Starting tomorrow, a popular Toy Story (1995) attraction at Walt Disney World Resort will indefinitely close its doors for an extensive update. Sunday, August 3, 2025, is the final day to ride Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at Magic Kingdom Park. Here’s what you need to know about the closure and the exciting updates coming to this Tomorrowland ride.
The iconic attraction, which first opened at Magic Kingdom in 1998, is being revamped as part of Walt Disney World Resort’s ongoing efforts to modernize its attractions. As newer Toy Story-themed rides, like Toy Story Mania! and Slinky Dog Dash, debuted at various Disney parks, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin faced increased scrutiny for being outdated. While the attraction remained popular, issues such as malfunctioning animatronics, a dated ride photo, and difficult-to-use laser blasters had many fans calling for an upgrade.
While Tokyo Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland chose to permanently close their versions of the ride, Walt Disney World Resort took a different approach. Instead of shutting down the attraction for good, Disney announced plans to completely overhaul Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin in March. The goal is to create a more modern, interactive experience for guests.
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The new version of the attraction will feature updated vehicles with screens for live score tracking and real-time updates. Each ride vehicle will also include interactive targets and improved handheld blasters, designed to make shooting and tracking easier and more enjoyable.
One of the biggest changes will be the addition of a new scene featuring a robot character named Buddy. Created by Walt Disney Imagineering and Pixar Animation Studios, Buddy will help with safety announcements and provide a tutorial on using the new laser blasters.
The ride will officially close on Monday, August 4, 2025, but it is expected to return in 2026 after the major upgrades are completed. Walt Disney World Resort has not provided an exact reopening date.
For now, visitors have one last chance to experience the original Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin before it closes for its transformation. If you’ve been meaning to ride or want to catch the classic version one last time, be sure to visit the Magic Kingdom before the park closes on Sunday, August 3.
Do any other Disney Park attractions need lengthy updates like this one? Share your thoughts with Disney Dining in the comments!
