Originally Posted By leobloom >> True Dave, but like the HM refurb we get an enhanced Star Tours with multiple variations. Not just one or two but fifty-four. << The "54 variations" is such a crafty and misleading statement, the hallmark of Disney PR. There are only something like 5 or 6 different destinations, but leave it to Disney to make it sound like there are dozens of different places to fly to.
Originally Posted By dshyates Yesterday, (Sat, 1st weekend of Star Wars Weekend) was very uncrowded. We got there about 9:30a and Star Tours had a 30 min. Stand-by. At 1pm ToT had a 10 min. stand-by. RnR had a 20 min. Stand-by. At 11am we walked right into Sci-fI Dine In. TDO has gotta be freakin'
Originally Posted By MPierce >> The "54 variations" is such a crafty and misleading statement, the hallmark of Disney PR. There are only something like 5 or 6 different destinations, but leave it to Disney to make it sound like there are dozens of different places to fly to. << Aren't they clear in where your flights can go to Leo? I thought they listed flight desinations, and the variables were just different things that could happen along the way. I would venture that the vast majority of guest later on will not know all the variables unless they are advertising it at the ride itself.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Yesterday, (Sat, 1st weekend of Star Wars Weekend) was very uncrowded. We got there about 9:30a and Star Tours had a 30 min. Stand-by. At 1pm ToT had a 10 min. stand-by. RnR had a 20 min. Stand-by. At 11am we walked right into Sci-fI Dine In. TDO has gotta be freakin'<< I would imagine so. How very strange that it is not packed.
Originally Posted By leobloom >> Aren't they clear in where your flights can go to Leo? I thought they listed flight desinations, and the variables were just different things that could happen along the way. I would venture that the vast majority of guest later on will not know all the variables unless they are advertising it at the ride itself. << I dunno. I've only read them touting the 54 variations and the claim that it would take something like 6 hours to experience all the variations. Just saying there's a big difference between promoting "6 destinations" versus "54 variations." The latter makes it sound like you're almost guaranteed a totally different ride each time, which isn't the case.
Originally Posted By Doobie To be clear - while there are only the six (I believe that's the number) destinations - 3 in the first beginning and 3 in the ending - there are other variations as well. I believe there are 2 starting variations and 3 variations regarding the message (not wanting to give away spoilers here). That would multiply out to 54 which is where I'm guessing they get the number from (if all my numbers are right). So there are actually 6 different places to go (and you'll go to 2 each ride) and 11 total things to see. The combination of all that gives 54 variations. I've ridden 5 times so far and have seen 9 of those 11 things but actually had 5 different variations as I've not had the same combination twice. Doobie.
Originally Posted By MPierce Also what kind of general reactions are people having to the new Star Tours Doobie?
Originally Posted By MPierce >> I dunno. I've only read them touting the 54 variations and the claim that it would take something like 6 hours to experience all the variations. Just saying there's a big difference between promoting "6 destinations" versus "54 variations." The latter makes it sound like you're almost guaranteed a totally different ride each time, which isn't the case. << Does that mean all those young babes won't be climbing all over me if I use Old Spice stick deoderant also?
Originally Posted By leobloom >> Does that mean all those young babes won't be climbing all over me if I use Old Spice stick deoderant also? << Yes, but body odor has nothing to do with it.
Originally Posted By leobloom >> So there are actually 6 different places to go (and you'll go to 2 each ride) and 11 total things to see. The combination of all that gives 54 variations. << I understood that. Doobie, in your rides did you find there were certain components that appeared more frequently than others, like Tattooine or Vader?
Originally Posted By Doobie There is a flight schedule board in the queue but I don't think it's meant to show you your possible destinations. But I'm not certain and I can't think of anything else that shows the possible destinations. But I could be missing it. The vast majority of the people I've heard from have been positive - some extremely positive. We have a very non-scientific poll here that also reflects that. I've included it below. Just click on the XXX votes in the bottom right to see the results if you're not voting. [[poll:45]] Doobie.
Originally Posted By Doobie <<< I understood that. Doobie, in your rides did you find there were certain components that appeared more frequently than others, like Tattooine or Vader? >>> Yes, of my 5 rides 4 ended at the Death Star and I went to Hoth 3 times. However, I've talked to other multiple riders who've not seen Hoth or the Death Star so I'd chalk it up to just random variation than weighting towards certain elements. Doobie.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >> I will ... later tonight ... with a glass of a nice cabernet. << <<My cousin Tadpole likes to drink his own homemade Dandelion wine. He's kind of the sophisticate of the family.>> Where does that leave you?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<So to conclude. Star Tours is looking good, but it is still Star Tours.>> This is pretty much what everyone I know who has experienced it (on either coast) has said. They all liked it. No one loved it. They all thought it was better and had added repeatability. But no one was wetting themselves and no one felt the need to ride (well, except one friend) over and over and over etc. At the end of the day, it's a simulator redo that apparently was redone well. But it sure isn't setting a bar higher or creating a new level of experience (see: WWoHP). The only folks who seem to be foaming up about it are the typical MAGICal Disney-can-do-no-wrong fanbois and the podcast/blogger whores who just want to be there all the time. Oh, and lest I forget, thanks for the write-up/review Doobie.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Yesterday, (Sat, 1st weekend of Star Wars Weekend) was very uncrowded. We got there about 9:30a and Star Tours had a 30 min. Stand-by. At 1pm ToT had a 10 min. stand-by. RnR had a 20 min. Stand-by. At 11am we walked right into Sci-fI Dine In. TDO has gotta be freakin'>> Yet, on other MAGICal sites they've talked about hours-long lines. Typical breathless bs. Sounds to me like the park was near empty to have wait times like that. And on opening weekend of Star Tours Weekends and the redo of the ride ... well, I doubt Disney was anticipating that ... especially with the 8-midnight hours, which haven't happened (NYE excepted) since the early/mid 90s. So ... how about a Sci Fi dining review?
Originally Posted By Doobie <<< The only folks who seem to be foaming up about it are the typical MAGICal Disney-can-do-no-wrong fanbois and the podcast/blogger whores who just want to be there all the time. >>> Maybe you put in me this category but for the record, I did love it. I agree it's not revolutionary, but I do think it's a vast improvement over Star Tours because of the 3D (which is done well but not gimicky) and the variations. I did happily ride it over and over (albeit without a wait). The queue is also a vast improvement (for whatever that's worth) though there are some things in there I really don't like. Doobie.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Maybe you put in me this category but for the record, I did love it. I agree it's not revolutionary, but I do think it's a vast improvement over Star Tours because of the 3D (which is done well but not gimicky) and the variations. I did happily ride it over and over (albeit without a wait). The queue is also a vast improvement (for whatever that's worth) though there are some things in there I really don't like.>> No, I thought you were being fair and pointed out what you did and didn't like. There are many fanbois proclaiming Star Tours as the greatest thing since sliced bread. I think it's safe to say that it is a new and improved version of what was there before. It's not FJ at WWoHP. Two 'top' Imagineers at WDW last weekend said the same thing to a mutual friend.
Originally Posted By Doobie <<< I think it's safe to say that it is a new and improved version of what was there before. It's not FJ at WWoHP. >>> It's certainly not and I hope no one was expecting it to be. Doobie.
Originally Posted By leobloom Just out of curiosity, given a choice between a ST that has different locations (essentially a new film), or a ST that has one film with new in-cabin effects and other upgrades (screens overhead or on the sides of the cabin, e.g.), which would you choose?
