Photo TR: Last Tour to Endor at Disney Studios 8/14/10

Rastuso · September 2, 2010

Part 1 at Celebration V: http://themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=56606

Part 2 at Seaworld : http://themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=56648

TR: Last Tour to Endor 8/14/10

Since Celebration V was being held in Orlando, of course Mickey wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to make money. So, they held a night event at the Studios park. It was a $75 hard ticket event. A bit steep, even for Mickey. It was a master stroke, imho, since Disney had a big merch area at the convention selling event merch as well as general Disney/Star Wars stuff.

We got there around 5, knowing that the good rides would have ridiculous waits. Since I had already gotten the event stuff at the con, I didn’t bother with buying stuff. We went to Muppets first. We still love it, but they really need to replace the glasses. They were all warped like crazy.

My son continued his pin trading obsession from last year’s trip. We purchased a big lot off ebay. Most were probably fake pins, but I’d guess most on the CM lanyards were fake too. He did score a few really nice pins. And I got a few Star Wars ones.

We decided that there wasn’t much else to do, so we waited around a bit and then got in line for the first showing of the Raiders of the Lost Jedi Temple of Doom. This was the premier of a Star Wars/Indy mashup show in the Indy stunt arena. We got third row seats, and I immediately notice that instead of a golden idol, a light saber was floating above the rock pedestal. This is going to be awesome!

My son spoke to the people next to him nonstop (he got that from his grandfather), who were huge Little Mermaid fans form LA. A bit before the show, the celebrities came in, including Jeremy Bullock (Boba Fett), and Warwick Davis. They chose some folks from the audience, the celebrities, and the “biggest Star Wars fan” who was a plant, to be part of the show.

It started just like the normal Indy show, but a huge roar came from the audience when Jar Jar’s head was on the end of the final spike. Just a bit after, sparks shoot from the hole in the ceiling, and Boba Fett drops down. COOL! He yells “Solo!”, and starts after Indy. They battle a bit, and Boba fall down a pit screaming “not again” to huge applause and laughter.

Indy makes it to the saber just as Obi-Wan pops up. The boulder rolls down, past Indy, and smashing Obi-Wan. CUT!!!

It was an awesome beginning. They then brought out the extras, doing short interviews with the celebrities. Warwick made a weird “I am not an extra” comment that came off a bit pompous, imho. They had some Clone Wars voice actors, and another guy who does a lot of Nick voices apparently. My son’s day was made when he did Perry the Platapus’s noise.

The second scene began, and Indy was saving Leia from a bunch of Tusken Raiders. This scene was full of gags. Indy shot Greedo first, now and forever. Darth Maul came out to his music, did a bunch of saber twirling, and was shot by Indy. Leia got hot in her white outfit, and stripped down to the metal bikini (this shocked me at a Disney park) to enormous approval from the crowd. Boba Fett showed up again too.

The third scene had stormtroopers stationed at the guns, and Darth Vader chasing Indy, and getting chopped up by the propellers, letting out his “Nooooooo!” from ROTS. Then, an X-Wing came out and blew up the whole set. The only thing I can’t believe they didn’t do was incorporate “I love you”, “I know”.

BEST THEME PARK SHOW EVER!!!!!

We did find out later that Lucas of course showed at the SECOND show, although he just quietly came in right before the start, and didn’t even wave to the crowd. Seth Green was on stage then. Mark Hammil came to the third showing, and was even in the X-Wing! So, we saw the worst of the three shows, but had good seats without a ridiculous wait, so it was still good.

Lucas posed with Jedi Mickey for a few minutes too, apparently. The line in the Star Tours shop got so bad they started letting people off the ride into the backstage area, instead of the shop. It was pure insanity in there. The line wrapped all around the store.

We got 3 Toy Story Mania rides in about an hour. I got over 200,000 one game, but never got the cat prize. My son and I did get the tank to appear in the military game, and the volcanic eruption, and space ship.

We checked out the Death Star Disco, which was a kiddie dance party. We hit Star Tours one last time (even though it doesn’t close for a few weeks). The fireworks were to Star Wars music and sound bytes. Nothing super special, but cool none the less. We wanted to get a LTTE popcorn container, but the lines were long. I don’t know where I’d put another one anyway.

We all hit tower, and did not think the 4D room is as cool. The picture effect was so poor resolution, you really couldn’t tell it was you.

We then did Aerosmith twice. My son is a HUGE looping coaster fan now. I couldn’t keep up with him all week. But at least they had the preshow open, and it was really cold in the building.

All in all, a good night, even without a Lucas sighting. A bit steep, especially with no Fantasmic. But the Indy show was incredible. I wonder if it will be at Star Wars Weekends now. I don’t see why not, and the crowd will love it.