Magic Kingdom is currently bustling with new projects, including a Cars expansion in Frontierland and a Villains Land behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin in Tomorrowland is getting a significant upgrade and will reopen on April 8, 2026. Cast members will have exclusive previews from March 21 to 27, allowing them to experience the new ride vehicles, which feature removable blasters for easier aiming at targets, improving on the old fixed Z-blasters that limited movement.
The Updates Look Amazing
Guests will even get a brand new, updated ride photo, which is significantly better than the previous ride photo that honestly looked terrible most of the time with poor lighting and awkward positioning. The ride also features a new scene with a robot named Buddy, who helps prepare riders for their mission by showing them how to use some of the ride's new interactive features before they start making their way into deep space to take on Emperor Zurg.
Buddy was developed with input from Pixar, which will also put out Toy Story 5 in June this year, and the character is designed to expand the Star Command story and add another layer to the attraction's mission-based adventure. Interactive targets will also react when hit, so no more guessing whether you actually hit a target, which addresses one of the biggest frustrations of the original version, where you were never quite sure whether your shots registered.
The Technology Upgrades Are Legit
The ride vehicles have received a significant technological upgrade, with the attraction's original mounted Z-blasters being replaced with handheld versions, allowing guests more freedom to aim at targets throughout the ride. In addition, each vehicle is equipped with onboard video screens that track scores in real time, with the change aiming to make the competition between riders easier to follow and more interactive during the mission.
The hyperspace scene has also been updated to feature Buzz Lightyear himself, now showing Zurg releasing a bunch of space mines that riders can earn points by shooting, adding a new gameplay element that adds variety to the target-shooting experience.
Buzz Lightyear Has Been Closed Since August 2025
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin closed in August 2025 to begin one of the most extensive refurbishments it had seen in years, with Disney later revealing that the updated version of the ride was scheduled to return in Spring 2026. As part of the refurbishment, Walt Disney Imagineering worked on multiple updates designed to refresh the experience for modern audiences, with the planned upgrades suggesting that Disney aims to keep the core gameplay that guests loved while introducing modern technology and new story elements.
The long-running Tomorrowland dark ride has been a staple since opening in 1998, challenging riders to help defeat the Evil Emperor Zurg by blasting targets and racking up points along the way, creating a generation of fans who have memories of competing with family members and friends to achieve the highest scores and earn the prestigious Galactic Hero ranking.
When Can Non-Cast Members' Guests Ride?
If you're not a cast member and you can't wait to ride the new version of Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin yourself, you'll be able to do so on April 8 when the ride officially reopens to the public. It's possible that Disney will also announce Annual Passholder and Disney Vacation Club previews for this ride, but as of now, no announcements have been made regarding additional preview opportunities beyond the cast member-exclusive access period from March 21-27.
The Space Ranger Spin refurbishment occurred during a period when several Magic Kingdom attractions were undergoing maintenance or upgrades with other rides including Big Thunder Mountain Railroad also closed and remaining shuttered even now, creating situation where Magic Kingdom needs capacity additions as multiple attractions remain unavailable.
