Credit: Christian Lambert, UnsplashTomorrowland at Magic Kingdom has been crying out for attention for years, and Disney is finally answering the call. After two and a half years of visible neglect, the land that’s supposed to represent the future has looked increasingly shabby with faded paint, outdated attractions, and an overall aesthetic that screams “the future was 1994.” But recent activity suggests Disney has finally decided to give this corner of the park the care it deserves, starting with finishing a painting project that stalled way back in 2023 and continuing with a major refresh of Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin that brings the attraction into the modern era.
The most visible sign of Tomorrowland’s renaissance is happening right now with the long-overdue repainting of the iconic rocks that frame the land’s entrance and line its pathways. These sculptural elements are supposed to evoke a futuristic aesthetic, but for the past two and a half years they’ve mostly evoked the question “why hasn’t Disney finished painting these?” Now, finally, painters are back at work completing what should have been done in 2023.
The Disney Rock Painting Saga
Back in 2023, Disney started repainting Tomorrowland’s distinctive fake rocks, giving them a shiny blue-gray finish that looked fresh and appropriately futuristic. The rocks at the entrance framing the bridge into the land got the full treatment and looked great. Then Disney just stopped. The other rocks lining Tomorrowland remained their dull, faded gray as the paint continued wearing off, creating an awkward visual disconnect where some rocks looked vibrant while others looked like they’d been abandoned mid-project.
Almost three years later, progress is finally happening. Painters were spotted among the rocks on the north side of Tomorrowland near Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe, consulting reference images showing what the rocks are supposed to look like. The supports of nearby rocket-like structures had been wrapped in plastic for protection, suggesting this is a serious painting effort rather than just a few spot touch-ups.
The timing makes sense given that Magic Kingdom’s moat has been drained to facilitate repainting Cinderella Castle. With less water around Tomorrowland, crews have easier access to the rocks and better conditions for painting. It’s the kind of practical coordination that should have happened years ago but at least it’s happening now.
The rocks were previously repainted in 2016 when they received their blue-gray color scheme. Before that, they were a natural red-brown shade that’s started showing through as paint fades, creating an unintentional geological history lesson in Tomorrowland’s various color eras.
Buzz Lightyear Gets a Complete Overhaul
While the rock painting addresses Tomorrowland’s exterior, much bigger changes are underway inside Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. The attraction is currently closed for an extensive refresh that goes far beyond simple maintenance. Disney is rebuilding the entrance from the ground up, including completely removing the historic marquee that stood at the attraction for years.
For longtime Tomorrowland fans, watching that marquee come down hit differently than typical refurbishment work. This wasn’t Disney temporarily removing signage for cleaning. The marquee is gone, period, and construction crews have been digging into the pavement in front of the attraction to install completely new infrastructure. It’s a noticeable shift in Tomorrowland’s visual identity, and another example of how the land keeps losing elements of its classic look.
But what Disney is building to replace it should make the attraction significantly better. The refresh includes substantial upgrades addressing longstanding complaints about Space Ranger Spin’s dated technology and frustrating gameplay.
The Technology Updates at Disney
A new opening scene introduces Buddy, a support-bot character who helps prepare Space Rangers for their mission. This marks a significant storyline refresh, indicating a reworking of the ride’s flow. The classic “Z” targets will be upgraded with technology that provides visual feedback when hit, enhancing gameplay satisfaction.
Additionally, the ride vehicles will have updated designs inspired by Buzz Lightyear, featuring video monitors for real-time scoring updates, a change guests have long desired to keep them engaged in the competition.
Handheld Blasters Change Everything
The biggest upgrade is the switch to handheld blasters. For years, guests have dealt with mounted blasters that don’t aim properly and feel awkward, especially for children. The new handheld blasters offer better aim and improved gameplay, featuring always-on lasers, two different colors per star cruiser, and new lighting, sound, and vibration effects helping players know where they’re aiming.
This represents a major leap forward for Space Ranger Spin and could make the attraction feel competitive again compared to newer interactive rides at Disney and Universal. The combination of reactive targets, real-time scoring, and handheld blasters with feedback transforms the experience from frustrating guesswork into actual engaging gameplay.
What This Means for Tomorrowland at Disney
These improvements signal Disney hasn’t completely given up on Tomorrowland, even though the land has suffered from inconsistent theming and deferred maintenance for years. The rock painting completion and Buzz Lightyear refresh won’t solve all of Tomorrowland’s problems, but they represent tangible investment in an area that desperately needs it.
Tomorrowland has always been Magic Kingdom’s most problematic land from a theming perspective. The “future” keeps changing, making it hard to maintain a consistent vision. What felt cutting-edge in 1975 or 1994 looks dated now, and Disney has struggled to update the land without completely rebuilding it.
The current approach seems to be modernizing attractions with better technology while maintaining enough of the existing aesthetic to avoid wholesale demolition. It’s not the bold reimagining some fans want, but it’s more attention than Tomorrowland has received in recent years.
The Emotional Component
There’s legitimate nostalgia for Tomorrowland’s classic elements, and watching the Buzz Lightyear marquee get demolished stings for guests who’ve been visiting Magic Kingdom for decades. That marquee was a photo spot, a landmark, a “we’re in Tomorrowland” moment that’s now part of history.
But nostalgia can’t be the only consideration when attractions genuinely need updating. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin has been operating with outdated technology that frustrated guests and made the experience less enjoyable than it should be. If Disney has to remove a historic marquee to properly modernize the attraction, that’s probably the right call even if it feels sad.
The same logic applies to the rock painting. Yes, it’s embarrassing that Disney left the project unfinished for two and a half years. But finishing it now is better than leaving Tomorrowland looking half-painted indefinitely.
Looking Forward at Disney
Disney hasn’t announced when Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will reopen or what the new entrance marquee will look like. Based on the construction progress, the project is moving quickly, but major refurbishments like this typically take months.
When the attraction does reopen, guests should expect a noticeably different experience. The new technology, handheld blasters, and updated vehicles will make Space Ranger Spin feel almost like a new attraction, especially for guests who haven’t ridden in years.
Combined with the completed rock painting and ongoing Cinderella Castle refresh, Tomorrowland is finally getting the maintenance and updates it’s needed for years. It’s not a complete land transformation, but it’s real progress for an area of Magic Kingdom that’s been neglected for far too long.
After two and a half years of waiting, Tomorrowland is finally getting some love. It’s about time.