Disney Sunday Movie - George Lucas' Star Tours (1986)

Star Tours was the first ever Star Wars theme park attraction ever built. In the 1970’s there has been discussions to build a Star Wars themed roller coaster featuring audio animatronics of the characters. Riders would decide if they would choose the light side or the dark side of the force. In the mock up most chose the dark side three to one to see the villains so the idea was scrapped and eventually evolved into Star Tours.

Star Tours was rooted in a concept for an unrealized attraction based on the Walt Disney Productions’ film The Black Hole. When the film bombed plans ceased. The technology was later adapted for the theme park attraction Captain EO. Star Wars creator George Lucas collaborated on that attraction and allowed for a Star Wars version to proceed.

The ride opened January 9, 1987 and since then there have been several editions of Star Tours.

This segment aired as part of the Disney Sunday Movie on ABC with the 1982 Disney film Tiger Town. The segment stars Gil Gerard and Ernie Reyes who were starring on the network's series Sidekicks at the time. Sidekicks had debuted on the Disney Sunday Movie and was a TV series running only one season of 23 episode.

C3PO and R2D2 also appear as does Disney CEO Michael Eisner and Star Wars creator George Lucas.

During the segment we see behind the scenes footage meant to interest families to visiting Disneyland to ride the new state of the art attraction. It only aired once making this a rare piece of Walt Disney history.

Original airdate December 28. 1986

Posted for historical purposes. This channel is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company.