Lucasfilm and Disney expanded their collaboration with the first Star Wars foray into the Disney Parks….

Pssst. It might be sacrilege to say this, but my favorite Star Wars ride at Walt Disney World is “Star Tours” (the Disneyland version actually gives me motion sickness).

Yes, there is a lot to love about “Rise of the Resistance” and “Smuggler’s Run,” but there’s no beating the variety employed by the current version of Star Tours. Nor would my Star Wars life be complete without making the Death Star trench run in the original (which somehow I remember).

I love the queue. I love the preflight. Love the Rebel Spy. And, frankly, I love Tatooine Traders. And I am thankful that my most memorable moments at Hollywood Studios happened when it was MGM Studios and teaching about the movies and moviemaking was the purpose.

But I digress.

35 Years and Counting

Disney Parks Blog’s Kelsey Lynch posted:

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 adventurous trip to Endor. Brought to life by Walt Disney Imagineering, George Lucas, and Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), this was the first time guests could truly step into a Star Wars story.

“The opening ceremony featured Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca, several Ewoks, and, of course, Darth Vader and Imperial stormtroopers,” added Lynch. “Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse joined C-3PO, then-Chairman and-CEO of The Walt Disney Company, Michael Eisner, and George Lucas for the official ribbon cutting of the new Star Tours attraction.”

Communicore Weekly’s Star Wars Extravaganza!

But, there’s a heckuva lot more to know about Star Tours.

And finally, for the full rundown of the ride’s history from Imagineering to immersion, check out this wonderful compilation by the late, great Communicore Weekly.