Disney has filed a new construction permit for Star Tours: The Adventures Continue at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, raising questions about what work might be planned for the longtime Star Wars attraction.
According to WDW News Today, the permit was filed on November 2 by Disney’s Facility Asset Management (FAM) division, with Engineering Design Services listed as the contractor responsible for the project.
Unfortunately, the paperwork offers few clues about what Disney has in store for the attraction. The project is described simply as “general construction,” leaving open the possibility of anything from routine maintenance to a more substantial refurbishment.
What Is Disney Planning for Star Tours?
The permit carries an expiration date of November 2, 2027, giving Disney a year to complete the authorized work. However, that expiration date should not be confused with a construction schedule or an indication that the attraction will be closed for an extended period.
Facility Asset Management regularly oversees maintenance and infrastructure projects throughout Walt Disney World. Many of these projects are completed overnight or behind the scenes without affecting normal park operations.
Engineering Design Services, the contractor named in the filing, specializes in industrial engineering services. Its involvement could suggest work involving the attraction’s mechanical systems, infrastructure, or other technical components, although the permit does not specify which areas will be affected.
Disney hasn’t announced a refurbishment or closure for Star Tours, nor has the company indicated that any new experiences are being developed for the attraction.
A Hollywood Studios Classic
Star Tours has been a fixture at Disney’s Hollywood Studios since 1989, when the original attraction opened at what was then Disney-MGM Studios.
The groundbreaking motion simulator transported guests into the Star Wars universe aboard a Starspeeder 3000, with the bumbling droid pilot RX-24, better known as Captain Rex, taking passengers on a chaotic journey through space.
In 2011, Disney introduced Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, a major overhaul that brought new technology, updated visuals, and randomized destinations to the attraction.
The updated experience introduced C-3PO as the reluctant pilot and allowed guests to encounter different characters, planets, and scenarios during repeat rides.
The Hollywood Tower Hotel at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Credit: Jake Toczek / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)
Disney has continued updating the attraction over the years, incorporating destinations and characters from newer Star Wars productions. Most recently, in 2024, the company introduced additional sequences featuring characters from Ahsoka, Andor, and The Mandalorian.
Those updates have helped keep Star Tours relevant even after the 2019 opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which introduced Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
Unlike those newer attractions, however, Star Tours remains a connection to an earlier era of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, when the park placed a greater emphasis on bringing movie magic to life.
Could a Refurbishment Be Coming?
While the permit could signal preparations for a refurbishment, there is currently no evidence that Disney intends to make substantial changes to the attraction.
Given the age of the simulator technology and the considerable wear associated with operating a motion-based attraction for thousands of guests daily, routine maintenance would hardly be surprising.
Of course, the possibility of more extensive work cannot be ruled out. Disney has demonstrated a willingness to update Star Tours with additional destinations and characters, and future changes remain possible.
Star Tours Interior – Sam Howzit, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
For now, however, there is no reason to assume that new scenes, replacement ride vehicles, or major changes to the experience are on the horizon.
The most important detail for guests planning an upcoming visit is that Disney has not announced any operational changes associated with this permit.
Until the company provides additional information, Star Tours: The Adventures Continue remains a familiar part of the Hollywood Studios attraction lineup.
Whether this latest filing represents routine upkeep or the beginning of something more ambitious remains to be seen.
