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Credit: DisneyDisney has confirmed that a classic Magic Kingdom ride will be getting a big upgrade.
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Disney has exciting plans for the Walt Disney World Resort, with several expansions, overhauls, and renovations starting in 2025. This includes a big new update to Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, with Disney recently announcing the classic arcade-style attraction will be closing for an extensive refurbishment later this year.
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin has been a popular part of the Magic Kingdom since it opened, replacing an attraction named Disney’s Take Flight in 1998. The ride’s track, layout, and vehicles were reused but given a Buzz Lightyear makeover, falling in line with Toy Story 2, which would be released just a year later, in 1999.
In the decades since, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin has remained one of the most consistently popular rides, not just at Magic Kingdom but also at Walt Disney World, though there’s no denying that it has been in desperate need of some upgrades.
Disney Confirms Big Update to Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
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Disney confirmed this morning that it will be giving Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger a major overhaul. This renovation includes the addition of a new show scene, updated ride vehicles, and enhancements to the way the attraction’s gameplay works.
The new show scene will mark the debut of Buddy, a new animatronic created by Walt Disney Imagineering and Pixar. This support robot ensures guests are prepared for their mission, making it sound like Buddy will be one of the first things riders see on the attraction.
In addition to this new animatronic, the ride vehicles for Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will receive upgrades. These enhanced vehicles will receive a new design inspired by Buzz Lightyear’s own colors, as well as new video monitors that provide more detailed information regarding riders’ scores.
Perhaps the most exciting and requested part of the entire update is the arrival of handheld blasters. Since opening, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin has utilized stationary blasters, meaning guests not only have to aim but are also required to turn their vehicles if they want to hit specific targets. This is not how it works in places like Disneyland, where guests are able to simply pick up their blaster and aim it freely.
After decades of criticism, this system will be coming to Magic Kingdom’s version of the ride, hopefully making the experience easier and more intuitive. These new blasters will feature “always-on” laser effects and will come in two different colors, making it easier to track where guests are shooting.
Additionally, the targets scattered throughout the attraction will be upgraded with technology that will allow them to light up when hit.
Disney Imagineers recently participated in a playtest of these new targets and blasters.
“Everyone had a great time, and our team learned a lot,” said project creative director Justin DeTolla. “We’ve been working on this project for quite some time now, so it was exciting to see it all come to life for the first time in the field.”
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will close this August and will reopen sometime in 2026.
Are you excited about these updates?