Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin Closing for Major Refurbishment at Magic Kingdom in August 2025

3 days ago in "Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin"

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Buzz Lightyears Space Ranger Spin Updates 2025

Posted: Wednesday March 26, 2025 8:16am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has announced that Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at Magic Kingdom will close in August 2025 to undergo significant updates. The Tomorrowland attraction will return next year with a new show scene, redesigned ride vehicles, upgraded gameplay features, and enhanced interactive elements.

Buzz Lightyears Space Ranger Spin Updates 2025

Here’s what you can expect from the changes:

New Show Scene Featuring “Buddy”

A new support-bot character named Buddy will greet guests at the start of the ride.
Developed by Walt Disney Imagineering and Pixar Animation Studios, Buddy helps Space Rangers prep for their mission.
He provides final checks, encouragement, and target practice using new interactive features.

Buzz Lightyears Space Ranger Spin Updates 2025

New Ride Vehicles

Ride vehicles are getting a fresh look with colors inspired by Buzz Lightyear and Star Command.
Each vehicle will now include onboard video monitors that show real-time scoring and gameplay info.

Buzz Lightyears Space Ranger Spin Updates 2025

Handheld Blasters

The mounted blasters will be replaced with new handheld versions.
These updated blasters offer better aim, constant laser visibility, and light, sound, and vibration feedback.
Each cruiser will include two different colored blasters, helping guests track their shots during the ride.

Interactive Targets and Gameplay Enhancements

Current static Z targets will be upgraded with responsive technology that lights up and reacts when hit.
This opens up the opportunity for additional gameplay mechanics that Imagineers are still exploring.
Disney Imagineering recently hosted a playtest with team members to refine the new experience.

Project Creative Director Justin DeTolla said, “We’ve been working on this project for quite some time now, so it was exciting to see it all come to life for the first time in the field.”

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will close temporarily in August to allow for the refurbishment. The enhanced version of the attraction is expected to reopen in 2025.

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JD8044 minutes ago

Those were all amazing to witness unfold.

Gusey1 hour ago

But it was at one point after the update was announced. I still don't understand why Disney announcing an update to Buzz at a "What's happening this Summer" media event is such a bad thing?

lazyboy97o2 hours ago

The track being enclosed has been expressed as a desire. There isn’t some wide expectation. It also didn’t come out of nowhere, but experience. Just like people desiring the innovation of hand held blasters for 20 years has come from experience.

Gusey2 hours ago

And the enclosed track part of my message that you ignored? That did manifest from nowhere. Your point that nobody was speculating about the Test Track update once it was announced so nobody would have speculated about Buzz's update if the details weren't announced doesn't stand

Agent H4 hours ago

You realize that when they said their taking inspiration they didn’t mean to imply they’re rebuilding half the old ride?

lazyboy97o4 hours ago

And why are people thinking that? Oh right, because it was Disney who said the attraction would be taking inspiration from World of Motion. It didn’t just manifest out of nowhere.

larryz4 hours ago

Really? Where were you during: plastic straws unbranded napkins RFID soda cups gift shop homogenization osborne lights at DHS dancing lights at Epcot Tacos and Stargate?

larryz4 hours ago

You mean 1988, when there were only two parks, 6 hotels and Ft Wilderness?

FigmentFan825 hours ago

Great news and great job with the marketing to excite parks fans. Looking forward to riding once this comes back up with the new stuff!

Disgruntled Walt5 hours ago

It's so thick, you could cut the tension in the fan community with a knife. I think there would be fewer complaints about this if they weren't doing so many boneheaded things right now (RoA, MuppetVision, and in my opinion, Dinosaur). I haven't complained about this change...I'm very glad to hear it's happening, but I can understand the folks who are so, um, disgruntled, that they can't even see a positive at this point. For them, Disney has crossed the Rubicon and everything will be examined under a microscope—I don't blame them, but for this one, I actually like what they're doing.

HauntedPirate5 hours ago

So you’re being willfully ignorant and lacking basic reading comprehension. And again - NO ONE IS COMPLAINING. We’re done here.

Sir_Cliff5 hours ago

I'm surprised this has become so heated. Not even the additions to Buzz, but the fact they have announced them. At any rate, it does also strike me that there is a lot of fan anxiety about and hostility to the destruction of Rivers of America and addition of Cars in Frontierland amidst the general bad feeling around the cost and complexity of a WDW vacation. In addition to helping to soothe those who might get annoyed about another attraction being down, they probably want to put as much out there as possible that promotes the notion they're investing in the parks on things of which almost everyone will approve. This is that sort of 'good news story' they can put out at a time they need it that almost everyone will take as a positive... or so they thought!

Gusey5 hours ago

You must have missed all the speculation talk on the Test Track thread bout the ride becoming an updated World of Motion, bringing back It's Fun to be Free and enclosing the outdoor track after the initial announcement of Test Track 3.0. The main complaint people seem to be having with this whole thing is that it was announced too early. But the whole point of the announcement was to say this wasn't a standard refurb but an update. What's the harm in that and clarifying some details 🤷‍♂️?

flynnibus5 hours ago

Because I don’t think it’s the better of the outcomes. The folks who are upset about closures are not going to change their emotions based on knowing the exact ride changes. They are either going to be bothered selfishly no matter what, or buy into the idea that the sacrifice is worth the larger gain. And I don’t think knowing the detail they are getting would exceed their own imagination. And the decision also undermines the future marketing potential. The ones that will buy into “closure being worth it” would be convinced by just knowing the attraction will be plussed. Marketing is critical dependent on timing - and while they may think this carrot will buy them the goodwill they seek - I don’t think it will move the needle and hinders the effort. Like i said, i heard your telling of their slideware… it doesn’t mean their choice is necessarily the best one. It was just their conclusion- and i disagree with it.