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Buzz Lightyear Character Officially Removed From Disney World

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Posted on by Jess Colopy 1 Comment
Tim Allen next to a life-sized Buzz Lightyear statue at Disney Park. The man is smiling and gesturing with his hand while looking at the statue. They are outside, in front of a building with a star-themed banner. Buzz Lightyear, voiced by Tim Allen, is in his green and white space ranger suit at Disney Springs.

Credit: Disney

Overnight, Buzz Lightyear was removed from one of the busiest locations at Walt Disney World Resort. Here’s what we know about the removal and when the Toy Story (1995) icon might return.

Toy Story is one of those Disney-Pixar IPs (intellectual properties) that you’ll find all over Walt Disney World Resort. At Magic Kingdom Park, guests can take a ride on Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, which Walt Disney Imagineers are currently updating to make it more interactive and technically advanced.

And, of course, you can’t miss Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Shrink down to the size of Woody, Buzz, and the gang for a jaunt through Andy’s backyard!

Guests in ponchos in the rain in Toy Story Land at Disney World's Hollywood Studios
Credit: Inside the Magic

For years, Mr. Potato Head and Buzz Lightyear have greeted guests entering Once Upon A Toy, a store in the Marketplace area of Disney Springs. These larger-than-life statues are popular repeat photo-ops for families, marking growth and change during return visits over the years. Unfortunately, countless guests will miss out on their favorite snapshot on upcoming Walt Disney World Resort visits.

This summer, Walt Disney World Resort removed and refurbished the Mr. Potato Head statue, as well as a Cinderella sculpture located just feet away outside the World of Disney. Now, weeks after Mr. Potato Head returned, Buzz Lightyear has gone missing–likely for his own refurbishment project.

Kids playing with lightsabers at Once Upon a Toy
Credit: Disney

On Wednesday, @Attractions shared two photos of the statue’s empty post outside Once Upon A Toy. The images show potted plants surrounding the blue platform that the Tim Allen character usually sits on, and a visible outline where its feet and other supports once connected to the base.

It’s now Buzz Lightyear’s turn for a refurb at @DisneySprings.

 

It took just under two months for Walt Disney World Resort to refurbish Mr. Potato Head, so it could be November before Buzz Lightyear returns to Disney Springs. Hopefully, he’ll be back in time for Toy Story 5 (2026)!

Have you noticed any other changes at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, or Disney Springs? Inside the Magic would love to hear from you in the comments! 

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