Tag: Star Tours

Disney has made available two new press releases, the first gives a brief overview of the attraction:

Overview: The power of the Force and the magic of Disney have combined to create “Star Tours – The Adventures Continue,” a new 3-D attraction set to open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park. With an eye-popping digital presentation leveraging Dolby 3-D to deliver a vivid and realistic experience, a dramatic musical score and motion simulator-based technology, guests will be immersed in the Star Wars galaxy like never before on a theme park attraction. More than 50 story combinations are possible for guests to experience aboard Star Tours, so guests can enjoy the attraction multiple times without ever experiencing the same adventure.  In fact they never know where the Force will take them!

Opening Dates: May 20, 2011 (Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla), June 3, 2011 (Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif.)

Attraction Locations: Walt Disney World Resort:  Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park, Disneyland Resort: Tomorrowland, inside Disneyland park

Attraction Experience Time: Approximately 7 minutes (including boarding at Starspeeder gate), Actual show is approximately 5 minutes.

Height Requirement: 40 inches (102 cm) or taller

Attraction Designers, Writers and Creators: Walt Disney Imagineering, working with Lucasfilm Ltd. and Industrial Light & Magic.

Some famous Star Wars film characters guests can encounter (depending on which story they experience): R2-D2, C-3PO, Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Yoda, Sebulba, Admiral Ackbar, Chewbacca, Jar Jar Binks, Princess Leia

Some famous Star Wars film planets and destinations guests can encounter (depending on which story they experience): Kashyyyk, Hoth, Naboo, Coruscant, Tatooine, The Death Star (above the planet Geonosis)

The second release has some quotes from some individuals worth noting:

Tom Fitzgerald, Executive VP & Senior Creative Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering:

On where in the Star Wars timeline the new storyline takes place:

“In the end, after numerous discussions, we decided to place our storyline between the two sets of Star Wars trilogies, giving the project the working title ‘Star Tours 3.5.’ This time period gave our show team the ability to tap into the very best of the Star Wars characters and adventures.”

“But turning the clock back also required some interesting changes for the Star Tours show. The Starspeeder 3000 would need to be an earlier model, the Starspeeder 1000, with a new pilot (especially since Rex, the original pilot, opens the original show saying it’s his first flight!)”

On filming scenes on a Hollywood soundstage:

“We occupied a large soundstage in Hollywood to film a key sequence of the new show. Anthony Daniels flew in from London to bring C-3PO to life on the stage, as well as workshop the script with our writer Steve Spiegel.”

“On the immense soundstage, our production team re-created – full size – a portion of the Starspeeder 1000, so we could film it from multiple angles. Later, the effects wizards at Industrial Light & Magic, under the direction of Bill George, completed the scene, adding in a whole range of droids and characters, and expanding the scale and scope of the scene.”

On new characters created for the attraction:

“All Star Tours Starspeeder 1000s are flown using the latest AC-series Tour Droids. And in fact, our initial plans were for our flight to be piloted by AC-38 better known as ‘Ace.’ However, in discussions with George Lucas during the course of our production, we decided to take the story in a very different direction. So while AC-38 is supposed to be our pilot, by the time we actually take off, the droid sitting in the pilot’s seat will be none other than C-3PO!”

“We also created a new ‘spokesbot’ for Star Tours, modeled after the WA-7 ‘Waitress Droid’ from Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones. George Lucas suggested the name ‘Aly San San,’ in reference to Allison Janney, the wonderful actress who provides the voice for this new character. We had a terrific time with Allison in the recording sessions for the show – she brought a lot of warmth and humor to the part.”

On Star Wars characters included in the attraction:

“One of our goals for the new Star Tours show was to pack as much Star Wars into the attraction as possible. That meant traveling to different planets, and meeting up with classic characters from the saga.”

On Star Wars characters included in the attraction (Cont.):

“R2-D2 and C-3PO are back, reprising their roles in the pre-show, and taking on bigger roles (especially C-3PO) in our Starspeeder adventures.”

“It wouldn’t be a Star Wars adventure without Darth Vader. The Dark Lord of the Sith will be accompanied by legions of stormtroopers and some new “skytroopers,” designed especially for our show. Boba Fett, everyone’s favorite bounty hunter, also will be after us, as well as an assortment of nasty droids and creatures.”

“Balancing out the villains are some classic good guys – and even a princess! Master Yoda, Admiral Ackbar and Princess Leia will appear in the show to help guide our adventures. We may even run into Chewbacca along the way!”

On Star Wars destinations included in the attraction:

“We’re going to Tatooine for the Boonta Eve Podrace and to Coruscant. Additional destinations include a visit to the beautiful planet of Naboo, a rare tour of the Wookiee planet of Kashyyyk and a trip to the icy planet Hoth.”

“Of course, no Star Tours adventure would be complete without an unexpected visit to the Death Star, this time above the planet Geonosis. These destinations will be combined in more than 50 different story adventures, so you’ll never know where the Force will take you!”

Anthony Daniels, Actor (C-3PO):

“Wow! Back in the gold suit for the first time since ‘Revenge of the Sith,’ but on this occasion in front of a beloved Starspeeder, a bit like the one R2 and I’d repaired every day since Disneyland first opened the Star Tours Spaceport all those years ago. I’d enjoyed being a part of the original Star Tours, one of the most wonderful jobs I ever had. I’d been alerted that amazing things were in store for passengers on the new Starspeeder, and for me too, and so here I was again, working with many of the same creative teams, with even more spin and excitement than the first time.”

Disney has also released video from inside the attraction:

Join Tom Corless, Banks Lee, and Taylor Martina for a WDW News Today Special Report where they give their reviews of “Start Tours: The Adventures Continue” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

WDW News Today Special Report-Star Tours Review

An anonymous source attended yesterday’s soft opening and was able to send us an audio recording of their ride experience. YES THIS IS A REAL LIVE RECORDING OF STAR TOURS: THE ADVENTURES CONTINUE. If you do not want to have your ride experience spoiled do not listen to this recording as it IS the ride. The rest of you ENJOY and stay tuned to WDW News Today as we continue to bridge the gaps between you and a galaxy far far away!

Star Tours: The Adventures Continue

Well as usual WDW News Today is working hard to bring you the up to the date information on Star Tours: The Adventures Continue (or 3D, or II depending on what you like to call it). We were able to speak to a number of cast members who have participated in the Cast Member Previews and reconstruct the queue and ride experience from the bits and pieces that we have put together. Note this IS reliable source information but from multiple sources. It reflects info from people who have experienced the attraction but there may be gaps as it is from multiple sources. We will continue to update you as we get more information from our team covering the events in Walt Disney World. Oh and beware I have a bad feeling about the SPOILERS ahead!

Here is what we have so far:

QUEUE

• The first queue room is mostly the same, the screen is now HD and shows weather reports, destination previews, and a look at Starspeeder 1000.
• The Goose droids are now screening luggage in the second queue room. However on a sad note the droid room song is gone!
• As luggage goes through the scanner, projections show what’s inside. Some items inside include Wall-E, a Stormtrooper helmet, and an ewok doll among other items.
• 3 to 4 models of our former pilot RX-24 are now in that room, each a different color. They each have a tag saying they are defective!
• A body scanner is now located at the end of the room. The other goose droid makes a comment about you passing through.
• Loading area is essentially the same except for new lighting and signage, the updated pre-show is presented on two HD screens above.



PRE-SHOW

• Pre-show has Aly San San (the new Spokes-Droid voiced by Allison Janey) providing all the spiels in English and Spanish. The guests in the cabin was a shot for shot remake of original pre-show.
• The cast member chooses who will be the rebel spy or princess that will be “caught” when the ride begins. We suggest you try kissing up.
• During the pre-show, C-3P0 comes to inspect the Starspeeder cabin, has a discussion with pilot, then asks him to leave. (I’ve got a bad feeling about this)



Ride Experince (Updated 5-14 4:30pm)

• Guests board and are seated, the starspeeder takes off with reluctant pilot and a view of the Millennium Falcon. Guests are then ambushed!
• You escape the ambush by jumping to lightspeed, bringing you to you your first destination.
• The riders we spoke to then ended up on either Hoth or Kashyyk. There’s a battle on Hoth and you get chased on Speeder-bikes in the latter.
• You go to space and get a transmission. The riders we spoke with were given a message by Admiral Ackbar or Princess Leia.
• Princess Leia says “help me Star Tours, you’re my only hope!”. Next, R2-D2 then jumps to lightspeed without C-3P0’s permission.
• The riders we spoke with then either entered final scenes in the Death Star, on Naboo, or Coruscant.
• The Death Star scene ends with a Boba Fett chase through the asteroid field.
• Naboo has a giant fish attack.
• Coruscant has a giant battle in the sky between the Trade Federation and the Clone Troopers. You barely escape from a huge crashing ship!

The Disney Fans Insider takes a good, long look behind-the-scenes of “Star Tours: The Adventures Continue”:

Star Wars™ fans will reel in intergalactic ecstasy when the newly renovated Star Tours – The Adventures Continue attraction storms Disney’s Hollywood Studios May 20 and Disneyland Resort June 3. Lovers of Jedi and Sith lords are in for a double dose of droid-tastic adventure as the first grand opening is scheduled during the first of this year’s four consecutive Star Wars Weekends at Walt Disney World Resort. Dust off your lightsabers kids … it’s time for take-off!
Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald, who worked on the original Star Tours back in the mid ’80s, talks about re-imagining the new show. “We actually began planning the redesign over 10 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. In order to create the ultimate Star Warsattraction for our Parks, George [Lucas] needed to finish his saga so we could include the best of all the films.”

Waiting may have been difficult, but transforming six full-length movies into a four-and-a-half-minute, fully-immersive ride presented other challenges for Tom’s team. “Because of time-period differences (the new attraction is a prequel to the original), we had to reverse-engineer our story, as well as the look of the Starspeeders.” The chronologically correct Starspeeder 1000 (formerly 3000) now features upgraded interior dashboards and onboard monitors so everything looks, sounds, and feels better than ever – even the color scheme was updated.

Technology played a crucial part in all the renovations, but Tom points out some of the most significant advances, starting with the branching storyline. “For the very first time, we utilized technology that selects one of 54 different story combinations so each ride’s really a surprise. Guests never know where they’ll go. We created this approach to keep it fresh for our enormous fan base. It’s a huge change from the original show.”

Two other key differences – the 3D factor and increased range of the motion simulator – were also technology driven, as Tom explains. “We wanted to add 3D for years, but had to wait for projection equipment that was robust enough to make it look state-of-the-art. Advanced visual effects make the world totally dimensional and so much more realistic than before. It’s absolutely breathtaking.” Imagineers worked closely with Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light & Magic team, who produced all the video footage for the main show as well as most of the pre-show.

Enhanced motion programming makes for a more unique experience as Guests are whisked off to a variety of new locations, including Tatooine, Hoth, Naboo, Coruscant, the mysterious Wookiee planet Kashyyyk and even a Death Star under construction. “It’ll feel very different from the first show, which only featured space flight. We’ve added a desert pod race, underwater travel, sliding on ice, and careening through forests while smashing into trees. Some adventures will be planet-based, some space, but each ride will feel distinct because Guests won’t know which story combination they’re getting.”

Many more characters have been incorporated into the new show, with appearances by fan favorites like Darth Vader, Admiral Ackbar, Princess Leia, Boba Fett, Chewbacca, R2-D2, Yoda, C-3PO and Jar Jar Binks. “Darth Vader’s voiceover was recorded by the original actor. It was also great working with Anthony Daniels and Frank Oz, who reprised their roles as C-3PO and Yoda respectively.”

Tom goes on to tell us how one of the brand-new characters – a spokesbot seen in the pre-show commercials and safety video – was named. “Aly San San came about because we couldn’t think of anything and knew George [Lucas] was amazing with names. When we told him actress Allison Janney was doing the voiceover work, he instantly said, ‘Aly San San.'”

In fact, collaborating with the creator of pop culture’s greatest phenomenon presented numerous benefits. “I spent more time with George than we were able to on the original show, which was absolutely wonderful for me. Meeting with him every few weeks to review the sequences, help us tune up the show, and learn from his experience was priceless. It was like taking a master class from George Lucas.”

Musical history was made when the Imagineers worked with Academy Award®-winning composer John Williams, who wrote the original Star Wars film scores. “John and his music editor found passages from the scores to use in our show. The cabin music is taken from the original recordings!” Composer Michael Giacchino lent his Academy Award-winning talent to create additional arrangements of various Star Wars themes for the commercials and pre-show videos.

With so much to see and hear, Disney and Star Wars fans alike will be thrilled to discover all the little homages hidden throughout the show. Tom says, “We packed as much of the films as we could into the new show. It’s really a salute to the best of Star Wars, so whether you’re a fan of the original or the newer trilogy, there’s something for everyone.”

Mark your calendars and check out Star Tours – The Adventures Continue when it opens May 20 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Theme Park and Disneyland Resort on June 3!

From Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald on the Disney Parks Blog:

Today, May 4, we unveiled a stunning new piece of Star Tours art which serves as the attraction poster at Disneyland park and the marquee at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Designed by Imagineer Scot Drake, the piece features the new Starspeeder 1000 surrounded by many of the planets, vehicles and characters from the show. Look for Darth Vader lurking in the shadows.

The photo below shows the new marquee as it was being installed just this morning at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

The Adventures Continue – only weeks away!