Note: This article makes use of many “spoilers” by describing many aspects of the actual attraction. Extreme care will be taken to describe the attraction without giving away too much by giving clear warning for the section containing details some may wish to experience on their own. Thank you.

Okay I know. Really bad way to end the article last week, right? Well, I wanted to keep writing, but there is only so much screen I can take up for one article! Fear not, however, as we dive right into the new Stitch’s Great Escape...

Okay, well in a second. First, here’s where I have to give warning to all of those wishing to NOT know details of the attraction so that they can experience it for themselves. I’ll give a generalized review after the “spoiler” section below, so that you can get a feel for these parts of the new attraction without knowing too much. In that case, please skip this next section and rejoin us after the section ends. For all those who want to know everything, however, then please read on!

The attraction is housed in the same location as the previous Alien Encounter, and makes use of all of the previous pre-show areas that Alien Encounter used (redone of course).

The attraction makes use of the queue that existed already that wraps around the left of the building (below the area where the EPCOT city model can be found on the TTA). Once to the front of the building, the new turnstiles now face towards the old Timekeeper attraction, as opposed to the old ones which faced towards Space Mountain. There are more than one set, as the new attraction makes use the Fast Pass system. The Fast Pass distribution area is found to the left of the main entrance, facing the old Timekeeper attraction.

Once past the turnstiles, a group of Guests are loaded into the outdoor waiting area as has been done with Alien Encounter. However, all of the signage has changed, as we learn from the new banner above the door that we are entering a Galactic Federation Prisoner Transport Facility.

After waiting for a while in the outdoor area (ad after listening to some safety spiels), the large metal doors open to the first area of the pre-show, which is the room with the monitors that hang on one side of the wall (just as in Alien Encounter). The room has been completely redone with paint, and sports a Galactic Federation look to it, using the cryptic-looking alphabet found in the movie and the irregular circle patterns similar to that found on the outside signage. On the wall opposite of that with the video monitors, the wall is almost completely taken up with a large metallic three-dimensional sign that says “Galactic Federation Prisoner Transport Center”.

A voice comes over the intercom and it happens to be the thin Galactic Federation Agent Pleakley from the movie. He informs us that the Grand Councilwoman will be joining us shortly via the monitors, and we in the process find out that we were recruited for some sort of duty here. In the meantime, the monitors show a changing screen of more alien alphabet characters mixed with phrases such as “security briefing”.

The video begins, and it is the Grand Councilwoman, done in traditional 2D animation (just like the movie). She proceeds to congratulate us “recruits” on deciding to join the Galactic Federation Security detail, and that it is a hard job with great responsibility. She says that although this is our first day on the job, we are expected to be fast learners. She also comments on the job the Galactic Federation Prisoner Transport Facility does, in that there are “nice aliens”, and then there and “naughty aliens”, and that “this is where the naughty ones are sent until they decide to be nice”, obviously referring to the building we are standing in. We are then introduced to the head of security, the large Captain Gantu (also from the movie). Apparently, we are being recruited to watch over these “naughty” aliens in the meantime. The video ends, and we hear Agent Pleakley come on the intercom again, warning us that the doors to our right will be opening shortly, and in fact counts down for at least the last 5 seconds (in sync with the monitors) as to when the doors will open, as they do exactly.

The next pre-show area is where the old S.I.R. animatronic was; including our beloved little demonstration alien Skippy. Upon entering the chamber, most of the old scene was kept, except that we see the “normal” Skippy of the old show in the transportation tub on the left. The tube on the right is empty, and the old S.I.R. Animatronic is still in the center behind a console.

The old S.I.R. robot animatronic is different, however, as many new plastic parts have been used to replace old metal parts, such as his stomach and face. It gives the new animatronic a softer look, and even an overweight look in regards to the stomach piece. The new animatronic is named something incredibly long winded, which in fact just happens to be a long letter and number combination, but ends with “dash 90210.” Of course, the humor there being the tie–in with the name of the old television show, and the fact that throughout the rest of this scene, this animatronic is referred to as “90210.”

As we enter this pre-show area, Agent Pleakly is still on the intercom, as we see 90210 answering a phone call coming in on his headset. It apparently is a private conversation, as he turns away from us slightly and puts one of his hands over the microphone. We hear him talking to what is apparently his “wife”, as he reminds her of what she was supposed to pick up at the store, including “a couple of cans of oil.” Agent Pleakly introduces 90210 as the head of transport as this time, stating that “he’s the one on the phone right now.”

This pre-show sequence begins with 90210 introducing himself and informing us of his job, which is accepting teleported naughty aliens to this area, and then teleporting them onto their cells. He also informs us that there are two categories of aliens here at the facility, Category One and Category Two. Since we are new, we will only be guarding Category One “cute little ones like these” as he points in the direction of Skippy in the tube on the left.

Just then, an image comes on the viewscreen in the background above 90210, and it is an animated image (again, 2D) of a spacecraft and a capsule holding another alien. The Galactic Federation Officer informs 90210 that the one he is holding has raided a doughnut factory, and needs to be teleported to the facility. 90210 recognizes the alien, and informs us that this isn’t the first time that has happened with this particular alien.

90210 initiates the transport, as we see colored smoke fill the right tube, and various light and sounds effects occur. We notice that on the viewscreen, the alien has disappeared from the spacecraft, and has appeared as an animatronic in the tube on the right. The new animatronic is similar in size to Skippy, and has a lot of green “goo” on his snout and hands. 90210 informs him that his cell is waiting, and quickly transports him to the cell, out of our sight.

Just then, red lights start flashing from all over accompanied by an alarm. Captain Gantu calls up for 90210, who is apparently startled by the sudden alarm. Captain Gantu (via the background monitor) informs 90210 that he has a “Category Three” incoming to the facility, and that he has no idea what it could be, 90210 responds in disbelief, obviously not knowing there was a category three, and that one was being sent here. He also tries to dissuade Captain Gantu in doing the transport, as he reminds him that we are new recruits, and that we are only able to handle Category One aliens. Captain Gantu responds that he needs all the help he can get, and that the transport will be sent to the maximum security transport area, where we all (including 90210) will be sent to guard this new incoming alien. 90210 makes a desperate plea to try and stay behind, but Captain Gantu orders him to join all of us in the chamber as well.

The second pre show area is emptied as we move to our right, following Cast Members through a short hallway with flashing red lights everywhere...

...and I’m afraid that’s where we’ll have to leave off with the details (spoilers) for this week.

As far as the theming and pre show area of the attraction, they are really done well. The idea of having the complex as a Prisoner Transport Facility for bad aliens fits well, and our new jobs as security guard recruits makes for an interesting twist.

The storyline also is well done, and the excitement at the end of the second pre-show area really gets the blood pumping for what’s about to await us all in the main chamber.

...Which is also where we’ll have to leave this week. Please join us next week, as we go inside the main maximum security transport chamber, where we must assume that Stitch will be joining us. Trust me, it gets way better from here!

Thanks for stopping on by, and I’ll see you next week!