September 7th finally arrived much to the dismay of many fans of the original Star Tours attraction that has been operating at Disney’s Hollywood Studios since late-1989. The classic simulator had one last flight for select D23 members that evening, and Inside the Magic has terrific coverage of the festivities. I think you’ll enjoy this video of Star Tours final flight at the Walt Disney World Resort:
While attending Disney’s Pin Celebration – Trade City U.S.A. last weekend, WDWNT Network staff member Cody Smith took a picture of an interesting “Disney Robots” pin set that will be released at the Disneyland “Sci-Fi Academy” pin event next year:
The center robot is labeled as originating from Star Tours in 2011. If that is any indication, ALY SAN SAN will be a flight attendant droid when Star Tours re-opens at Disneyland and Walt Disney World next year. This droid may even be the female voice announcing the arrival of the Star Speeder 1000 on the special preview vehicle toy that was released at Star Wars Celebration V in August. Whether the droid will be represented in audio-animatronics or simply on screen is unknown at this point, but stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information on Star Tours: The Adventures Continue” becomes available.
WDWNT Reporter Matt Paul brings us the last of his videos from “Last Tour to Endor” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios from back on August 14th. Time for some super-sized Hoopla!:
We hope you enjoyed our coverage of Celebration V and Last Tour to Endor over the last few weeks, many thanks to WDWNT’s Matt Paul and Adam Roth for the coverage.
WDWNT Reporter Matt Paul brings us to yet another special event as part of “Last Tour to Endor” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, here is the fan film of epic proportions known as “Raiders of the Lost Jedi Temple of Doom”:
Video of “Hyperspace Hoopla” and photo reports from “Last Tour to Endor” & the final 2 days of Celebration V still on the way, so stay tuned!!!
WDWNT Reporter Matt Paul brings us to the one-time-only showing of the Star Wars fireworks spectacular “Symphony in the Stars” during “Last Tour to Endor” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
Video of the extra-large “Hyperspace Hoopla” and “Raiders of the Lost Jedi Temple of Doom” coming shortly, so stay tuned!
WDWNT Reporter Matt Paul brings us to the shut-down ceremony for Star Tours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios during “Last Tour to Endor” (don’t worry, the attraction doesn’t actually lose until September):
More videos from “Last Tour to Endor” are on the way, so stay tuned to WDW News Today!
WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth continues his coverage with day 2 of Star Wars Celebration V in Orlando, including an in-depth look at some upcoming Disney merchandise:
Did you get your Donald Duck Shadow Trooper?
Read More about Star Wars Celebration V – Day 2 Coverage (8/13/10)
While it isn’t Walt Disney World, Star Wars Celebration V is in Orlando and it’s pretty hard to ignore, especially with the large Disney presence. WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth is on the scene and here’s a pictorial re-cap of day 1:
Follow R2-D2 to Celebration V!
Read More about Star Wars Celebration V – Day 1 Coverage (8/12/10)
From the Disney Parks Blog:
Last year, Disney Parks fans learned that “The Adventures Continue” with the return of a new Star Tours attraction in both California and Florida in 2011. Earlier today at the Star Wars Celebration V fan event, Star Wars fans caught a first glimpse of a new video that will appear in the queue area of the reimagined Star Tours attraction in Disneyland park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios next year. The video produced by Star Tours is a new “commercial” that shows one of their exciting getaway travel packages.
Today we’re also giving our Disney Parks Blog readers a peek at the video before it appears in the queue next year. While Star Tours now offers flights to new destinations, we cannot confirm that you will travel to any of the destinations shown in this video . . .
Since many Disney Parks fans know the new Star Tours attraction will take place between the two sets of Star Wars Trilogies, and that Star Tours can now take guests to more places in the Star Wars galaxy, what do you think of this video? Is there a destination you hope to visit on the new attraction when it opens next year?
From 3 PM-4 PM ET today, Disney had the floor at Star Wars Celebration V’s Behind-the-Scenes stage, where they used the opportunity to give us more details on Star Tours II, Last Tour to Endor, and more! Here’s the rundown of what happened at the presentation:
Live Updates from Star Wars Celebration V Disney Presentation:
2:59 PM ET – “Jason Surrell set to arrive soon. Diego Parras just walked into the room. The room is nearly filled already.” – Adam Roth
3:00 PM ET – “Lights dimmed. Music silenced. Room filled. I think we’re starting!” – Adam Roth
3:02 PM ET – “We are talking about Star Tours today…” Jason Surrell is here.
3:04 PM ET – “George Lucas has been a Disney fan forver. The home of his attractions could only be Disney.”
3:06 PM ET – “Tony Baxter and other imagineers ate lunch at the vineyard with Ron Miller, Walt’s daughter and George Lucas.” Talking about the creation of the original Star Tours of course.
3:07 PM ET – Original concept sketchs on screen. High pitched Eisner parody just happened! Star Tours was slowly fast tracked by Wells and Eisner along with Captain EO due to impressive concept art.
3:09 PM ET – Original concept art shows Vader in opposite screen in the Starspeeder. Odd to see.
3:11 PM ET – “George was passionate about the moment where things go wrong. That’s why Rex is so important.”
3:12 PM ET – Just referenced ice comet cut in the film. Supposedly “seamless”…..
3:14 PM ET – Surrell just did a Captain Rex scream impression. Epic. Switch to Indy. Lots of applause.
3:15 PM ET – Indiana Jones Adventure concept art on screen. Beautiful.
3:16 PM ET – “To be in the movie, the ride does what no other ride in the world does.”
3:18 PM ET – The majority of the audience has chimed in that they will be at the “Last Tour to Endor”.
3:19 PM ET – Anthony Daniels (C-3PO) just walked onto the stage to offer an original perspective on Star Tours!!! *jaw dropped*
3:22 PM ET – Daniels talks about the making of his animatronic.
3:24 PM ET – Just reference his mo-cap programming for the queue animatronic where his animatronic looked at him when it was completed.
3:29 PM ET – “Does C3PO speak French?” “I suppose so… Three thousands forms of communication.” Then he does his queue spiel in French!
3:31 PM ET – Why has Star Tours endured? Daniels says “It combines the wonders of screen excitement but it involves the audience.” He says Body Wars makes him nauseous!
3:35 PM ET – “I never realized the story was in the wrong order.” In regards to the canon of Star Tours. Anthony Daniels will be at the Last Tour to Endor!!!
3:39 PM ET – Daniels is involved in the stunt show and the sendoff show for Star Tours on Saturday.
3:41 PM ET – Here come details for the mashup show! 3 shows of the mashup with some famous cameos of faces and voices.
3:42 PM ET – Anyone that has seen what is in store for the fireworks show has had many emotions evoke because of the soundtrack. New super-sized Hyperspace Hoopla coming on Saturday.
3:44 PM ET – “This event will never happen again.” We’ve heard this before…
3:45 PM ET – Star Tours II is a game changer according to Surrell.
3:46 PM ET – The ride is in fact a prequel. This was a strategic decision so that we could take you to more destinations than ever before.
3:47 PM ET – “Adventures” is not a typo in the ride title. Time for audience questions.
3:49 PM ET – My question to Surrell: “Would there be any throwbacks to the old ride in the new one?” His response: “It’s too early to say!”
3:50 PM ET – Whose idea was the “remove before flight tag on Rex?” It was either George, Tom or Tony.”
3:51 PM ET – Will Paul Rubens return to Star Tours 2? “Its too early to say!”
3:53 PM ET – Any hope for an Indiana Jones Adventure in Florida? “Because of the similar Dinosaur experience *cue the audience booing* that isn’t likely to happen.”
3:55 PM ET – Last question: Will John Williams be attending Last Tour to Endor? No.
3:56 PM ET – Daniels wants to know about the future!
4:00 PM ET – They just showed us an incredible teaser for Star Tours II. I got footage of it from the front row so that will be up tonight. Looks like we’ll be heading to Bespin, Endor, and Alderaan. Stay tuned!!!
Pictures, video, and more coming later today. Thank you for joining us for our live coverage.
