Mark Hamill joins fans for a ride on Disneyland's Star Tours

November 15, 2017, 7:25 AM · Poor Mark Hamill. He's the star of what might be the hottest entertainment franchise in Hollywood, with Star Wars: The Last Jedi ready to drop next month. But apparently, Disney is still scheduling him to work ops shifts at Disneyland to earn his paycheck.

That's the reason why he was on stage working Star Tours: The Adventures Continue in Tomorrowland last night, right?

Luke Skywalker himself showed up unannounced at the park last night, no doubt so that the news would go viral and we'd all write stories about it. But meta-awareness of our role in the worldwide media machine isn't always fun, so let's get roll with it and enjoy the moment. How cool would it be to ride Star Tours with Luke. (It's pretty much guaranteed that he was the spy, though, right?)

Disney seems to be establishing a habit of sending its stars into the park to promote upcoming films. While Hamill did not appear as his Luke Skywalker character on Star Tours, earlier this year, Johnny Depp pulled as shift at Pirates of the Caribbean in costume as Captain Jack Sparrow before the most recent Pirates film debuted.

Back to Star Tours, Disney will continue to promote The Last Jedi with a new destination on the ride — Crait, from the new movie. Unlike Mark Hamill's appearance, all Disney theme park visitors will be able to see that one. We are scheduled to be at Disney's Hollywood Studios Friday morning for the early-morning press preview of the new destination and revamped attraction, which debuts to the public that day. Stay tuned.

Update: Disneyland has released its official video of Hamill's visit:

Replies (8)

November 15, 2017 at 7:38 AM · You sure he wasn't in the park as Trixster, promoting Justice League coming out on Friday?
November 15, 2017 at 8:17 AM · On Star Tours? At a Disney Park, a company who owns DC’s direct competitor Marvel? I would say, “No”.
November 15, 2017 at 10:10 AM · At least they knew it was him. I read a lot of comments from folks on the Depp thing who were on the ride but thought it was just a really good impersonator, not the real Depp.
November 15, 2017 at 10:40 AM · A long long time ago, in a galaxy far away...I was 3 seats away from Christopher Reeve while in a movie theatre.

That's about as close to this kind of thing as I've ever been.

Apparently, his middle name is D'Olier.

The more you know.

November 15, 2017 at 2:57 PM · Celebrity meetups are overrated. Once you see them, the thrill is gone. I had more than my share of celebrity encounters. I never know what to say to them. "Hey, you were great in this and that. What's with the breakup of your hot girlfriend or wife? Your face looks better now, really."
November 15, 2017 at 10:07 PM · Really great fun news. Though I have to agree I get star struck when I meet my 'heroes'
November 16, 2017 at 8:40 AM · Anton M. Refer to Donald Glovers character in Community on his reaction to meeting his favorite celeb, Levar Burton.
November 16, 2017 at 12:15 PM · Anybody else notice they ensured everyone was in their seats with the seat belts fastened before Mark come into the cabin? Kept those pesky selfie seekers firmly in their places.

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