The Magic Kingdom’s popular Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin interactive shooting dark ride recently received a much-needed makeover, and today we’ve got your Unofficial Guide to becoming a top-scoring Space Ranger!
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin has been a big hit at Walt Disney World since its opening in 1998, spawning a series of similar rides—including Disneyland’s Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters—at Disney parks around the world. But the original version of this attraction had aged poorly, with increasingly inaccurate blasters that hampered the gameplay. Thankfully, Disney listened to complaints and gave Buzz a major makeover, retaining the basic story and layout but overhauling the technology behind the shooting gallery-style targets.
The result is an interstellar adventure that’s more satisfying than ever before. But whether you are a Buzz veteran or first-time Ranger, it will probably take a few laps around the new attraction to optimize your scoring abilities. To give you a head start on tackling Zurg’s army, watch this POV video of the full attraction, and then read our top-six tips for enjoying Disney’s revamped Buzz Lightyear ride:
Time it Right
Buzz has always been a draw, and his upgrade has only made his queue longer. Lightning Lane Multi Pass can only be used once per day, so if you want multiple rides (which you probably will), you’ll need to wait standby at least once; when the standby line extends outside the building, you’re looking at about a 20-minute wait once you enter. The best times to ride are first thing in the morning during early entry, or while a parade or fireworks show is running. However, be warned against trying to get in line just after a nighttime spectacular; we watched Buzz go from a walk-on during Happily Ever After to a 45-minute wait within seconds of the show’s finale.
Admire the Details
The ride’s renovation didn’t involve radical reworking, but don’t underestimate how much the vibrant new paint and lighting have made Buzz’s simple sets and props pop with fresh energy. In particular, check out the comic book-style mural that now graces the load station where guests board their Omnimover vehicles.
Get a Grip
The biggest difference riders will immediately notice upon sitting down is that their blaster guns are no longer bolted to the car and can be picked up and moved freely. This makes aiming at the targets far less frustrating, and it finally brings Orlando’s version of Buzz in line with its Anaheim sibling.
Use Your Buddy
The first room of the ride has been reimagined as a target practice training session starring a friendly robot named Buddy. Use this brief scene to dial in your aim. First, note that your blaster emits a green- or red-colored beam that’s distinct from your seatmate’s. Next, focus on the small black bullseye on each circular target because hitting the colorful Z surrounding the dead center isn’t good enough. Finally, try holding down your trigger for steady continuous shots; then see how much faster you can fire by rapidly squeezing.
Forget Your Old Favorites
The old version of Buzz Lightyear featured several secret high-value targets—such as the first room’s mechanical claw and red robot, and the top of the volcano in the second room—that repeat riders could rely upon for boosting their scores. Those targets may still exist, but they’ll no longer grant you Galactic Hero status like before. Instead, look out for targets where the ring surrounding the Z is pulsing white or (better yet) rainbow colored. The former gives your score a bump, while the latter activates a special bonus mode that gives you and surrounding riders 10 seconds to earn some serious points.
Don’t Forget Your Photo
Buzz’s buffed-up ride cars carry new high-resolution screens that track your score in real-time and can even count above 1 million if you’re good enough. To secure proof of your victory over Zurg, be sure to download your ride photo from the My Disney Experience app, which now finally imprints your score on the image.
What do you think of the reimagined Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
For all there is to see and do at Walt Disney World, check out The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World.
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