ALY SAN SAN Star Tours Travel AgencyStar Tours Travel Agency Gift Set
Item No.: No. 33244
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Base, four other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.95
Availability: May 2011
Appearances: Star Tours
Bio: Aly is a WA-7 service droid that Star Tours has enlisted as its spokesdroid. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)
Image: Adam's kitchen.
Commentary: I haven't been able to sneak off to see Star Tours since the grand opening, but my pal from work Shannon was kind enough to grab me Aly San San and the other sets from the launch last year. This is a fine example of Hasbro getting another squeeze out of its existing molds, which, when it comes to droids, I really like seeing them do. The figure is an acceptable one, carrying the best (and worse) of the original WA-7 release. The new deco feels like it stepped out of a theme park-- the orange and blue are nice and loud, and her yellow eyes look great in her steely frame. The wheel rotates awkwardly, which is why it's a good thing they included a display stand because it simply is not possible for the figure to stand on its own. Seriously, don't bother trying. You'd just be wasting your time.
So, complaints? Yes. The wheel pops out easily, the right hand has a peg in it which is a vestigial remainder from the tray the original waitress robot carried, and the neck seems to be permanently looking down. Some cables on her back look cool, but give her the unfortunate proclivity for looking at the ground. Harumph. Still, she looks good and for those collecting the increasingly meaty Star Tours figure collection, you won't want to miss her.
Collector's Notes: $40 is a lot of money to spend on a box of robots, particularly when the box has some figures you may rather not bother with. Aly San San, Ace, the Utai, and the Signal Droid are all pretty neat but premium pricing on theme park exclusives hurts. I wouldn't consider this set essential, as some people see Star Tours as existing outside the general Star Tours continuity. I'm all for counting it, but I won't lie to you and say that this is the brightest point in the set. It's OK. The original WA-7 has a cooler base and a tray, plus she works at a space diner. This makes her cooler. Aly is perfectly fine but is more of a fun souvenir than it is an awesome figure.
--Adam Pawlus
Day 1,795: May 1, 2012
I am on my way to the parks next week, and can't wait to get this set and all the rest of the Star Tours figures. I am especially looking forward to getting my grubby mitts on the Starspeeder!
ReplyDeleteTrue, this stuff is pricey, but with a AAA card you do get a (small) discount!