[Fearthereaper]

I heard somewhere that they are going to remove Star Tours and Honey I Shrunk the Audience, is there any truth to that?

[Experiment6-2-6]

Originally Posted by Fearthereaper

I heard somewhere that they are going to remove Star Tours and Honey I Shrunk the Audience, is there any truth to that?

I don't know about star tours. It's still drawing crowds..

Honey I shrunk, however, is getting very few attendees.

I don't care what they replace it with, as long as it's NOT Captain EO....

[dznygrl]

As of yet, there is no truth to the HISTA rumor...though Disney doesn't plan to keep it around forever. It was always planned as a "temporary" attraction. Star Tours is definitely sticking around though. Currently it is being rumored to get hit with the big refurb it has always needed.

[Tiggerific]

Originally Posted by dznygrl

Star Tours is definitely sticking around though. Currently it is being rumored to get hit with the big refurb it has always needed.

Any idea when this will happen? I'd think much of it could be done on a computer (different video segments discussed in another thread), so maybe a minimal down-time of the ride? Simply making the ride experience different would make a huge improvement, even if the visuals while in line and "cars" (what do you call the thing you sit in?) are not refurbished.

BTW: we were in line for Star Tours not a trip or two back, and the screened in walkway that is over your head near the front of the line is the entrance for Darth Vader to make his appearance in the park. We saw him with Stormtrooper escorts going out. VERY cool, DS was geeked!

[delmarjohn]

I will try to find out and let you know ....the good thing is we just booked a trip to DL just three nights but I will get my fix of disney for a while at least...we are going to stay at the disneyland hotelfairly decent rate for AP holders

[anaheimboy]

Originally Posted by Tiggerific

Any idea when this will happen? I'd think much of it could be done on a computer (different video segments discussed in another thread), so maybe a minimal down-time of the ride? Simply making the ride experience different would make a huge improvement, even if the visuals while in line and "cars" (what do you call the thing you sit in?) are not refurbished.

BTW: we were in line for Star Tours not a trip or two back, and the screened in walkway that is over your head near the front of the line is the entrance for Darth Vader to make his appearance in the park. We saw him with Stormtrooper escorts going out. VERY cool, DS was geeked!

As of now, like was said above, HITSA's rumor cannot officially be said to be true, but it IS planned to go away, It was never meant to be nothing more than a Temporary attraction that was put in back in 1998 as a part of the old "new" Tomorrowland. Star Tours is going no where, Its going to be getting a major overhaul and refurbishment.
As for the new refurbed Star Tours, Disney plans to have a brand new video, they want to replace the entire ride system and add screens to the sides of the cars now so you can look both in front and on the side of you while in the ride. Along with new music and such, its going to be a nice refurb! The Queue and Exit will also be upgraded and well. As for the exterior, that I have no clue.

[dznygrl]

Originally Posted by Tiggerific

Any idea when this will happen? I'd think much of it could be done on a computer (different video segments discussed in another thread), so maybe a minimal down-time of the ride? Simply making the ride experience different would make a huge improvement, even if the visuals while in line and "cars" (what do you call the thing you sit in?) are not refurbished.

BTW: we were in line for Star Tours not a trip or two back, and the screened in walkway that is over your head near the front of the line is the entrance for Darth Vader to make his appearance in the park. We saw him with Stormtrooper escorts going out. VERY cool, DS was geeked!

I wouldn't count on it happening very soon. Disney has had these plans for a while, but they've made no move to start the refurb yet. Star Tours is in need of some basic repairs first - they just finished fixing the air conditioning units in the building, as well as repairing some of the roofing. (All the boring stuff that we don't even think about as guests! ) Cast members at Star Tours have been informed of the plans for a refurb - and yes, the plans are for multiple different ride experiences - they also plan to switch to digital instead of projection like the ride currently uses. But as of yet, there is no goal date in mind. Another $$ issue of course.

[anaheimboy]

Originally Posted by dznygrl

Another $$ issue of course.

Lets just hope this summer season and holiday seasons prove to be strong. My cousin who is a Manager in Merchandising on Main Street told me she had heard that if money figures are high this year there is a slight possibility of some of that work starting sometime next year. Is it true? I have no clue, but it would be nice. At least they installed those new planters into the Cement Desert Center of Tomorrowland.

[dznygrl]

Originally Posted by anaheimboy

Lets just hope this summer season and holiday seasons prove to be strong. My cousin who is a Manager in Merchandising on Main Street told me she had heard that if money figures are high this year there is a slight possibility of some of that work starting sometime next year. Is it true? I have no clue, but it would be nice. At least they installed those new planters into the Cement Desert Center of Tomorrowland.

If figures are high the rest of this year, then yes there is a definite possibility! It needs to be done soon in order to make ST a viable operation again: that's why they're starting with the basic building repairs that have to be done before they can start in on the "big stuff". The refurb is something that ideally should have been done years ago, to capitalize on the release of Episodes I, II and III: the ideas were put in place back then, but unfortunately ST remains one of the few attractions in the park that is passed over again and again at refurb time. (For one thing because it is going to be such an expensive project!) But Star Tours as a whole has gotten to the point where it can't pull in the numbers it needs to justify its operation anymore. (Similar concerns were the reason they wanted to take Astro out altogether! At one time, Astro was a six-CM operation. Over time, it's been whittled down to two CMs, and they STILL can't justify the cost of operating it.)

So hopes are high that something will begin happening soon. Here's hoping for REALLY high numbers this year so that it won't have to wait until after the bulk of the DLH refurb.

[anaheimboy]

Originally Posted by dznygrl

But Star Tours as a whole has gotten to the point where it can't pull in the numbers it needs to justify its operation anymore. (Similar concerns were the reason they wanted to take Astro out altogether! At one time, Astro was a six-CM operation. Over time, it's been whittled down to two CMs, and they STILL can't justify the cost of operating it.)

Well, IMO, if they would actually invest the money into ACTUALLY refurbishing the decades old attraction to a new updated version of today then maybe they would pull in the figures they need. I mean, a kid who is 12 and rides ST's will most likely be use to virtual reality stuff and great graphics and who really only knows episodes 1,2 and 3, they then ride ST's and see how outdated the graphics and video is, what would make them want to ride it again when they can get something better from their PS3 or Wii at home? Ya know what Im saying? And as for Astro, once again, if they would actually invest money into it, put it back where it belongs and make it more inventive and fun and more up to-date to days industry and standards, maybe they would pull in the numbers. Because come on, that clog-hole entrance of Tomorrowland and queue of Astro and ride design doesnt necessarily make you feel like riding it or even make you feel like you're in the days of "Tomorrow" (compare it to WDW's Astro Orbitor and you will know what I mean), but hey...this is just me! (but regardless of what I said, I still enjoy both attractions )

[dznygrl]

Originally Posted by anaheimboy

Well, IMO, if they would actually invest the money into ACTUALLY refurbishing the decades old attraction to a new updated version of today then maybe they would pull in the figures they need. I mean, a kid who is 12 and rides ST's will most likely be use to virtual reality stuff and great graphics and who really only knows episodes 1,2 and 3, they then ride ST's and see how outdated the graphics and video is, what would make them want to ride it again when they can get something better from their PS3 or Wii at home? Ya know what Im saying? And as for Astro, once again, if they would actually invest money into it, put it back where it belongs and make it more inventive and fun and more up to-date to days industry and standards, maybe they would pull in the numbers. Because come on, that clog-hole entrance of Tomorrowland and queue of Astro and ride design doesnt necessarily make you feel like riding it or even make you feel like you're in the days of "Tomorrow" (compare it to WDW's Astro Orbitor and you will know what I mean), but hey...this is just me! (but regardless of what I said, I still enjoy both attractions )

I couldn't agree more! I just hope Disney is finally coming to realize all of this!!

[Tiggerific]

Originally Posted by anaheimboy

Well, IMO, if they would actually invest the money into ACTUALLY refurbishing the decades old attraction to a new updated version of today then maybe they would pull in the figures they need. I mean, a kid who is 12 and rides ST's will most likely be use to virtual reality stuff and great graphics and who really only knows episodes 1,2 and 3, they then ride ST's and see how outdated the graphics and video is, what would make them want to ride it again when they can get something better from their PS3 or Wii at home?

All very true, completely agree. I'm excited just thinking about it.