Credit: Martin Lewison, FlickrToy Story Land has become one of the busiest corners of Disney’s Hollywood Studios since opening in 2018. Now, eight years later, Disney appears to be preparing something significant for one of the land’s original attractions.
Walt Disney Imagineering has filed another permit connected to Alien Swirling Saucers, giving us a second sign that changes could be on the way. Disney hasn’t announced exactly what it plans to do, but the combination of permits suggests this may go beyond routine maintenance.
And depending on the scope of the project, guests could eventually face something else: a significant and potentially extended closure of the popular ride.
Disney Files Another Permit for Alien Swirling Saucers
The latest development involves a new Notice of Commencement filed by Walt Disney Imagineering for Alien Swirling Saucers.
According to the filing, the work covers signage installation, with Design Communications Ltd. listed as the contractor. The company has previously worked with Imagineering on signage projects throughout Walt Disney World.
On its own, a signage permit wouldn’t necessarily point toward a major overhaul. Disney regularly updates signs, props, buildings, and other details throughout its parks without closing attractions for long periods.
However, this isn’t the only permit connected to Alien Swirling Saucers.
Imagineering previously filed another permit involving Icarus Exhibits for set element installation. That means Disney currently has two active permits tied to the attraction: one involving signage and another involving new set elements.
Taken together, those projects make this situation much more interesting.
Related: After 8 Years, Disney Confirms Removal at Iconic ‘Toy Story’ Ride
Alien Swirling Saucers Could Be Getting a Bigger Refresh
Disney has not announced any changes to Alien Swirling Saucers, so it’s important not to get too far ahead of what we actually know.
Still, new signage combined with set element installation sounds more substantial than ordinary overnight maintenance.
Alien Swirling Saucers opened alongside Toy Story Land in June 2018. The attraction places guests inside colorful rocket-shaped vehicles as the Little Green Men whip them around the floor while electronic versions of familiar songs play overhead.
While Slinky Dog Dash quickly became Toy Story Land’s headline attraction, Alien Swirling Saucers has remained an important part of the area, especially for families with younger children.
Eight years of continuous operation also means the ride has reached a point where a larger refurbishment wouldn’t be particularly surprising.
Disney routinely closes attractions as they age to refresh sets, replace components, update technology, repaint areas, and perform work that can’t happen during normal overnight maintenance windows.
The big question is whether Disney plans to keep Alien Swirling Saucers running while this work happens.
Could an Extended Closure Be Coming?
At this point, Disney has not announced a closure for Alien Swirling Saucers.
That distinction matters. Permits don’t automatically mean an attraction is about to shut down, and Disney could potentially complete at least some of this work without disrupting normal operations.
However, the possibility of a closure becomes harder to dismiss when multiple projects begin appearing for the same attraction.
If Disney is installing new set pieces and changing signage as part of a broader refresh, crews may eventually need unrestricted access to areas around the attraction. Depending on what exactly Imagineering has planned, Disney could decide that temporarily closing the ride is the easiest way to complete the work.
A short refurbishment lasting several days or weeks would be one possibility. A more ambitious overhaul could require considerably more time.
There simply isn’t enough information yet to determine which direction Disney will take.
Still, guests planning upcoming Disney World vacations should keep an eye on Alien Swirling Saucers. If these permits are the beginning of a larger project, Disney could eventually add the attraction to its refurbishment calendar.
The Timing Is Particularly Interesting
There’s another reason these permits stand out.
Toy Story 5 (2026) arrived in theaters on June 19, bringing renewed attention to Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, and the rest of the franchise. Refreshing the attraction while interest in Toy Story remains high would certainly make sense, although there’s currently no confirmation connecting the movie to the work.
Disney has a long history of updating its theme parks alongside newer movies, characters, and stories. That doesn’t necessarily mean Alien Swirling Saucers will receive a Toy Story 5 (2026) tie-in, but the timing leaves that possibility open.
New set elements could mean updated characters or scenery. New signage could accompany a visual refresh or something more ambitious.
For now, though, anything beyond the permits remains speculation.
A Closure Would Have a Bigger Impact Than It Seems
Losing Alien Swirling Saucers temporarily might not sound as disruptive as closing Slinky Dog Dash, but Toy Story Land doesn’t have a huge attraction lineup.
The land currently relies heavily on Slinky Dog Dash, Toy Story Mania!, and Alien Swirling Saucers to absorb guests. Taking one attraction offline would leave visitors with fewer options and could push additional demand toward the other rides.
That could become particularly noticeable during busy travel periods.
Alien Swirling Saucers also serves a different audience than some of Disney’s larger thrill rides. For families, it’s another approachable attraction that helps round out a day at Hollywood Studios.
An extended refurbishment would therefore create a noticeable hole in Toy Story Land until the ride returns.
Eight Years Later, Changes Appear To Be Coming
For now, Alien Swirling Saucers continues operating, and Disney hasn’t provided a refurbishment schedule or announced an official overhaul.
But two active permits make the attraction worth watching.
Imagineering is preparing work involving both signage and set elements, which suggests Disney has more planned than a simple maintenance visit. Exactly how extensive those changes become—and whether they’ll require Alien Swirling Saucers to close—remains unknown.
After eight years of spinning guests around Toy Story Land, however, one of the area’s original attractions appears to be heading toward its first potentially substantial refresh.
If Disney ultimately needs to take the ride offline to complete that work, guests could be looking at more than a quick touch-up. A significant closure remains only a possibility for now, but the latest permits suggest bigger changes may be taking shape at Alien Swirling Saucers.
