Is Star Tours due for a rehab?

[Dayma]

Star Tours is one of my favorite rides in MGM and in Disney. I hear rumors that they are talking about updating the ride ( video ) to Episode I or II. Is there any truth to this and what is your opinion on it?

I personally like it the way it is but I think that an update might be cool as long as its just not 10 minutes of Pod Racing....

 

[RickEff]

Hey blackride!

About three years ago I heard the George Lucas was in talks with Disney to update ST. I heard that they had some disagreement and Lucas walked away from the project claiming he was too busy filming the three episodes to deal with it.

Lucas tends to be very much hands on. The rumour I heard was that it was going to be a Pod Race. I haven't heard anything since then, however.

Personally, I'd love to see them update the ride, but I'd still rather them keep it themed to the classic films, not the new ones.

Take care!

Rick

 

[imagineer boy]

A pod Racer ride would be neat, but Star Tours is supposed to be a mix of all of the Star Wars saga films. Sort of like the Indiana Jones Adventure. Not just one film. I'm guessing that the rehab would be after the 3rd Star Wars film is finnished. I'm guessing the rhab would include:

New Destination ( like Naboo or somthing )

Same story, but a little bit different

References to the new films.

New ride viecle design ( it looks a little dull )

New ride footage

New safty video

new costume design for cast members

new encounters during the actual ride

That's all I can think of for now. But that's probably what is most likely what will happen in the rehab. And that's what I personally would like to see happen.

 

[Dayma]

I think that they definetly need a rehab just to re-paint things and update the casts outfits.

I wander how long that Disney owns the rights to this ride...basically can Lucas just say one day that he wants to pull it out?

 

[imagineer boy]

Originally posted by blackride

I wander how long that Disney owns the rights to this ride...basically can Lucas just say one day that he wants to pull it out?

Well, I don't think Disney would allow it. Lucas would know that it would make Disney very angry to make over without choise one of their most prized rides. Besides, I don't think Lucas would want to. Imagine if someone made a ride out of a little story you made out of or somthing. Would you want to pull it out? No sir! Just my opinion.

 

[Maerj]

I'd like to see the ride film redone in 3D with new footage. The 3D goggles could be built into X-Wing pilot style helmets. It would also be cool to have the ship under attack at some point, and have hidden air cannons inside to blast you, representing when the ship takes a hit. Also, they need to put an animatronic Watto in Tattooine Traders! He could fly up and talk to you as you browse.

 

[Epcot is my fav]

Originally posted by Maerj
I'd like to see the ride film redone in 3D with new footage. The 3D goggles could be built into X-Wing pilot style helmets. It would also be cool to have the ship under attack at some point, and have hidden air cannons inside to blast you, representing when the ship takes a hit. Also, they need to put an animatronic Watto in Tattooine Traders! He could fly up and talk to you as you browse.

that would be awesome!!!!

 

[Dayma]

As long as they keep the helmets clean....eeewwwwww...

Sounds like an awesome idea though...

 

[Maerj]

Thanks! I always like to throw ideas out there, I try it when I'm at the parks, telling cast members things I'd like to see. I hope they use them and I'm not looking for money or anything, I would just like to see some of them happen so I can ride the rides.

Another one I keep posting is that I'd like to see a James Bond themed attraction, since MGM releases those films anyway they could put it in the Disney/MGM studios. They could have a 00 agent training facility where you learn to shoot and train as an agent. Then you could be equipped with a gun for when you are sent out on a "real" mission in a high tech fully loaded spy car that goes on a high speed chase while you blast the bad guys.

So, there's another freebie, if there are any Imagineers reading this thread!

 

[imagineer boy]

Originally posted by Maerj
I'd like to see the ride film redone in 3D with new footage. The 3D goggles could be built into X-Wing pilot style helmets. It would also be cool to have the ship under attack at some point, and have hidden air cannons inside to blast you, representing when the ship takes a hit. Also, they need to put an animatronic Watto in Tattooine Traders! He could fly up and talk to you as you browse.

---------- A little bit of a thread drift-----------------

I like the ideas, especialy the Watto one even though I don't think that it would be possible to have a flying AA, but he could interact with guests from behind a counter. BTW, why would you be wearing helmates on commercial flights? The helmates in star wars are worn in fighter pilots only because they know that they are going into turbulent battles. They don't wear helmates on the Melinium falcon. Also, why would it have 3-D images? Tie fighters don't look like they're flying inside your ship during commercial flights.

Sorry, but I had to point these out. BTW, your ship does get attacked during Star Tours, but its not very believable. They could have the air cannons ( like you said ) blast heat on you while some small sparks fly though your ship and smoke blasts while you hurtle down to the death star.

I also like you James Bond idea.

 

[Maerj]

I actually just talked to someone about the helmet idea... they mentioned the potential ' head lice' problems, soooooo.... let us change it back to glasses or goggles for the 3-D ride film. Maybe we can explain them due to potential "solar flares or other phenomena and their affects on certain species." :animwink:

 

[no2apprentice]

What concerns me is time. Episode 3 isn't due until 2005. Lucas seems like he wants complete control over everything he touches. Disney won't let that happen with Star Tours. So even if Lucas starts thinking about other projects until 2005, and starts talking to Disney again, that's two more years before any pre-planning might begin to start for a re-furb. In the meantime, I fear the ride will lose popularity, and Disney might consider just closing it and putting something else in it's place. I would hate to see it happen, because a good re-furb could do ST wonders.

On a side note, I wonder how well Lucas and Spielberg can work together on the next Indy movie. I'd like to be a fly on the wall during those discussions.

 

[bgraham34]

As a Star Wars Fan whatever they end up doing I will not be surprised if it sucks.

 

[imagineer boy]

Originally posted by no2apprentice
What concerns me is time. Episode 3 isn't due until 2005. Lucas seems like he wants complete control over everything he touches. Disney won't let that happen with Star Tours. So even if Lucas starts thinking about other projects until 2005, and starts talking to Disney again, that's two more years before any pre-planning might begin to start for a re-furb. In the meantime, I fear the ride will lose popularity, and Disney might consider just closing it and putting something else in it's place.

Ooh, what a terrible thought. I bet that once Lucas finnishes Episode 3, Disney will pounce on him, wrestle him to the ground, and force him to help with the Star Tours rehab. Besides, I think Star Tours should atleast get a small rehab in the mean time. Just change the terrible costume design for the cast members working there, the horrid ( 80s infested ) safty video, and a few other things. I think that Lucas will eventually have a break. Probably when filming is done and Visual Effects for the movie are started. Disney could ask Lucas if they could borrow the art director Doug Chiang to help design new Star Speeder 3000s, clothes styles, and more. Also, Disney could have a small meeting with George to ask if the new designs and stuff is OK, and that if he wants to add any more stuff to the ride. Other than that, Disney could just re-do some of the footage and more. That would be good. Lucas wouldn't spend too much time at all with Disney. Its just my idea.

 

[Maerj]

Originally posted by bgraham34
As a Star Wars Fan whatever they end up doing I will not be surprised if it sucks.

Nothing like the power of positive thinking!

:lol:

 

[Dizknee_Phreek]

Originally posted by imagineer boy
the horrid ( 80s infested ) safty video,

:lol: omg! you ain't kiddin'! i'm glad you pointed that out! i've thought that for a long time too. it wasn't so bad in the early 90's, but of course with ever changing trends, the movie gets progressively worse every year!
and you're right! i, too, think it would be a world of difference if Disney would just do some minor changes and updates. they made a great start with the change of the shop area. now they just need some minor updates of the queue area (though i'd truely hate it if they took the Ewok village out) and (as you said) CM outfits. it wouldn't take all that much, i don't think. and i'm sure it'd get the traffic back up (though Star Wars Weekends seems to help out with that some as well)

as for the attraction itself...as others have said, Lucas has claimed to be totally focused on his Star Wars movie at the moment (and now Indy). i doubt he'll have anything to do with a Disney attraction for a while. BUT if they ever do get back together, this is what i HOPE would happen if an update occured. Since it IS Star TOURS (and they have postcards and shirts of different locations) i wish that every vehicle would go to a different destination. that way, you could ride it several times and never know where you're going until you get in the vehicle. and of course, have different destinations from both the old and new trilogies: Naboo, Endor, Hoth, Tatooine, even the underwater Gungan city. and what would a simulator be without a little action? so put a different conflict for each one (whatever the conflict would be; for instance, for the Gungan city, you could be chased around by the giant fish from Ep. 1) just my thoughts :animwink:

Maerj, good ideas! personally, i wouldn't want to see James Bond in a Disney park...as much as i love Pierce Brosnan and Goldeneye and all, i just wouldn't want to see it there...i don't really know why. i'm not sure how much it would fly with Disney either...with them having to become more and more politically correct these days with the usage and selling of fake guns and all...and we all know Bond is nothing without his guns and other various weapons. then again, i haven't heard any complaints about Indy Stunt Spec. and i'm pretty sure they use 'guns' in that, right? so who knows? they could probably at least put Bond in Great Movie Ride, i suppose.

 

[Tarzan266]

Originally posted by Dizknee_Phreek
:lol: omg! you ain't kiddin'! i'm glad you pointed that out! i've thought that for a long time too. it wasn't so bad in the early 90's, but of course with ever changing trends, the movie gets progressively worse every year!

I actually think that instructional video is funny. :lol: But yeah I do think the ride in general could use an update, it has potential for one.

 

[RogueHabit]

Originally posted by bgraham34
As a Star Wars Fan whatever they end up doing I will not be surprised if it sucks.

Awww, did GL rape your childhood with Episode I too????? :lol:

 

[imagineer boy]

Originally posted by Dizknee_Phreek

as for the attraction itself...as others have said, Lucas has claimed to be totally focused on his Star Wars movie at the moment (and now Indy). i doubt he'll have anything to do with a Disney attraction for a while. BUT if they ever do get back together, this is what i HOPE would happen if an update occured. Since it IS Star TOURS (and they have postcards and shirts of different locations) i wish that every vehicle would go to a different destination. that way, you could ride it several times and never know where you're going until you get in the vehicle. and of course, have different destinations from both the old and new trilogies: Naboo, Endor, Hoth, Tatooine, even the underwater Gungan city. and what would a simulator be without a little action? so put a different conflict for each one (whatever the conflict would be; for instance, for the Gungan city, you could be chased around by the giant fish from Ep. 1) just my thoughts :animwink:

That's an interesting idea. Also, maybe you could have a different droid pilot your ship every time. Of corse, you never do make it to Endor or where ever you're going.

 

[EpcoTim]

Id like to see a slight rehab of the ride, i think you guys have good ideas on what should be done. i like the idea of having a few different movies. Of course that becomes a logistics nightmare for disney, with return riders asking to go on rides they havent been on yet and all that. I would also like to see them expand the area if they could, its great now, but its potential to represent the star wars empire could be huge. Not just in the ride, but outside of it also.....