Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters - question

[MICKEYFIL]

So I always loved this ride with the kids because the load time was so fast and we never really waited more than 5 or 10 minutes. Now I see that it has a fast pass option which wasn't there when I was down in November 2014. Has the popularity dramatically increased and how exactly are they loading these people in front of the others? Always seemed like a rather narrow entrance in the first place. Did they take back the machines they were using for Star tours or set up new ones?

 

[sherilaine]

Wow - the parks must really be a lot busier - the longest wait time I ever saw for this ride was 15 minutes but we have normally only been there during "off season" times.

 

[Metalliman98]

IDK why they made this a FP attraction (though it's not connected to the rest of the system) but on busy days the existence of FP makes the standby wait time unbearable.

they use one of the star tours machines for buzz. the buzz fast pass goes right into the building and puts you in the main line right before the big.talking buzz, so you avoid all the switchbacks by the entrance to TL and the fairy area.

 

[mich311e]

We went over Thanksgiving and twice we pulled Buzz FPs while in Tomorrowland. There was definitely a wait for the ride and it was nice to have that FP!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

The Star Tours fastpass machines used to be Buzz Lightyear fastpass machines. Buzz had fastpass when it opened. The fastpass machines were re-purposed for Star Tours after they updated that ride and its popularity swelled again. Sometime in the last year for whatever reason, they switched one of the Star Tours fastpass machines back to Buzz. That fastpass is really just a bonus since it's off network and doesn't conflict with other fastpasses meaning you can already be holding a fastpass for another ride or if not can grab one for another ride right after. Many people just grab their Star Tours pass and then their Buzz one immediately after.

I would say, yes, get the fastpass because the combination of the current popularity of Tomorrowland and the existence of fastpass for this ride can push the standby wait time up significantly, especially during crowded times.

There is a separate fastpass entrance for the ride. You get merged into the line by a CM inside the building.

 

[lalasmama]

Re: the FP line vs regular line... The CM will direct you where to go, but, essentially, the standby line will go to the left (like the standby line always has done) and enter the door facing the Star Tours (the left door). The FP line is to the right, and goes through the right door (facing the Little Green Command Store and FP area). Each side goes around their partition, and merges as you go into the area with Buzz.

Yes, the popularity of the ride seems to have buoyed lately, though I have no idea why, other than general crowds swelling and Star Wars drawing more people to Tomorrowland, who need/want something to do while waiting for the time on their FPs for the other rides.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Using the fastpasses worked for us when we went on Buzz a couple of weeks ago. The buzz machine is one that is on the far right as you face the machines with Star Tours to your back and Buzz to your left. When you're inside the area, it's the machine on the far left.

 

[RemainSeatedPlease]

Make sure you're using the right machine, whether you're trying to get FP for Star Tours or Buzz...we had some disappointed people in line in front of us who thought they had pulled Star Tours FPs but they were actually for Buzz. The line for Star Tours was long and there were no more FPs left. They looked like they were about to cry!