The D23 Expo in Anaheim was a huge success. It marked the first time a convention of this magnitude was ever put on for the Disney community and fans were not disappointed. From movie previews to news about park expansions and everything in between, Disney’s top execs came out to Anaheim to speak to thousands of fans just dying to find out what’s next from the House of Mouse. Well one of the more memorable presentations came courtesy of a galaxy far, far away.

Jay Rasulo, the Chairman of the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, took to the stage to make a very special announcement to a crowd of loyal Star Wars fans. Rasulo began his presentation by shocking crowds saying that starting in October of 2010, Star Tours will be closing at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World here in Orlando. But the shocked crowd had no time to react as a legion of Stormtroopers arrived on stage to the sound of “The Imperial March.” Rasulo feigned confusion as “Darth Vader” appeared on the giant screen behind him. Rasulo announced Star Tours 2 would re-open in 2014 which Vader did not approve of. Fans laughed as Rasulo was pressured by the costumed impersonator to open the ride a bit earlier.

After the theatrics the crowd found out they will not have to wait until 2014, but instead 2011. This sent the crowd into another frenzy as Rasulo announced guests will be treated to a sneak peek at special footage of the upcoming Star Tours 2 ride. Audience members were all given 3D glasses as they entered the room and they finally got to find out why. Along with brand new technology for the motion simulator, all of the ride footage will now be in 3D. The interior of the ride is supposed to get a revamp as well but details on that are very hush hush--we will give you the scoop as soon as we find out. As for the footage, fans can expect to race through Tatooine in their own podracer like the scene featured in Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace. Other popular Star Wars planets and scenes are expected to be featured in the new ride upgrade as well, but details have just started to emerge. Who knows what’s in store for Star Tours 2? But we know 2011 is going to be a great year for Star Wars fans in the Disney theme parks.

Disney and rock music aren’t usually two things you would group into one category. After all, rock music can be risqué and rebellious, and Disney is all about family fun. But 10 years ago this week, Disney merged with legendary rock stars Aerosmith to create the Rock ‘N’ Rollercoaster, a milestone ride for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This indoor rollercoaster, located next to the Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror, became an instant hit and FastPass option for Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

The logistics of the ride contained many Disney firsts and amazing rollercoaster statistics. The ride shoots off from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 2.8 seconds at the start. Only EPCOT’s Test Track is faster. The rider experiences G forces of 4.5, which is faster than astronauts experience during space launches! With three inversions, two rollover loops and one corkscrew, this coaster broke all previous coaster records in the Walt Disney parks family.

Music lovers will especially enjoy the Aerosmith elements present throughout the ride. As you first enter, you’re lead into a music studio where an interactive video with the rock legends plays for the audience. The story revolves around the band being late for a concert in LA and having to cut their special studio performance (of which you are the audience) short. The “backstage passes” you get as compensation are for a stretch limo ride straight to LA for the concert. That stretch limo is your coaster car which reaches maximum speeds of 60 mph. The best part of this ride is the music. Each of the cars have various “license plates” with names like “2FAST4U” and “UGOGIRL." Depending on the car you are in you will get a different set of Aerosmith songs on your ride. With five speakers per car and a 32,000 watt audio system, you will get to hear it all.

Back when the ride opened, Disney held a special contest for fans. The special guests were Aerosmith themselves and a few lucky fans were treated to a buffet meal and a chance to ride the coaster with one of the band members. To celebrate the ride’s one year anniversary, Disney brought in 80 Corvettes to form a parking-lot version of the signature red Fender Stratocaster that serves as the ride’s trademark. If you’re visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios, then take a ride through a rock and roll journey with Aerosmith on the Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster—it’s a thrill-seeker must!

Roller coasters enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit at Universal Studios Orlando, the newest attraction to be added to the park since The Simpsons Ride. And though they’ll have to wait a little while longer – the coaster’s opening has been delayed until this summer with the earliest opening likely in June – we’ve got a few extra juicy details on the Rip Ride Rockit to tide everyone over until then.

We’ve already mentioned on this blog that the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit (HRRR) will be one of the most technologically advanced coasters in Orlando, with the ability to choose the ride’s soundtrack before boarding, watch your experience on video after riding, and even edit and send that video to friends. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this exciting new coaster, which will feature plenty of moves and maneuvers that are sure to get your heart pumping.

First, the HRRR, once completed, will be the tallest, largest, and fastest X-CAR style roller coaster in the world. Having an X-CAR vehicle – which is more maneuverable than other coaster vehicles and uses innovative, less restrictive restraints – makes the HRRR capable of moves other coasters aren’t. It also allows for more vehicles on the track, ensuring a whirl of non-stop movement.

Some of that movement takes place during six special maneuvers on the HRRR, three of which have never been built before. Those include the Double Take, the world’s first non-inverted loop; the Treble-Clef, where the track bends to form the shape of the musical symbol by the same name, and the Jump Cut, a spiraling negative-gravity move. Other fun maneuvers to look forward to on the Rockit include a 17-story high vertical lift, a drop into an underground chasm, and an inclined loop with a 150-degree banking turn. Riders will also get to soar 33 feet above the ground at a 95 degree angle over the crowd as they wait in the ride’s queue.

Here’s a fun fact – the HRRR features 3,800 feet of steel track, and believe it or not, work first began on it not in the US, but in Munich, Germany last summer. More than 60 sections of track and 200 columns were completed overseas, then packaged into 120 containers and loaded onto ships for transport to the US. They arrived in Savannah, Georgia and then made the trip by road to Orlando, where they were placed in a holding area so the build-out could begin.

Now, it’s just a matter of waiting while the track is completed, and almost all of it is in place. In the meantime, we suggest planning your Universal Studios vacation as a way to pass the time and get excited for the park’s newest and most exhilarating roller coaster yet. Start by looking at the discount Universal Studios tickets on DWTickets.com to begin preparing for your first ride on the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit.

You have ignored the museum curator’s warnings and decided to venture on with your expedition to Everest via a railway car – or at least, that’s the back story that Disney has set up while you’re waiting on line for Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom. But as you’ve begun your ascent of the towering Forbidden Mountain, your heart begins to pound as the ride comes to a dead end, then ascends into darkness! Things take a turn for the thrilling as you’re shot through narrow caves only to come face to face with the master of the mountain – the ferocious and mysterious yeti. And suddenly, you don’t quite feel like you’re on a ride anymore as you scream out of genuine excitement.

The pièce de résistance of Animal Kingdom’s Expedition Everest is most certainly the beastly yeti, and this masterpiece of Disney Imagineering is surely one of Walt Disney World’s best products of technology and storytelling yet. And though guests certainly aren’t thinking about what it took to create the yeti when he’s swiping at them on Expedition Everest, it took four years for Disney Imagineers to bring the creature to life.

The process started with a little help from Disney animators, who sketched more than a hundred unique designs of what the Himalayan legend might look like. Meanwhile, Imagineers consulted Dr. Stuart Sumida, professor of biology, for a realistic idea of how the yeti would move and stand. The team of Imagineers also sorted through legendary sources and current descriptions of the yeti from local people in Nepal and the Himalayas. Of the course of several months, a clear concept of the yeti emerged: it would be similar in size to a giant ape from prehistoric times with a skull modified from the Asian langur monkey, facial features and fangs of the golden monkey, and brownish fur and hair.

The next step was actually crafting the yeti, and that began with a rough sculpture molded by principal designer Doug Griffith. He also developed a computer model with engineers and programmers to determine how the yeti would move inside Expedition Everest. Once a final design was decided on, sculptor Scott Goddard worked on a detailed miniature sculpture of the yeti.

After getting the approval of Creative Executives, the miniature yeti was tagged with laser markers and scanned into the computer. From this file, a life-size foam version of the yeti was milled, which was then coated with a sealer to create a mold. Out of that mold, a final fiberglass cast of the creature was created and fitted with joints, pneumatics, and access panels. After days of work, a massive figure surrounding a skeleton of steel was complete and ready for programming and wardrobe.

Before the figure was created, specialists had spent over two years creating more than 100 computer animation tests. They finally got to work with the actual yeti in a full size production facility testing out subtle head turns, arm tilts, and blinking eyes. Once the mechanics were set, the yeti was put through his paces for hours on end. Meanwhile, costume designers worked to carefully craft his coat – a blend of yak, horse hair, and synthetics. Teeth and nails made from acrylic were molded and stained to look aged and yellow, and the yeti was given a nice coat of paint, mud, and even dirt between his toes to make him look authentic.

Though most riding Expedition Everest won’t notice all the detail, the Imagineers’ efforts are clearly worth it with every realistic move the yeti makes. So next time you ride this great attraction, be sure to marvel at the Himalayan legend – when you’re not screaming, that is. Check out Walt Disney World tickets from DWTickets.com to begin your trek to Everest and meet one of Disney’s greatest creations.