For all the things that have changed in Tomorrowland, there are a few corners where time seems to have stood still. The Starcade, near the exit of Space Mountain, is one example. Having made its debut alongside Space Mountain and the old Space Stage back in 1977, the Starcade is a bit of a relic in an age when we carry more sophisticated video games in our pockets.
For a blast to tomorrow's past, though, there's no place like it. Step inside under the "celestial lights" and star field murals, and you'll discover an array of games both current and classic. The games themselves have changed with trends and technology over the years (and the orange tile floor from the '70s was recently replaced), but you can still count on the Starcade for that retro thrill of dropping tokens into a machine for a few minutes of fun.
In its heyday, the Starcade occupied two levels of the Space Mountain complex. With the attraction of video arcades lessening, the most popular games of the Starcade were consolidated on the lower level, and the upper level was reserved for special events.
You can still see a bit of that upper level, including a nearly full-scale X-Wing Fighter. This model, which provided the centerpiece of the Star Traders shop after the opening of Star Tours in 1987, was moved here when the shop was remodeled in the late-'90s. Legend has it that the model was actually used in the production of one of the original Star Wars films.
As with any underutilized facility in the Disney Parks, the Starcade's days will be numbered once a better idea comes along. So if you enjoy experiencing the cacophony of light and sound that is an '80s-era video arcade, grab a role of quarters and head down to the Starcade in Tomorrowland.
