Magic Kingdom Lets Go of Kid-Friendly Ride After 26 Years

After 26 years, Magic Kingdom Park is saying goodbye to the original version of one of its most family-friendly attractions. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, a Toy Story (1995) ride that has been a staple of Tomorrowland since 1998, is set to close for a major reimagining in August 2025. While the ride has always boasted long wait times, it’s now getting an upgrade to keep it fresh for the next generation of Disney Park guests.

On Wednesday, Walt Disney World Resort announced that Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will undergo significant changes as part of a months-long refurbishment. The reimagined ride will feature an all-new opening scene featuring a female support-bot named Buddy and interactive targets that light up in two distinct colors (one for each rider) when they are hit.

Guests can also expect new ride vehicles painted in the colors of Star Command and equipped with onboard video monitors and astro-blasters with haptic feedback. This update will help address one of the ride’s most common criticisms: the difficulty many Magic Kingdom Park guests have had with the current targeting system.

Minutes after announcing the modernization project, Walt Disney Imagineering filed a Notice of Commencement for “installing set elements” on Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. The permit filed for this project lists Icarus Exhibits as the contractor for the job, a company that has previously worked on other Disney Park projects, including the year-long 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 project details are still emerging, the permit suggests that Icarus Exhibits will be responsible for building and installing new sets inside the attraction.

Walt Disney World Resort said Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will close in August 2025 but hasn’t announced an exact date. The Magic Kingdom Park attraction is expected to reopen sometime in 2026.

Do you agree with Walt Disney World Resort’s decision to refresh the 26-year-old Buzz Lightyear ride? Disney Tips would love to hear from you in the comments!