Fun Find Friday
May 31, 2013
Location: Backlot, Disney's Hollywood Studios
In the past we've talked about how some attractions
have subtle tributes to former attractions (for instance the
Nautilus from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea). In honor of Star Wars
Weekends, we will be taking yet another look at Star Tours and one
of its nods to an attraction that never called Disney's Hollywood
Studios (or Disney-MGM Studios for that matter) home!
When Disney fans that frequent Walt Disney World
think of Star Tours they often think of its home in Disney's
Hollywood Studios, but the attractions history actually begins at
Disneyland where the attraction actually has a home inside
Tomorrowland itself. Prior to Star Tours launching into our hearts
with Captain Rex (talked about last week) in 1987, guests could
board Atommobiles on the classic attraction Adventures Thru Inner
Space. Adventures Thru Inner Space called Tomorrowland home from
1967 until 1985 and had one of the most amazing pieces of machinery!
It was called the Mighty Microscope and it actually
allowed guests to enter inside and shrink to the size of an atom!
Quite remarkable really! During the attractions nearly twenty year
run this Mighty Microscope was probably the most remarkable of all
props used throughout the attraction. Naturally, this gave it the
highest honor any prop can receive: it was placed within the
attraction that would replace it!
While on the original Star Tours, Captain Rex takes
guests on a "shortcut" to exit the hanger the attraction begins on.
During this sequence guests begin to fall and crash into practically
everything in sight. During this death defying experience, guests
pass the one and old Mighty Microscope (as seen below)!

The Microscope can be found protruding from behind the control tower
on the left hand side
Naturally, when Star Tours closed down Imagineers
began to discuss different props from the original Star Tours that
would make appearance in the new attraction. While Captain RX-24 and
others made the cut, it was decided that the prop from Adventure
Thru Inner Space, the Mighty Microscope itself, would also be added
to the attraction!
So next time you are traveling through the Death
Star, above the planet Geonosis, on Star Tours: The Adventures
Continue, search the left hand side of the screen just before you
emerge from the Death Star. Here you will find the prop that has
been in an attraction for over 45 years, the Mighty Microscope!

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