Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
Categories: Disney parks and attractions | Disneyland Resort | Omnimover attractions
Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters is an attraction in Tokyo Disneyland that opened in 2004 and at Disneyland which opened on March 17, 2005 as Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, a slight name change to prevent confusion between the two attractions. The attraction is based on the Magic Kingdom's attraction Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin and characters from the Disney/Pixar film Toy Story. The attractions use a third-generation Omnimover system.
The backstory of the ride revolves around the attempts of Evil Emperor Zurg to steal the "power supplies" (i.e., batteries) used to power the space vehicles of the "Little Green Men." Participants are "Star Command" raw recruits sent to defeat Zurg. The queue area is awash in the chartreuse, white and bright blue hues of Buzz Lightyear himself. Since Buzz Lightyear is a toy, the attraction is cleverly scaled to give the illusion one has just been reduced to the size of an action figure, featuring such detail as giant, exposed Phillips screw heads and an explanation of the interactive phase of the ride that resembles a toy's instruction sheet, only on a gigantic scale. An Audio-Animatronic Buzz Lightyear figure and giant Etch-a-Sketch provide explanation of the "mission." The Buzz Lightyear figure utilizes both the latest Audio-Animatronic technology combined with an innovative video rear projection system for Buzz's face, resulting in one of the most lifelike Audio-Animatronic figures in Disney theme park history.
"Astro Blasters" and "Space Ranger Spin" are equal parts shooting gallery and dark ride. Visitors board an Omnimover space vehicle featuring two laser pistols and a joystick. The pistols are used to shoot targets of varying point values while the joystick allows full 360-degree rotation of the vehicle to assist in aiming. A digital readout on the dashboard shows the player's score. At one point in the attraction, each visitor is photographed during gameplay and has the option at the exit queue of sending an electronic postcard via e-mail. The new Disneyland attraction will feature at-home play tied directly to the attraction itself via the Internet. The home game enables players to help Disneyland visitors by lighting up special targets that allow both sides to win more points.
Attraction facts
Disneyland attraction facts
- Grand opening: May 5, 2005
- Designer: Walt Disney Imagineering
- Show scenes:
- Gantry Hall / Flight Deck
- Robot Attack
- Zurg's Dreadnought
- Zurg's Secret Weapon
- Crash Landing
- Planet Z
- Zurg's Escape
- Hyperspace
- The Final Battle
- Victory Celebration
- Former Attractions:
- Circle-Vision 360
- Rocket Rods (queue)
- Ride system: Omnimover
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Magic Kingdom attraction facts
- Grand Opening: November 3, 1998
- Designer: Walt Disney Imagineering
- Show Scenes:
- Launch Bay
- Robot Attack
- Planet "Z"
- Zurg's Ship
- Robot Factory
- Zurg's Secret Weapon
- Escape Hatch (Zurg's Escape)
- Speed Room (Hyperspace)
- Space Battle
- Star Command
- Former Attractions:
- Show Length: 4:30
- Ride System: Omnimover
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