Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters has rocketed to renown as one of those rare attractions that can be found at nearly every Disney theme park resort around the world as the classic shoot-em-up dark ride celebrates a milestone anniversary at Disneyland.
Disneyland will mark the 15th anniversary of the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters ride on Tuesday, March 3.
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Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters is among a select group of classic attractions that can be found at five Disney resorts around the globe, where the ride goes by many names.
In addition to the Tomorrowland location at Disneyland, the Buzz Lightyear ride resides at Florida’s Magic Kingdom (Space Ranger Spin), France’s Disneyland Paris (Laser Blast), China’s Shanghai Disneyland (Planet Rescue) and Japan’s Tokyo Disneyland (Astro Blasters).
A version of the Astro Blasters attraction used to be found at all six Disney resorts until the ride was closed in 2017 at Hong Kong Disneyland.
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Only two rides can be found at all six Disney resorts around the world: Dumbo the Flying Elephant and Disney’s classic carousel.
Much like Astro Blasters, Disney’s carousels around the world go by many names that pay tribute to fairy tale royalty like Prince Charming, King Arthur and Lancelot.
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters and its clones are among a rare group of Disney rides that can be found at five Disney resorts: Space Mountain, It’s a Small World, Mad Tea Party, Peter Pan’s Flight, Mickey’s Philharmagic, Astro Orbitor and Astro Blasters. Space, Small World, the teacups and Philharmagic are not at Shanghai Disneyland. Pan is missing from Hong Kong Disneyland.
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Astro Orbitor is just like Astro Blasters, having dropped from the ranks of once being found at all six Disney resorts when Tokyo Disneyland removed the ride in 2017. Likewise, Astro Orbitor has gone by many names at Disney parks through the years — including Star Jets, Astro Jets, Jet Packs and Orbitron.
Astro Blasters rose to prominence in a relatively short period of time. It’s sister-ride Space Ranger Spin debuted in 1998 at the Magic Kingdom. Only Philmargic is newer to the ranks of rare attractions, with the 4-D film opening in Florida in 2003 and the latest incarnation debuting at Disney California Adventure just last year.
The Buzz Lightyear dark ride is at more Disney resorts than some big-name attractions: Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Big Thunder Mountain, Star Tours and Soarin’.
Disney doesn’t consider Hong Kong’s Mystic Manor to be the same ride as Haunted Mansion, even though they are close cousins. Same goes for Shanghai’s Battle for the Sunken Treasure when it comes to Pirates of the Caribbean rides.
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