EndorExpress

The Disney Parks Blog updated this week with two stories about our beloved Star Tours attraction.  The first is a cute reminder of what began 25 years ago at Disneyland, showing a photo of Mickey Mouse along with our favorite droids.  Note the marquee behind them as it says “A George Lucas Adventure” which was later changed to “The Ultimate Adventure STAR TOURS From the Creative Forces of Disney & George Lucas.” In the later years, “The Ultimate Adventure” was removed.

• http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2012/01/25-years-ago-today-star-tours-debuts-at-disneyland-park/

The second story centers on the grand opening and dedication of Star Tours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which debut on January 13, 1990.  Their queue included an Ewok Village and an Imperial AT-AT.

• http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2012/01/vintage-walt-disney-world-the-force-lands-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/

For those stories and much more, visit the Disney Parks Blog!

Star Wars and Star Tours veteran Anthony Daniels was kind enough to share with us some personal insights in the 25 years of Star Tours. Read his entire exclusive text here.

Executive VP and Senior Creative Executive for Walt Disney Imagineering, Tom Fitzgerald worked on both the original Star Tours and the was the “creative lead” for Star Tours: The Adventures Continue. Today Star Tours turns 25 and Tom Fitzgerald shares some of his memories with us.

January 9th, 2012 Star Tours turns 25. Stay tuned as the staff of Endorexpress.net is working hard to bring you some great special features to celebrate the anniversary.

Image © Disney/Lucasfilm

A duo of Stormtroopers have been having some extra curricular fun in Tomorrowland these days in between showings of the Jedi Training Academy.  Our Bothan spies tell us that this pair of Stormtroopers (who aren’t at their post) visit with Disneyland guests, pose for photos, and even have some fun with the poor souls waiting in the over-flow queue area of Star Tours.

Click ahead to see more photos of this activity and go ahead and see them for yourselves!  If you do see them, feel free to comment on your experience below.

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The Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana, California has just opened a new exhibit called “Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination”. I was able to go to VIP preview last night. President of the Discovery Science Center Joe Adams talked about what it took to bring this exhibit to Orange County. “The Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination exhibit is a perfect fit for the Center as it blends science with excitement and imagination. With demand comes opportunity. This is the largest traveling exhibit we have ever hosted. To accommodate the entire exhibit, we had to create two new galleries from our existing space and add a tent in the parking lot. “

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After 7 years, EndorExpress Webmaster Kris returns to Disneyland Paris, to visit his all-time favorite attraction: Star Tours, but in its original French form. He brings us a detailed report, with special inside information coming from Laurent, a show writer at Disneyland Paris Imagineering. Read on to see more about the attraction as well as many more photos from the French version of the Happiest Place on Earth.

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Walt Disney World, D23 talks with the Hollywood stars of the resort’s most beloved attractions. Of course they interviewed Paul Reubens, our own Captain REX. Read the entire interview here.

Pee-wee Herman (Paul Reubens) had a panel at this weekends San Diego Comic Con.  Pee-wee was asked “about his involvement with the popular Disneyland attraction and what it meant after his voice was removed after the remodeling. The actor voiced the funny robot on the ride during the upgrade.”

UPDATE: To hear Pee-wee speak about Star Tours at SDCC Inside the Magic Show (podcast) 329 about 30 minutes in.

http://www.insidethemagic.net/

The Examiner.com has posted the answer:

http://www.examiner.com/celebrity-headlines-in-national/pee-wee-herman-talks-disney-s-star-tours-at-comic-con-video

Be sure to check your TV listings or set your DVRs for Food Networks show Challenge. Saturday July 9th’s Challenge episode has a Star Tours theme. Walt Disney Imagineer Steve Spiegel is a guest judge.

UPDATE July 13: Photos provided by Food Network added.

From Food Networks website:

Tune In: Jul 09, 2011 6:00 PM ET/PT

“Four gifted cake artists must use The Force to re-create Star Wars cakes to celebrate the grand reopening of Disney Resort’s Star Tours ride. It’s a Challenge filled with plot twists and Jedi mind tricks. And the competitor that can deliver an epic cake will win $10,000 and a trip to Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla.”

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