Disney World has made the announcement that the Tomorrowland drive to Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will be reimagined. This article covers details of the upgrades, timeframe for the closing &, reopening, along with remark about why we expect this to become the best Buzz blast journey, our wish list for improvements to the obsolete appeal, and more. This information is not entirely out of the box. As you might remember, Walt Disney World filed a building permit for drive improvements to Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin late last month. That force listed Maddox Electric Company, Inc. as the company and described the scope of work as just “install projectors”. Before the dramatic battle sequence in the grand finale, which sounded like it was straight out of the 1990s ( because it was ), we had a theory about how to revise the Zurg wind tunnel. It turned out that was right. The scene now looks better because the projector were replaced earlier this year as part of a nighttime job. It’s a big difference, but as we also pointed out therefore, there are about another few places of Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin that need changes. We had hoped that was the first move in a multi-phase venture to upgrade the interest. Our hope is about to come true, I suppose. Here’s the formal statement from Walt Disney World: Calling all Space Rangers! Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will soon receive interesting new features in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. This includes a new show field, updated drive cars, and play improvements. Here’s what you can hope from this memorable Tomorrowland interest next year. Brand New SceneGuests will now be greeted by an all-new figure as their trip begins! This friendly machine — aptly named” Buddy” — was created by Walt Disney Imagineering and Pixar Animation Studios to play a vital role on the Star Command staff. As a support-bot, Buddy eagerly assures departing Space Rangers of their vision, as well as performing last structure checks on their Star Cruisers, and perfecting their cannon purpose. This will be a great time for guests to check out some of the new, interactive target features before blasting off to defeat the Evil Emperor Zurg and save the galaxy. New Ride VehiclesBuzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will also receive a face lift to its star cruiser ride vehicles with a new design inspired by the colors of Buzz Lightyear and Star Command. Additionally, each enhanced ride vehicle will now have video monitors that update the score and other exciting features in real-time. Handheld BlastersEach ride vehicle will now include handheld blasters for better aim, helping guests to score even more points. These brand-new blasters will be ideal for our younger riders because they will be able to take more of the experience. If you’ve ever wondered where you’re aiming ( don’t worry, you’re not alone ), these enhanced blasters will now include an always-on laser and come in two different colors per star cruiser, in addition to new lighting, sound and vibration effects, so players know where they’re aiming throughout the mission. Interactive TargetsThe static Z targets found in the attraction today will be upgraded with new technology that will allow them to react and light up when hit. Additionally, it opens the door to a few other creative concepts from Imagineers. Work on these updates recently passed an important milestone, as other Imagineers were invited to participate in a playtest of the new targets, blasters and gameplay ideas. Playtests are an important component of the design process because they allow the project team to test different variations of a concept in a real-world setting and gain valuable insights into which concepts work best and how the experience can be improved. It’s all part of delivering an out-of-this-world experience for our guests. ” Everyone had a great time, and our team learned a lot”, project creative director Justin DeTolla said. It’s been exciting to see this project come to life for the first time in the field because we’ve been working on it for a while. Our CommentaryI recently had the chance to participate in a test of the new handheld blasters and interactive targets, and talk briefly with Imagineers working on the Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin reimagining project. There will be red and green blasters with matching aiming, and the targets will light up red or green when hit, as you can see from the photo above, which demonstrates my no-look aiming abilities. It was nice to have the blaster in hand, see the new laser aiming and targeting system, and feel the feedback. It’s pretty much exactly what you’d expect, which is a modernized version of Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin that greatly improves the gameplay component of the attraction. Shooting is more enjoyable and less of a guessing game. This should be a win for guests of all ages and skill levels. It will improve the user experience and ease of gameplay, which is great for less tech-savvy visitors or non-gamers. It should also scale better, as the gamers in the group are able to attain higher scores and experience a more challenging and competitive attraction than its predecessor, which was way too easy to max out at 999, 999 points. At the same time, it almost certainly won’t be as dynamic or fast-paced as Toy Story Mania or more screen-centric shooters. They are simple to pick up, but challenging to master. They’re also more collaborative in nature in the sense that reaching the leaderboard requires everyone in your ride vehicle being good and working together to unlock higher-scoring targets. The single-player gamified rides are more straightforward than the Buzz Lightyear rides. If you’ve ridden any of the subsequent iterations of this attraction, you know what’s possible and how much Magic Kingdom’s Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin has lagged behind its successors. This is especially true as compared to Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle at Hong Kong Disneyland and Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue at Shanghai Disneyland, the two newest versions of this attraction. In terms of interactivity, the reimagined Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin for Magic Kingdom comes across as being most similar to Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue. For the vast majority of you who have never experienced that, I’d say that’s like Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters 2.0 ( that’s the Disneyland version of the attraction– I know it’s confusing that these all have different names ). We’ve been saying for a while that Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin in Magic Kingdom isn’t nearly as good as its Disneyland counterpart. It made our list of the Top 10 Rides That Are Better at Disneyland Than Walt Disney World. In that, I explained how time had passed by Space Ranger Spin, and the Disneyland version really improved on its Magic Kingdom counterpart. Disneyland’s shooting is smoother, the gameplay is more engaging, and the guns are handheld, giving you a wider range of motion. This may not be noticeable to non-gamers, but it’s akin to the difference between Super Mario Wonder and Disney’s Magical Quest. Both games are enjoyable, but one is obviously superior and modern, while the other is more primitive and out-of-date. Well, I also feel like Shanghai Disneyland similarly iterated on California’s version of the attraction to modernize the gameplay even further. Ditto Hong Kong Disneyland, which updated its own Buzz Lightyear attraction to Ant-Man several years back. The gameplay style is still the same despite the fact that that attraction is now more complicated and intense. For those keeping score at home, that makes the Shanghai Disneyland version essentially Buzz Lightyear Blaster Ride 3.0. In all likelihood, this reimagining will transform the Magic Kingdom version into the best Buzz blaster while also taking the oldest ride of the bunch. This is my take not because I expect another leap forward in terms of gameplay ( to the contrary, I do not ), but because I’m expecting this to be the version that best melds modern gameplay with dimensional environments. Maybe not quite Buzz Lightyear Blaster Ride 4.0 since I don’t see the scenes being a full generation better than Shanghai’s, but perhaps v3.5. One of my “unpopular opinions” at Walt Disney World for years was that Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin was superior to Toy Story Mania. This was about a decade ago, back when Toy Story Mania was still the newest ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and a top 3 FastPass in all of Walt Disney World. When wait times were notoriously bad (typically# 2 to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ), before they added the third track. It was a time when Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin was already getting a bit long in the tooth, but it mostly worked. You weren’t going to get a busted blaster, unresponsive targets, or vehicles that didn’t rotate. Even so, the gameplay had a significant gap in it, making it an unpopular opinion. My basic position was that Space Ranger Spin was good as an interactive shooter ride that used physical show scenes to make it engaging for guests who want to enjoy the attraction passively or actively. Staging, props, and Audio Animatronics are cool. By contrast, Toy Story Mania had a huge barrier to entry in terms of the wait times and FastPass distribution, and there was no enjoying it passively since it’s all screens. I’ve abandoned this position over time as Toy Story Mania has gotten considerably easier to experience, and Space Ranger Spin has aged like milk. However, my general opinion is that interactive rides are at their best when the gameplay is more approachable and there is a worthwhile dark ride for visitors who only want to passively experience the attraction. ( The latter is a problem for both of Disney’s interactive Marvel blaster rides that are overly reliant on screens and are simply too high energy for some guests. ) In my opinion, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is likely going to have the same level of action as the most recent generation of these thrill-seeking attractions and have better show scenes than the more recent generations that lean too heavily on screens and have flat environments. That should make it the best of the bunch. That’s really the bottom line here. That this is a rare win for the “be fair to Florida” crowd, as the Magic Kingdom version of this blaster ride probably outperforms Disneyland in terms of the playthrough and probably more so in terms of the show scenes, too. In so doing, Walt Disney World should have the best version of this attraction, at least from my perspective as someone who values the standalone dark ride portion of the attraction. Although we are unsure of what other changes, if any, can be anticipated in the Space Ranger Spin show scenes, we do know that the new scene will essentially serve as a gameplay tutorial with Buddy, an all-new Audio Animatronics figure, for this version of the ride. She will teach guests who to use their blasters, and between this opening scene and the’ quality of life ‘ gameplay enhancements, it should be easier for guests of all ages to pick up and play Space Ranger Spin. I love the idea of Buddy, both as introducing a new Audio Animatronics and an original theme park character. I hope she shares some personality and wit, joining Skippy and Sonny Eclipse as original Tomorrowland characters. ( Note the nod to” If You Had Wings” in her bot code in the concept art towards the top. ) It is also helpful that the scene to which Buddy is being added is currently essentially nothing. It’s not like she’s replacing anything of value, so this should be low-hanging fruit in terms of an upgrade. ( It will not be another Hatbox Ghost situation, thankfully! ) Sincerely, that’s how I feel about this project. As noted above, the attraction will close in August 2025 to make way for the changes. I anticipate that will occur after school resumes, so it’s probably around August 11 or 2025. The big unanswered question by the announcement is just when in 2026 Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will reopen? This is going to be another unpopular opinion among Walt Disney World vacation planners who want as many rides up as possible during upcoming trips, but I’m fine with Space Ranger Spin going down for as long as is needed to ensure that it’s the best of the Buzz blaster rides. That doesn’t just mean updating the ride vehicles, installing the new show scene, and adding new gameplay features. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is over 25 years old, and is a retrofit of a retrofit. Numerous other Buzz Blaster rides were replaced after Magic Kingdom’s version. It needs a lengthy refurbishment for some TLC. The existing show scenes could stand to be spruced up, with new props added and others swapped out. We previously discussed a potential reimagining of this attraction and pointed out that Tokyo Disneyland has just finished building its more modern, better, and meticulously maintained version of Astro Blasters. Ship some of that stuff to Orlando–there’s gotta be a treasure trove of props and figures that could enhance the Magic Kingdom version. Additionally, it would be nice to see the attraction get a new marquee and facade; the current one appears to have been dumped as part of an overnight overlay, Spirit Halloween-style. The indoor queue could also use a refresh, making the space less drab and unpleasant–perhaps with better show lighting ( lasers! ) and more durable materials so it can stand up to the abuse kids throw at it. Beyond that, a fresh coat of paint and a power wash might be all that the attraction needed. There is a thick layer of dirt and grime on everything, and it’s been that way for a while. Every time I ride at the end of the night ( when the queue is rougher than usual ), I come across about a dozen Four Keys violations on Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. I am perfectly willing to wait until Summer 2026 if that’s what it takes to make this Buzz Lightyear’s Blaster Ride 3.5, and the best incarnation of the attraction in the world. That’s a high bar, but an attainable one! The same could be said about Tomorrowland, which may need some TLC and a refurbishment. The land itself is desperately overdue by a wholesale reimagining, and one seemed to be starting in 2019 as part of the lead-up to TRON Lightcycle Run, but then…you know what happened in Spring 2020. We still anticipate a reimagining of Tomorrowland, as discussed in The Future of Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom. My suspicion is that Imagineering has lined up the current projects purposefully, teeing up a reimagining of Tomorrowland as part of the 10-year plan in the early 2030s once the current 5-year plan is finished (especially Cars Land ). My expectation was that Walt Disney World would clone the upcoming Wreck-It Ralph ride at Tokyo Disneyland, which is replacing their Buzz blasters ride or inherit hand-me-downs from that project. The latter, if anything, now seems to be more likely. This is definitely the more cost-effective and efficient route, allowing for Imagineering to fast-track the Buzz reimagining since it can’t really wait ~5 more years, and then spend its time and money on the many other pieces of real estate in Tomorrowland that also need attention. That’s another win-win situation, in my opinion. Ultimately, it’s fantastic that Imagineering is going to give Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin the love it deserves. As is probably evident from my contention that this could become the best Buzz blaster attraction, I view this as a low-risk/high-reward project. The gameplay is outdated, and the maintenance is subpar, but the bones of this ride are solid. We already know what a better and more modern version of this ride looks like, because Disney has done like a half-dozen of them. The final product will almost certainly improve with improved gameplay and show scene improvements. This could be a major upgrade that breathes new life into the reimagined ride and turns it into one of the more popular attractions in Magic Kingdom–a top 5 wait time and tier two Lightning Lane pick. It’s really hard to imagine this being a downgrade–it’s really more a question of just how much of an upgrade it’ll be. I’ll be very interested to see how they deliver because Imagineering has a lot of” singles and doubles” style projects on its plate right now that are very similar to this. After scattershot results in other projects that have been initiated during the post-reopening era, this gives creatives a chance to “prove themselves” to fans. Before they get to the big new additions that are part of Walt Disney World’s 5-Year Plan, it would be nice to restore some lost goodwill and confidence in Imagineering. Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. Read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews for recommendations for dining. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post examines some clever travel items. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know! What do you think about the Disney theme park at Magic Kingdom that reimagines Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin? Willing to” sacrifice” riding this on your next Walt Disney World vacation for a modernized attraction with better gameplay, a new show scene, and more? Do you concur or disagree with my assessment? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
