Credit: Inside the MagicWalt Disney World has quietly taken another step toward reshaping Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom, and this time it involves one of the land’s most recognizable visual elements.
A newly filed permit by Walt Disney Imagineering suggests that a familiar icon tied to Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin may soon be removed and replaced, signaling a noticeable shift in how the attraction is presented to guests.
A Permit That Signals Visible Change to Tomorrowland
The permit, filed as a Notice of Commencement, lists Walt Disney Imagineering as the project owner and Design Communications Ltd. as the contractor. The scope of work is described as “install signage” at the address associated with Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin in Tomorrowland.
While the language is brief, this type of filing has historically been used for major exterior signage projects rather than minor updates, making it likely that guests will notice the result immediately.
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin has been closed since August 2025 and is expected to reopen this spring. Disney has already shared that the attraction will feel familiar but meaningfully refreshed, and the timing of this permit lines up with that message. When signage permits appear during long refurbishments, they often point to changes that redefine how an attraction looks from the outside.
What This Could Mean for Tomorrowland
If the permit does refer to the attraction’s main marquee, it would mean the removal of the existing Buzz Lightyear sign that has served as a visual landmark in Tomorrowland for years. That marquee has been part of the land’s identity and a key navigation point for guests. Replacing it would reflect Disney’s broader effort to modernize Tomorrowland without announcing a full-scale overhaul.
In recent years, Disney has steadily updated signage throughout the land. Attractions like Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, the Tomorrowland PeopleMover, and the Carousel of Progress have all received refreshed signage that leans into cleaner lines and a more cohesive visual style. A new Buzz Lightyear marquee would fit squarely within that ongoing transformation.
Disney has not released concept art or confirmed exactly which sign will be replaced, and permits are often filed well ahead of installation. Still, the combination of an extended closure and a signage-focused permit strongly suggests that Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will reopen with a noticeably different exterior presence.
As Tomorrowland continues to evolve at Magic Kingdom, even long-standing visual elements are being reconsidered. Whether subtle or bold, this change points to a Tomorrowland that is steadily moving away from the past and toward a refreshed, unified future.
What do you think of the changes coming to Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments section below!