My 25 Favorite Disney Things #13

Wow!  Here we are back at the countdown covering my top 25 favorite things to do at Walt Disney World.  It's Friday the 13th, and no bad things happened, and I know several of my readers who are going to be thrilled with this pick! 

#13 is an attraction at Hollywood Studios........ STAR TOURS-The Adventure Continues!

I have always loved STAR WARS, and consider myself a STAR WARS nerd.  That's ok in my book.  I will never forget how excited I was in the very first showing of STAR WARS-Episode 4 when I went to see it in the theatre. Back in the summer of 1977....goose bumps, and that happened for each of the following movies, and even years later, taking my two boys to see Episodes 1-3. 

Getting back to the attraction..........

I think one of my favorite experiences on the attraction was this past May, when I was at Hollywood Studios for the "May the 4th Be With You" celebration.  Unfortunately, the attraction was down for several hours early in the day, which made a lot of people very unhappy.  Well, patience is a virtue as they say, and my friend Brent Dodge and I were able to finally get in to experience the attraction.  Not only did we get in, but he was getting very excited as we were directed to our "ship" and said to me, "OH MAN!  We are riding with the Jawas!"  I was not really looking forward, and I said, "What, what do you mean?" He stopped, pointed, and said, "look...........the Jawas are at out station!!"  He was practically foaming at the mouth at this point.  I said, "NO WAY!......how could we be that lucky!?!?"  Indeed we were!  Two Jawas were on our experience with us!  What fun they added to the attraction!  They interacted with guests, and really played up their characters.

Trying to get his 3D glasses on his big head!

My Disney buddy Brent Dodge with his pals, the Jawas!

 After the ride, Jawas interacting with us!
What fun!!











According to the WDW website, 

Explore a Galaxy Far, Far Away

Blast off on a thrilling tour of the Star Wars universe aboard a Starspeeder 1000. Voyage to amazing alien worlds — like Tatooine, Naboo or Hoth — and come face to face with the likes of Yoda, Princess Leia or even Darth Vader.
Featuring state-of-the-art technology—including a flight simulator, digital 3D video, Audio-Animatronics characters and “in cockpit” special effects and music—Star Tours: The Adventure Continues realistically immerses you in the Star Wars mythology for an unforgettable intergalactic adventure.
Pre-Boarding
Hurry along the forest moon of Endor—home to rustic Ewok cottages and a towering AT-AT—and make your way through a sleek Rebel bunker to a bustling Star Tours spaceport. Inside, behold R2-D2 and C-3PO tinkering away on a Starspeeder 1000—your cosmic transportation vehicle—amid a throng of projection screens, glowing scanners and blinking droids.
Weave your way up a ramp past customs and baggage screening before picking up a pair of 3D flight glasses and continuing to your departure gate. Following instructions from an overhead monitor, board your interstellar space vehicle for a journey through the darkest reaches of the solar system.
Become a Hero of the Rebellion!
As you prepare for lift-off, a series of mishaps unwittingly causes your starship to launch and C-3PO to take control. Suddenly, your space cruiser is intercepted by Empire forces. Fearing capture, C-3PO pilots your ship on an unpredictable flight that will rocket you to the farthest reaches of the galaxy and back!
Tour the Universe
During your voyage, interact with many of the otherworldly characters and places made famous in the Star Wars saga.
Hold on tight as you navigate jagged desert rocks in a dusty pod race on Tatooine. Maneuver around menacing AT-ATs during a whirlwind battle on the icy planet of Hoth. Hyperspace to the watery planet of Naboo and avoid the clutches of a giant fish or retreat inside the dreaded Death Star to escape Darth Vader before doing battle with Boba Fett.
Will your starspeeder elude capture and safely transport you—and the rebel spy—safely back to the Alliance base? May the Force be with you.

New and Different Adventures

With over 50 story combinations, Star Tours: The Adventures Continue invites you to experience a unique adventure almost every time.
Just as the Star Wars film saga takes moviegoers to new worlds, Star Tours: The Adventures Continue features a constellation of storylines and interplanetary destinations that will immerse you in the Star Wars galaxy. And because the many story twists are random, you just never know where in the universe you’ll go or who you may encounter along the way.
Star Tours: The Adventures Continue features characters and settings from both the original trilogy of Star Wars films and their newer prequels.
Distant destinations you may visit include:

• The Wookies’ woodland home planet, Kashyyyk
• The underwater realms on Naboo
• The bustling city-planet of Coruscant
• The desert planet of Tatooine
• The icy landscape of Hoth
• The dreaded Death Star

In addition to C-3PO and R2-D2, you may encounter:

• Darth Vader
• Yoda
• Princess Leia
• Chewbacca
• Boba Fett
• Admiral Ackbar

Where will the Force take you?

Based on the Blockbuster Saga

Conceived, written and directed by George Lucas, Star Wars was an instant hit when it was released on May 25, 1977. With 2 sequels and 3 prequels, the film saga tells the mythic story of the rise, fall and eventual redemption of Jedi Knight, Anakin Skywalker. Featuring memorable characters, interstellar sets and vivid effects against a classic mythic backdrop, the movies have continued to inspire generations the world over.
A Trip to Endor
Building on a successful partnership that began with Captain EO starring Michael Jackson, George Lucas together with Disney Imagineering decided to bring the Star Wars universe to life as a theme park attraction. On December 15, 1989, the result, Star Tours, blasted off for the very first time at Walt Disney World Resort and—like the movies before—was widely successful.
A New Adventure
Over 20 years since its original debut, the power of the Force and the magic of Disney have combined once again to create Star Tours: The Adventures Continue in 2011. Unlike its predecessor, this new Star Wars ride-simulator attraction features advanced 3D technology, unique branching storylines and an expanded universe of scenarios and characters based not only on the original trilogy of films, but also on the successful prequels.

Yes, STAR TOURS will forever be one of my very favorites at WDW!  May the force be with you........until tomorrow when we reveal #12!