Attractions Magazine

Theme park and attraction news, rumors and videos.

  • Subscribe & Shop
  • Members
  • News
  • Videos
  • About Us

April 19, 2018 By Brittani Tuttle Leave a Comment

Experience Jim Henson’s ‘Labyrinth’ in theaters for special three-day event

labyrinth
Fans of the Jim Henson classic “Labyrinth” can see the film on the big screen later this month.

For three days only this April and May, Fathom Events and the Jim Henson Company invite audiences to experience the “Labyrinth” once again, and relive this classic fantasy adventure. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Event, Movies, Slider, Video Tagged With: david bowie, Event, fathom events, featured, George Lucas, jennifer connelly, jim henson, labyrinth, Movies, Video

October 27, 2017 By Leave a Comment

‘Star Wars and the Power of Costume’ exhibit opens Nov. 11 at Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg

Star Wars and the Power of Costume
Concept art and actual costumes from the Star Wars saga will be on display at the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, Florida, starting Nov. 11.

Iconic sci-fi fashions from a galaxy far, far away will be on full display when the Smithsonian traveling exhibition Star Wars and the Power of Costume lands at the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, Florida, from Nov. 11, 2017, through April 1, 2018.  [Read more…]

Filed Under: Slider, Star Wars Tagged With: costume, George Lucas, museum, Smithsonian, St. Petersburg, Star Wars

October 30, 2012 By 2 Comments

Disney to buy Lucasfilm and start releasing new Star Wars movies starting with Episode 7 in 2015

In a move as surprising, if not more surprising as when Disney announced they were purchasing Marvel in 2009, today Disney announced they have come to an agreement to acquire Lucasfilm LTD. Even more surprising is an announcement that they are planning on releasing Star Wars Episode 7 feature film in 2015, followed by more Star Wars films. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Disney, Movies Tagged With: aquire, buy, Disney, George Lucas, join, lucasfilm, purchase, Star Wars, Star Wars Episode 7, Walt Disney World

August 25, 2012 By 2 Comments

George Lucas makes surprise appearance at Star Wars Celebration VI – Photos/Video

ALthough not scheduled to be a part of Star Wars Celebration VI at the Orange County Convention Center, George Lucas made a surprise appearance. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Event, Movies Tagged With: detours, George Lucas, panel, Star Wars, star wars celebration, surprise, vi

May 14, 2012 By 3 Comments

Star Wars Weekends 2012 starts Friday – A look at Disney’s funny promotional ads and videos

This weekend, Star Wars Weekends 2012 will kick off at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. As they do each year, Disney released some promotional images that combine both Walt Disney World and Star Wars elements, plus some very funny videos taking a look “behind the scenes”. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Disney, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Event, Movies, Video, Walt Disney World Tagged With: artwork, Disney's Hollywood Studios, George Lucas, promotion, Star Wars, Star Wars Weekends

May 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Orlando Attractions Magazine – The Show, Episode 26 for May 26, 2011

May 27, 2011 – Join hosts JD Trussell and Samantha Sanders as they bring you the latest Orlando theme park and attraction news and more on this week’s episode. [Read more…]

Filed Under: The Attractions Show, Video Tagged With: Anthony Daniels, Art of Animation Resort, Cars, Cheetah Hunt, Dance-Off with the Star Wars Stars, Despicable Me, Disney's Hollywood Studios, George Lucas, Hyperspace Hoopla, Orlando Attractions Magazine, Spider-Man, Star Tours, Star Wars, Star Wars Weekends, The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, The Show

May 24, 2011 By 2 Comments

Star Tours 3D attraction opens with a bang – Full video and photo gallery

With a cast of hundreds of Star Wars characters and some celebrities, Disney opened the new Star Tours: The Adventures Continue attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios with a bang – literally. Read on for our photos and full video of the ceremony. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Disney, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Event, Movies, Video Tagged With: attraction, Bob Iger, Disney's Hollywood Studios, gallery, George Lucas, new, opening, ride, Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, Star Wars, Video

August 11, 2010 By 2 Comments

Star Wars Celebration V will feature a full lineup no fan will want to miss

The biggest Star Wars fan event of all time is coming to Orlando. Star Wars Celebration V will be held at the Orange County Convention Center from Aug. 12 to 15, 2010.

This year’s event will commemorate the 30th Anniversary of Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, and the ongoing, weekly adventures of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Featuring celebrities, costumes, live entertainment, screenings, autographs, collectibles, panels and more, Star Wars Celebration V is the official Lucasfilm convention. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Disney, Event, International Drive, Movies, Television, Travel Tagged With: 501st, celebrity, fan, George Lucas, helmet, Jon Stewart, movie, Star Wars, Star Wars Celebration V, stormtrooper, The Empire Strikes Back

July 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Video/Photos: Michael Jackson's Captain EO reopens at Epcot

Captain EO, the 4D movie staring Michael Jackson and Anjelica Huston, with Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas working behind the scenes, has returned to Epcot. The 17-minute film originally played at the park from 1986-1994. It’s now playing once again in the same theater with some new effects. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Disney, Epcot, Music Tagged With: 3D, 4D, Anjelica Huston, Captain EO, Disney, Epcot, Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, Michael Jackson, Music, return

December 28, 2009 By 1 Comment

Former Disney Imagineer reminisces about creating the original Star Tours

Star ToursMark EadesFormer Walt Disney Imagineer Mark Eades (pictured here) was the media producer for the original Star Tours attraction, which first officially opened at Disneyland in California in 1987 and later at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (then Disney-MGM Studios) in Florida in 1989.

With Disney’s announcement that they will be revamping the attraction into Star Tours II, we asked Eades to tell us a funny story or two about the creation of Star Tours:

Casting Captain Rex

The toughest thing was finding the voice of Rex [the robot pilot seen in the attraction]. We kept trying different people and couldn’t hone in on it. We knew it had to be the right voice. We tried male and female voices. Frank Welker [“Transformers,” “Aladdin,” “Inspector Gadget”] came in a couple times. Billy Barty [Mickey Mouse shorts, Figment at Epcot] recorded.

I happened to go see “Flight of the Navigator” while we were still trying to settle on a voice, and we were really getting to the point we had to have it. Well the voice of the flying ship sounded like the right kind of voice that could be on the edge of out of control, yet be able to find itself. I watched the credits and it was Paul Reubens, also known as Pee-wee Herman. This was before “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” had hit the air, and who knew.

Anyway, the next day I came into the office and was waiting for [Imagineer] Tom Fitzgerald to get in. His office was next to mine. I told him I thought I had found the voice and told Tom to drop whatever he was doing and go out and see the film. Tom did – I think he went out at lunch time. He was back later that day as I recall and came in with that smile on his face and said, “You’re right. Book him, Mark.” I managed to get ahold of Paul on the set of his new show and he agreed in principle to do the voice. It was a protracted negotiation, but he ended up being the voice of Rex.

A Different Name

Even though we had come up with the “Star Tours” name, [then-Disney CEO] Michael Eisner wanted the name to have the word ride in it. He was insistent for the longest time, and we had to call it “Star Rides” for the longest time. But Tom kept bringing it up again and again, as we on the team really thought it was the right name. He finally agreed a few months out.

George Lucas in Disguise

We opened the attraction for a couple hours a few months out from opening. We wanted to see what people think, and also check on what we called the “barf factor.” Motion sickness was a real concern, and Tom Fitzgerald, the show producer, was our best guinea pig as he has a real problem with motion sickness. Anyway, George [Lucas] flew down so we could walk him through the attraction too. He had shaved off his beard at the time and no one really recognized him.

Amusing Guest Reactions

We rode it, then opened it up to guests and stood in the exit area to listen to reaction. One person said, upon exiting the attraction, “Can you imagine how many miles of track Disney had to build underneath the park to handle this ride?”

Another person came up to me and asked if I had worked on the attraction. I told him I had. He sidled up to me and asked, “Tell me something, you don’t really go anywhere do you?”


You can read more of our interview with former Imagineer Mark Eades in the Winter 2010 issue of Orlando Attractions Magazine. Also included in the issue are details surrounding the upcoming Star Tours enhancements.

Mark Eades currently writes for the Orange County Register in California, often covering theme park news for their Around Disney section. You can read his recent articles here.

Filed Under: Disney, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Movies, Theme Parks, Travel Tagged With: Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disneyland, George Lucas, Imagineer, Star Tours, Star Wars

  • 1
  • 2
  • Next Page »

Related Posts

New Issue

Attractions Magazine Winter 2020/21

Winter 2020/21

• Tokyo’s Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast
• Visiting Florida locations with ‘The Right Stuff’ 
• High-Flying Hot Air Balloon Rides
• Q&A: Andy Mulvihill’s untold story of Action Park
• Then & Now: Journey Into Imagination with Figment
• Versus: American Adventure Vs. The Hall of Presidents
• Top 10 International Disney Theme Park Attractions
• Resort Report: New JW Marriott Bonnet Creek
• Grinchmas Through The Years
PLUS News, Rumors, Games and Much More!
Visit our Store or Click Here to order yours.

Free E-Mail Newsletter

Home | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | Refund Policy | Ad Info
© 2021 Dream Together Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.