Tokyo Disneyland is expanding. Right around the corner is the grand opening of Fantasy Springs! This brand new area in DisneySea will welcome guests to immersive experiences in the worlds of Peter Pan, Frozen, and Tangled. Additions include four new rides, three new restaurants, and a new hotel.
The Writing Was on the Walls
The last time I went to Tokyo Disneyland in October 2023, I noticed that Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters was completely walled off. A friend who worked at the park, building the newest attractions, looked at me with the biggest “know-it-all” smile when I asked her what was happening. All she said was “company secret; can’t tell you.”
Well, today I finally know. Out of left field, the Disney company announced that Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters is being completely reworked from the inside out. It will be re-themed around Wreck-it-Ralph. Fun fact: Sugar Rush is the title of the film in Japan. This new addition to Tomorrowland will bring guests into Queen Vanellope’s candy kingdom. The ride experience should remain the same — an interactive target-shooting attraction. However, since Sugar Rush is a world inside a racing game, expect some new elements rather than just a retexture. The original Buzz Lightyear ride moves at a snail’s pace. Judging from the concept artwork (shown above), we’ll be fighting alongside Ralph and Vanellope in a fight against the infestation of glitches.
Out of This World? Or out of Place?
To some, Sugar Rush might feel like an odd and ill-placed ride for Tomorrowland. It’s the area of Disneyland dedicated to outer space, the distant future, and cyberspace. The only ties Sugar Rush has to this is that it takes place in a video game. Would Fantasyland or Adventureland be a better location? I’m not sure. I’ll be excited to experience my own sugar rush from the renovated candy shop opening with it! I hope they sell Japan’s exclusive flavors of KitKats! We have a huge variety box of them, containing 18 unique flavors. Mandarin Orange KitKats are my personal favorite!
It’s sad to see a classic ride go from Tokyo Disneyland. We didn’t even get a chance for one final fight against the evil emperor Zerg. Still, a new experience is long overdue and makes sense. The Oriental Company — which oversees the Tokyo Disney Resort — said they wanted to create a unique identity for their parks when Disneyland opened in 1983. Creating the first Wreck-it-Ralph attraction in the world is one way to do it.
More to Come!
This isn’t the first touch-up to Tokyo Disneyland’s Tomorrowland, either. Earlier this year, the company announced it would shut down and demolish Space Mountain after July. They will redesign and rebuild the ride from the ground up. Theming is currently unknown, but I’ve been given a small inside tip it will also be something unique to Japan. All this means is it won’t be Star Wars-themed like the one in Paris or Hong Kong. But once again, “company secret; can’t tell you.”
Fantasy Springs is opening in Tokyo Disney Sea on June 6th, this year.
Space Mountain’s final day at Tokyo Disneyland will be July 31st.
Sugar Rush will open in Tokyo Disneyland in 2026.
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