Disney's "Fans Insider" website features a new article about the redesign of Star Tours, with quotes from Disney Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald. According to him, Disney "actually began planning the redesign over ten years ago ... a year before Episode I was complete. Fans were eager to see some changes, but after learning that Episodes II and III were in the works, we decided the update would have to wait."
Here are some other interesting facts from the article:
The story combination feature of Star Tours: The Adventures Continue has never been implemented before in a Disney ride.
3D, which contributed to the delay of the ride revamp, make the ride "absolutely breathtaking."
Frank Oz reprises his role as Yoda for the ride.
Disney's Fitzgerald met with George Lucas "every few weeks" to discuss the redesign.
In other Star Tours news, Disney's family crafts website posted papercraft designs for the ships in the Starspeeder Fleet that appear in the ride. You can see the basic Star Tours Starspeeder 10000 and the "Tatooine Transit" version below. Click through to Disney Family for the rest.