18 May 2012, 4:37 pm
George Lucas and Disney World collaborate through the Years
Director George Lucas and Walt Disney World ® have struck up quite a friendship over the years. With the start of Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios ™ today it ‘s only appropriate to highlight Lucas and Disney’s ® history together and the magic they’ve created for the Orlando theme park over the past years.
We can’t discuss the George Lucas/ Disney ® connection without highlighting the popular Star Tours attraction at Disney’s ® Hollywood Studios ™. Based on the original Star Wars films created by Lucas, the original Star Tours ride – Star Tours: Tour to Endor was the first Disney ® attraction based on a non-Disney produced film. After releasing Star Wars I, II, and III Disney ® decided to re-imagine the ride to cater to the newest films with Lucas in complete support of the project.
On opening day of Star Wars Weekends 2011, the Star Wars creator and Disney President and CEO Bob Iger opened the new 3D adventure “Star Tours – The Adventures Continue.”
The ride wowed audiences with its new 3-D motion simulator-based technology, which immerses guests in a Star Wars adventure they’ve never seen before. The result is a vivid and realistic visual experience of the Star Wars galaxy and all of its characters and even includes a brilliant score. Walt Disney World ® even worked with Lucasfilm, Ltd and Industrial Light & Magic – the groundbreaking visual effects division of Lucasfilm – to bring the attraction to life.
And believe it or not Star Tours wasn’t the first attraction at Walt Disney World ® that Lucas helped shape. In 1986, just before the soft launch of Star Tours, George Lucas was the executive producer of the 3D show Captain EO starring Michael Jackson at Epcot ®. After being closed for 16 years, Captian EO re-opened after an outcry from the public after the death of Michael Jackson, and the 16-minute film came back with improved sound, unforgettable music and imagery of some of the biggest names in Hollywood. The film was directed by Francis Ford Coppola with Anjelica Huston and of course the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson.
Back at Disney’s Hollywood Studios ™, Lucas continued his production magic with a spectacular stunt show based on his successful adventure film series, Indiana Jones. In 1989 Disney ® and Lucasfilm teamed up once again to create one of the most thrilling shows in all of Hollywood Studios ™ - Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. The stunt show is executively produced by Lucas and brings Indiana Jones’ and all of his daredevilish acts to life in front of a live audience.
To experience the magic George Lucas and Walt Disney World ® have created over the years you can find discounted tickets right here on Orlando Fun Tickets.
17 May 2012, 5:06 pm
Top Spots To Stay Cool in the Summer at Walt Disney World
Summers in Florida are serious business. The steamy temperature and stifling humidity can make even the most loyal Disney ® fan want to stay home. But what’s a summer vacation without at trip to Walt Disney World ®? To ensure you stay comfortable this summer here are the top spots to cool off at Walt Disney World ®:
At Magic Kingdom ® you can take a splashy ride on Splash Mountain and experience both an indoor air conditioned portion of the ride as well as a giant spray of water as you fly down the giant drop at the end. And you don’t even have to ride the flume ride to get wet! If you just stand at the bridge below the final drop you’ll definitely get drenched and be cooler in no time! There are also plenty of cool mist sprayers in several locations including the Cool Scanner in Tomorrowland and the Tiki’s Adventureland that not only mists, its squirts too! And speaking of squirts, the Camel in Aladdin’s Magic Carpet Ride spits water every minute or so.
For more rides and attractions that take you out of the hot sun and indoors make sure to stop at Pirates of the Caribbean, where you’ll feel cool from the moment you step into the dark queue to the very end of the ride. And you might even feel a little splash during the gentle drop on the ride. While normally a ghastly ride, The Haunted Mansion during the summer time turns into a welcome cool off spot as you ride in air-conditioned comfort the entire time.
At Epcot ® cool mists near Ellen’s Energy Adventure and at Test Track’s Cool Wash give you a little relief from the hot sun, but if you really need time to cool off; Ellen’s Energy Adventure is about 45 minutes long and very cool. Over by the Imagination Pavilion in Future World, the sprays coming from the dancing fountains can offer a water break between rides. We’ve also seen kids standing in the way of these jumping water spurts to get really refreshed!
And with hours of fun including Soarin’, Living With the Land and more inside at Epcot’s ® The Land Pavilion, you can stay out of the sun the entire day if you’d like while still enjoying a little Disney ® magic. Same goes for the Innovation buildings.
In Disney’s Hollywood Studios ™ by the Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show, there’s an umbrella prop mounted on a lap post from the famous Singing In The Rain scene with Gene Kelly that sprays water when you hold the umbrella and step on a medal plate on the sidewalk. Another cool spot is in front of the Backlot Tour. The Backlot Tour vehicle that burst out the building’s façade spays water and the giant Coca Cola bottle right in that area sprinkles some mist, but if you want to get a little more refreshed; the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure has a wet play area for kids and adults to cool off. For more non-wet option, you can also sit down in air-conditioned comfort at The American Idol Experience or chill out on the thrilling ride Tower of Terror.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom ® also provides plenty of misting stations for you to cool of and replenish in between rides. And for a little of that air-conditioning we keep talking about there are two live indoor shows to cool off in – The Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo – The Musical. In Asia by the monkey exhibit, there is a mushroom fountain and kid’s play area full of squirting fun that’s sure to be a hit with the heat.
Keep your cool at Walt Disney World ® this summer, and look for discounted tickets right here on Orlando Fun Tickets.
16 May 2012, 4:58 pm
Star Wars Weekends begins Friday at Disneys Hollywood Studios
May the force be with you this Friday as the popular Star Wars Weekends returns to Disney’s Hollywood Studios ™!
Beginning May 18 and running every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through June 10 guests to the Disney ® park will be able to immerse themselves in a world filled with famous Star Wars characters, Star Wars activities, rides and parades, and even interact with real Star Wars actors from all six movies and the animated series. If this will be your first time attending a Star Wars Weekend here are just a few of the top things you’ll experience during your galactic adventure:
The Hosts: James Arnold Taylor and Ashley Eckstein – Star Wars Weekends will be hosted by actual Star Wars actors including James Arnold Taylor and Ashley Eckstein who provide voices on Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series. Both actors will host a variety of events throughout each day, including a sneak preview trailer for Season Five. James is the Official Celebrity Host of the weekend, and Ashley is Celebrity Host of “Behind the Force,” a show that gives Star Wars fans a behind-the-scenes look at the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.Star Tours – The Adventure Continues – The new and improved ride now takes guests on a 3-D adventure through the Star Wars galaxy where you’ll become a part of the Star Wars films and fly with some of your favorite Star Wars characters including R2-D2, Darth Vader, Princess Leia, Chewbacca and more. And you never know where the force might take you on Star Tours as multiple storylines make for an exciting adventure each and every time you ride.
Jedi Training Academy – One of the most popular parts of Star Wars Weekends, Jedi Training Academy lets guests aged 12 and under learn Jedi tricks from a Jedi Master before testing their new skills in a battle against the evil Darth Vader. Each recruit will don Padawan robes and learn how to wield a lightsaber before fighting and hopefully defeating a Sith Lord. The Academy takes place a couple times each hour on the Star Tours side stage.
Star Wars Actors – Along with the hosts of Star Wars Weekends, guests will also be able to mingle and interact with other celebrity guests as they roam the park signing photographs, posing for pictures and even taking part in Q&A appearances. A daily parade will also feature stars from the actual Star Wars movies.
To become a Jedi, take an intergalactic ride through the Star Wars galaxy or just hang out with celebrity guests you can find discounted Walt Disney World ® tickets right here on Orlando Fun Tickets. Star Wars Weekends is included in regular theme park admission.
