Speculation: Will ‘Star Tours II’ be Disney’s PhotoPass Enabled?
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Yesterday, Disney Parks announced that new destinations in the newly revamped ‘Star Tours: The Adventure Continues’ attraction include Naboo, Kashyyyk, Hoth and the Death Star, in addition to previously announced Tatooine and Coruscant, but it’s what wasn’t publicly announced that caught our attention.
Recently, Disney Parks and Resorts registered several domain names, all of which variations on STARTOURSPHOTOS.COM (STARTOURSPHOTOS.NET, STARTOURSPHOTOS.ORG, STARTOURPHOTO.COM, STARTOURPHOTOS.COM) and even the Spanish equivalent, STARTOURSFOTOS.COM (FOTOSSTARTOURS.COM, FOTOSTARTOURS.COM, STARTOURSFOTO.COM).
Boba Fett Hunts Down StarSpeeder 1000 in New ‘Star Tours II’ Concept Art
In an email to annual passholders, Walt Disney World continued to spread news of the May 20th launch of ‘Star Tours — The Adventure Continues’ at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Associated with the news item was this image which features the StarSpeeder 1000 tour shuttle on the run from Boba Fett who’s actively firing at the ship. In the background looms what will become the impenetrable Death Star.
The news nibble also alludes to a special annual passholder event to-be-announced tied to the re-opening of the attraction as well as links to the attraction’s official page which promises that a confrontation with the popular bounty hunter is just one of the promising opportunities in the attraction.
D23 to Offer Star Tours ‘Final Flight’ Event at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Sept. 7
Following in the footsteps of the ‘Final Flight’ event at Disneyland, in which D23 members were invited to enter the park after hours to ride Star Tours for the final time before it closes for its refurb and transition into Star Tours 2: The Adventure Begins, D23 has announced a ‘Final Flight’ for Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World on September 7. The attraction is currently scheduled to re-open on May 17, 2011.
Guests will check in at the main entrance to Disney’s Hollywood Studios beginning at 8:30 pm and will receive their commemorative boarding pass for their trip. According to the event’s page, the event will consist of just visiting the attraction.
Photo: George Lucas and Jon Stewart are True ‘Star Tour de Forces’ at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Star Wars creator and filmmaker George Lucas poses with a group of Star Wars-inspired Disney characters (left): Princess Leia-Minnie, R2-MK, Darth Goofy, Jedi Mickey and Stormtrooper Donald on Aug. 14, 2010 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Lucas is in central Florida for “Star Wars Celebration V,” the official Lucasfilm fan event that is taking place this week at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. He visited Walt Disney World Resort to attend Disney’s “Last Tour to Endor” special event.
‘Star Tours II’ Previewed by Disney Parks in Queue Video First Look
On its official blog, Disney Parks and Resorts shared the following video today which was also shared at the Disney Parks panel at the Star Wars Celebration V convention currently taking place in Orlando.
Although Bespin, Endor and Alderaan are mentioned in the promotional film for the Star Tours Travel Company that guests will see while in the queue for the upgraded classic attraction, the official blog makes the disclaimer that the destinations may or may not be featured in Star Tours II. It has long been expected since the initial announcement at the Disney D23 Expo in 2009 that Star Tours II will feature multiple destinations and will be in 3D. Rumors speculate that the destination will be voted on by the attraction’s riders per voyage.
Star Wars Meets Indiana Jones in Special Presentation at ‘Last Tour to Endor’ Event at Walt Disney World
Walt Disney Imagineer and show writer Jason Surrell offers just a tad more information than he has already shared with us for The Last Tour to Endor hard-ticketed event taking place at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World on August 14.
One of the event’s festivities will be a ‘mash-up’ live-action stunt show in which Indiana Jones meets Star Wars. The show is appropriately titled ‘Raiders of the Lost Jedi Temple of Doom: A Fan Film of ‘Epic’ Proportions.’ The following clip from Walt Disney World provides the few details available:
Star Tours’ ‘StarSpeeder 1000′ Limited Edition Collectible Available at Star Wars Celebration V
Disney Theme Parks merchandise has posted a page advertising many of the Disney collectibles that will be available exclusively to attendees at the Star Wars Celebration V event taking place in Orlando, August 12-15.
Among the items is a limited edition (10,000 pieces) ‘sneak preview’ collectible of the Star Tours StarSpeeder 1000. As many Star Tours enthusiasts know already, the Star Tours company currently operates the StarSpeeder 3000, a descendant of the 1000 model. As Star Tours II includes material inspired by Episodes 1-3, the vehicle itself will also regress to the earlier 1000 model, so this collectible gives those attending Celebration V a sneak peek at the ‘new’ ride vehicle. It will retail for $24.95.
D23 Announces Star Tours and Scavenger Hunt Events at Disneyland, Mixer at Walt Disney World
On Tuesday, July 20, D23 will be hosting a member mixer event at the House of Blues at Walt Disney World’s Downtown Disney West Side from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. The event is free for members and does not require tickets attend the event. Proof of membership is required and easy D23 member may bring up to three non-members as guests. Each D23 member attending the event will also receive a coupon good for 15% off merchandise at the House of Blues as well as a special gift.
WDW Refurb Update: Star Tours II Officially Granted Re-opening Date
Star Tours II has been cleared for take-off.
On the official web site, Walt Disney World has announced a scheduled re-opening date for Star Tours of May 17, 2011, which reflects a minor change in dates we originally announced back in March. The attraction is still expected to close on September 8.
At the Disneyland Resort, Star Tours, which closes on July 27 for its refurb, is expected to re-open exactly one week prior, on May 10, 2011.
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Disney Parks Confirms Closure Dates for Star Tours
With Star Wars Weekends at Walt Disney World’s Disney’s Hollywood Studios rapidly approaching, Star Wars news on all fronts is pouring in.
In addition to announcing the personal appearance of R2-MK at Star Wars Weekends this year, Disney Parks has also confirmed closure dates for the Star Tours attraction at both the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts.
As we already advised back in March, the attraction is scheduled to close on September 8 with an expected re-opening date of May 20, 2011 in Orlando while the Anaheim version will close much earlier than originally anticipated on July 27 with an expected re-opening date of May 10, 2011.
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