Let's face it, we're Star Wars fans and we love to do us some speculating. So let's do so...Got a source that would like to remain annonymous who points out that Disney's big convention/expo called the D23 Expo is coming up in September. On Saturday, September 12 the chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Jay Rasulo is scheduled to deliver an address and rumor has it that the 501st will be in attendance. This will be the first of hopefully many conventions for D23 and wouldn't a Star Tours update announcement just be a fantastic way to kick things off? Could the 501st members be there for an announcement of Star Wars Weekends 2010 dates? Sure, but isn't it more fun to speculate that it will be Star Tours 2.0? Our source's source could not confirm that an update will be announced but did say to expect some sort of big announcement. Have fun with this and if you have any info to share, please do!

Just got the following response from head of D23, Steven Clark, prior to publishing this post:

"We were contacted by the Galactic Empire and have been advised that Imperial dignitaries will be attending Disney’s D23 Expo. As a result, a squadron of Stormtroopers from the 501st Legion will be patrolling the Anaheim Convention Center on Saturday, Sept. 12."


Nice to hear! We'll be sure to keep you posted if and when we hear more!


UPDATE: ClubJade.net steps it up a notch with a suggestion of a CV announcement if it were to be held in Orlando. I love it! Speculate away!


UPDATE #2: The Los Angeles Times mentioned the possibility of a Star Tours announcement in today's article about the upcoming D23 Expo:

"The expo will also try to stir interest in the reworking of California Adventure, the struggling Anaheim venture that is undergoing a $1 billion reworking and will, in 2012, have a new 12-acre attraction based on Pixar's "Cars." It may also be used to announce the major upgrade to "Star Tours," the somewhat creaky Disneyland ride based on "Star Wars."'


The article aslo goes on to compare the new Disney convention to those of Star Wars...

"Disney is not the first corporate entertainment power to create a major dedicated expo aimed at giving fans an insider experience. About 75,000 people attended Star Wars Celebration in 1999 in Denver, organized by LucasFilm, and there have been six editions of the event since, including a 2006 staging at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Lucasfilm is entertaining civic sweetheart deals now for a 2010 encore.

Like "Star Wars," Disney has a world-class array of toys and collectibles, and there will be 20,000 square feet at the expo devoted to merchandise new and old...."


Click here for the full read. There's nothing particularly Earth shattering, but it does stoke the fire just a bit.