Stupid Guest Tricks

Just had the chance to check out "Buzz Lightyear: Astro Blasters" at Disneyland. My first impression of the ride was that it was cheaply done with a few expensive tricks to throw off criticism, but after a few more times I began to realize the depth and stratagy involved.

[spoiler]When you enter the queue there are posters of "Star Command" Characters like the Little Green Men, Buzz, Zurg, and others framed with giant screws. You begin you are toy sized when you read the enormous instruction manual for the XP-40 StarCruiser. The next room has the Pre-Show with Buzz Himself, big as life. Buzz is a giant animatronic next to an Etch-A-Sketch explaining the mission. There is a very cool looking effect for his face and even the Etch-A-Sketch has the "burned in lines" that you would see on a real toy. [/spoiler]

The ride itself is an Omni-mover type, like The Haunted Mansion, with two guns and an arcade controller to spin the car. Once inside you can spin your car and start shooting targets for different amounts of points:
Circles: 100 Points
Squares: 1000 Points
Diamonds: 5000 Points
Triangles: 10000 Points

One of the lackluster things about Buzz is that the enviroment inside looks like something out of a carnival fun house. The cardboard cut-out look is really ugly and disracting. But in the end it does fit the story of being in a toy world and is somewhat forgivable.

The thing I enjoyed the most was the interactivity of the ride. There are targets everywhere and for video game enthusiasts this is a wet dream come true. For OCD'ers this is heaven. "Must get High Score..."

[spoiler]The Final Battle really takes the cake, with another full scale Buzz using the same facial effect as in the pre show. There is a nice laser effect also.[/spoiler]

In the end I had to go again and again and again and again...


Media Center:
Video:
Windows Media Player Required: Dial-OK
Buzz Lightyear: Astro Blasters Ride Through

Photos:
It looks like the ride is turned off. My camera flash and shutter seemed to remove all the lighting effects... Sorry.

Is there a URL for the online interactive feature yet?

While I enjoyed it here at WDW, the three times I've been on Buzz Lightyear, it's gone 101. It could be just me, or there could be some bugs that WDW hasn't worked out yet.

CBeilby wrote:Is there a URL for the online interactive feature yet?

It's not active yet but the URL is be promoted as http://www.disneyland.com/buzz

As much as I love the version here at WDW, it's just no fun for me anymore.

I mean I go in there for practice all the time but when Im playing against someone, even before I exit the first room Im already kicking back because I've maxed out the score.

Believe it or not, you can do that in the first room. You'll have to find out for yourself how, but it is possible.

Oh and Ill provide proof if needed :D:

CBeilby wrote:Is there a URL for the online interactive feature yet?

JUST in case anyone didn't see or just wants to know, according to a tab on the left side of the page on the Buzz interactive area, it says the game won't be up until Summer 2005.

Oh well, guess we can always play Mission: SPACE RACE with the EPCOT gang.

Well, I went on Sun to check out the Buzz ride. I was disappointed. Maybe because I'm a girl but I felt I would have had more fun at Chuck E. Cheese. The details were shoddy, the ride was way too short and it didn't have that Disney feel. Maybe I have to ride it more than just twice so I can give a better response. Oh well. It's still better than anything at DCA. Look what my hamster can do!!