Pick Star Tours Before Alien Swirling Saucers
Published October 9, 2026 · Updated October 12, 2026
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If you are choosing between Star Tours and Alien Swirling Saucers for a Lightning Lane Multi Pass selection, the smarter first pick is usually Star Tours. It has broader appeal, more indoor comfort, and a better payoff when the standby line climbs.
But here is the real insider answer: this should not be the decision that defines your Hollywood Studios day. If Slinky Dog Dash, Toy Story Mania, Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, or Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run are still in play for your group, those are usually more important Lightning Lane decisions than Star Tours vs. Alien Swirling Saucers.
Star Tours is the better of these two. Alien Swirling Saucers is the more skippable Lightning Lane unless you have younger kids who specifically want Toy Story Land time.
The Simple Verdict
Pick Star Tours first if you are comparing only these two.
Star Tours is an indoor simulator in Echo Lake with a ride experience that can vary from trip to trip. That makes it a stronger use of a Lightning Lane for mixed-age groups, Star Wars fans, and anyone trying to avoid a midday outdoor queue.
Alien Swirling Saucers is cute, quick, and fun for kids, but it is not usually the kind of attraction you should protect with an early Multi Pass slot unless Toy Story Land is the emotional center of your day. It is more of a filler pick after you have handled the park’s bigger wait risks.
The move: use your best early Lightning Lane energy on harder-to-get attractions first, then come back to Star Tours if it fits. Do not burn strategy brainpower on Alien Swirling Saucers unless your group will genuinely be disappointed to miss it.
Why Star Tours Is Usually the Better Pick
Star Tours wins because it solves more problems.
First, it is indoors. At Hollywood Studios, that matters more than people admit. Heat, storms, tired kids, and mid-afternoon crowd pressure can make an indoor ride feel like a planning gift. Star Tours gives you air-conditioning, a seated experience, and a reliable break without leaving the park flow.
Second, it appeals to more groups. Star Wars fans obviously get more out of it, but even casual guests tend to understand the ride’s basic appeal: board a Starspeeder, get tossed into a chaotic galactic detour, and see which scenes you land in. It is not the park’s biggest headliner anymore, but it still feels like a real attraction.
Third, the standby line can become annoying at exactly the wrong time. If you are trying to fill a midday gap, a posted wait that looked manageable earlier can suddenly feel much less worth it when the sun is brutal and your next dining or show plan is creeping closer.
So if you are down to these two choices, Star Tours is the more useful Lightning Lane. It saves more comfort, not just minutes.
When Alien Swirling Saucers Actually Makes Sense
Alien Swirling Saucers is not a bad ride. It is just a bad early priority for many groups.
The ride is best for younger kids, Toy Story fans, and families who want something playful without the intensity of the park’s bigger attractions. It also pairs neatly with Toy Story Mania and Slinky Dog Dash if your plan is to cluster time in Toy Story Land instead of bouncing across the park.
That is the one case where Alien Swirling Saucers becomes more strategic: if your family is already building a Toy Story Land block.
For example, if you have Slinky Dog Dash booked, Toy Story Mania lined up next, and a child who is excited for the aliens, then Alien Swirling Saucers can help you finish the land cleanly. That is better than zigzagging to Echo Lake just because Star Tours is technically the stronger ride.
But if your group is mostly adults, teens, thrill-seekers, or Star Wars fans, Alien Swirling Saucers should fall behind Star Tours. It is short, outdoors, and not usually the Lightning Lane selection that changes your day.
Do Not Let This Choice Distract You From the Real Hollywood Studios Problem
Hollywood Studios is one of the easiest parks to misplay because several rides can punish you for waiting too long.
Slinky Dog Dash is the big Multi Pass prize for many families. If it is available and your group wants it, take it before either Star Tours or Alien Swirling Saucers. Toy Story Mania is also a stronger practical pick than Alien Swirling Saucers because it has broader appeal and can build a frustrating standby wait.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is a Lightning Lane Single Pass attraction, not Multi Pass. If it is a must-do and you are not buying Single Pass, your standby plan needs to be intentional. The trap is drifting into Galaxy’s Edge late, joining a long or stalled line, and then watching the rest of your day get squeezed.
The same logic applies across the park: Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run can all matter more than this specific matchup depending on your group.
So the correct ranking is not simply Star Tours over Alien Swirling Saucers. It is this: protect the rides your group would be upset to miss, then use Star Tours as a useful middle-tier pick, and treat Alien Swirling Saucers as a child-centered bonus.
The Best Way to Use Your Multi Pass Slots
A smart Hollywood Studios Multi Pass plan usually starts with your hardest priority, not your easiest convenience.
If Slinky Dog Dash is available and your group wants it, grab it. If Toy Story Mania matters to your family, keep it high. If your group is thrill-heavy, Tower of Terror or Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster may deserve more attention than anything in this comparison.
After you redeem one selection, or once its window passes, you can keep adding another Lightning Lane one at a time in My Disney Experience. That refill rhythm is where guests gain or lose real time. Do not think of your first set as the whole day; think of it as the opening hand.
Star Tours is a good refill target when you want to stay efficient without overcommitting. Alien Swirling Saucers is a good refill target when you are nearby, traveling with smaller kids, or trying to complete Toy Story Land.
SupaPark can help with this kind of decision because the useful question is not just which ride is better in a vacuum. It is what is available, what is dropping, what your family actually cares about, and what the wait patterns suggest right now. SupaPark watches Lightning Lane availability and ride wait movement, then alerts you when an opportunity opens so you can grab it in My Disney Experience.
The Family-Aware Answer
For families with younger kids, this comparison gets closer.
Alien Swirling Saucers is easier to understand from the outside: bright colors, Toy Story characters, a short ride, and a playful feel. If your child is nervous about simulator motion or Star Wars intensity, Alien Swirling Saucers may be the better emotional choice even if Star Tours is the better strategic choice.
Star Tours can be bumpy and screen-based. Guests prone to motion sickness may want to think twice, especially if they struggle with simulator rides. It is not the most intense ride in Hollywood Studios, but it can absolutely bother sensitive riders.
That is why the best answer depends on the group. For value and efficiency, Star Tours. For a Toy Story-loving younger child, Alien Swirling Saucers may win. For a motion-sensitive guest, neither should outrank a ride your group can enjoy more comfortably.
What I Would Actually Do
If this were my Hollywood Studios plan, I would not choose either one first unless the better rides were already gone or did not matter to my group.
I would prioritize Slinky Dog Dash if I had kids or Toy Story Land fans. I would keep Toy Story Mania high because it works for almost everyone. I would weigh Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and Millennium Falcon based on the group.
Then, once the major priorities were protected, I would take Star Tours before Alien Swirling Saucers.
The only time I would flip that is if I were already spending a chunk of time in Toy Story Land with a child who really wanted Alien Swirling Saucers. In that case, convenience and kid happiness beat theoretical ride value.
The one thing to remember: Star Tours is the better Lightning Lane pick, but the real win is not overvaluing either one. Use your strongest selections on the rides that create the biggest waits or biggest disappointment, then let Star Tours and Alien Swirling Saucers fill the gaps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I book Star Tours or Alien Swirling Saucers first?
Book Star Tours first in most cases. It is indoors, has broader appeal, and is usually a better use of Lightning Lane than Alien Swirling Saucers unless your child specifically wants Toy Story Land rides.
Is Alien Swirling Saucers worth a Lightning Lane?
Alien Swirling Saucers can be worth a Lightning Lane for families with younger kids or Toy Story fans, especially if you are already in Toy Story Land. For most other groups, it should be a lower-priority refill pick rather than an early selection.
Is Star Tours a top Lightning Lane pick at Hollywood Studios?
Star Tours is useful, but it is not usually a top Hollywood Studios Lightning Lane priority. Slinky Dog Dash, Toy Story Mania, Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run may matter more depending on your group.
Is Star Tours good for guests with motion sickness?
Star Tours is a screen-based simulator with bumpy motion, so guests prone to motion sickness should be cautious. If simulator rides bother you, Alien Swirling Saucers or another non-simulator attraction may be the safer choice.
Is Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance included in Multi Pass?
No. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is a Lightning Lane Single Pass attraction at Hollywood Studios, so it is purchased separately from Lightning Lane Multi Pass if you want paid access to that shorter line.
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SupaPark tracks live wait times and crowd forecasts, and pings you the second a hard-to-get reservation opens or a ride goes walk-on — free to start at supapark.com.