D23 Expo: Star Tours 2 confirmed for Walt Disney World and Disneyland

After years of rumors, a much-anticipated makeover of the Star Tours attractions at Walt Disney World and Disneyland is on the way. The announcement was made at the Disney Parks & Resorts presentation at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, Calif. on Sept. 12, 2009.

Details are scarce at the moment as Disney’s Imagineers are working hard with Star Wars creator George Lucas and his team to create the new experience.

The rides will close in 2010 to reopen in 2011 at Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios with a new 3D experience bringing guests to new Star Wars scenes. 3D footage of a pod-racing scene was shown to the audience at the Expo after Stormtroopers and Darth Vader joined in the fun.

We’ll have a video of the Star Tours reveal online soon. In the meantime, here’s the scene that Disney showed the D23 Expo audience (shown in 3D at the Expo):