Disney Rides Again: New "Star Tours" Attraction Launches Against Darth Vader's Will

[José Balido]

One of the perks of being part of the tourism-industrial complex is that you get the darndest invitations – and some, no matter how busy you are, you simply can't pass up. Case in point: last week's launch of Disney's revamped 3-D "Star Tours ~ The Adventures Continue" attraction at the Hollywood Studios theme park. Yes, I was having a mind-bending week workwise, but having followed the Star Wars saga since high school, as well as ridden the original "Star Tours" attraction back in the 90s, I couldn't resist driving four hours up to Orlando to check it out.

Imagine my shock and dismay when, in the middle of a grand opening ceremony featuring George Lucas, Disney Prez Robert Iger, C-3PO, R2D2, and a motley crew of aliens, none other than Darth Vader broke onto the stage, announcing that the new interstellar travel company would never fly. Confusion and mayhem followed as a terrifying thought seized my mind: You mean I drove all the way to Orlando for nothing??

Fortunately, R2D2 came to the rescue, setting off some explosions that, through a plot device I couldn't quite follow, thwarted Mr. Vader's fiendish plan. He promised, however, that we've not heard the last of him, so I would hightail it to Orlando if you want to fly to Tattooine before he gets his way.

Star Tours: The Inside Scoop

The ride itself is amazingly realistic thanks to 3-D goggles and motion simulator technology (hint: go before lunch, lest you woof your cookies). Best of all, it's not one of those same-story-every-time-you-ride rides: more than 50 plotline combinations ensure that you can enjoy the five-minute adventure over and over without repeating. Mostly, you can expect lots of intergalactic chases, near-collisions with enemy spacecraft, and jittery outcries from C-3PO, who by a quirk of fate is helming your spaceship. Oh, and don't be surprised to find yourself singled out as the on-board spy the bad guys are tailing.