TSMM vs Buzz Light Year

[sbeets]

What's the difference in the rides? I've done Buzz but never TSMM. I am thinking my teens would prefer a fast pass to RNRC.

 

[SA mom]

I agree that teens would prefer RNRC. TSMM is a wonderful ride, and it is a tough choice for us. But we just love that roller coaster.

To answer your question, TSMM is set up like carnival games. Similar ride vehicle as Buzz, but tons cuter, better themed, and more fun to play. You can probably find some great videos on wdwinfo.com to give you a better idea.

 

[BlackMagicWoman]

Buzz Lightyear is to TSMM what flip phones are to smart phones.

TSMM is much more advanced version of something that is conceptually the same.

 

[Capang]

TSMM uses 3D glasses to do the carnival game shooting. It is a fun ride, even for teenagers.

 

[DisTXMom]

TSMM is a great virtual midway ride with lots of carnival games such as ball throw, ring toss, etc. We think it's a lot more fun than Buzz. Does the line for RNR get that long consistently all day? I'd have said to get TSMM FP+ because the line is always atrocious and to have them ride standby for RNR as early in the day as possible.

 

[wdwjeffc37]

Toy Story Midway Mania is a great and fun ride. It is the most popular ride at DHS and maybe in all of WDW. While similar to Buzz it has its own attributes that make it a stand out attraction. It is always a must do for us and now with FP+ we can be guaranteed a ride no matter what time we are planning to get to DHS. Rock-n-Roller Coaster is also on our list of must dos, but we usually don't get a FP+ for it. We check the wait times and go when it is low and/or use the single rider line. The wait for the RnRC fluctuates during the day, but TSMM almost always has an hours long wait.With FP+ and the single rider line at RnRC you should be able to do both of these with relatively little problems. Cheers!!!!

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

TSMM is SOOOOO much better than Buzz! I'd definitely get a FP for it, even for teens. The lines there are always incredibly long. You can use the single rider line at RnRC!

 

[Marbel]

We rode RnR at rope drop twice in standby and used FP for TSMM. My kids (2 teens, 2 preteens) initially grumbled at my description of TSMM, thinking they wouldn't enjoy it but ended up LOVING it. Too bad it was the only chance we got to ride it. After TSMM, Buzz was a buzz kill.

 

[PantherPete]

TSMM is far more unique than RnRC. RnRC is a dime a dozen ride that has a great theme. Almost every amusement park in the world has a roller coaster that is just as good. TSMM is a video game and a ride in 3D (4D if you include the wind and water). While many amusement parks have a Buzz Lightyear type ride these days, very few have anything like TSMM.

 

[loves to dive]

I find TSMM is little easier to score on, I don't know if it's my eyesight or what but on Buzz it's hard to tell really what you are aiming at and even if you are hitting something. RnRC is probably the fastest roller coaster at Disney so if your kids like roller coasters that is going to be the one they want to ride but as everyone has mentioned, if you get there at rope drop and hop in line you should be able to knock that out and get on TSMM with your FP+. If your kids are into gaming they would enjoy TSMM, my grown son loves it. Frankly for me, I could skip both and be perfectly happy. I love roller coasters but there is something about RnRC that pulls my neck bad (I think it's because I'm so short so my head has no support and it really bounces me around) and I get a little motion sick on it, which doesn't happen on any other roller coaster so I skip it now. If I'm not with my DS, I also skip TSMM, I'm not really into midway games or video games, it's fun and I enjoy it when I do it with him but it's not a must do for me.

 

[Tex]

My teens love both Tsmm and Rnrc. We get a FP+ for TSMM. RnR can sometimes get a short line where TSMM line never gets short. We were there last week and kept checking wait times and once when we got of tower of terror the line was only 35 min. We went right over and got in line. The wait ended up being 40 minutes. The line for TSMM was never less than 60minutes. We didn't do rope drop at that park, we were only there mid day for a few hours.

 

[Ismo]

My nephew loves both, but prefers TSMM over RnR. TSMM is a little longer and a TON of fun. RnR is awesome, but over so quickly. They're both great and you should try to get on both. We always RD RnR and FP+ TSMM. A lot of times we can ride RnR multiple times.

 

[elgerber]

My husband and my young adult children both prefer to get a FP+ for TSMM. We all love it! We do RNR first thing, and use the FP+ for TSMM, because the line grows faster for that ride.

 

[Overexcited]

Just a thought, Fastpass TSMM and do the single rider line for RNR.

 

[sbeets]

Thanks for the great advice. The kids have done RRC many times but never TSMM so I'll fast pass that, and have patience with the coaster line.

 

[Meriweather]

TSMM is so much better. I can tell where I am aiming and actually hit things.
Buzz is just a red light and I can't tell where it is for mine, so when the family makes me ride it, I just shoot and move the laser around hoping to hit something

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Another alternative is to wait until later in the day to ride Midway Mania. We've had pretty good luck riding up to 4 times in the hour before close. The line seems to be the shortest when Fantasmic is underway at the amphitheater. Just keep in mind that the posted wait time is often greatly exaggerated at night.

 

[sbeets]

my problem is we've never seen Fantasmic, always been rained out so this year we're trying again with the dining package. And we're doing late night EMH so my preschooler can go to the dance party. I've debated whether or not that's worth it, but she's a night owl and I'd hate for her to miss seeing all those characters. She's all about disney jr so this is her day with Hollywood and Vine, Disney Jr during the day, dance party at night, and how ever many characters we can see. She'd push Elsa and Anna over to see Jake or the Little Einsteins.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

There is no either or. Different parks, different rides. Yes to both. One advantage to a TSMM FP is that it's all ages, so much harder to get on than RnRc with a minimum height. Also 90% of the time, RnRc has a single rider line which allows us to get both, as long as they offer it. My 39 honey LOVES TSMM. We ride RnRc alot because its easier to get a FP for and can be single rode. He will let me know when he starts requiring some TSMM tho. It's just a big time winner. The only things similar about Buzz and TSMM are vastly different Toy Story themes and you have a target to shoot. That's where the similarities end..m

 

[summerw]

my problem is we've never seen Fantasmic, always been rained out so this year we're trying again with the dining package. And we're doing late night EMH so my preschooler can go to the dance party. I've debated whether or not that's worth it, but she's a night owl and I'd hate for her to miss seeing all those characters. She's all about disney jr so this is her day with Hollywood and Vine, Disney Jr during the day, dance party at night, and how ever many characters we can see. She'd push Elsa and Anna over to see Jake or the Little Einsteins.

Send the teens on single rider RnR while you're at the dance party and they should be able to ride a couple of times. TSMM will be a lot of fun for the whole family.

Also, just my two cents on the dance party… it's literally a dance party, loud and kinda dark, crowded so that it's tricky to get any pictures of your kid dancing with anyone, assuming she's forward enough to go dance with them. When I took DS3, it took him a while to warm up to feel comfortable being assertive enough to get close to a character and then it was so tricky to get a shot without some older kids standing in front of me. And I think only Annie from LE will be at the party now (http://www.kennythepirate.com/2013/04/16/disney-jr-dance-party-at-hollywood-studios/)
DS loved it, but I just thought I'd mention it because I'd had a slightly different impression of it before we went.