Guests only have a few more days left to say goodbye to a popular Disney attraction.
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The Disney theme parks are famous for their ever-expanding selection of attractions, ranging from adrenaline-pumping thrill rides like The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror to classic dark rides like Pirates of the Caribbean. However, Disney is no stranger to closing experiences at its theme parks, with the company set to lose one of its most popular family-friendly experiences in Japan.
Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters will permanently close at the Tokyo Disney Resort on October 31, 2024. This closure was confirmed earlier this year, sending a shock throughout the Disney parks community.
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What’s Next?
Tokyo Disney offers guests the chance to experience all kinds of classic Disney rides as well as some of Disney’s most impressive and imaginative attractions. Rides like Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast and Journey to the Center of the Earth have consistently impressed guests since opening, with several exciting new adventures now on the horizon.
Soon, Tokyo’s Buzz Lightyear attraction will receive a Wreck-It-Ralph makeover. The new Wreck-It-Ralph attraction will still be an interactive dark ride just like Astro Blasters, only this time guests will find themselves in the world of Sugar Rush.
In this new story, Wreck-It-Ralph villain King Candy creates “Sugar Bugs” that attack riders, meaning guests will need to work with Ralph and Vanellope to take them out.
The Tokyo Disney Resort hosted a farewell event for Astro Blasters ahead of its eventual closing date of October 31 to commemorate the attractions. This event began earlier this July and lasts until the end of October when Astro Blasters will officially wrap up its final mission.
Guests can find versions of Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters worldwide, with locations at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris.
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What Else Is Happening in Tokyo?
Astro Blasters is not the only attraction to close forever at Tokyo Disney, with the resort’s version of a Disney classic, Space Mountain, closing permanently earlier this year. The iconic coaster had been in operation since 1983, making it one of the resort’s old attractions.
Because of its age, the Tokyo Disney Resort opted to close the attraction. However, Space Mountain is far from gone, with Tokyo now in the process of completely redesigning and rebuilding the coaster from the ground up.
The Oriental Land Company, the organization that owns and operates the Tokyo Disney Resort, confirmed this closure late last year, revealing a completely new look for one of Disney’s most recognizable attractions. Concept art (shown above) reveals a bold new vision for Space Mountain, complete with new futuristic spires and an entry area.
Tokyo’s Space Mountain project is a part of the resort’s rehabilitation of its Tomorrowland area, with the entire project expected to be completed in 2027.
What’s your favorite Disney thrill ride?