Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin ride review

“Buzz Lightyear – Magic Kingdom – Walt Disney World” by Josh Hallett is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Looking for a ride that’s interactive and competitive? Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is perfect for you and your family if that sounds like fun. Plenty of rides at Disney World are interactive, but few are as competitive as Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.

Of course, you don’t have to think about the competitive aspect while you’re playing, but if you and your sibling want to duke it out on the Space Ranger Spin, you absolutely can.

In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin—and how to get the highest score.

What Is It?

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin isn’t quite like any other ride at Disney. Instead of just sitting in a car and letting the ride happen, you take part in the adventure. Here’s the concept: You and your partner are on a mission to help Buzz Lightyear defeat Zurg. In order to do that, you need to shoot your lasers at Zurg’s symbol throughout several rooms.

You and your partner each get a cannon to shoot your lasers, which is where the competition comes in. Whoever shoots the most Zurg symbols wins! Before that, though, you are greeted by Buzz Lightyear himself; he introduces the mission and lets you know how to play. It’s super easy to understand, so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting the cannon to work.

You don’t just get to control your lasers. Your car is able to turn 360 degrees with a joystick that you control! So if you need to swivel around to catch one last Z target before you leave a room, you can turn your car around and shoot that Zurg. Targets that are harder to hit are worth more points, so make sure you try and get every target you can—even if it’s hard to get! The points you get coincide to your ranking at the end of the ride, so try to get the highest ranking you can. You can be a Galactic Hero just like Buzz Lightyear himself!

If you’re traveling to Disney World with kids, this ride is perfect. Not only is it full of bright colors and an engaging plot, the interactive elements keep kids excited the whole way through and long after the ride finishes.

Potential Issues and Requirements

There aren’t many problems with this ride, but there is one you should be aware of if anyone in your family has epilepsy. All of the lights and colors in Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin are neon. Flashing lights are pretty common in this ride, too. Though the flashing isn’t too heavy, it is worth noting if someone in your party has particularly sensitive epilepsy. Better safe than sorry!

Luckily, there is no height requirement for this ride, so kids of all ages are allowed on! The ride itself also isn’t too rough. If your partner is a bit overzealous, you may find your car spinning around a lot, but you are able to control your movements. There are also captions and audio descriptions if you have trouble with anything relating to that.

You may also ride if you are in a wheelchair, but you must be transferred into the car. Children under the age of 7 must be accompanied by someone over the age of 14, but that’s true for any other ride at Disney.

How to Get Galactic Hero Status

If you’re someone who likes to be the best at games, you’ll definitely want the rank of Galactic Hero. It’s the highest rank you can receive in this ride, so not many achieve it! However, there is a trick to doing well.

A key fact to know going in to the game is that you can hit a target more than once. So if you find that you can hit a hard target once, mash the blasters! The more you hit the target, the more points you’ll get. Even if you aren’t the best at reaching the harder targets, you can apply this method to closer targets. You may not get Galactic Hero ranks, but you’ll definitely rack up points with this method.

You should also keep your hand on the triggers at all times. Moving your hand away from the trigger means you can’t shoot, so no matter what keep your hands on the cannon. In addition to that, never stop shooting. You don’t lose points by missing targets, so fire away!

Keep an eye on your laser as well. It can be hard to find your laser when everyone else is pointing their lasers at the same target. Knowing where your cannon is pointed will help you tremendously.

If you keep these things in mind, you’ll be well on your way to getting the rank of Galactic Hero!

Here are the point values you need to achieve each rank:

  • Space Cadet: 0 to 1,000 points
  • Space Ace: 1,001 to 10,000 points
  • Planetary Pilot: 10,001 to 100,000 points
  • Space Scout: 100,001 to 300,000 points
  • Ranger 1st Class: 300,001 to 600,000 points
  • Cosmic Commando: 600,001 to 999,998 points
  • Galactic Hero: 999,999 points

As you can see, the Galactic Hero status is hard to achieve, but it’s possible if you are relentless with that blaster!

Wait Times

For the most part, you can expect wait times of 30 to 45 minutes, but there are times when the lines aren’t as long. If you go in the morning—around 10:00 a.m.—you only have to wait about 10 to 15 minutes. Likewise, if you go after 9:00 p.m. you’ll have a similar wait time.

The biggest issues about waiting in line for this ride is that you usually have to wait outside for a period before you can go inside. Part of the outdoor line is covered by an awning, but some of it isn’t. If you’re going during the middle of the day, this could lead to some nasty burns or dehydration, so be sure to bring an extra bottle of water and some sunscreen.

Other than that, the line isn’t too terrible. There’s plenty to see when you enter the building, so you’ll be visually occupied when you’re waiting. While you’re in line, you can plan your strategy, too.

Because Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is one of the best rides at Disney, you can usually expect a wait. Even though it doesn’t have as long of lines as, say, Splash Mountain, you’ll definitely want to plan around the lines for this one. FastPass+ tickets are available for this ride, so if you really don’t want to wait in line you have the option to skip it.

There are some rides you should consider before picking Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin for one of your precious three FastPass+ tickets, so you want to make sure you really want this one over rides that have an hour wait or more. Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, and similar rides are better choices for FastPass+, but if those don’t interest you, then Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is a great option.

Should I Ride Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin?

Yes! You absolutely should make time for Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin if you can. It’s one of those rides at Disney that will make you want to keep coming back for more. As soon as you get off Space Ranger Spin, you’ll want to hop back in line and try for a higher score. It brings out the competitive nature in everyone; make sure you pick a partner that you’ll enjoy riding with for an extra fun time.

Additionally, your kids will love the engaging plot and incredibly detailed environment. It’s truly a ride that you’ll remember for your whole life because of the rich atmosphere it provides. You and your family have to ride Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin—although, we aren’t responsible for any beef that arises between you and your family if someone absolutely rocks at hitting Z targets!

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Michael has been visiting Disney World since he was a kid. He's also been to Disneyland and sailed on the Disney Dream. Michael is the owner and editor of Countdown to Magic.

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