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scheduled for March grand opening
Disney News
Press Release
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters in Tomorrowland at Disneyland scheduled
for March grand opening
Famed intergalactic hero Buzz Lightyear has been tapped to help
Disneyland celebrate its golden anniversary with the addition
of a new out-of-this-world attraction, “Buzz Lightyear Astro
Blasters.” The new attraction premieres in Tomorrowland
in 2005 during the park's 18-month-long worldwide “The Happiest
Homecoming on Earth” 50th anniversary celebration that debuts
on May 5, 2005.
The space adventure stars Buzz Lightyear; the intrepid galactic hero
from Disney / Pixar's hit film Toy Story. Enlisting
guests as members of the Universe Protection Unit of the Space Ranger
Corps., would-be Space Rangers help Buzz defeat the evil Emperor Zurg
before he corners the world's energy supply.
The new Buzz Lightyear ride at Disneyland is an interactive experience
in which guests pilot their own Space Cruisers and twist, turn and fire
personal laser cannons in order to hit targets and gain points that
will protect the peace of outer space from the forces of the Emperor
Zurg! Total scores will appear in the Space Cruiser at the conclusion
of each adventure.
“It will be especially popular with the video game generation,”
said Barry Braverman, senior vice president of Walt Disney Imagineering.
“Players will jump back on the attraction again and again to improve
their scores and top friends and family members.”
Imagineers will incorporate a brand new online component inviting
at-home fans to join in the excitement. Guests on the attraction will
be virtually paired up with internet partners who will join the adventure
at Disneyland in real time through web cam technology.
At-home participants will help increase the scores of guests on the
attraction by raising the value of targets along the way. This groundbreaking
innovation, melding a Disney theme park attraction with real-time online
interaction, will be a first for any Disney theme park.
“Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters” will be located at
the entrance to Tomorrowland, in the former site occupied by the CircleVision
Theater, and will be a Disney FASTPASS attraction. Featuring
a host of familiar faces, including those popular little green, three-eyed
aliens, the black light adventure features a vibrant and colorful cosmic
setting.
A similar attraction, “Buzz Lightyear's Space Rangers Spin,”
opened on October 7, 1998 in the Magic Kingdom Park at Walt
Disney Resort in Florida. It replaced the Tomorrowland attraction
"If You Had Wings" and has consistently been one of the most
popular attractions in the Magic Kingdom.
"Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters" opening at Disneyland is
modeled after the attraction of the same name that recently opened at
Tokyo Disneyland, which is an enhancement of the "Buzz Lightyear's
Space Rangers Spin" at Walt Disney World.
Premiering on May 5, 2005 “The Happiest Celebration on Earth,”
an extraordinary celebration of Disneyland's 50th anniversary,
will pay tribute to the millions of guests and Cast Members who have
contributed to the rich legacy of “The Happiest Place on Earth”
over the past five decades. The 18-month long occasion represents the
biggest celebration in the history of Disney theme parks and is the
first truly global Disney event (with commemorative events planned at
each of the Disney theme parks around the world in salute to Disneyland).
Check back soon for a Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters video!
