The ride opened Friday of last week amid a special of lights and sounds as Lucas and Iger wielded lightsabers amid a legion of stormtroopers to open the Star Wars based adventure ride at the Florida theme park.
Many cast members were on hand at Friday’s opening including Anthony Daniels, who has played the golden droid C-3PO since the first film debuted in 1977. The opening of the new attraction coincided with the opening day of Star Wars Weekends, a popular event in the park which celebrates the Star Wars legacy with special shows, presentations, motorcades and memorabilia. Star Wars Weekends runs every Friday-Sunday through June 12, 2011.
In addition to the park in Florida, “Star Tours – The Adventures Continue” will open at Disneyland Resort in California on June 3, 2011.
“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.”
From the company press release:
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 division 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.
SOURCE Walt Disney World Resort