After 27 years, Walt Disney World Resort is set to close its beloved Buzz Lightyear attraction to undertake big changes.
First opened in Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland in 1998, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin was the first Disney park attraction inspired by Toy Story. While today you can find rides themed to the characters and adventures of the Pixar franchise at multiple Disney parks – including an entire land at the nearby Disney’s Hollywood Studios – the original attraction remains deeply popular with Disney parkgoers.
The attraction itself is a shooting-gallery dark ride in which guests fire laser cannons at illuminated targets to help defeat the evil Emperor Zurg. The four-to-five-minute attraction blends interactive gameplay with classic animatronics and carnival-style shooting (and, as anyone who’s visited with their family can tell you, can get pretty competitive).
Disney Announces Extensive Buzz Lightyear Closure
Despite its popularity, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is set to undergo an extended closure later this summer.
Disney has announced that the attraction will close on August 4 in order to undergo a series of major updates.
This follows news of Disney filing permits earlier this month for the attraction. While its upcoming updates won’t be quite as extreme as those at Tokyo Disneyland – where the attraction permanently closed last year to make way for a Wreck-It Ralph ride – they will apparently see the introduction of a new robot called Buddy.
The character is reportedly a support-bot who will make sure that Space Rangers (AKA guests) are prepared for their upcoming mission, help them perfect their aim, and provide final system checks for their Star Cruisers (AKA their ride vehicles). Buddy was created by Walt Disney Imagineering and Pixar Animation Studios and will apparently play a key role on the Star Command team.
Other additions to the ride include new Star Cruisers equipped with video monitors to provide real-time scoring updates and handheld blasters that make it easier to aim and score during the ride. With new lights and sound effects, it will also apparently be easier to see where your laser is actually pointing.
Disney has yet to announce a specific reopening date for the attraction, but has claimed that it will reopen at some point in 2026.
Other Changes Heading to Disney World
This is just one of many exciting changes coming to Walt Disney World Resort’s original theme park in the coming years.
With Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America closing next month, Disney is set to start work on a Cars Land in Frontierland. Themed to Piston Peak National Park, this will be markedly different from the Cars Land currently found at Disney California Adventure Park. Disney also has plans for a new Disney Villains land around the same area.
Beyond Magic Kingdom, Disney has started work on a Monsters, Inc. land coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, complete with a brand-new roller coaster. After evicting the Muppets from Muppet*Vision 3D to make way for the land, it will also retheme Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster to create a new thrill ride inspired by the beloved puppets.
Meanwhile, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is set to replace DinoLand U.S.A. with Tropical Americas – another new concept inspired by both Indiana Jones and Encanto. Over at the Tree of Life, Disney is also hard at work on a new immersive show themed to Zootopia, taking the place of It’s Tough to Be A Bug!
Are you excited for the updates heading to Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin?
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