It’s Music Monday, on May 4th, and forgive my geekiness, but…guess what day it is?!
Today is officially Star Wars Day, as I noticed when I was planning out Music Monday. That makes it the perfect day to break out the Star Wars music, right?
I could do that, but it is too predictable. I love the music from the movies (especially the Catina song), but there is something else that just screams of the kind of thing I would feature over, say, the “traditional” Star Wars music.
So knowing that “The Imperial March,” the Cantina song, and the main theme are all eliminated, what could possibly be not “traditional,” you ask?
“ARTOO, lightspeed to Endor!”
That’s right, we’re going all Disney on this Music Monday!
Star Tours, in its original version opened at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, on January 9, 1987, giving tours of the galaxy for 23 years, before closing in July 27, 2010. In Florida at the Walt Disney World Resort, tours began on December 15, 1989 at the new Disney-MGM Studios (now Disney’s Hollywood Studios), with tours beginning in Tokyo Disneyland on July 12, 1989, and Disneyland Paris on April 12, 1992.
As a kid going to Disney World in Florida (which I did in 1990, 1997, and 1999, and as an adult in 2002, 2007, and 2019), and later to Disneyland with my husband in 2016 and 2017, I’ve had the experience of riding both versions of the attraction, in both of the United States parks. As a kid, I enjoyed the concept of the attraction and the music, but as a non-Star Wars fan, it was a great way to be in air conditioning. That was my justification as a 14-year-old and 16-year-old.
Even when I still wasn’t into it as an adult, I began to appreciate what made the attraction so great. Today, as a very geeky 37-year-old, I looked forward to every trip through the Fast Pass line on my two visits to Disneyland, and my most recent trip to Disney World, while paying attention to every little detail, enjoying the music, and loving the moment I was identified as the spy on board.
Walking through the Star Tours queue building, October 13, 2019.
And yes, I love Star Wars now- I was slowly getting into it in recent years, but I have a huge appreciation for it because of both my husband and my friend Heather’s husband.
One of the things I loved about the original, aside from the concept of the attraction, was the music. The beautiful John Williams score retains all the awesomeness of what makes the music in the films so good, and gives it a nice Disney touch.
When I was taking Ballet in 2008, my teacher told us what we would be dancing to, and I figured “The Imperial March,” or perhaps the main theme.
Oh no, it was so much better, and oh so nostalgic.
It was the original Star Tours music, and I got to be part of the “Imperial March” portion of the score, AND I danced with a (toy) lightsaber.
If you’re wondering what pushed me into geekism…pretty sure this contributed to it. Or not. I just really liked the music.
The original version of the attraction closed in 2010 in California and Florida, with Tokyo closing in 2012 and Paris in 2016. The attraction reopened as Star Tours…The Adventure Continues, and with a different show, still retains the charms of the original attraction. Several different versions of the show, several different possible endings, and a chance encounter with several different characters make for a great show. Sure, it lacks RX-24 (or “Rex”), but R2-D2 is still there, and hey, someone on your tour is going to be a spy.
I was!
I especially love the current version of the pre-show video, and this great line:
“One final reminder: Smoking and photography are never permitted on any Star Tours flight.” When we went on this in Disney a few months ago, this always struck me the right way. Maybe it is the charm and cheesiness of the attraction, but that just always makes me giggle.
From “the ride to get into air conditioning” to “I want to be the spy!”, I’m glad I have given this one the proper chance it deserves.
The music was a good push in the right direction.
Have a great Monday, and enjoy the music, and in the words of Aly San San from The Adventure Continues, “Thank you for flying Star Tours! Buh-Bye!”
The choir of people saying “buh-bye!” in return is always a geeky delight.