Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom is finally receiving much-needed attention, starting with a painting project that Disney abandoned midway through 2023. The iconic rocks at the entrance and along the pathways have remained unfinished for over two years, with some looking vibrant and others faded. Recently, painters returned to complete the project.
Initially, the rocks at the entrance bridge were repainted with a fresh blue-gray finish, but the rest remained dull, creating a mismatched visual throughout the land.
Painters Are Finally Back at Disney World
After nearly three years, work has resumed. 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 should look like. Nearby rocket structure supports were wrapped in plastic for protection, indicating this is serious work rather than quick touch-ups.
The timing likely connects to the drained Magic Kingdom moat, which was emptied to make repainting Cinderella Castle easier. With less water around Tomorrowland, crews have better access to the rocks and improved painting conditions. It’s practical coordination that should have happened in 2023, but at least it’s happening now.
These rocks were last fully repainted in 2016 when they got their blue-gray color. Before that, they were red-brown, a shade that’s started showing through as paint fades over time.
Buzz Lightyear Gets Massive Disney Overhaul
While rock painting addresses exterior appearance, bigger changes are happening inside Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. The attraction is closed for extensive work that goes way beyond normal maintenance. Disney completely removed the historic entrance marquee and is rebuilding the entire entrance from scratch, including digging into the pavement to install new infrastructure.
For longtime fans, watching that marquee disappear hit hard. It wasn’t temporarily removed for cleaning—it’s gone permanently. Construction crews are building something entirely new, and it represents another piece of classic Tomorrowland disappearing.
But the changes inside should make the attraction significantly better. Disney is addressing years of complaints about outdated technology and frustrating gameplay.
Major Technology Upgrades for Disney
A new opening scene introduces Buddy, a support-bot character who prepares Space Rangers for missions. It’s the first significant storyline update the attraction has received in years, showing Disney is reworking the experience rather than just maintaining it.
The classic “Z” targets are getting upgraded technology that makes them react and light up when hit. This fixes a major frustration where guests couldn’t tell if they were hitting anything. Immediate visual feedback makes the competitive gameplay much more satisfying.
Ride vehicles are getting updated designs inspired by Buzz Lightyear and Star Command colors. More importantly, they’ll have video monitors showing real-time scoring updates, something guests have wanted for years because it makes competition clearer and keeps riders engaged.
Handheld Blasters Are Game-Changers for Disney World
The biggest upgrade is switching to handheld blasters. For years, guests dealt with mounted blasters that didn’t aim properly and felt awkward, especially for kids. New handheld blasters offer better aim with always-on lasers, two colors per vehicle, and lighting, sound, and vibration effects that help players know where they’re aiming.
Combined with reactive targets and real-time scoring, these changes transform Space Ranger Spin from frustrating guesswork into actual engaging gameplay. It’s a major leap that could make the attraction feel competitive again compared to newer interactive rides.
Why This Matters
These improvements show Disney hasn’t completely abandoned Tomorrowland even though the land has suffered inconsistent theming and deferred maintenance for years. Finishing the rock painting and upgrading Buzz Lightyear won’t solve all problems, but they represent real investment in an area desperately needing attention.
Tomorrowland has always been Magic Kingdom’s most problematic land. The “future” keeps changing, making consistent theming difficult. What felt cutting-edge decades ago looks dated now, and Disney has struggled with updates without complete rebuilding.
The current approach modernizes attractions with better technology while maintaining enough existing aesthetic to avoid wholesale demolition. It’s not the bold reimagining some fans want, but it’s more attention than Tomorrowland has received recently.
The Disney Nostalgia Factor
There’s legitimate nostalgia for classic Tomorrowland elements, and losing the Buzz Lightyear marquee stings for longtime visitors. But nostalgia can’t be the only consideration when attractions genuinely need updating. Space Ranger Spin has operated with technology that frustrated guests and made experiences less enjoyable than they should be.
The same applies to rock painting. Yes, abandoning the project for 2 1/2 years was embarrassing. But finishing it now beats leaving Tomorrowland looking half-done indefinitely.
What’s Next
Disney hasn’t announced when Buzz Lightyear reopens or what the new entrance looks like. Based on construction progress, the project is moving quickly, but major refurbishments typically take months.
When it reopens, expect a noticeably different experience. New technology, handheld blasters, and updated vehicles will make Space Ranger Spin feel almost new, especially for guests who haven’t ridden recently.
Combined with completed rock painting and ongoing castle work, Tomorrowland is finally getting needed maintenance and updates. After 2 1/2 years of waiting, the land is getting attention it desperately needed.
