Our favorite event opened with a bang and never slowed down with 54 new episodes!

This photo courtesy of the Disney Co. but I am in it, can you see me??

We arrived for this event about 7:30 a.m. the stages were already set the sound system was wired and rehearsals were ready to start. Storm Troopers were out and about, the one pictured below stopped for my camera lends-you can see the yellow harness off his belt, this was needed because four of these guys went up on the old People Mover Track for part of the show. They were attached to a safety line per Cal-OSHA requirements.

You can see here how the technicians attached them to a cable.

Here they were in position for the battle, this added a very nice touch to this event

This is a shot of the press box directly behind the white chairs in front of the stage

When the event started a full battle ensued, I thought this was well choreographed and executed flawlessly, again the Storm Troopers overhead added a nice dimension to the show

These next three shots show the official opening, Tom Skaggs used a lightsabor to cut the ribbon.

 Tom Staggs chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts addressing the media, he seemed a bit tired in the actual live broadcast and I thought he did better at the rehearsal -but why nit pick?? He did a great job all around and I am sure he was operating on very little sleep at this point. He had the pressure of pulling off a very important re-launch of the best attraction in Tommorowland.

Now onto the ride, this was just amazing- now enhanced with 3D effects this long overdue upgrade really hit the mark, we lined up in the shortest line probably for a long time to come and made our way to the 3D glasses pick up and then right the loading area. The attraction was so well done!! Different story lines, "transmissions" that appear right on the screen with your favorite characters from the story line. (see fact sheet below for details) Completely revamped and fresh, you must see this for yourself. On one of the second trips through the ride disneydreamer.com joined a local T.V. Station Crew who was filming the last 2 rows of Cabin 3 to get the reaction as the ride progressed. (Interesting note-Disneyland Security was out and about with dogs who were sniffing the cabin before we could go in...really..no kidding!) A metal round pipe system brace attached the Video Camera to a seat in the second row. The atmosphere was just electric as the crew were witnessing the ride for the first time! Nothing contrived here all the reactions were real and this made this trip especially fun.

DisneyDreamer.com was able to interview one of the builders of the ride. Peter a builder on this latest revamp told us that the new ride has 8 different "scenes" with the same potential middle beginning and ending. With 2 beginnings 3 middles, 3 ends and 3 "transmissions" he gave a 2x3x3x3=54 explanation. Confused, yeah we were too! All that to say you can ride the ride 54 times and not get the same show!! The shows go in random order so you never know what you are walking into. We rode the ride three times and all the shows were different.

Below are some shots of the ride itself. After the official opening of the ride the queue stretched to Main Street. When you go either fastpass-go when the park opens or is ready to close or during a parade. This might alleviate wait times. But this is another must see, Team Disney did it again, this time something really -really good!

‘Star Tours ~ The Adventures Continue’ Brings
Star Wars^™ Thrills in 3-D to Disneyland Park

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The power of the Force and the magic of Disney have combined to create Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, a new 3-D attraction set to open at Disneyland park on June 3, 2011. The attraction also opened at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on May 20, 2011

            Based on the Star Wars^TM films, Star Tours will take Disneyland Resort guests to multiple Star Wars destinations where they will interact with characters from throughout the Saga. And it will all be in 3-D.

With an eye-popping digital presentation leveraging Dolby 3-D to deliver a vivid and realistic experience, a dramatic musical score and motion simulator-based technology, guests will be immersed in the Star Wars galaxy like never before on a theme park attraction.

Star Tours, which had thrilled Disney Parks guests since the 1980s, was “powered down” at Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2010 so Imagineers could begin work on the new attraction.

And in a new twist, guests can enjoy the attraction multiple times without ever experiencing the same adventure. More than 50 story combinations are possible for guests to experience aboard Star Tours.

Just as the Star Wars films immerse movie-goers in storylines that keep them on the edge of their seats, Star Tours will feature multiple stories and scenarios that will hurtle park guests throughout the Star Wars galaxy. And all of the storyline’s twists and turns will be random, affording guests the chance to ride the attraction multiple times.

Whether it’s a battle with Darth Vader and his legion of stormtroopers or a plea from Princess Leia to help her save the Rebellion, guests will find themselves in the middle of the action – literally – in the 3-D, multi-sensory attraction.

Entering the attraction queue area, Star Tours guests walk into a bustling spaceport. The famed Star Wars droid duo, C-3PO and R2-D2, greet them as the Starspeeder 1000 is prepped for service.

Anthony Daniels, the voice of C-3PO and the only actor to appear in every theatrical chapter of the Star Wars Saga, reprises his role as the golden protocol droid. Daniels worked with Walt Disney Imagineering to record new dialogue for the attraction. Guests also are introduced to AC-38, a hotshot droid pilot known simply as “Ace,” and Aly San San (voiced by actress Allison Janney), the “spokesbot” for the spaceport.

After winding through the spaceport, guests board the Starspeeder 1000 spacecraft and prepare for Star Tours Flight #1401. Through a series of mishaps, however, C-3PO finds himself in the pilot’s seat instead of Ace, and it’s up to him and R2-D2 to navigate their passengers through the galaxy. However, the tyrannical Empire is out to stop the Starspeeder at all costs. C-3PO and R2-D2 take the controls and try to outwit and outrun the Imperial forces and a galactic bounty hunter hired to pursue the spaceship and its passengers.

Utilizing the 50+ random story combinations, the Starspeeder then embarks on a wild trip through the galaxy, 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 of 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, with multiple ways to experience each flight, guests will never know where the Force will take them.

‘Star Tours – The Adventures Continue’

Fact Sheet

Overview: The power of the Force and the magic of Disney have combined to create “Star Tours – The Adventures Continue,” a new 3-D attraction set to open at Disneyland park With an eye-popping digital presentation leveraging Dolby 3-D to deliver a vivid and realistic experience, a dramatic musical score and motion simulator-based technology, guests will be immersed in the Star Wars galaxy like never before on a theme park attraction. More than 50 story combinations are possible for guests to experience aboard Star Tours, so guests can enjoy the attraction multiple times without  experiencing the same adventure.  In fact they never know where the Force will take them!

Opening Dates: 

June 3, 2011 (Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif.)

May 20, 2011 (Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla)

Attraction Locations:

Disneyland Resort: Tomorrowland, inside Disneyland park

Walt Disney World Resort: Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park

Attraction Experience Time:

Approximately 7 minutes (including boarding at Starspeeder gate) 

Actual show is approximately 5 minutes.

Height Requirement:

40 inches (102 cm) or taller

Attraction Designers, Writers and Creators:

Walt Disney Imagineering, working with Lucasfilm Ltd. and Industrial Light & Magic

Some famous Star Wars film characters guests can encounter (depending on which story they experience):

R2-D2

Some famous Star Wars film planets and destinations guests can encounter (depending on which story they experience):

Kashyyyk