Post by noleafclover1980 on Jun 6, 2011 16:08:45 GMT -5
So, after an 80 minute wait or so, got to ride the revamped Star Tours.
*spoilers ahead*
{Spoiler}
The first part of the inside queue is relatively the same. The Starspeeder has a new paint job, and doesn't look all busted up, and R2 and 3PO have more banter. Huge screen showing destinations, and weather updates for planets was kinda cool.
2nd part of the queue is pretty revamped, there is a droid customs area, witha damaged Rex (the original ST pilot) randomly sayings bits of lines here and there from the original ride. You continue on past a security droid, who cracks a few funny one liners. My favorite was "To some security droids, this is just a job. To me... it's just a job"
Finally get to the Starspeeder 1000 loading. The preflight video explains that there was a malfunction, and 3PO being locked inside the pilots cabin.
Onto the actual ride...
So, the ride I got (since the scenes are randomly done)...
It started in the hanger, w/ 3PO frantically trying to explain he isn't the real pilot and telling R2 to shut down the Starspeeder. At that moment a squad of storm troopers blocks off the runway, and Darth Vader appears, ordering Star Tours to prepare to be boarded, due to a rebel spy being on board. When he says this, on the side screen it shows a random picture of someone on the ride, as the rebel spy.. I thought that was a fun touch. Vader starts to force lift the speeder, to keep it from escaping, R2 activates the blasters on the speeder, and opens fire, w/ Vader deflecting them. The speeder flies our of the hanger in reverse, firing on TIE fighters that pursue it before hitting lightspeed....
The Starspeder ends up at Kashyyyk, it's a pretty fun sequence zipping through the trees, shooting at Stormtroopers on speeder bikes that are chasing Wookiees (one Wookiee is shot down, and hits the windshield... pretty funny actually as it desperately tries to hang on before sliding off)
The speeder leaves atmosphere again and is receives a transmission from Princess Leia (a remarkably realistic CGI rendition of young Carrier Fisher that projects in the cabin w/ the 3D effect) pleading to have the rebel operative safely escorted to his destination, ending with "Help me Star Tours.. you're my only hope". Made me chuckle.
Lightspeed again and end up in a huge space battle over Coruscant, buzz droids attach to the speeder, causing the engines to shut down, plummeting to the surface before engines reignite, and the starspeeder speeds against traffic on Coruscant. Finally 3PO finds a landing pad, crash landing the Starspeeder. It is lowered into a new hanger, and the ride ends.
The first part of the inside queue is relatively the same. The Starspeeder has a new paint job, and doesn't look all busted up, and R2 and 3PO have more banter. Huge screen showing destinations, and weather updates for planets was kinda cool.
2nd part of the queue is pretty revamped, there is a droid customs area, witha damaged Rex (the original ST pilot) randomly sayings bits of lines here and there from the original ride. You continue on past a security droid, who cracks a few funny one liners. My favorite was "To some security droids, this is just a job. To me... it's just a job"
Finally get to the Starspeeder 1000 loading. The preflight video explains that there was a malfunction, and 3PO being locked inside the pilots cabin.
Onto the actual ride...
So, the ride I got (since the scenes are randomly done)...
It started in the hanger, w/ 3PO frantically trying to explain he isn't the real pilot and telling R2 to shut down the Starspeeder. At that moment a squad of storm troopers blocks off the runway, and Darth Vader appears, ordering Star Tours to prepare to be boarded, due to a rebel spy being on board. When he says this, on the side screen it shows a random picture of someone on the ride, as the rebel spy.. I thought that was a fun touch. Vader starts to force lift the speeder, to keep it from escaping, R2 activates the blasters on the speeder, and opens fire, w/ Vader deflecting them. The speeder flies our of the hanger in reverse, firing on TIE fighters that pursue it before hitting lightspeed....
The Starspeder ends up at Kashyyyk, it's a pretty fun sequence zipping through the trees, shooting at Stormtroopers on speeder bikes that are chasing Wookiees (one Wookiee is shot down, and hits the windshield... pretty funny actually as it desperately tries to hang on before sliding off)
The speeder leaves atmosphere again and is receives a transmission from Princess Leia (a remarkably realistic CGI rendition of young Carrier Fisher that projects in the cabin w/ the 3D effect) pleading to have the rebel operative safely escorted to his destination, ending with "Help me Star Tours.. you're my only hope". Made me chuckle.
Lightspeed again and end up in a huge space battle over Coruscant, buzz droids attach to the speeder, causing the engines to shut down, plummeting to the surface before engines reignite, and the starspeeder speeds against traffic on Coruscant. Finally 3PO finds a landing pad, crash landing the Starspeeder. It is lowered into a new hanger, and the ride ends.
Overall, I gotta say... it actually blew the original out of the water. Turns out the problems w/ the PT, make for a hell of an exciting ride, as it's now stop action, with crazy stuff happening all around you. Take the Coruscant battle from Episode III. On film, it looks like "wow, that looks like a cool video game..." in a RIDE, it's just "Holy crap, there's a huge battle going on EVERYWHERE around me." I was a tad concerned initially about the character cameos when I heard about them... but in practice, they really add to immersing yourself in the Star Wars universe. All in all, I'd say it's an A+ attraction. Anyone else that has ridden it, I'd like to hear some of your ride experiences.
