Taking a page from ComiCon and PAX, Disney wrapped up their inaugural D23 Expo today down in California. I would love to have been there. Virtually every division pulled out all the stops to wow the legions of WaltBoys lucky enough to attend. In a very shrewd move, Disney used D23 as their platform to make an unprecedented series of announcements for future plans across the Disneyscape. A few highlights include the confirmation of Pirates of the Carribbean 4, a major expansion for FantasyLand at WDW's Magic Kingdom, and a plan for Disney Cruise Line to run Alaskan cruises in Summer 2011.
One of my favourites has to be official confirmation of Star Tours v2.0 at WDW and Disneyland - slated for 2011. Star Tours is about as close as I'll ever be to living inside Star Wars. For the uninitiated, the Disney Studios ride centerpiece is a simulated tourist trip to the moon of Endor that goes goes awry - and ends up as part of a Rebel attack against the Deathstar. The set design is part of the magic for me: entering through an Ewok village, a full-size Imperial Walker shooting water vapour, a full-size speeder station with C3PO and R2-D2 engaged in conversation.
But the attraction is a bit elderly, with film effects having advanced considerably since the ride opened in 1987. There have been rumours of a Star Tours re-boot for a few years now, but nothing was ever official - until now. It has been confirmed that 2011 will see a revamped attraction that will center on a full 3D pod-racing experience! Disney has gone so far as to release a teaser for v2.0. I've watched this a few times, and I'm still all goosebumpy!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
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2 comments:
That looks awesome. We aren't going to the magic kingdom till the kids are older but I am excited for that already. Hopefully by that time both boys will have seen and understand Star Wars.
I remember the first Star Tours, and being all goosebumpy at actually *seeing* a real Artoo. Oh, and that giant AT-AT.
Yeah, there may have been tears in my eyes, but that was my Ray-Ban phase, so no one would have seen them.
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