref name= "Martin"/>. Although Disney Eisner had planned known Lucas since is his days at Paramount Pictures and he wanted the director's help in attracting more teens to the park<ref name= "Martin"/>. When Lucas saw the plans for the outer space flight simulator, he agreed to work on the project. As part of the partnership, Disney agreed to give Lucas a motion simulator attraction in 1976 percentage of the merchandising fees from the ride, as well as a six million dollar fee to create the film for the proposed Discovery Bay expansionattraction<ref name= "Martin"/>. After reaching an agreement, Lucas told the technology press that if he was seen as too primitive going to work on a theme park attraction wanted it to be feasiblea Disney attraction. Now however, using Lucas’ motion simulation simulator project was then given a real possibility 27 million dollar budget and Disney began making plans for an outer space attraction or an undersea adventurea November 1986 opening date<ref name= "Martin"/>.

While rough plans were being made The original plot for the space motion simulator focused on an intergalactic travel agency. The attractionitself would be housed within a spaceport, Michael Eisner invited George Lucas to visit the Imagineering department. Eisner had known Lucas since is his days at Paramount Pictures and he wanted the director help him attract more teens to star R2-D2 and C-3PO from the parkStar Wars franchise<ref name= "Martin"/>. When Lucas saw the plans for the outer space flight simulator, he agreed to work on the project. As part of the partnership, Disney agreed to give Lucas a percentage of the merchandising fees from the rideA new character, known as well as a six million dollar fee to create the film for RX-24 (or Rex) would pilot the attraction. After reaching an agreement, The initial film created by George Lucas told the press that if he 's ILM was going 20 minutes long, and featured various special effects<ref name= "Martin"/>. The film was then cut down to work on a theme park attraction wanted three minutes, before it was changed again to be a Disney attraction. Lucas’ motion simulator project was then given a 27 million dollar budget and a November 1986 opening datefour minute film<ref name= "Martin"/>.

The original plot for the space motion During construction four 40 person simulator focused on an intergalactic travel agencycabins were dropped in through the roof, before being sealed inside<ref name= "Martin"/>. The Although the construction started smoothly, the attraction itself would be housed within soon ran into a spaceport and star R2-D2 and C-3PO from series of delays. The first problem Imagineers faced, was that they could not get the Star Wars franchisemotion simulator to synchronize with the film properly<ref name= "Martin"/>. A new characterThen, known as RX-24 (or Rex) it was discovered that the roof of the building would pilot need to be raised, meaning that the attractionstructural work of the building would also have to be redone. The initial film created by Furthermore, George Lucas's ILM was 20 minutes longdecided that the audio systems in the ride vehicles would need upgrading at the cost of another $100, and featured various special effects000. The film was then cut down to three minutesDespite being over budget and 3 months late, before it was changed again Star Tours eventually opened to a four minute filmthe public in Disneyland on January 9, 1987<ref name= "Martin"/>.

During construction four 40 person simulator cabins were dropped Due to the huge success of Star Tours in through Disneyland, it was eventually decided that Imagineers would add the roofattraction to Disney World's newest park, before being sealed insidethe Disney MGM Studios<ref name= "Martin"/>. Although the construction started smoothly, the attraction soon ran into Studios was originally envisioned as a series of delays. The first problem Imagineers facedhalf day park, was Disney executives were worried that they could the park did not get have the motion simulator capacity for the projected crowds. In order to synchronize fit in with the film properly. ThenStudios’ theming, it was discovered that the roof exterior of the building would need Disney World's Star Tours was designed to be raised, meaning that the structural work look like both a stage and a movie set<ref name= "Martin"/>. The attraction itself was a copy of the building would also have to be redone. FurthermoreDisneyland version, George Lucas decided that but the audio systems in capacity of the ride vehicles would need upgrading at was increased by 50%. Due to the cost of another $100,000. Despite being over budget and 3 months attraction's lateaddition, Star Tours eventually opened to the public in Disneyland on January 9did not open until December 15, 19871989<ref name= "Martin"/>.

Due to the huge success of Star Tours in Disneyland, it was eventually decided that Imagineers would add the attraction to Disney World's newest park, the Disney MGM Studios. Although the Studios was originally envisioned as a half day park, Disney executives were worried that the park did not have the capacity for the projected crowds. In order to fit in with the Studios’ theming, the exterior of Disney World's Star Tours was designed to look like both a stage and a movie set. The attraction itself was a copy of the Disneyland version, but the capacity of the ride was increased by 50%. Due to the attraction's late addition, Star Tours did not open until December 15, 1989.  The first change to Star Tours came in 1999. Initially, the attraction's exit store was designed to look like an Imperial Bunker<ref name= "Martin"/>. In 1999, the store was expanded, and rethemed<ref name= "Martin"/>. When the store reopened on September 10, 1999 it was known as Tatooine Traders. In 2007, the entrance to the attraction was also changed when a permanent Jedi Training Academy stage was built<ref name= "Martin"/>.