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Toy Story Mania and Buzz Lightyear
- Thread starter Aurora79
- Start date
MarkTwain
Well-Known Member
Conceptually similar, yes. Both involve the Toy Story franchise and an interactive shooting type of ride. There's a couple of differences, though.
Buzz Lightyear is the older of the two, and is primarily inspired by the space-themed world of Buzz Lightyear's imagination, with spaceships, aliens, Emperor Zurg, and so on. Because it's older, it's much more basic and restricted in what you can shoot. There are large, physically-built rooms with sets and animatronics like in other rides, but there are little targets everywhere that you get points when you shoot them. Gameplay can be a bit tricky because you don't see the point of your laser until you shoot, and you change your aim primarily though trial and error. It has a really high ride capacity, so when I'm there the waits are usually a manageable 20 - 30 minutes or so.
Toy Story Midway Mania is newer, and features the entire cast of Toy Story. It trades out the physically built sets for 3D screens - basically, you move from one screen to another, stopping at each one, and spend a minute or so shooting at the different targets that pop on the screen. Although you're only shooting at a screen in this ride, there are some nice 3D gags and special effects that happen (squirts of water, puffs of air, etc.). Each screen features a different set of characters. This gameplay's a bit easier IMO, because you can see what you're shooting the entire time and adjust your aim accordingly. Because it's newer, and one of the few family rides in a park more known for its thrills, waits for Midway Mania are a lot longer - usually at least 45 minutes, but often closer to 2 hours.
Both are worth riding though, if you can manage it.
Buzz Lightyear is the older of the two, and is primarily inspired by the space-themed world of Buzz Lightyear's imagination, with spaceships, aliens, Emperor Zurg, and so on. Because it's older, it's much more basic and restricted in what you can shoot. There are large, physically-built rooms with sets and animatronics like in other rides, but there are little targets everywhere that you get points when you shoot them. Gameplay can be a bit tricky because you don't see the point of your laser until you shoot, and you change your aim primarily though trial and error. It has a really high ride capacity, so when I'm there the waits are usually a manageable 20 - 30 minutes or so.
Toy Story Midway Mania is newer, and features the entire cast of Toy Story. It trades out the physically built sets for 3D screens - basically, you move from one screen to another, stopping at each one, and spend a minute or so shooting at the different targets that pop on the screen. Although you're only shooting at a screen in this ride, there are some nice 3D gags and special effects that happen (squirts of water, puffs of air, etc.). Each screen features a different set of characters. This gameplay's a bit easier IMO, because you can see what you're shooting the entire time and adjust your aim accordingly. Because it's newer, and one of the few family rides in a park more known for its thrills, waits for Midway Mania are a lot longer - usually at least 45 minutes, but often closer to 2 hours.
Both are worth riding though, if you can manage it.
AEfx
Well-Known Member
Buzz is a ride through animatronic, real sets that you shoot at and there is some interaction (i.e. you can shoot something and it can move or glow).
TSM is a ride where they plop your car in front of video screens and you shoot at the big tv, then they move you to the next tv until the ride is done. You can replicate it quite well using an office chair and the Nintendo Wii version of the game in your home.
Why they thought one Toy Story shooter wasn't enough so they made two, I'll never know.
TSM is a ride where they plop your car in front of video screens and you shoot at the big tv, then they move you to the next tv until the ride is done. You can replicate it quite well using an office chair and the Nintendo Wii version of the game in your home.
Why they thought one Toy Story shooter wasn't enough so they made two, I'll never know.
dreamfinder
Well-Known Member
Buzz is more like the shooting gallery, but moving. You aim at physical targets, and things can happen when you hit some of them. TSM is more like Big Game Huner (or Big Buck Hunter, or whatever they are called). You are aiming at and interacting with a giant screen. Both are lots of fun. Some people do suggest riding Buzz first, just so you don't have unobtainable high expectations after riding TSM.
:brick:
OP, MarkTwain's post pretty much covered all you need to know. Both rides are really fun, and neither detracts from the other.
invader
Well-Known Member
Oh I forgot... Nintendo Wii type shooting with some blasts of wind in your face!
Op, still a fun ride experience it!
Clamman73
Well-Known Member
I like that part...and when you're shooting rings.
To OP, just get to Studios b4 it opens and follow the crowd at rope drop. Otherwise it's gonna be a long wait.
Donaldfan3000
Member
I know this question's pretty much been answered, but i figured it throw in my two cents anyway. Toy Story Mania is much more technology based (4d if you will) and stationary while Buzz is more of a ride with a more psychical aspect. Even though they may be similar I think both are fun in different ways!
