Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Also known as Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters, this attraction at Disney World and Disneyland takes place on the tiny scale of the Toy Story hero. You pilot an Omnimover space vehicle equipped with laser pistols in an arcade-style shooting gallery showdown. Dripping in neon and nostalgia, it’s a love letter to Pixar fans.
Space Mountain
Chief among Tomorrowland’s highlights is the venerable Space Mountain, an institution of a roller coaster. The lines are often gargantuan, but you’re treated to space-age decor that only Disney can deliver. It’s a ride so fun you almost don’t mind the wait. Most people exit its sleek steel tubes reborn with a brighter smile and hope for the future.
Star Tours (and more!)
Disney and Star Wars have long had an amiable relationship, but now that Disney owns the franchise outright, you can expect a much larger Star Wars presence at their parks coinciding with the sequels. Until then, there’s always the delightfully quaint motion simulator ride Star Tours.
Indiana Jones Adventure
You’ve always wanted to blast through dangerous caves on an expedition with Indy, and this ride at Disneyland finally lets you fulfill that dream. You’re even treated to an iconic boulder chase. If you want to hang onto your memories, Indiana Jones artist Drew Struzan sells prints of the original ride poster featured above.
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Disneyland’s sister park California Adventure offers up a Rod Serling-inspired surprise for guests willing to explore this haunted hotel. If you’ve got the stomach for a 13-story drop, you don’t want to miss this weird and wonderful homage.
Spaceship Earth
If you’re the kind of person who gets a kick out of browsing through vintage issues of Popular Mechanics, then Spaceship Earth will be your retro-future kitsch metropolis. Housed inside Epcot’s trademark sphere, Spaceship Earth is a waltz down a memory lane of human technological dreams and accomplishments.
Mission: SPACE
Despite its utopian space-age vibe, Disney’s Mission: Space (located in Epcot Park) puts you through a very real physical gauntlet in this astronaut training simulation. Finally you can experience the g-force of liftoff in the pit of your own stomach.
The Incredible Hulk Roller Coaster
The fabled Marvel Superheroes Theme Park has yet to open in Dubai, but Islands of Adventure in Florida has a healthy array of comic book coasters, including this one featuring The Incredible Hulk. After hurtling through its launched lift hill, your face might turn a shade of green too.
Transformers: The Ride
Frequently cited as one of the best theme park attractions in the world, Transformers: The Ride is a thrilling combo of a 3D cinematic experience and a traditional vehicle-mounted expedition. You can find it at Universal Studios Hollywood and Florida, but unfortunately, Tyrese Gibson is not included.
Jurassic Park: The Ride
The upcoming release of Jurassic World already has reignited Jurassic Park fever, and the only prescription is more dinosaurs. Get yourself over to Universal Studios Hollywood for a boat ride through a vicious velociraptor picnic.
Clarence’s Coaster from True Romance
Quentin Tarantino’s first screenplay remains his most charming and sincere film. If you’ve got a soft spot for Clarence, a fellow comic book shop geek, you’ll want to catch The Viper at Six Flags Magic Mountain to recreate his infamous drug deal with Bronson Pinchot.
Batman: The Ride
Batman may hide out in a cave, but that hasn’t stopped him from showing up at more than a half-dozen theme parks across the country, like this breackneck coaster ride at Six Flags Over Texas. You can even ride the whole thing backwards this year at Six Flags Over Georgia and Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey!
Battlestar Galactica: Human vs Cyborg
If you’re willing to travel, you can find decent geek-culture-inspired rides overseas, like this Battlestar Galactica set of dueling roller coasters at Universal Studios Singapore. Because of intentional near-misses that are mere inches apart, the ride has been under an extended safety review. But if you’re brave enough to hack it, it’s scheduled to reopen this year.
Back to the Future: The Ride
It used to be a staple at Universal Studios in Hollywood and Florida, but now that those attractions have shut down, Universal Studios Japan is the only place to find this Delorean simulator that hurtles you back through time to the prehistoric age. Great Scott!
Ace Attorney Investigations
Diligent travelers can find a special treat hiding on the third floor of Sega’s Tokyo amusement park, Joypolis. A life-size Miles Edgeworth from Phoenix Wright fame invites guests to investigate clues strewn about a crime scene. Expect cameos by fan favorites across the classic adventure series.
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