D23 Expo sheds light on Star Tours and Fantasyland upgrades

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Submitted by Ashley Irvine on Monday 14 September 2009 - 11:56pm

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo has announced that various Disney parks will undergo refurbishments within the next five years.

Star Tours at Disney's Hollywood Studios, which first opened in 1989, will undergo upgrades and be renamed Star Tours 2.

The simulators currently use 70mm film projectors but with the ride's refurbishment, it will see the addition of high-definition digital 3-D projectors as well as upgraded simulator platforms (more than four degrees of movement) and internal special effects. Star Tours 2 is set to debut 2011 and filming is currently underway.

Fantasyland at Walt Disney World in Florida will also be upgraded in the coming years, with plans to expand the area and update the attractions within. The new and improved Fantasyland will open in 2013.

In addition, Disney's California Adventure will open the World of Color attraction in spring 2010 along with the all-new Car Land, which is set to open in 2012. Hong Kong Disneyland will also be upgraded, with three new lands expected to open by 2014.

Photo: Disney