My son and I (pictured — not the guys in white) spent a recent weekend in San Francisco, and it was fantastic.

We rode on the cable cars, hung out with friends, and spent some quality time with the good people at 20th Century Fox (who supplied the trip) and Lucasfilm. That’s right, we visited Skywalker Ranch and the Presidio location (right by the Walt Disney Family Museum!). We’re talking Star Wars, people (The Phantom Menace mostly)!

My son ranks it as the best weekend ever. Who am I to disagree?

This post is part of the Uptake Friday Family Fun series.

Photo by Araya Quanah Diaz, courtesy of 20th Century Fox

This is the droid you were looking for.

Star Tours, the popular Star Wars ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World, will be opening version 2.0 today (May 20, 2011). It is also opening day for the 2011 Star Wars Weekends held in the park, which means it will be crazy crowded, but still fun.

Rumor has it that the new Star Tours ride is in 3D, features multiple destinations and numerous characters spanning all of the Star Wars films. Yes, even Jar Jar. (Check out this new Star Tours commercial via our friends at The Disney Blog.)

The Disneyland ride will reopen on June 3, 2011. They don’t have Star Wars Weekends at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, which is bunk, but expect the park to still be insanely busy for the 2.0 launch.

For more family-friendly travel photos visit DeliciousBaby’s Photo Fridays.

Something wicked this way comes...

Yes, that is an AT-AT, and yes, it’s cool as all get out. I’ll wait while you jealous.

This piece of Star Wars awesomeness is outside the queue for the Star Tours ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.  As we’ve mentioned before, the Star Tours ride is reportedly closed for a complete overhaul, but hopefully they’ll keep this outside theming.  It was a hit with the boys. Also, the dad.

For more family-friendly travel photos visit DeliciousBaby’s Photo Fridays

Photo by Tricia Honea

I've taken this tour countless times and still never made it to Endor.

If you felt a disturbance in the force it may have been the realization that Star Tours, the popular ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (Walt Disney World) and Disneyland parks, respectively, will soon be flying to the Ewok-laden moon of Endor for the last time. Ever-ish! Or it could have been the burrito you had for lunch, the force is funny like that.

If you’ve never been on the Star Tours ride here’s what you need to know: It’s based on the Star Wars franchise. It’s awesome! However, it’s been around for long time.  In fact, it had been around a long time before the last 3 (first 3?) Star Wars movies filled your world with clones and Jar Jarisms (meee-zah so sorries) — we’re talking long, long ago in a theme park far away (actual distance may vary).  The good folks at Disney are freezing the old ride in carbonite and unleashing a new version with, and I’m just guessing here, some newer technology and a different storyline.  The updated Star Tours will take off in 2011. Read More »