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Disney Parks Blog Weekly Recap May 22, 2011

Thomas Smith

by , Editorial Content Director, Disney Experiences

Walt Disney Co. president and CEO Bob Iger (left) and 'Star Wars' creator George Lucas at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. May 20, 2011 during grand opening ceremonies for 'Star Tours -- The Adventures Continue,' a new 3-D attraction based on the 'Star Wars' films.

This week, the Force was indeed strong at Disney Parks. At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, thousands of people joined us in the park and online during a live webcast for the grand opening of “Star Tours – The Adventures Continue.”

Walt Disney Co. president and CEO Bob Iger (left) 'Star Wars' creator George Lucas (center) and actor Anthony Daniels, who portrayed C-3PO in 'Star Wars' (right), pose with 'Star Wars' characters May 20, 2011 inside a 'Star Tours' ride vehicle at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. during grand opening ceremonies for 'Star Tours -- The Adventures Continue,' a new 3-D attraction based on the 'Star Wars' films. The attraction, which features more than 50 possible random ride experiences, opened May 20, 2011 at Walt Disney World in Florida and will open June 3, 2011 at Disneyland Resort in California. (David Roark, photographer) Bob Iger, George Lucas, and several 'Star Wars' characters and cast members celebrate the attraction's opening. Walt Disney Co. president and CEO Bob Iger (left) and 'Star Wars' creator George Lucas (right) join 'Star Wars' villain Darth Vader (center) May 20, 2011 at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. during grand opening ceremonies for 'Star Tours -- The Adventures Continue,' a new 3-D attraction based on the 'Star Wars' films. The attraction, which features more than 50 possible random ride experiences, opened May 20, 2011 at Walt Disney World in Florida and will open June 3, 2011 at Disneyland Resort in California. (Kent Phillips, photographer) Walt Disney Co. president and CEO Bob Iger (left) waves as he walks with 'Star Wars' creator George Lucas through Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. May 20, 2011 during grand opening ceremonies for 'Star Tours -- The Adventures Continue,' a new 3-D attraction based on the 'Star Wars' films. The attraction, which features more than 50 possible random ride experiences, opened May 20, 2011 at Walt Disney World in Florida and will open June 3, 2011 at Disneyland Resort in California. (Matt Stroshane, photographer)

During the celebration, two mysterious Jedi Knights revealed themselves as Walt Disney Company President and CEO Bob Iger and Star Wars creator George Lucas. See it for yourself in our original post.

Star Tours at Disneyland Resort

And at Disneyland park, 1,200 randomly selected Disney Parks Blog readers also had the opportunity to bring a guest for the special event to celebrate the upcoming Star Tours relaunch. Hundreds of fans lined up before dawn to be among the first guests to experience the new 3-D attraction and we shared photos from the event in Erin’s post. The attraction officially opens at Disneyland park on June 3.

Here are a few other stories from this week you should check out, including new video from Walt Disney Imagineering you can find in the links below:

New Figment Merchandise Coming to Disney Parks – From figurines to ear hats, Steven Miller gives readers a look at the newest Figment merchandise coming to Disney Parks.

Mermaids Sighted at The Pirates League at Magic Kingdom Park – Make a splash this spring with the Mermaid Transformation Package at The Pirates League at Magic Kingdom Park.

Disneyland Resort Has a Sound All its Own – Can you identify some of these distinctive sounds from around the Disneyland Resort?

Resort Honors Disney’s Horse History – Horace Horsecollar, Samson, Bullseye…we’ve named just a few of the horses you can find around the Walt Disney World Resort. Have you spotted any others around the parks?

Take an Imagineer-Guided Tour of One Man’s Dream at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Walt Disney Imagineers Wyatt Winter and Brian Marschall give you an inside look at One Man’s Dream, chronicling the story of Walt Disney’s life and career.

Fantastic Experiences Await Guests on the Disney Fantasy: New Details Revealed Today – Can’t wait until March 2012 to experience the Disney Fantasy? We share a sneak peek at some of what you can expect to see aboard Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship.

Comments

  • The new Star Tours is awesome! I got to experience it at Disneyland during a soft opening. I can’t wait until it officially opens. 🙂

  • The last time i went to Disney,my son was acting like a spoiled teen and said to me”I did not ask to come here” and he ruined everyones vacation.

  • that is ok it happened to us to but it was my nephew needless to say he also had to have a wheelchair cause he got (sick) the adults should have went without the kids it would have been a better vacation without the stress we tried to leave at home

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