Big changes are coming to Magic Kingdom Park later this year. On Wednesday, Walt Disney World Resort announced plans to close Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin for a major refurbishment, marking the end of an era for this beloved attraction. The ride, which has been a staple of Tomorrowland since 1998, is set to close in August 2025 as part of its reimagining process.
On March 26, Walt Disney World Resort revealed that Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, the Toy Story (1995) attraction that invites guests to join Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Tim Allen in the Toy Story films) in a mission to defeat Emperor Zurg, will undergo significant changes later this year. These updates will include a new opening scene featuring a female support-bot named Buddy, interactive targets that will light up when hit, and redesigned ride vehicles painted in Star Command colors.
The new vehicles will also feature onboard video monitors and advanced, haptic feedback astro-blasters, making aiming and targeting easier than ever before. This update is expected to solve a common complaint from Disney Park guests who have found the existing targeting system less than responsive over the years.
Shortly after announcing the changes, Walt Disney Imagineering filed a Notice of Commencement to begin “installing set elements” for the refurbishment, with a contractor—Icarus Exhibits—hired for the task. Icarus Exhibits is no stranger to the Dinsey parks, having previously been contracted for other projects around the resort, including the ongoing refurbishment of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the transformation of It’s Tough to Be A Bug! into Zootopia: Better Zoogether! at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
Though the permit filed by Disney provides only a few details about the scope of the work, it does suggest that Icarus Exhibits will be responsible for fabricating and installing physical sets inside the attraction.
Walt Disney World Resort hasn’t announced an exact closing or reopening date for Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. The interactive Tomorrowland attraction will welcome its final guests in August 2025 and debut a new look sometime in 2026.
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