Anaheim : ‘Star Tours’ Opens to Crowds at Disneyland

Big crowds were attracted to Disneyland Friday as the park opened its new “Star Tours” ride to the public, officials said.

The ride, based on the theme of film maker George Lucas’ popular “Star Wars” movies, was created by Lucas and a team of Disney “imagineers.” Lucas joined Disney Chairman Michael Eisner at a ribbon cutting to mark the opening of the attraction.

Lucas also collaborated with Disney to make the “Captain EO” show starring Michael Jackson, which opened last year and has proved a solid attraction at Disneyland and at Disney World in Florida.

Passengers taking the ride enter one of four 40-seat “Starspeeders” and fasten their seat belts before taking off with a novice pilot on his maiden voyage. The travelers promptly get lost in space as the entire cabin rises, drops and tilts while meteors, comets and attacking “Star Wars” enemy spacecraft bombard the wide-screen window.

Although it tips and dips to give the illusion of flight, the flight simulator does not actually go anywhere.

The amusement park is staying open for a continuous 60 hours this weekend to promote the ride, which a park spokesman said can handle 1,600 people an hour.

Although some riders during previews emerged a bit queasy--almost “airsick”--first-day riders appeared impressed.

“This will put roller coasters as we know them out of date,” said Dann Novak, 27, of Pacific Palisades.

Said Yolanda Carrillo, a 13-year-old junior high school student from Long Beach who was playing hooky: “I don’t like roller coasters, but this was exciting.”