After Universal strikes gold with a wand, Disney pulls out a light saber

After a year in which Universal Orlando rode the popularity of Harry Potter to record heights, Walt Disney World is pinning its fortunes this summer on the one intellectual property with which the boy wizard is most often compared: Star Wars.Disney next month will reopen Star Tours, the Reagan-era simulator ride that is undergoing its first major upgrade since it debuted in Disney's Hollywood Studios in 1989 — six years after the third film in the original Star Wars trilogy had arrived in movie theaters

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-04-15/entertainment/os-disney-star-tours-20110415_1_disney-s-hollywood-studios-star-tours-theme-parks

I'm excited about this ride. I remember when I rode Star Tours for the first time back around '96, I thought it was the coolest ride at the park. Then I went back in 2009 and it didn't seem quite as great (though the queue was still the best). The ride definitely needed an upgrade. Hope it's good!

Agreed, but if Disney thinks that revamped ride is a sufficient response to counteract Harry Potter, I'll have what they are having, please...

I had the opportunity to ride the original Star Tours in August of last year. My first ride was OK, but after that, I didn't really care for it very much despite being a die-hard Star Wars fan. I'm hoping the new Star Tours is better and that I can come up with the money to go to Florida and experience it (it won't be this year). The fact that it's supposed to have over 50 different experiences that change every time you ride definitely will add to the re-ride value that was lacking the first time around. I'm also interested to see how well the 3-D is pulled off.

Might I add, Disney now owns the rights to Marvel...

Agreed, but if Disney thinks that revamped ride is a sufficient response to counteract Harry Potter, I'll have what they are having, please...

I don't believe that is their intention. The Star Tours vs. HP is simply the opinion of the author.

Now the revamped Fantasyland in 2013 is a different story....

Might I add, Disney now owns the rights to Marvel...

...subject, however, to certain rights granted to Universal theme parks in Florida prior to the Disney acquisition....one cannot sell that which one does not own...

Might I add, Disney now owns the rights to Marvel...

...subject, however, to certain rights granted to Universal theme parks in Florida prior to the Disney acquisition....one cannot sell that which one does not own...

They might get out of the deal if Black Stone sells his half of Universal.

Blackstone is a private equity company...and they are more likely to buy the NBCUniversal stake than sell their own. Or not....

"Star Tours? What are you doing here..."

I remember riding the ride in 2004 and felt it was really out of place within the park. Just didn't find it that appealing or on par with the other attractions.