Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters

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Buzz Lightyear Attractions
Image:Buzzastroblasters_logo.jpg
Land Tomorrowland
Theme Parks Walt Disney Parks
Locations and Opening Dates
Magic Kingdom November 3, 1998 Buzz Lightyear's SpaceRanger Spin
Tokyo Disneyland April 15, 2004 Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters
Disneyland March 17, 2005 Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
Hong Kong Disneyland September 12, 2005 Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
Disneyland Paris April 08, 2006 Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters is a popular attraction based on the Disney/Pixar film Toy Story 2 at Walt Disney Parks around the world. Although each ride may have a different name (as seen on the infobox to the right), all share the same plot and major characters. As each form of the attraction appeared, new technology has allowed the guest to better interact with the ride and even connect with personal computer users.

The attractions use a third-generation Omnimover system, and are combination of a shooting gallery and a dark ride. The first ride featured laser guns that were not moveable, but later versions featured the guns that are held in a holster and moveable with the exception of a cord to keep them in the vehicle after the ride has ended. 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 is also an attraction at Walt Disney World Resort's DisneyQuest with the name "Buzz Lightyear's Astroblasters", where players ride and control cars while shooting balls at each other.

Contents

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
A life-size Buzz Lightyear greets you as you walk into the ride
A life-size Buzz Lightyear greets you as you walk into the ride
A space cruiser vehicle at Disneyland
A space cruiser vehicle at Disneyland

The backstory of the ride revolves around the attempts of Evil Emperor Zurg to steal the "crystallic fusion cells" (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 that 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.

[edit] Technical aspects

"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 laser beams at targets of varying point values. Targets that are hit while lit up will produce much higher scores. A digital readout on the dashboard shows the player's score. The joystick allows full 360-degree rotation of the vehicle to assist in aiming. During the ride, if the ride slows down or completely stops(this is a result of either a handicaped guest or a ride breakdown) during the ride, this allows for "bonus points" as the pistols and targets do not turn off. At one point in the attraction, each visitor is photographed during gameplay and has the option of sending an electronic postcard via e-mail at the exit queue. The photo includes the player's score. If the score is in the top 100 highest of the day, the player's ranking is also included in the photo. The Top 10 players' scores are shown on the scoreboard at the exit queue, along with 3 letters that identify each player. The top person gets their face posted on the screen. The new Disneyland attraction features at-home play tied directly to the attraction itself via the Internet.[1] The home game enables players to help Disneyland visitors by lighting up special targets that allow both sides to win more points.

[edit] Attraction facts

[edit] Magic Kingdom

[edit] Tokyo Disneyland

Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters at Tokyo Disneyland
Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters at Tokyo Disneyland
  • Grand opening: April 15, 2004
  • Designer: Walt Disney Imagineering
  • Attraction name: Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters
  • Sponsor: FujiFilm [3]
  • Former attractions:
  • Ride system: Omnimover
  • Options:

[edit] Disneyland

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Disneyland, in November 2005
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Disneyland, in November 2005
  • Grand opening: [[March 17], 2005
  • Designer: Walt Disney Imagineering
  • Manufacturer: Sansei Yusoki Co. Ltd..
  • Attraction name: Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
  • 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:
  • Ride system: Omnimover
  • Options:

[edit] Hong Kong Disneyland

  • Grand opening: September 12, 2005 (Opened with Hong Kong Disneyland)
  • Designer: Walt Disney Imagineering
  • Attraction name: Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
  • Ride system: Omnimover
  • Show length: 4:20
  • Options:

[edit] Disneyland Park (Paris)

The logo for the attraction at Disneyland Paris
The logo for the attraction at Disneyland Paris
  • Grand opening: April 08, 2006
  • Designer: Walt Disney Imagineering
  • Attraction name: Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast
  • Show scenes:
    • Star Command Action Center / Flight Deck
    • Robot Attack
    • Zurg's Dreadnought
    • Zurg's Secret Weapon
    • Planet Z
    • Zurg's Escape
    • Hyperspace
    • The Final Battle
    • Repackaging Zurg
  • Former Attractions
  • Ride system: Omnimover
  • Options:

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.disneyland.com/Buzz Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters Online
  2. ^ Imagineers, The (September 1, 2005). The Imagineering Field Guide to the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Disney Editions, 121. ISBN 0786855533. 
  3. ^ FujiFilm. "On April 15th, 2004, an opening ceremony was held for a new Tokyo Disneyland attraction, “Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters” presented by Fujifilm." http://www.fujifilm.com/pdf/about/sustainability/ff_sr_2004_001.pdf

[edit] See also

Attractions at Disneyland
Main Street, U.S.A.: Disneyland Railroad | Main Street Cinema | Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln | Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years
Main Street Vehicles: Fire Engines | Horse-Drawn Streetcars | Horseless Carriage | Omnibus
Fantasyland: Alice in Wonderland | Casey Jr. Circus Train | Dumbo the Flying Elephant | Fantasyland Theater
"it's a small world" | King Arthur Carrousel | Mad Tea Party | Matterhorn Bobsleds | Mr. Toad's Wild Ride | Peter Pan's Flight
Pinocchio's Daring Journey | Sleeping Beauty Castle | Snow White's Scary Adventures | Storybook Land Canal Boats
Tomorrowland: Astro Orbitor | Autopia | Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters | Disneyland Monorail System | Disneyland Railroad
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage | Honey, I Shrunk the Audience | Innoventions | Space Mountain | Starcade | Star Tours
Frontierland: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad | Tom Sawyer Island | Frontierland Shooting Exposition | Mark Twain Riverboat
Rafts to Tom Sawyer's Island | Sailing Ship Columbia | Big Thunder Ranch | The Golden Horseshoe Stage
Adventureland: Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room | Indiana Jones Adventure | Jungle Cruise | Tarzan's Treehouse
New Orleans Square: Haunted Mansion | Pirates of the Caribbean | The Disney Gallery | Club 33
Critter Country: Splash Mountain | Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes | The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Mickey's Toontown: Chip 'n Dale Treehouse | Donald's Boat | Gadget's Go Coaster | Goofy's Playouse | Mickey's House
Minnie's House | Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin
Entertainment: Walt Disney's Parade of Dreams | Remember... Dreams Come True | The Dapper Dans | Fantasmic!


Attractions at Magic Kingdom style parks
Main Street, U.S.A.: The Dapper Dans | Disneyland Railroad | Disney in the Stars | Disney on Parade | Fantasy in the Sky |
Main Street Electrical Parade | Remember... Dreams Come True | Walt Disney World Railroad | Wishes | World Bazaar
Fantasyland: Cinderella Castle | Dumbo Flying Elephants | King Arthur Carrousel | Mad Tea Party | The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh | Matterhorn Bobsleds | Mickey's PhilharMagic |
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride | Peter Pan's Flight | Pinocchio's Daring Journey | Skyway | Sleeping Beauty Castle | Snow White's Scary Adventures | "it's a small world"
Tomorrowland: Adventure Thru Inner Space | America Sings | Autopia | Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters | Captain EO | Carousel of Progress | Delta Dreamflight |
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage | Honey, I Shrunk the Audience | If You Had Wings | Innoventions | PeopleMover/Tomorrowland Transit Authority | Magic Journeys |
Rocket Jets/Astro Orbitor | Rocket Rods | Space Mountain | Star Tours | Stitch's Great Escape! | The Timekeeper
Frontierland/Critter Country: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad | Country Bear Jamboree | Pinewood Indians | Splash Mountain | Rivers of America
Adventureland: Indiana Jones Adventure | Jungle Cruise | Raging Spirits | Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room
Liberty Square/New Orleans Square: The Haunted Mansion | Rivers of America | Pirates of the Caribbean
Other: Club 33 | Fantasmic! | Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin
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