In-Depth with Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
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What About Those Variations?

In principle, I think the variations are a great idea. As long as it's always a good ride (and it is), why not give people a reason to come back again and again. In practice, it's still a good idea but it has some side effects. I rode Star Tours: The Adventures Continue four times within about 2 hours never having to wait more than 10 minutes each time. The first ride was wonderful and I couldn't wait to get back on. But part of the excitement was to see what would happen the next time which is a different type of excitement from "let's do that again." Happily the next time was very different - Vader became a probe droid, Kashyyyk became Hoth, Yoda became Leia and Coruscant became the Death Star. And so I went on a third time. Got Vader again - that's fine. Got Hoth again, love it! Did the second light speed and we're back at the Death Star fighting Boba Fett. I could feel myself deflate. Not that it's bad, but I really wanted to see Coruscant again, or even something else. And so I got on a fourth time and as we came out of the second light speed, my heart sank again.

Now granted, most people aren't going to be able to ride it several times in a short period like I did. And I don't know how I would've reacted had my rides been a few days, weeks, months or years apart rather than a few minutes apart,. but it was a strange reaction. And I'm not sure if my disappointment was in the specific variation I got, or just the fact that I knew there was still more new stuff to see and I wasn't seeing it.

However, I don't think there's a way around variations creating disappointment. Imagine waiting an hour to finally go on Star Tours and enjoying the heck out of your ride. Then deciding you want to see what else there is to see, waiting another hour, and getting mostly the same experience. How do you think you would react? That's not to say the good of having them doesn't far outweigh the bad of having them, but it is an interesting thing to consider.

The Verdict

But criticisms are minor and excitement is high, I highly recommend you make your way to Hollywood Studios starting Friday or Disneyland starting June 3rd. Grab a FastPass if you can, or just get comfortable in line. Take a 5-minute flight to the Death Star, Coruscant or wherever else the Force takes you. Laugh, scream, twist and turn and enjoy this amazing new experience. And when you get off, just remember .... you've still got more than 50 variations to go. So get back in line!

Fast Facts

Opening Dates: