The story lines are set between the third and fourth movies but the big differences from the old Star Tours ride are firstly it is in 3D and secondly there are multiple destinations.

When you board the Starspeeder 1000 spacecraft you will not know which of the six destinations you are bound for; Naboo, a Death Star, Tattooine, Coruscant, Kashyyyk or Hoth.

In total there are 54 different story combinations involving multiple planets so you can take the ride many times and experience a different story each time. It sounds awesome!!

The original pilot is an AC-38 droid called Ace but owning to a mishap, the Starspeeder is eventually piloted by C-3PO (aided by R2-D2), again voiced by Anthony Daniels who has appeared in every Star Wars film to date.

Along the way you may encounter both friends and foes including a galactic bounty hunter who is after you, Darth Vader, legions of Imperial Stormtroopers, Yoda, Admiral Ackbar, Princess Leia, Chewbacca and Boba Fett. Amongst the story lines you may join in a podrace on Tattooine, meet Wookiees in the forests of Kashyyyk, race through a partially completed Death Star, visit Coruscant the busiest planet in the Universe, battle blizzards and AT-ATs on snow covered Hoth or dive underwater on Naboo.

As part of the run up to the official opening, Disney have been promoting the new ride at various malls in Florida so you will be able to pick up full details while shopping. (to keep Mum Happy!!)

There is an extra plus factor as you can also print out a personalised Star Tours Galactic Passport to take with you and get stamped as you leave the ride, just visit startourspassport.com and choose from four different characters; a rebel pilot, a pod racer, a Jedi or a princess. Upload your own photo and print out your passport.

It all seems Out of this World so Beam yourselves along to Holllywood Studios & enjoy the ride.

Happy Trekking

Mary & Larry

While you are taking your vacation in one of the many Disney villas, Florida villas, Orlando villas, Florida vacation rentals and villas near Disney that are available to rent, why not visit the theme parks and have a great time on the following wildest rides around.  We can guarantee some spectacular fun !!!

Universal Islands of Adventure - The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man.  On this 3D simulation ride you are taken into the world of the comic book hero Spider Man.  The ride has quite a few twists and turns and a fantastic virtual 400 foot freefall experience. As Spider Man swings high above the city, riders will see, hear, and feel the action unfolding around them.

Universal Islands of Adventure – The Incredible Hulk Roller Coaster – on this ride you loop the loop several times.  You need to be at least 54 inches tall to take this hair raising and thrilling ride.  After you have been on it you will see why you need to be able to fit into the seat and harness comfortably.  At take off, you are launched from 0 to 40 mph in two seconds flat. The Incredible Hulk ride has a total of seven inversions and two subterranean trenches during the 2 minute, 15-second ride.   This is one that our children just adore.

Universal Islands of Adventure - Dueling Dragons – this is another ride (in fact there are two rides), where you have to be 54 inches tall to ride.  Dueling Dragons are the world’s first inverted, dueling roller-coasters. Locked in mortal combat (and coming as close as 18″ of each other) each dragon’s 2 minute and 25 second ride includes several inversions, including a zero-g roll, a Cobra roll, two corkscrews, and two vertical loops.  My wife went on Fire and then Ice immediately after and came off feeling rather sick.  The boys loved it and wanted to do it again.

Walt Disney world Epcot - Mission Space – is definitely not for the faint hearted.  The ride was designed with help from NASA to simulate what astronauts experience during a launch and spaceflight. Riders can choose between the heavy-duty g-forces of the original Mission: Space or a slightly milder version of this ride.  You are very close to the screen and it can become quite claustrophobic.  To be truthful, I came off feeling quite ill.  However, once again our boys loved it.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom - Expedition Everest – is a roller coaster that takes riders speeding towards the top of Mount Everest.  If the forward motion of the ride is not enough for you, it also goes backwards as well.  There are also a few surprises, including the fearsome Yeti, which lurks in the Himalayan mountain range.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios - Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith – is for both roller coaster lovers and fans of Aerosmith.  This fantastic ride takes you from 0 to 60 mph with the force of a supersonic F-14.  There are high speed loops and turns as you travel along the Los Angeles freeway.  The entire ride is all synchronized to a specially recorded Aerosmith soundtrack.  Another ride we all love.

Sea World – Kraken – is always ranked as one of the top ten rides by coaster enthusiasts.  You can see Kraken from all over Sea world as it is so large and high.  It is the tallest, fastest, and only floorless steel roller coaster in the whole of Orlando.

Walt Disney world Epcot - Test Track.  In this ride you can see what it takes to be a crash test dummy.  You enter the car and then go through a series of exercises on the track where you test the brakes, swerve around hair pin bends, test the ABS (Antilock Braking System), and also experience extreme weather conditions from freezing cold to very, very hot, just like the desert.  Toward the end of the ride you career on to a 50 degree banked curves at around 60 miles an hour.

Universal Studios - Men in Black Alien Attack – is based on the smash hit movies “Men in Black”.  The ride provides you with laser guns with which you hunt down deadly aliens through the streets of New York City. If you score enough points you can earn the title of “MIB agent”.  Even if you don’t, its great fun playing against friends and family.

Universal Studios - Revenge of the Mummy – is an indoor rollercoaster that goes both backwards and forwards (mainly forwards).  This frightening ride is set and goes inside a very dark Mummy’s tomb.  There are fireballs, scarab beetles, and even an army of warrior mummies.  A really great ride and very, very fast so hold on to your hats – I lost mine once !!

The ever popular STAR WARS Weekends started last Friday (21st. May and run through until June 11 - 13

Held at Disneys Hollywood Studios, it unbelievably celebrates it’s 30th. year getting more and more popular as the years go by. The  Jedi Knights, Sith Lords and Star Wars are all there for special shows, presentations and photo opportunities. There is no need for you to travel to another Universe or Galaxy to come face to face with droids, alien creatures and Star Wars characters.

The young ones can have fights with their lightsabers (naturallly on sale!!!) and prepare to do battle with Darth Vader. There are prize giveaways, rides on a Starspeeder and a parade of distant Worlds.Plus, there are plenty of conversations, autograph sessions and motorcades with the celebrities and creators.

 This year’s celebrity hosts for all 4 weekends are Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett) and Ashley Eckstein (voice of Ahsoka) where you can choose from either the Light Side or the Dark Side of the Force to hear a special message from a Star Wars character inviting you to be a part of this special event!

This is a must for all STAR WAR Fans. A good tip is to grab a FASTPASS before the Park opens to ensure your place in line for celebrity autographs.You will see the autograph FASTPASS kiosk outside the Front Gate entrance, be early as they will go fast and ther numbers are limited.

Each day ends with the Hyperspace Hoopla! show, where many favorites let loose with music, comedy, dancing and more. With Ewoks, Wookiees, stormtroopers, Jawas and more invading all yoiu young Padawan Learners and their parents would be wise to have your  cameras ready.It all sounds great to us old Grandparents, just wish we were over there.

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU

Mary & Larry

But, let’s start at the beginning!  First I should clue you in to avoid 3-D movies (my kids were always terrified of these!) and also the flight simulators are too intense though your toddlers will be too small to be allowed on anyway!  If the adults choose to do the intense rides in the park, you can take advantage of the baby-swap that Disney offers for families with small children.  You will avoid having to split up and wait in line twice.  When one of you disembarks, you swap the children and the other can get right on! 

Upon entering the park, you will come to “Hollywood Boulevard” where you will encounter “The Great Movie Ride”.   There are scenes that could be disturbing to young children, so it is my recommendation to avoid this one.  

Next you will come to “Echo Lake”.  Avoid “Sounds Dangerous” as parts of this show are in complete darkness with special effects that will surely upset young children.  The only attraction in this area that you may want to consider is the “Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular” which is full of live action and adventure.  Sit as far back as possible since  there are fires and explosions causing some of the scenes to be a bit frightening for  youngsters.  If you sit far back enough, this will decrease the intensity. Use your judgment here as well as consider their attention span as this show is 30 minutes in duration.   “Hollywood and Vine” is in this area and this is an excellent choice for lunch or dinner as they serve a very family-friendly buffet.  For an extra special meal with the Playhouse Disney characters, I would recommend calling ahead to book “Play ‘N Dine at Hollywood and Vine”.

In “Streets of America”, if you have a little guy who loves fast cars, then make sure you see “Lights, Motors, Action!”  It may be a lot of stimulation for some children, but this one should hold their attention!  Afterwards, let them expend some energy at the “Honey I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure”.   It’s a larger than life playground that the kids are sure to enjoy!

Don’t miss “Voyage of the Little Mermaid” and “Playhouse Disney – Live on Stage” in “Animation Courtyard”.   These performances are geared to the younger set.

“Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage” on “Sunset Boulevard” is a 30-minute live musical performance that the whole family should really enjoy.  Again, take into consideration your child’s attention span.  

The grand finale at MGM is “Fantasmic” which is one of my all time favorite Walt Disney performances.   Most of this program is delightful for all age groups.  Unfortunately, though, there are some larger than life encounters with the Disney villains that will probably terrify youngsters, so I’m sorry to say that this is best left to when the children are a bit older!