Disney has once again sidelined Tim Allen’s Buzz Lightyear in one of its parks.
Buzz Lightyear, first introduced in Pixar’s Toy Story in 1995, quickly became a cultural icon. Voiced by Tim Allen, Buzz is a space ranger action figure who initially believes he is a real intergalactic hero, only to later realize (with the help of his enemy-turned-BFF Woody, voiced by Tom Hanks) that he is a toy.
Over the years, Buzz has become one of Pixar’s most beloved characters, leading to his own merchandise lines, theme park attractions, and even a spinoff film, Lightyear (2021), further solidifying his legacy.
In general, the Toy Story universe has become a major presence in Disney’s theme parks, with Toy Story Land featured at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Hong Kong Disneyland, Shanghai Disneyland, and Walt Disney Studios Park. Additionally, Toy Story attractions can be found at Disney’s California Adventure Park, Tokyo DisneySea, and Tokyo Disneyland, solidifying the franchise’s lasting impact across the globe.
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin stands out as the most widespread of the Toy Story attractions. At its peak, this interactive shooting dark ride was featured in all six of Disney's castle parks, making it one of only two rides to achieve that distinction—the other being Dumbo the Flying Elephant.
Unfortunately, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin has closed at Hong Kong Disneyland, making way for Ant-Man and The Wasp: Nano Battle! (which was hardly well received and has been described as “lame and static” by some) as part of the park’s Stark Expo expansion. This beloved attraction will also shut down at Tokyo Disneyland at the end of the month, paving the way for a new Wreck-It Ralph (2012) experience.
Currently, the ride remains at Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Paris, Shanghai Disneyland, and Disneyland Resort, where it’s known as Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. Here, guests can “take aim and fire your laser to defeat Zurg during an exhilarating space battle,” keeping the spirit of Buzz alive in the parks.
However, one part of the ride is currently absent in Anaheim. The impressive animatronic of Tim Allen's Buzz Lightyear, which typically greets guests in the Tomorrowland attraction's queue, is notably missing and appears to be inoperable.
We spotted this for ourselves on a recent visit to Disneyland Resort, where we saw that the entire animatronic is now concealed behind a 360-degree curtain. While Disney has yet to confirm the reason for this change, one Reddit user speculated it might be related to a recent update of the ride's cameras.
“They fixed the camera, and it took up an extra 5 watts of power,” they wrote. “Enough to mess up the tight balance of wattage available to the building. Buzz [cast member] said camera [is] on the same circuit breaker. They chose to shut off Buzz while they come up with fix.”
This isn't the first time Buzz Lightyear has vanished from the parks. In May, the character was temporarily removed from Walt Disney Studios Park, soon to be rebranded as Disney Adventure World.
There were previously concerns about the impact of Pixar's Lightyear—which explored the fictional inspiration behind the Buzz Lightyear action figures in the Toy Story universe—on the traditional character’s presence in the parks. However, with the film’s disappointing box office performance, thought to have cost Pixar an estimated $106 million and led to mass layoffs at the studio, it seems the original character's position remains secure.
Looking ahead, Buzz’s next adventure promises to be more successful. Toy Story 5 is officially slated for release in 2026. While details about the sequel are still under wraps, we know that Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack (who voices Jessie) will reprise their roles, with direction from Pixar veteran Andrew Stanton. Unfortunately, Don Rickles, who voiced Mr. Potato Head and passed away in 2017, will not be returning.
Stay tuned for more updates on Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters – and in the meantime, check out our tips for scoring big on the ride!
