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Tony Baxter relays the untold history of Star Tours, the original

Tony Baxter, Senior VP Creative Development for Walt Disney Imagineering, recently chatted with the ForceCast, one of the more respected Star Wars fan podcasts, about Star Tours. They discussed the new version a bit, but Baxter was really excited to explore some of the history of the original Star Tours attraction, including tidbits I’ve never heard before.

You can listen to it here, or I’ve included some of my notes below the jump:

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Imagineer Previews new Paradise Pier sections of DCA

Disney has a new video highlighting the transformation of the former Route 66 section of California Adventure into an extension of Paradise Pier. The improvements are scheduled to be complete by July 1. The main thrust of the special behind-the-scenes tour with Imagineer Larry Nikolai… Read More »Imagineer Previews new Paradise Pier sections of DCA

Imagineer Joe Rohde for Disney’s Wild Africa Trek

Senior Vice President, Executive Designer, and Walt Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde takes a break from his work on Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii to share his excitement about the Wild Africa Trek at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The trek’s private safari camp has been expanded to… Read More »Imagineer Joe Rohde for Disney’s Wild Africa Trek

Aulani, Disney’s Hawaii Resort, reaches construction milestone

As, major structural work on Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii, was completed, Disney took a moment to celebrate with this photo. Then on Thursday, April 21, Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company, Inc., handed the project to the Disney team, which will… Read More »Aulani, Disney’s Hawaii Resort, reaches construction milestone

Haunted Mansion – Behind the Scenes of new Hitch Hiking Ghosts

It goes without saying that Walt Disney’s “Haunted Mansion” is a classic attraction known around the world. So when the folks at Walt Disney Imagineering decides to tinker with its formula, a lot of people get worried. I think WDI understands some of the fuss… Read More »Haunted Mansion – Behind the Scenes of new Hitch Hiking Ghosts

Revenge of the Disco Yeti

Pity the poor Disco Yeti. Touted as the animatronic to end all animatronics; jet powered with an amazing range of motion; guaranteed to scare the living daylights out of thousands of roller coaster riders on Expedition Everest daily; and yet, seemingly forever frozen in a… Read More »Revenge of the Disco Yeti

Disney Previews New Interactive Queue for Orlando’s Haunted Mansion

I’ve been holding off on posting about the new Haunted Mansion interactive queue hoping I could get over there and see it in person. Unfortunately, I’ve been under the weather lately, so visiting the Magic Kingdom isn’t an option. So instead, I present a special preview from Walt Disney Imagineering:

The new queue is currently in soft-opening phase. That means it may not be open when you’re there.

I’m a big fan of the idea behind the interactive queue and have been since Roger Rabbit Toon Town Spin and Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland. I can’t wait to see this for myself. In the meantime, if you want a mega-spoiler edition of the above preview, check out this video from Inside the Magic on Youtube below the jump (since it has spoilers):

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Work begins to expand Peter Pan queue at Magic Kingdom

The above is a beautiful sight that millions of visitors have seen at the Magic Kingdom. At first it was home to the Fantasyland station of the Skyway. But since that closed it has just sat there used mostly for stroller parking and the occasional… Read More »Work begins to expand Peter Pan queue at Magic Kingdom