Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin is an omni-mover dark ride through attraction located in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom. Guests use laser blasters to shoot at targets to score points. An onboard screen keeps track of the riders score.
Details
FASTPASS: Yes
Height/Age Requirement: No
Storyline and concept
A journey through Buzz Lightyear's hyper-imagination awaits Magic Kingdom guests as the computer-animated world of Disney's "Toy Story" magically transforms into reality at the newest Tomorrowland attraction, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin.
Guests are enlisted as junior space rangers to join Buzz on an interactive adventure to defend the universe's crystollic fusion cell supply -- better known as batteries -- from the sinister alien Emperor Zurg. Zurg's been plotting to steal all the toys' batteries and use them to fuel his "ultimate weapon of destruction."
Guests jump right into the playful fantasy, boarding XP-37 space cruisers and embarking on a whimsical voyage to the Gamma Quadrant. Each space cruiser, themed as a vibrantly colored wind-up toy, comes fully equipped with turbo-charged twin laser cannons and a joystick, capable of spinning the craft 360 degrees.
To save the universe and collect points, guests are instructed to blast the orange-colored Emperor Zurg insignias scattered throughout the attraction. When the space cruiser's lasers zap a target, it triggers space-aged animation, sound and light effects. Each space ranger's score is tallied, according to complexity of target, electronically onboard via an LED screen on the cruiser's dashboard.
The new space adventure features 10 interactive scenes. To capture Zurg, space rangers must battle gigantic robots, explore strange planets and hijack a flying saucer. Sharp-shooting space rangers cause aliens to spring from hiding, volcanoes to erupt, winged creatures to take flight and other zany audio and visual effects.
During the spectacular final battle, laser beams scream across the sky and Buzz himself joins the action. Zurg's secret weapon is blown apart by Buzz's laser and squeaky toy Martians collect its shattered remains.
As cruisers pull into the unload area, guests compare their score with the mission profile chart to determine their space ranger rank.
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin also features a high-fidelity, high-efficiency projection system for displaying the computer-generated face and head of Buzz Lightyear in the attraction's pre-show. Walt Disney Imagineers have worked with Pixar Productions and several Disney divisions to coordinate the animation of Buzz Lightyear. Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar, who teamed to create "Toy Story," have joined forces again to produce a "Toy Story" sequel coming to theaters in late 1998.
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin is sponsored by Mattel, and replaces the Take Flight attraction which closed January 1998.
Facts and Trivia
Ride duration: 4 mins, 30 seconds.
Opening Date: 3 November 1998.
Ride system: Omni-mover with XP-37 Space Cruiser vehicles. Each vehicle is fitted with a joystick steering mechanism capable of rotating the omnimover vehicle 360 degrees, as well as twin ion pulse cannons that shoot real laser beams.