At a glance
The world of Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast draws on Toy Story 2 and the spin-off series Buzz Lightyear of Star Command. The story couldn’t be simpler: Emperor Zurg wants to steal the crystallic fusion batteries that power the Little Green Men’s ships so he can take over the toy universe.
Guests are recruited as Space Rangers and board an XP-41 Omnimover cruiser two at a time, fitted with two laser guns and a joystick to spin the vehicle 360 degrees. Your mission: hit the 88 targets scattered along the route, each worth a different amount: circles are worth 100 points, squares 1,000, diamonds 5,000, and triangles 10,000.
The sets go all in on the idea of being shrunk down: giant Phillips screws, huge toy instructions, and 725 Little Green Men scattered through the scenery make you feel like you’ve been shrunk to the size of a tiny Buzz. Hidden Mickeys are tucked away in the line too. A Buzz audio-animatronic talks to the recruits before they set off. At the end, your score appears, you get your photo taken and earn a rank from Space Cadet to Galactic Hero, with a free rank card handed out at the exit on request.
The ultimate family interactive dark ride. A ride-through game where everyone aims at the Z targets with a movable laser cannon, and your score pops up at the end. It’s very replayable, and the urge to beat your best score keeps guests coming back. Premier Access lets you skip a line that’s often long on busy days.
History
Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast has welcomed riders since April 8, 2006 as Discoveryland’s interactive dark ride. It took over from Le Visionarium, the 360° Circle-Vision movie theater that operated there from 1992 until 2004.
Based on the world of Toy Story, it belongs to the family of Buzz Lightyear shooting rides that started at Orlando’s Magic Kingdom (1998), then spread to Tokyo Disneyland (2004), Disneyland Anaheim (2005), and Hong Kong Disneyland (2005). Since February 2025, every rider gets a free rank card at the exit, whatever their score.
Technical specs
- Duration
- 5 min
- Opened
- 2006
- Type Interactive dark ride
- Opening date April 8, 2006
- Duration 5 min
- Designed by Walt Disney Imagineering
- Manufacturer Sansei Technologies
- Composer George Wilkins
- French voice Richard Darbois (Buzz Lightyear)
- Sponsor HP
- Inspired by Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin (Magic Kingdom 1998)
Theme & world
Levels & accessibility
- Fear level none
- Thrill level low
- Emotional impact moderate
- Perceived wait moderate
- Height requirement None (open to everyone)
- Recommended age all ages
- Wheelchair access fully accessible
- Pregnant visitors OK to ride
Premier Access, Single Rider, PhotoPass
Skip the standby line whenever you like. Handy in peak season, when the wait often goes past 60 minutes.
This ride has no Single Rider line. If you want to cut your wait, rely on Premier Access or get there at park opening.
Photos taken automatically during the ride, which you pick up after you get off.
Usually open during this early slot before the park opens to the public, mainly for Disney hotel guests and Disneyland Pass Gold holders. A good time to ride it with a shorter wait.
Who it’s made for
Pros and cons
The highlights
- A competitive interactive game
- Highly immersive sets
- Endlessly replayable
The downsides
- A noisy, long line
- Targets often stop working
- The look doesn’t really match the spirit of Discoveryland
My verdict
Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast is the ultimate family interactive dark ride in Discoveryland: a two-seat Omnimover fitted with laser guns, with your score shown at the exit. The ride lasts 5 minutes, has 88 targets to aim at, and you could replay it almost forever. PA (Premier Access) is available here, which really helps because lines build up fast in peak season.
It’s my favorite ride for fierce battles with friends, because someone always wants a rematch. My insider tip for a sky-high score: go for the triangles worth 10,000 points and the diamonds worth 5,000 points first, since they’re the ones that really pay off. And here’s a trick few people know: there’s a hidden target just below the Z badge on Zurg’s chest, and it’s worth the maximum in a single shot. Skip it at peak times, when the line gets long and noisy.
Julie’s tip
Best time to go
Based on this ride’s wait time history, updated every day.
Map & getting there
You’ll find Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast at the entrance to Discoveryland, between Orbitron and Star Tours: The Adventures Continue.
Your questions about this ride
01 How can you avoid long lines for the most popular rides?
To skip long lines at Disneyland Paris, I mix several strategies. First, Single Rider is free and really speeds things up on the rides that offer it, including Crush’s Coaster, Flight Force, Ratatouille, and Spider-Man, as long as you don’t mind boarding apart from your group. Next, Disney Premier Access is a paid service that guarantees you priority entry on the headline rides. If you’re staying at a Disney hotel, Extra Magic Time lets you into the park before official opening, and that’s the best time to ride the popular attractions back to back without waiting. Last, heading to the busiest rides during a parade or a big show empties the lines dramatically.
02 Are the wait times posted in the park accurate?
Yes, the wait times shown in the app or on the park’s screens are generally accurate. They’re often equal to or slightly longer than the real wait, which helps you plan your day better.
03 How can I find out if a ride will be under refurbishment during my vacation?
Disneyland Paris posts the list of rides closed for refurbishment on its official website several weeks ahead of time. Since the parks are open year-round, maintenance crews sometimes work on days the park is open, which leads to temporary closures. My tip: check this calendar (or the one on my blog) before you book, especially if there’s one particular ride you really care about.
04 Which rides might scare young kids?
Several rides at Disneyland Paris can be a bit much for young kids, even with no height requirement. Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains, in Fantasyland, has dark scenes with the witch that can catch them off guard. Les Voyages de Pinocchio also has some unsettling moments. La Tanière du Dragon, beneath Sleeping Beauty Castle, is home to a very impressive animatronic dragon. Phantom Manor, in Frontierland, leans into its ghostly mood and stays pretty intense for little ones. Pirates of the Caribbean switches between cheerful scenes and darker ones. I recommend watching how your child reacts before you board.
05 How far ahead does Disneyland Paris announce ride closures?
Disneyland Paris shares its list of ride closures about 2 to 3 months ahead. For major rides, the park lets guests know about planned construction at least two months before it starts. I recommend checking the official calendar (or my dedicated page) a few weeks before your visit, since dates can change. That way you won’t get the nasty surprise of finding out on the spot that your favorite ride is closed for refurbishment.
