Difference between TSM & Space Ranger Spin?

[JoshuaShaw]

Saying they are basically the same ride is like saying that Space Mountain and Big Thunder are basically the same ride because they are both roller coasters. Do they share aspects? Sure, most theme park rides do. Are they the same? Not at all.

I highly recommend trying out both, but I'd give the edge to Toy Story Mania for how incredibly immersive and addictive it is. Space Ranger Spin is pretty fun, but it's not a must-do for me.

 

[bwang123]

From allears:

Mr. Potato Head stands at the end of the main queue room. This very sophisticated audio-animatronic is able to interact with guests, follow them with his eyes, tell corny jokes, sing, and pick out people in the crowd for special attention. He can even reach up and remove one of his ears!

More time was spent programming Mr. Potato Head than for any other Audio-Animatronics figure ever created by Walt Disney Imagineering.

Mr. Potato Head, voiced by comedian/actor Don Rickles as in the movies, will be able to say more lines of dialogue than any Audio-Animatronics figure ever created by Walt Disney Imagineering.

The Mr. Potato Head Audio-Animatronics figure is the first time that an Audio-Animatronics figure can remove a body part and re-attach it (in the case of his ear).

The Mr. Potato Head Audio-Animatronics figure has new, highly expressive and animated eyes that can look directly at a particular guest in the queue when speaking to him/her.

Mr. Potato Head marks the first Audio-Animatronics figure whose mouth appears to form words and vowel sounds.

and the small world dolls are interactive too because they sing to me.

 

[maxiesmom]

and the small world dolls are interactive too because they sing to me.

The small world dolls don't interact with people. And if you think they are talking to you, I'm very frightened for you!!!

 

[fordpony92]

and the small world dolls are interactive too because they sing to me.

It's your choice to believe anything you want. I just gave you the facts.

 

[bwang123]

The small world dolls don't interact with people. And if you think they are talking to you, I'm very frightened for you!!!

and if you think a pre-recorded animatronic is talking to you... well... same thing.

 

[mesaboy2]

and if you think a pre-recorded animatronic is talking to you... well... same thing.

To be fair, Potato Head has at least some rudimentary ability to "interact" with guests. How often it happens anymore, or at all, is another question. Small World has never had this ability of course, though that may change in the not-too-distant future.

 

[chartle]

To be fair, Potato Head has at least some rudimentary ability to "interact" with guests. How often it happens anymore, or at all, is another question. Small World has never had this ability of course, though that may change in the not-too-distant future.

Yes once the Dark Sith Lord Magic+ makes its presence known.

The dolls will follow you and be your friend just like this guy.

 

[bwang123]

To be fair, Potato Head has at least some rudimentary ability to "interact" with guests. How often it happens anymore, or at all, is another question. Small World has never had this ability of course, though that may change in the not-too-distant future.

i personally thinks its an awesome technology but to say its "interactive" is a stretch. its only interactive in that its so well done people think its talking to them. small world dolls do not become interactive if i think they are telling me that its a small world and i respond by saying "yes, i agree with you, its a small world"

 

[chartle]

To be fair, Potato Head has at least some rudimentary ability to "interact" with guests. How often it happens anymore, or at all, is another question. Small World has never had this ability of course, though that may change in the not-too-distant future.

i personally thinks its an awesome technology but to say its "interactive" is a stretch. its only interactive in that its so well done people think its talking to them. small world dolls do not become interactive if i think they are telling me that its a small world and i respond by saying "yes, i agree with you, its a small world"

The way I understand it is that a CM can control Mr P based on something happening in the queue and do a pre recorded spiel that seems to be just for a certain guest looking right at them. Its just very general in what is said but people being people think its all about them.

So yes it can be interactive. Though most of the time I think its on auto pilot and just does a pre determined set. Which just means everyone gets general "insults" thrown at them.

Also there is some talk of Small World with Magic+ having some sort of interactive scene near the end. No the dolls won't talk to you but something in the ride may.

 

[mesaboy2]

The way I understand it is that a CM can control Mr P based on something happening in the queue and do a pre recorded spiel that seems to be just for a certain guest looking right at them. Its just very general in what is said but people being people think its all about them.

So yes it can be interactive. Though most of the time I think its on auto pilot and just does a pre determined set. Which just means everyone gets general "insults" thrown at them.

Also there is some talk of Small World with Magic+ having some sort of interactive scene near the end. No the dolls won't talk to you but something in the ride may.

Hey, you in the green/red/blue/pink shirt, what're you lookin' at? Haven't you seen a giant talking potato before?

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

Buzz and Toy Story Mania are similar in the ways SM, RnRR, EE are similar.

 

[Lindymagoo]

UPDATE FROM OP:

Ok, we are back. And we were able to ride both rides. Yes, they are different.....but not in a way that I was expecting. When my husband asked me about TSM, I had to tell him it was basically the same as the Buzz Lightyear ride, where you sit and shoot at stuff. He was "ok" with that. (he does not like fast or thrill rides, and being as I have tricked him into getting on some faster rides in the past, he does not trust me entirely when I give him the low down on the rides. (insert evil laugh here......)

That being said, I found both rides enjoyable, although we got to HS too late late in the day to get a FP, and waited an hour to ride it, so that factor may influence my judgement on these rides, but I think I enjoyed the BL ride a bit more than TSM.

Thank you everyone for convincing me to ride both, to see for myself the actual differences in the rides. The DGS(5) loved them both, and seeing him enjoy himself was worth any wait. I will say the TSM queue was more entertaining for the DGS, but that being said, an hour was almost too long to wait for this ride.

Since this was his first trip, and we are now more familiar with the lay of the land, we will definitely plan our days to arrive earlier on our next visit.

We took a very laid back approach to the parks, just doing a few must do's, and avoiding the need to do "everything". It was actually pretty relaxing, and with a 5 year old, we still felt like we did enough.

Thank you again to everyone who responded!