Originally Posted By davewasbaloo I must add, as a Star wars fan, and a Disney fan, I was druelling over the opening. FWIW, I am not a huge fan of Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye, and I think Space Mountain in the US is a waste of time, both are popular etickets. But I do love Star Tours in the original version and am looking forward to perhaps one day trying this one out, it was a refresh of an attraction that is not as popular as it once was. I am lamenting the use of characters throughout, and also, is there still a trench run at all? The is what I loved about the original, it allowed us to experience (all be it with a little imagination), something I always wanted to do!
Originally Posted By dshyates "is there still a trench run at all?" Nope, and there is no verticle drop like at the beginning of the old one.
Originally Posted By dshyates OK, I have broken down the segments that I saw in the 2 rides I did. They were completely different. Ride 1: Spy searching Robot opening Hoth Gen Ackbar hologram Coruscant Ride 2: Vader opening Kashyyyk Yoda Hologram Death Star
Originally Posted By dshyates And to be fair Dave, they do try the drop effect in the Coruscant scene, it just doesn't work very well. since they drive/fly all different direction there anyway. so instead of falling you feel like you are just driving a different direction. Oh, and I should add that I really like the 3-D gimmicks they threw in: Coruscant: 3 little robots on the windshield Kashyyyk: Wookie on windshield Naboo: Being in giant fish mouth with it's tongue flopping on the windshield. And the Holograms.
Originally Posted By DlandDug Here's the breakdown on my experience: Vader opening Kashyyyk Princess Leia hologram Naboo Crowd was greatly amused when Leia plaintively stated, "Help me, Star Tours-- you're my only hope!"
Originally Posted By DlandDug BTW, if you want to get a very clear view of Vader's appearance, look at the video in this story: <a href="http://www.laughingplace.com/Lotion-View-1193.asp" target="_blank">http://www.laughingplace.com/L...1193.asp</a> It also includes some clean video of the queue, as well as Kashyyyk and the Death Star.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA >>But isn't Star Tours 1.0 a single, linear immersive and impressive experience, and Star Tours 2.0 the stitched together mess?<< In your opinion, obviously. But clearly not everyone in the world has your intelligence and good taste.> Why the snarky retort here?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 I think if people wanted a really enjoyable Star Wars experiece, then they should have watched Family Guy's season-finale/Return of the Jedi episode last night. Its first 15 minutes was more enjoyable than the the three prequels in total.
Originally Posted By SeventyOne Doobie, I guess it worked for you, but still not getting the appeal of the "spy" subplot. You see a black and white photo of a tourist, in tourist attire, who clearly has no place in the Star Wars universe--takes me right out of the ride. Why couldn't it be an animatronic R2 unit up front, or (gasp) in the middle of the car? Instead the ride just goes for a cheap pop. One of a few criticisms I have of the new version, arguably the most minor, but it just seems lazy and bad story.
Originally Posted By dshyates "Doobie, I guess it worked for you, but still not getting the appeal of the "spy" subplot. You see a black and white photo of a tourist, in tourist attire, who clearly has no place in the Star Wars universe--takes me right out of the ride. Why couldn't it be an animatronic R2 unit up front, or (gasp) in the middle of the car? Instead the ride just goes for a cheap pop." That way they can use they "chance to be part of the story" gimmick. And brag about facial capture tech usage.
Originally Posted By MPierce <<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? << You might say I am the social coordinator/supervisor. That means at family reunions I sit in a lawn chair, under a shade tree drinking beer, supervising the young boys in skinin', and scalin' the days harvest. It's a pretty important position. You really have to keep a close eye on those young boys. They're always trying to sneak off to smoke grape vines or eat chinkapins or bombart the camp with horse apples.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> I know they've been touting multiple destinations but I only recall the number 54 coming up in relation to variations, not destinations. << >> Show me anywhere that Disney has been claiming 54 destinations. The message has been quite consistent: 6 new destinations, 54 variations << That's what I heard also.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> I am more inclined to typify it as Star Tours for the short attention span generation. Rather than a single, linear, immersive experience, we have a series of quickly defined sequences stitched together with recognizable characters, with an added fillup of randomness. It's not inherently better or worse, it's just new and improved. << I guess for it to be a people eater, and a entertaining attraction in a theme park, they did a pretty good job from all the reviews I read.
Originally Posted By Doobie <<< That way they can use they "chance to be part of the story" gimmick. And brag about facial capture tech usage. >>> I'm normally not a fan of "chance to be part of the story" either, but I think it works here. Even the black and white grainy picture - that's not surprising coming from some kind of security or spy camera (even in a galaxy far, far away). Also, Doug posted a link to a still of the Darth Vader scene. When I look at that picture, it looked like it was straight out of a video game. On the ride, with movement and 3D it didn't come across that way to me at all. It looked like live-action (to me anyway). Doobie.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> And new and improved is a good thing. Not every addition or 'new' thing has to be a 'knock-it-outa-da-park' Harry Potter, E-Ticket attraction. << Absolutely. It all boils down to, is it popular, and is it entertaining.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> OK, we arrived a 5 after 11. They had just opened and we walk up and to our surprise they said they could take us right away. We were seated promptly and our server was right there to give us menus and get the drink order. I had the Black & Blue Salad ($16). I thought it was great because instead of a tossed salad with steak strips on top. This was a Iceberg Wedge with blue cheese dressing, bacon and tomatoes with sliced steak on the side. I love wedge salads and this is really exactly what I was looking for. It was very tasty, but I thought $16 was a little steep for a salad. I paid $16 last month at Emeril's Orlando for a Fried Chicken Dinner with Collard Greens, and a Sweet Potato Biscuit with Praline Butter. Oh, I forgot to say about the Sci-Fi. The service was good, the food was tasty, and the restaurant look to be in good shape. All in all I have to say that Sci-Fi is my 2nd favorite place to eat at DHS. << I enjoy Sci-Fi also. Especially the hamburgers. I just have a hard time getting past that $16 price point. I guess at least it tasted good, and the service was good.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> I think if people wanted a really enjoyable Star Wars experiece, then they should have watched Family Guy's season-finale/Return of the Jedi episode last night. Its first 15 minutes was more enjoyable than the the three prequels in total. <, You're one of those strange people like my Mrs. that watch that show. Stewie is her hero. While the prequels are certainly not as grand as the originals. I still enjoy watching them, even with their flawed acting.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<While the prequels are certainly not as grand as the originals. I still enjoy watching them, even with their flawed acting. >> I enjoy Revenge of the Sith and parts of Attack of the Clones. But Phantom Menace? No thank you. That film was such a disaster, save for the final lightsaber battle.
