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 Star Tours: Based on the Star Wars movie trilogy, visitors to this simulator ride join favorites R2D2 and C3PO on a journey to the moon of Endor. Director George Lucas collaborated with Disney on this immensely popular ride for which a FastPass is available.
From the At-At Walker standing guard at the entrance to the incredibly detailed Ewok village, the queue leading up to the ride is practically an attraction in itself and a great place to take an Orlando vacation photograph or two! When you board your forty passenger Starspeeder 3000, you will meet your pilot, a droid named RX-24 or “Captain Rex” for short, who is on his first solo mission. Voiced by Paul Reubins (aka Pee Wee Hermin), Captain Rex isn’t quite used to his new programming. This leads to a wildly out of control and bumpy journey as you zip past asteroids, outmaneuver Imperial Fighters and get caught in a Star Destroyer’s tractor beam while battling the Evil Empire.
 WARNING: If you would like to experience the Star Tours attraction during your Orlando vacation, you must be at least 40 inches tall. This is a very rough ride and should be avoided by persons with back, neck or shoulder pain. In addition, people suffering from a heart condition, pregnant women and people prone to motion sickness should take a pass on this attraction.
 Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular: If you’ve ever wondered “How’d they do that and live to tell about it?” after seeing a particularly spectacular movie stunt, then this is a must see show. Stunt Coordinator Glenn Randall (from the Indiana Jones series of movies) is the director of this behind the scenes glimpse into the planning and performing of movie stunts, where park guests learn how they are safely performed.
The show opens with Indiana Jones seemingly being crushed by a giant twelve-foot boulder he is trying to outrun. When the set is disassembled moments later, “Indy” appears safe and sound and visitors to this 2,000 seat theater learn how the stunt was done. Perhaps you’ll be one of the lucky Orlando vacationers who is selected from the audience and invited to join the professional stunt performers in an action packed fight scene in the streets of Cairo. The show finishes with an explosive pyrotechnics display with fire so intense, its heat is felt by the entire audience.
Although this is a FastPass attraction, so many guests are admitted to the show that one is rarely needed. Park guests that arrive early enough are treated to a hilarious pre-show act that begins approximately twenty minutes before the main show. The main event is approximately thirty-five minutes in length.
 Sounds Dangerous: This show explores the use of binaural audio in a demonstration of how sound can have a tremendous influence on the way that we experience movies and television programs. Popular actor, Drew Carey, is the star of this twelve minute show that purports to be a pilot for a new hidden camera detective show. When Carey accidentally damages the hidden camera, the entire theater goes pitch black and the audience experiences the drama with sound alone. The surprising sounds that are heard through the headsets that each guest in the audience wears are often quite humorous and are created in a way that allows them to almost “see” the sounds.
After exiting the theater, guests are invited to explore Sound Works - an interactive area where they can experiment with laying down their own soundtracks to various different videos. There is also a darkened booth area where guests can hear even more sounds with effects similar to those experienced during the show.
To the left of Sound Works is the actual working Disney Radio Studios. These studios are used by visiting local and national radio shows and is also the place where the popular Mickey and Minnie’s Tune Time and Super Gold radio shows are broadcast from. These studios are closed to the general public but if you ask a cast member, occasionally they will let you take a peek inside.
Did You Know?
- If you don’t obtain a FastPass, the best time to visit the Star Tours attraction is first thing in the morning or at the end of the day, just prior to closing time for Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
- Near the entrance to the auditorium at the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, there is a sign that reads “Do Not Pull Rope.” Someone has crossed out the word “not” on the sign. Go ahead and give it a try!
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