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Buzz Lightyear's
Space Ranger Spin
Magic Kingdom
NameBuzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
AreaTomorrowland
Coordinates28°25′06″N 81°34′47″W / 28.4183°N 81.5798°W / 28.4183; -81.5798
StatusOperating
Soft opening dateOctober 7, 1998
Opening dateNovember 3, 1998
ReplacedTake Flight
Tokyo Disneyland
NameBuzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters
AreaTomorrowland
Coordinates35°37′58″N 139°52′44″E / 35.6328°N 139.8789°E / 35.6328; 139.8789
StatusOperating
Opening dateApril 15, 2004
ReplacedVisionarium
Disneyland
NameBuzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
AreaTomorrowland
Coordinates33°48′45″N 117°55′04″W / 33.8124°N 117.9178°W / 33.8124; -117.9178
StatusOperating
Soft opening dateMarch 10, 2005
Opening dateMarch 17, 2005
ReplacedRocket Rods (queue)
Hong Kong Disneyland
NameBuzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
巴斯光年星際歷險
AreaTomorrowland
Coordinates22°18′50″N 114°02′33″E / 22.3139°N 114.0425°E / 22.3139; 114.0425
StatusClosed
Opening dateSeptember 12, 2005
Closing dateAugust 31, 2017 [1]
Replaced byAnt-man and The Wasp: Nano Battle!
Disneyland Park (Paris)
NameBuzz Lightyear Laser Blast
AreaDiscoveryland
Coordinates48°52′25″N 2°46′39″E / 48.8735°N 2.7775°E / 48.8735; 2.7775
StatusOperating
Opening dateApril 8, 2006
ReplacedUn Voyage à Travers le Temps (A Journey Through Time)
Shanghai Disneyland Park
NameBuzz Lightyear Planet Rescue
巴斯光年星际营救
AreaTomorrowland
Coordinates31°50′06″N 121°23′29″E / 31.835°N 121.3913°E / 31.835; 121.3913
StatusOperating
Opening dateJune 16, 2016[2]
Ride statistics
Attraction typeShooting dark ride/animatronic show in queue
ManufacturersSansei Yusoki
Arrow Development (Magic Kingdom)
DesignerWalt Disney Imagineering
ThemeToy Story
MusicRandy Newman
Vehicle typeOmnimover
Riders per vehicle2-3
Duration4-5 minutes
FastPass+ available
Disabled access Wheelchair accessible

Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin (also known as Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters) is an interactive shooting dark ride attraction located in the Tomorrowland area of Disney theme parks. Designed by Walt Disney Imagineering and inspired by Disney·Pixar's Toy Story franchise, the attraction combines a carnival game and a third-generation Omnimover system.

The attraction first opened at Magic Kingdom on November 3, 1998. Subsequent versions can be found at Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland, Disneyland Park in Paris, and Shanghai Disneyland. Although each ride may have a different name, all share the same major plot and characters. Prior to September 2017, Hong Kong Disneyland had the ride Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, but it is now the only Magic Kingdom theme park that does not currently include a variation of the attraction.

Concept

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Buzz Lightyear alerts visitors that Evil Emperor Zurg has started to steal batteries in order to build a new weapon. Participants become Junior Space Rangers of Star Command sent to defeat Zurg. Players board an Omnimover space vehicle featuring two laser pistols and a joystick. The joystick allows full 360-degree rotation of the vehicle to assist in aiming.

Each player uses a laser beam to shoot at targets of varying point values. Targets that are hit while lit up receive higher scores. A digital readout on the dashboard shows the player's score. In the event that the attraction is currently at a stop, the pistols and targets do not turn off, allowing extra points to be received.

There are 4 different shaped targets which are worth different numbers of points: round (100 points), square (1,000 points), diamond (5,000 points), and triangle (10,000 points). At the conclusion of the ride, the digital score flashes L1-L7 displaying the ranking or level achieved for the below scores:[3]

  • Level 1 Star Cadet: 0 – 1,000
  • Level 2 Space Scout: 1,001 – 10,000
  • Level 3 Ranger 1st Class: 10,001 – 100,000
  • Level 4 Planetary Pilot: 100,001 – 300,000
  • Level 5 Space Ace: 300,001 – 600,000
  • Level 6 Cosmic Commando: 600,001 – 999,998
  • Level 7 Galactic Hero: 999,999+

A photo with the player's score is taken while on the attraction, and can be purchased after disembarking from the ride.

At the conclusion of the ride, the digital score flashes L1-L7 displaying the ranking or level achieved for the below scores:[4]

Queue

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This ride's queue includes a walkie talkie with Buzz Lightyear on it reading his wrist communication device. The speakers provide backstory to the ride and how Zurg is attacking Green Planet, home of the Little green men. It also includes a picture of Zurg as wanted criminal number one. It has pictures of The green squadron leaving to attack. It also has posters describing the blasters and the XP 40 Star cruiser. In the Fast Pass line, there is a picture of Buzz Lightyear shooting a purple, green and orange colored alien. It also shows Lightyear leading a team of Space rangers as well as making a cameo for Princess Mira Nova(from the show Buzz Lightyear of Star command(BLoSC)). The guests enter the briefing room to see Buzz Lightyear(This animatronic has no wings out and is holding an Astro Blaster. The Astro Blaster has a timer for when Buzz does his talking. As he says his line about finding Zurg's robot,the astro blaster lights up and blasts its laser at the Etch a Sketch wiping off the picture of Zurg. However in Paris,the laser can't keep up with the timer and the laser shines a little early.).The animatronic gives a one minute speech before a red alarm goes off signaling for the line to move along. The guest proceed down a long Corridor seeing the LGMs testing the Blasters. The guests then board the Star cruiser.

History

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In Magic Kingdom, The space for Space Ranger Spin was originally home to If You Had Wings, an aviation themed ride originally sponsored by Eastern Airlines. If You Had Wing was later rebranded as If You Could Fly. The attraction was later replaced by Delta Dreamflight. The attraction at the Magic Kingdom reuses elements of the previous ride systems developed by Arrow Development. The remaining installations use an omnimover system developed by Sansei Yusoki. The installation of Space Ranger Spin also impacted the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover, as it runs through the south show building.

When the attraction opened in Magic Kingdom, Mattel transferred its sponsorship from It's a Small World to Space Ranger Spin. Mattel stopped sponsoring the attraction in 1999, resulting in all Mattel references being removed from the attraction. The Magic Kingdom version has been without a sponsorship ever since.

The attraction at Disneyland also uses infrastructure from previous attractions. The show building originally housed the Circle-Vision 360° theater. In 1997, as part of a major makeover of Tomorrowland, the Circle-Vision theater was removed and the space became part of the queue for Rocket Rods. The Rocket Rods, which were prone to breakdowns, ran from 1998 to 2000. This space was then unused until 2005, when Astro Blasters opened.

Attraction

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The attraction begins with a robot attack scene with Box O Bot, Gigantobot, Dog Bot, and the Battery Bot. Guests then enter Zurg's Dreadnought, shooting at batteries before reaching a laboratory. While standing behind his Spiderbot, Zurg beings to shoot his "Zurgatronic Ion Blaster". Guests are about to transition into the next room when suddenly robots are being electrocuted for attempting to land the Dreadnought. Guests then enter Planet Z and can shoot at more aliens. Before leaving Planet Z, Zurg beings laughing, and attempts to shoot at the players. Guests then enter a light tunnel with additional target surrounding Zurg and his weapon. Buzz Lightyear begins using his Astro Blaster in order to take down Zurg's Spiderbot. The Green Squadron beings to help Buzz take down the ship. Zurg Promises revenge as the Green Squadron thank the guests. Buzz Lightyear then thanks the guests.

Magic Kingdom

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Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin is the first version of the attraction, and the third Omnimover ride to operate in Tomorrowland's south show building. Unlike other versions of the attraction, Magic Kingdom's version features laser guns that are stationary.

While riding Space Ranger Spin, it is possible to catch a glimpse of the PeopleMover passing through the building.

Tokyo Disneyland

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Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters opened on April 15, 2004. The ride is similar to the original version found in Magic Kingdom, but with a few changes. Starting with the Tokyo Disneyland version, all versions of the attraction feature handheld lasers. As the park is located in Japan, the Tokyo version of the attraction uses a Japanese audio track.

Disneyland

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Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters at Disneyland

Disneyland's version (Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters) includes additional dialogue and features laser guns that can be removed from their mounts in order to improve aim accuracy (similar to Men in Black: Alien Attack).

The attraction begins in a robot attack scene with Box O Bot, Gigantobot, Dog Bot, and the Battery Bot. Guests then enter Zurg's Dreadnought, shooting at batteries before reaching a laboratory. While standing behind his Spiderbot, Zurg beings to shoot his "Zurgatronic Ion Blaster". Guests are about to transition into the next room when suddenly robots are being electrocuted for attempting to land the Dreadnought. Guests then enter Planet Z and can shoot at more aliens. Before leaving Planet Z, Zurg beings laughing, and attempts to shoot at the players. Guests then enter a light tunnel with additional target surrounding Zurg and his weapon. Buzz Lightyear begins using his Astro Blaster in order to take down Zurg's Spiderbot. The Green Squadron beings to help Buzz take down the ship. Zurg Promises revenge as the Green Squadron thank the guests. Buzz Lightyear then thanks the guests.

Hong Kong Disneyland

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Former site of Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters at Hong Kong Disneyland

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters was nearly identical to the version found at Magic Kingdom. Like other versions of the ride, the lasers were non-stationary, allowing users to aim more accurately. The attraction soundtrack was in English, with additional safety instructions given in Chinese. On March 3, 2017, Disney announced the attraction's closure, and a replacement attraction, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle! The upcoming attraction will be to be the second Marvel themed ride at Hong Kong Disneyland.[1] The attraction officially closed on August 31, 2017, making Hong Kong Disneyland now the only Magic Kingdom theme park that does not include a variation of the attraction.

Disneyland Paris

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At Disneyland Paris, Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast replaced the Circle-Vision 360° production Le Visionarium, which closed in 2004. This version of the ride is much like the Disneyland version, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, except for the presence of a tribute to Le Visionarium: When you are in the robot attack scene at the beginning, if you look beneath the left arm of the Box-O-Bot, you might be able to see 9-Eye (the Circumvisual Photodroid from Le Visionarium) hiding there. However, it is an easy to miss tribute.

In the Paris version of the ride, the dialogue is the same but translated into French as well as English. In the queue, the Buzz Lightyear animatronic speaks English, as well as French for those who speak French, and don't understand English. Some areas of the ride provide both dialogues, but in the scene where Zurg's weapon is half-destroyed, it switches from English to French in a 6 dialogue loop as it does in the California version of the ride. This ride's cruiser is called the XP 41 calling back to the California version. This is also the version with the second longest indoor queue.

Shanghai Disneyland

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The most recent version of this attraction is called Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue. It is more heavily based on the opening sequence of Toy Story 2, taking place on the planet where Zurg has his lair set up, and featuring the same style of robots as in the film.

The Queue has the look of a Star Tours type attraction and is the longest indoor queue for all of the versions of the attraction. It looks like the International Space Station. The walls are covered with pictures of Buzz Lightyear himself. Video monitors are displayed on some of those walls. The monitors play videos of the LGMS,and Zurg with his new weapon. Buzz Lightyear will also appear on the screen fighting the robots. Most of the videos show the Star command space ship. Each ship has a red and green blaster on each side. After the queue, guests will walk into the room where the space cruisers are.

The Ride begins on a planet where the Little Green Men are helping guests take down the Zurg Bots. As well as Buzz being there using his laser. He is later seen fighting two of the robotic giants. Afterwords, the vehicles move into a mine where Zurg has been digging to get his weapon to fire at the planet. He sets up more robots as Buzz struggles to stop the Evil Emperor's mining. After a while, Zurg is defeated and swears he will get revenge. On your way out(like all the attractions) you see a scoreboard with the different scores from Level one to Seven.

Home Release & DisneyQuest

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In 2005, the Walt Disney Company premiered a home version of the ride in the form of an internet video game that allows users to connect with guests at the parks. The scores of each guest from the dark ride are tallied with the internet gamer and increase the points won.

There was also an attraction at Walt Disney World Resort's DisneyQuest with the name "Buzz Lightyear's Astroblasters," where players rode and controlled cars while shooting "balls" at each other. Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin was named the 2004 Disney Magazine Reader's Choice Award winner for Best Magic Kingdom Park Attraction for Young Kids.[5]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Hong Kong Disneyland to Close Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters on 8/31". The Geek's Blog @ disneygeek.com. August 7, 2017.
  2. ^ Smith, Thomas (January 12, 2016). "Opening Date Set for Shanghai Disney Resort, Disney's Newest World-Class Destination". DisneyParks Blog. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  3. ^ Doyle, Gavin. "10 Tips How You Can Score High on Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters". Disney Dose. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  4. ^ Doyle, Gavin. "10 Tips How You Can Score High on Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters". Disney Dose. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  5. ^ "Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin | Disney Discount Tickets". www.undercovertourist.com. Retrieved August 7, 2016.