Disney Parks Blog released a preview of the queue line video for Star Tours, which is under refurbishment. This is not only a fan favorite, but a cult brand. The difficulty with any change is that it will always be judged by the previous version, which you may or may not agree was any good. What we can all agree on is, it was in desperate need of repair and updating.

I always have a huge amount of respect for Disney Imagineers, whose creative capabilities are always being challenged. But I think that this will be one of the most difficult refurbishments to date. They can do everything right, involve new technologies, surpass any expectation, increase guest enjoyment, expand flow, and reduce wait times, but it will still not satisfy. That’s a tough row to hoe, no doubt, but Disney Imagineers are always up for it.

On my list of things to change or update:

• Queue games and mobile devices: Similar to how Space Mountain and Soarin’ changed the wait line experience, there should be an interactive game.  And there really is no better franchise to have a queue game made for.  This can be really tricky, so I would set a partnership to have a major software house like LucasArts or Sony Interactive take the reigns.  That way you can have some kind of regularity of updating the experience, and even add the option of an iPhone / Android app to supplement the terminals, and add a wi-fi connection for the queue.  If you can do this, it would improve the capacity, and allow for a more immersion.
• Interactive robots: One of the new features of the queue lines, the interactive Mr. Potato Head at Toy Story, Midway Mania.  I can definitely see the C3PO / R2D2 droids being used in this way.  Kids also love their names being said by creatures or characters.
• Multiple destinations: An issue with most rides is, they are predictable.  This is the The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror story.  Similarly, there should be some kind of random experience involved in the ride.  The days of a static movie motion simulator are over.  I know that involving 3D is new, but the story should also be different.  The good news is, the technology has gotten better, and the time it takes to create a motion movie is substantially better than 1989.
• Jedi Experience should be used to supplement the queue / fastpass: One of the new ways that Disney is trying to reduce queue time frustration is to allow you to wait out of a formal line.  This was tested on the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster earlier in the year.  The next phase would be to do something similar with Jedi Training Academy.  You can have the regular wait line, standard fastpass, and the Jedi Academy wait line.  Using this method, you can bulk hold one or several groups for a 10-15 minute period without them feeling bored.  It adds to the flight build-up, and gives the kids something to do while waiting.
• Have random characters walk though the lines: There is nothing more fun than an unexpected character meet.  They don’t even have to be a known character, just someone who looks the part.
• Cast Members should be dressed like Jedi: Look, you want your staff to feel cool.  If they look like Space janitors, they are not going to be happy with their mission assignment.  Give them a Jedi historian robe and light-saber, and voila… you’ll have interactive, happy cast members.

I am sure that the updated ride will be great, but there is always room for improvement, right?

If you have any other tips or ideas, leave a comment!

These are a couple of pictures I took using the Kodak Easyshare M381 that I am reviewing for Dads on Tech.  Let me know what you think.