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Star Tours 2 News
Disney's Official Press Release: George Lucas and Bob Iger Launch Star Tours
Disney released the official Press Release for the attraction launch today:
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (May 20, 2011) – Star WarsTM creator George Lucas and Disney President and CEO Bob Iger wielded lightsabers amid a legion of stormtroopers Friday to open “Star Tours – The Adventures Continue,” a new 3-D adventure at Walt Disney World Resort.
A cast of hundreds of Star Wars characters and performers – including Anthony Daniels, who has played the golden droid C-3PO since the first film debuted in 1977 – converged on Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the launch of the attraction destined to send millions of guests on virtual journeys throughout the Star Wars galaxy.
Fittingly, the launch of Star Tours anchored the opening day of Star Wars Weekends, a popular event in the park celebrating the Star Wars legacy with special shows, presentations, motorcades and memorabilia. Star Wars Weekends continue each Friday-Sunday now through June 12, 2011.
And on June 3, 2011, “Star Tours – The Adventures Continue” will open at Disneyland Resort in California.
“Star Tours immerses guests into the Star Wars universe like never before,” Iger said. “The innovative technology and storytelling take guests on thrilling new adventures, bringing George Lucas’ iconic characters and locations to life in a completely new way.”
With eye-popping digital video leveraging Dolby 3-D to deliver a vivid and realistic visual experience, a dramatic musical score and motion simulator-based technology, guests are immersed in a Star Wars adventure like never before on a theme park attraction. Walt Disney Imagineering worked with Lucasfilm, Ltd. and Industrial Light & Magic – the groundbreaking visual effects pision of Lucasfilm – to bring the out-of-this-world attraction to life.
Star Tours, which had thrilled Disney guests since the 1980s, was “powered down” in 2010 so Disney’s Imagineers could begin work on the new attraction.
In “Star Tours – The Adventures Continue,” there are more than 50 story combinations, so guests can find new adventures each time they experience the attraction.
Utilizing the random story combinations, the Starspeeder spacecraft embarks on a wild adventure, visiting several planets made famous in the Star Wars films. Among the locations that might provide haven from the Empire’s pursuit are the icy planet of Hoth, the lush jungles of Kashyyyk and the underwater Gungan world on Naboo.
And along the way guests may encounter Star Wars characters that offer to help (or hinder) their journey, including Yoda, Admiral Ackbar, Darth Vader and Boba Fett. “Skytroopers,” a legion of stormtroopers created just for the Star Tours attraction story, might even join in the chase.
In fact, guests will never know where the Force will take them. Flights are now departing during regular operating hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
STAR WARS™ and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.
Star Tours Full Opening Ceremony Video
Detained by the Rebel Alliance this morning during the live webcast of the Star Tours Opening Ceremony? Fear not, young Padawan, as we have the whole video for your viewing pleasure!
Special thanks to Mouse World Radio for assisting with the stream!
Live Webcast: ‘Star Tours – The Adventures Continue’ at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Disney is doing its own webcast of the Opening Ceremony this morning starting at 10:15 am.
Star Tours Opening Ceremony Live Webcast!
We will be streaming video live this morning from the Star Tours Opening Ceremony at Disney's Hollywood Studios! Check out the stream here.
Special thanks to Mike Newell of Mouse World Radio for assisting us with the coverage.
Disney will also be doing its own live webcast of the Ceremony on its Parks Blog. Check back later for a direct link to their stream!
Star Tours 2 Press Event Coverage
Tonight at Disney's Hollywood Studios, there is a special event for press and media from 7pm until 9:30pm. We're there, and here's our coverage as well as from other reports we see from The Twitter.
Make sure to follow @StarTours2Live for all the updates!
Swag given to the Media includes four really slick posters:
R2-MK pin:
Really cool dinner setup (photos via @attractions):
At around 7pm, media was let through backstage into Disney's Hollywood Studios.
7:10pm: Characters! Jawas:
Ewoks:
Boba Fett:
Imagineer Jason Surrell:
Chewie!
Storm Trooper:
Luke and Leia:
Via our friend Amanda Tinney got to ride Star Tours 2 with Queen Amidala:
Our friend Lou Mongello:
Lots of people!
The Bar!
The ride entrance:
Clearly from Hoth:
Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald:
The desserts:
Ahsoka Tano:
R2-D2:
Darth Maul:
Sand People:
Disney Channel Kids:
In the queue!
Make sure to follow @StarTours2Live for all the updates!
Star Tours 2 Event Breakdown for May 19th and May 20th
LOTS of event madness going on over the next 24 hours. Here's a quick breakdown of what's going on:
Star Tours 2 3-D Press Event
There's a invite-only press event starting at 7pm and lasting until 9:30pm this evening after the park closes at Disney's Hollywood Studios. We'll be there, and we'll be broadcasting any information and media as Disney allows.
Star Tours 2 Official Meetup
Announced via the DisneyParks Blog on May 5th, the RSVP-only official fan meetup begins at 12am tonight and lasts until 2am. Unfortunately, if you do not already have tickets to the event, you will not be able to attend. We'll be there (find us in our StarToursLive.com and TouringPlans.com gear!) and we're promised an "insider's look" at Star Tours: The Adventure Continue. We'll be able to ask questions about the making-of the attraction and what it's like to work on it. Disney says that there WILL be an opportunity to ride the attraction, and that there will be some "special surprises" along the way as well. Be sure to say hi if you see us there!
StarToursLive.com Unofficial Early, Early Friday Morning Snack
Before we all brave the crowds on Friday, we're going to need some fuel. Immediately following the the Star Tours 2 Official Meetup, we're going to drive to the Studios, park, and walk over to Picabu at the Dolphin Resort for some chow. NOTE that parking at the Dolphin is something crazy like $12, so you may be best parking at the Studios and walking over.
Lining Up for Star Tours 2 Official Ceremony
We're going to walk back from Picabu, meet in front of the the line entrance at 3:45am, and then enter the line as a group at 4am. If you make it after we join the line, you're welcome to say hi or hang out, but we don't want to line jump. Our focus will be on getting prime viewing for the Official Ceremony that begins at roughly 10:15-10:30am -- NOT the first official ride on Star Tours. If we can pull off both, that would be epic, but we're not counting on it. If that's your focus, you may want to join the WDW News Today group -- they are lining up earlier than we are, and will be streaming from the midnight meetup and the line.
Star Tours 2 Opening and Official Ceremony
The park officially opens at 8am (unofficially earlier if rumors are true!), and the ride's official ceremony will be 10:15am in front of the Big Hat.
StarToursLive.com Meetup on Friday, 1pm, Studio Catering Company
We'll be meeting at the Studio Catering Company at 1pm to chat about the opening day madness and celebrate all things Star Tours! If it's possible, we may all get in line for a ride! Be sure to count yourself in on Plancast if you plan on coming.
Long 24 hours ahead of us! May the force be with all of us!
Disney Releases First Look Video and Photos From Star Tours 2
The Inside The Magic folks got their hands on the first video from the queue and attraction, each officially produced by Disney. You can also get the full "B-Roll" video on Disney's official press site, wdwnews.com:
Here's a look at the queue:
Here's a video "on-ride":
And lastly, here's the "destinations" video:
Star Wars Weekends Banners at Disney's Hollywood Studios
In preperation for Star Wars Weekends which begins May 20th, Disney has hung Star Wars character themed banners around Disney's Hollywood Studios.
Disneyland Star Tours 2 Video Updates
Our friend DisneylandFan1977 created these great video updates of the progress at Disneyland's Star Tours 2 taken on May 14 an d 15. Enjoy!
Star Tours commercial added for Disneyland
Remember the Star Tours 2 commercial we posted the other day for Disney's Hollywood Studios? Disney has created a new commercial for Disneyland that is essentially the same as the Hollywood Studios edition but with Disneyland mentioned at the end. Enjoy!
