quote:

Originally posted by armedprof:
My 19 yr old son just asked if we could go to Orlando for Spring Break. He is a Sophomore in college and wants to go to Disney and not Daytona...

Any tips on making the most of the trip?

I've had good success using the various pre-planned itineraries from this book. They've been putting these together the last 20-years, updating them yearly. It's also a good resource on trip planning, money strategies, as well as food and hotel options inside and outside the parks.

quote:

Originally posted by LBAR15:The Smugglers run ride itself didn't seem to tie into the movie franchise at all and the more you looked around at the details, the land was more "some space port from a sci-fi movie" than places and themes from the Star Wars franchise. It just seemed kind generic under the surface when they could have pulled in so much detail from the movie and used it so that you really felt you were "THERE." I still enjoyed the experience though, we had a great day, it just seemed a bit generic to me.

When it was created they pointed-out that 'this land' was on a planet in the Outer Rim of the Unknown Regions within the SW Universe. For whatever reason, the designers need to generate this massive backstory, despite plenty of source material to draw from; the vast majority of guests would've been fine if they said it was Mos Eisly or, Anchorhead on Tatooine. Nevertheless, everyone I've heard who's visited either CA or FL, says its like you're on a movie set, the surroundings and the environment is like you've seen on screen.

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:
Space Mountain opened in 1975. I rode it shortly after it opened and my greatest memory was how it looked like the two trains were going to crash into each other. The next time I went, some 45 years later, I was telling my kids about it and someone else in the water taxi tells us it's just a mirror.

Yes, you're correct. It's been too many years with all those details. I couldn't even tell you the amount of times I've been there over the years, and/or who I went with. I just have flash memories of many of the great times and places. Only real thing I could say for sure about that night before Disney closing was it was awfully cold, we actually would run when getting off the particular track back to the other side, and the girlfriends name was Meredith...the years are fuzzy. It was the 70's after all

I do remember all the good steakhouses though

quote:

Originally posted by corsair:

When it was created they pointed-out that 'this land' was on a planet in the Outer Rim of the Unknown Regions within the SW Universe. For whatever reason, the designers need to generate this massive backstory, despite plenty of source material to draw from; the vast majority of guests would've been fine if they said it was Mos Eisly or, Anchorhead on Tatooine. Nevertheless, everyone I've heard who's visited either CA or FL, says its like you're on a movie set, the surroundings and the environment is like you've seen on screen.

If I had to guess, I’d guess that they were afraid super fanboys would rip them apart if they used an existing planet from a movie.

“Potatoes on X-166? Everyone knows the nearest planet with the ability to grow potatoes is at war with this planet so there’s no way they would have potatoes here!”

Creating a whole new planet and designating it a smugglers run allows them to sell Sith stuff next to Rebel stuff and no one can lose their shit about how no planet would have both. They can simply say they get all sorts of items because of the smugglers.

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Originally posted by Pale Horse:
If I had to guess, I’d guess that they were afraid super fanboys would rip them apart if they used an existing planet from a movie.

Didn't stop them from the last three movies The SW Universe is enormous in terms undeveloped but, mentioned locations in the written form. Maybe someone with more SW knowledge can chime-in about Batuu

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Creating a whole new planet and designating it a smugglers run allows them to sell Sith stuff next to Rebel stuff and no one can lose their shit about how no planet would have both. They can simply say they get all sorts of items because of the smugglers.

I don't think you're wrong, I'm sure the thought process is, it allows the creative types a level of freedom to generate a overarching theme. They did the same thing with the Indiana Jones ride...not connected to the movies but, staying on theme.

quote:

Originally posted by corsair:

quote:

Originally posted by Pale Horse:
If I had to guess, I’d guess that they were afraid super fanboys would rip them apart if they used an existing planet from a movie.

Didn't stop them from the last three movies The SW Universe is enormous in terms undeveloped but, mentioned locations in the written form. Maybe someone with more SW knowledge can chime-in about Batuu

Fair enough. I’ve only seen the first three movies and then episode 1 and maybe 2 so I have no clue what they’ve done to the originals in the latest movies and likely wouldn’t know if they screwed something up anyway.

I have been watching the Mandalorian and I’m really liking it.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
Who’da thunk it in 1977 when I saw the original?
And I am still amazed by the memories.

First movie I ever saw in a theater. Wow, great memory. I also visited SW Galaxy during my Thanksgiving trip to Disney and felt like a little kid. Pretty cool.

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Originally posted by dave7378:

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
Who’da thunk it in 1977 when I saw the original?
And I am still amazed by the memories.

First movie I ever saw in a theater. Wow, great memory. I also visited SW Galaxy during my Thanksgiving trip to Disney and felt like a little kid. Pretty cool.

It makes me wish I was a bigger fan. Like I get how cool the area is but for someone who loves the stories going there must be like a heaven on earth. I felt the same about the Harry Potter area at Universal. Someone who loves that series must go insane being able to see it come to life like that. I’ve never seen any of the movies in their entirety nor read the books so it’s still near but nothing like some people feel.

I figured I would share this little tidbit even though I'm not a Star Wars fanatic - only saw the original in the theater and it was OK, but never really got me pulled in.

We have some friends that went to UT's bowl game this year and they posted some pics and updates from Orlando. They are good friends/family with the guy who is a creative director at Disney Imagineering and he was the one in charge of the Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge attraction. He's featured in the first episode of "One Day at Disney" which is also a coffee table book. It's a behind the scenes look at how these projects are put together and brought to life. The documentary is on Disney+, the guy's name is Eric Baker.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/b...4Lx3qoQ#5b03183f5446

So here are the quick steps for increasing your chances of getting into a boarding group to ROTR. MDE= My Disney Experience app.


Hollywood Studios may open an hour earlier on a specific day, so verify the time for park open for general admission. For those who are staying on property, if you get in an hour early for the "Magic Morning", it doesn't matter. They don't open boarding reservations until general admission opens. Go spend that hour riding Slinky Dog roller coaster or maybe Smuggler's Run.

This is Dok-Ondar's Den of Antiquities on the right. This is where you go to buy the super expensive lightsabers that start at about $180. These are light sabers that belong to movie characters like Luke, Anakin, Obi-Wan, etc. Darth Maul's dual light saber will run you about $380. My son saved his allowance for a year and bought a Jedi Temple Guardsmen's light saber.

Out of picture to the right is Savi's Workshop where you build your own light saber. Schedule an appointment as early as possible (weeks in advance).




This is the top of The Millennium Falcon. You see this as you approach the end of line for Smuggler's Run. From this view, you're about 10 to 20 minutes from the ride.


Static displays...




This is where all the gift shops and some snack shops are...


Droids cost about $100 and you build it yourself. Schedule an appointment as early as possible. Accessories can cost another $50+

The BB-8 style droids have a magnetic head that floats on teflon pucks, so the body can roll in all different directions and the head stays on top. The head will turn independently as well, on command.

Tony.

the wife and I were there 3 days ago we walked thru it but had zero understanding of it, since I have never seen star wars. the amount of people who were there was insane.