Star Wars Takes Over Tokyo Disneyland to Celebrate Reopening of Star Tours

Three days after every other person on the internet was posting “May the fourth be with you,” Tokyo Disneyland was flooded with Star Wars fans celebrating the grand reopening of Star Tours: the Adventures Continues. The ride offers a 3-D Star Wars experience with over 50 possible randomly selected story combinations. There’s no greater thrill than feeling as if you are rocketing through space, interacting with familiar Star Wars characters in the third dimension.

But what impressed our reporter, Tashiro-kun, the most was the fanfare that day. With around 200 Disney cast members dressed in Star Wars costume and more Disney-Star Wars merchandise than you can shake a light saber at, Tokyo Disneyland on May 7 was the place to be for Star Wars fans.

Darth Vader, Storm Troopers, even Jedi Mickey and Princess Leia Minnie made an appearance during the day, adding to the lively atmosphere. Many park guests were also dressed as Star Wars characters. You could truly feel everyone’s love of Star Wars.

▼  Jedi Mickey and Princess Leia Minnie.

▼  Everyone gathered around for a commemorative photo.

▼  R2-D2 and C-3P0 greeting guests as they enter Star Tours.

▼  Darth Maul!!!

▼  Obi-Wan Kenobi! He looks just like Ewan McGregor!!!

▼  Tashiro-kun hanging with Obi-Wan.

▼  It’s quite possible that Japanese Princess Leia is even hotter than the original.

▼ Tashiro-kun “interviewing” Princess Leia.

Coinciding with the reopening of Star Tours, new Star Wars goods went on sale. Jedi Knight Mickey Mouse, Princess Leia Minnie Mouse, and R2-D2 Donald Duck were just a few of the many popular Disney characters given a Star Wars makeover.

The stuffed plush toy that caught Tashiro-kun’s attention the most was Yoda Stitch. Yoda, the Jedi Master (known as Yoda-sensei in Japanese) who trained scores of young Jedi and talks in enigmatic prose, has been turned into Stitch, the fun-loving trickster alien who chills out in Hawaii (or Okinawa if you’re watching in Japan). This fusion caused Tashiro-kun much confusion as he tried to figure out why two character with polar opposite personalities were used…maybe it’s the ears. But despite his bewilderment, Tashiro-kun just had to buy it.

As you might expect, Tashiro-kun had the best day in the happiest place on earth on the greatest day in Tokyo Disneyland history.

▼ Star Tours poster.

▼ Schedule of park events with Darth Vader on the cover.

▼ People waiting in line to ride Star Tours.

▼  Happy Tashiro-kun kindly showing us the way to Star Tours.

For those unable to make it to Tokyo Disneyland to experience Star Tours, we’ll leave you with a couple of cool Star Wars commercials from Japan.

▼  Darth Vader attacks Japan.

▼ Darth Vader attacks Okinawa.

▼   Japanese Star Tours commercial.

[ Read in Japanese ]