The site Star Wars Underworld is claiming that an inside source has informed them that the first Star Wars additions coming to Disney theme parks post-purchase will be additions to Star Tours: The Adventures Continue at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Tokyo Disneyland based on characters and locations from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”.
Star Tours: The Adventures Continue was designed by Disney Imagineers and members of Lucasfilm to easily insert new destinations and characters at any time. With the current iteration of the attraction, any new film sequences could be created and programmed separately and then exported to the ride. meaning any addition would result in little-to-no downtime for the attraction. We have speculated about these additions several times on our podcast, but this is this first outside report.
Recently, we reported that Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed that there will be a much larger presence of Star Wars themed attractions based on the new sequels and spin-offs. Adding new destinations based on “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” to Star Tours would seem to go along with his plans.
Stay tuned as more information becomes available
I have no issue with them adding in footage from the new films…what DO wish they would do is make it so that your “adventure” didn’t mix time periods. I mean, you start out in the New Hope-Jedi era with Darth Vader, etc. yet you can end up 30+ years in the past after jumping to hyperspace for no explained reason. It would be far better if the ride would start in whatever era your trip was to take place in, and remain in that era. At least I think so…
I see what you are saying. When they were making the new Star Tours, Lucas asked the Imagineers, how come Hoth is not one of the destinations and they said because it didn’t fit the timeline, which was supposed to take place between Episodes III and IV. Lucas replied, who cares, put it in. I think that has been the attitude since he famously said, who cares. But who knows, they may do something different with The Force Awakens footage. They better show that new footage on every ride for a few months because I don’t want to play Russian Roulette, Star Tours style.