Credit: Paul Hudson, FlickrBig things could be coming to a decades-old Walt Disney World attraction.
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This year is a big one for Disney, as multiple projects, expansions, and updates are now being developed at the company’s theme parks. These projects include but are not limited to Disney’s ambitious reimagining of DinoLand U.S.A. at its Animal Kingdom theme park, closing and paving over the Rivers of America inside the Magic Kingdom, and giving The Muppets a new home inside Hollywood Studios.
Fans can look forward to a lot over the next several years, with Disney investing $60 billion in its three parks over the next decade.
However, Disney has kept quiet on more than a few projects, including a new update that will seemingly be coming to Star Tours in the near future.
Disney Files Permit For Star Tours
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Walt Disney Imagineering has filed a mysterious new permit for its Star Tours attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park. This new permit lists ThemeWorks, Inc. as the contractor, a company Disney has worked with before on multiple projects, including Toy Story Mania and the now-defunct Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser.
The permit states that a new set of elements will be installed. Tatooine Traders, the gift shop located at the exit of Star Tours, shares the same address, meaning it’s possible changes may be coming to the store instead of the actual attraction itself.
What makes this new permit so interesting is that Disney has not announced any upcoming changes to Star Tours, leaving fans to speculate as to what may actually be happening to the iconic attraction. This is not to say that Star Tours hasn’t received upgrades in recent years, with new destinations from Disney+ original series Ahsoka, Andor, and The Mandalorian all being added to the ride’s rotation.
Star Tours has become a staple of the Disney theme parks and has received numerous upgrades over the last several decades. Star Tours first opened at the Disneyland Resort in 1987, immersing guests in a unique pocket of the then-relatively small Star Wars universe.
While the technology behind the attraction has certainly aged, during its inaugural year, Star Tours was a state-of-the-art experience, one that has continued to impress and excite riders to this day. New updates and additions have certainly helped to keep Star Tours relevant in the age of modern-day marvels, like Rise of the Resistance, one of Disney’s other Star Wars-themed attractions, and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, a thrilling and immersive roller coaster.
Star Tours is unique for several reasons, as it’s one of the few sole motion simulator attractions at Walt Disney World and also features a randomly selected series of scenes to play, making each ride one-of-a-kind.
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There are dozens of projects currently in development, not just for the Walt Disney World Resort but also for the original Disneyland Resort and Disney’s international theme parks. A lot of these projects have been announced, like the previously mentioned changes coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom theme parks, but some are still shrouded in mystery.
Disney confirmed most of its current plans during its D23 event last year, an event that will go down in history for a number of reasons, as it not only included some of the most monumental changes in Disney’s history but also saw the company branch out into the world of digital experiences thanks to its partnership with Epic Games.
Epic Games has been developing video game experiences for decades, though the studio’s most popular and significant work is Fortnite, a game that continues to evolve and expand over time. In 2024, it was revealed Disney had taken a stake in Epic Games, with the two entertainment companies setting their sights on a shared goal: to develop Disney-branded digital content.
What exactly this partnership means for Disney is still unknown, though it’s expected Fortnite players may soon be able to enter and experience the Disney parks and select Disney worlds online.
Of course, there are also real-world projects in development at the Disney theme parks. Guests already said goodbye to half of DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom earlier this year, with the second half set to close in early 2026.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios will soon see large-scale changes as well, with Muppets Courtyard being marked for closure—this area of the park houses The Muppets, as well as several eateries and other locations. Muppet*Vision 3D, The Muppets’ own 3D attraction, is set to close along with Muppets Courtyard to make way for a new area inspired by Pixar’s Monsters Inc.
While exciting, the decision to close The Muppets’ one and only attraction at Walt Disney World has certainly proven divisive, with many fans calling out The Walt Disney Company for the way it has treated Jim Henson’s colorful collection of puppet characters over the years.
The Muppets will still call Disney’s Hollywood Studios their home, as they will soon take over the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, but the loss of Muppet*Vision 3D cannot be understated among longtime Disney and Muppet fans.
What upcoming Disney theme park project are you most excited about?