Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin Closing: New Ride Vehicles, Gameplay, and More Coming in 2026

Hey Disney Vacationers! If you’ve ever hopped into a Star Cruiser in Tomorrowland and tried (and failed) to hit that elusive 999,999 score, you might want to listen up. Let’s break down Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin closing for refurbishment—this is no quick polish. Disney is going all in.

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin Closing for Major Updates

Walt Disney World has officially announced that Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is closing this August for a full refurbishment. The ride, which has been blasting away in Tomorrowland since 1998, is getting a major upgrade. And when Disney says major, they mean it.

The ride is expected to reopen sometime in 2026, so we’re looking at an extended closure to make space (pun intended) for some big changes.

This isn’t just a repaint or minor fix. This is a full overhaul of the ride experience.

What’s Being Updated?

So what exactly is changing? Let’s dig into what Disney has officially confirmed.

✅ New Ride Vehicles

The classic Star Cruisers are getting replaced with newly designed vehicles. They’ll feature:

• A bold new look inspired by Buzz Lightyear and Star Command

• Video monitors with real-time scoring updates

• Enhanced lighting and sound features

This is huge for gameplay clarity. You’ll finally be able to keep track of your score mid-mission—no more guesswork.

✅ Handheld Blasters with Always-On Lasers

You know how annoying it is to aim the current blasters? Disney heard you.

The new ride vehicles will include handheld blasters—and yes, they’ll have always-on lasers so you can actually see where you’re aiming. Big win.

Each Star Cruiser will have two different blaster colors, and these things come with lighting, sound, and vibration effects to make the whole experience more immersive.

This change alone could fix the biggest frustration most guests have had with this ride for years.

✅ Interactive Targets

Say goodbye to the old-school “Z” targets that never seem to register your hits.

The targets are being replaced with new, interactive tech that lights up and reacts when you score a hit. It’ll make the whole game feel more satisfying—and yes, it opens the door for some new gameplay surprises Disney hasn’t fully revealed yet.

✅ New Character: Buddy

There’s also a brand-new character joining the Star Command crew. Meet Buddy, a robot created by Walt Disney Imagineering and Pixar.

Buddy’s job is to help Space Rangers get ready for their mission, check their systems, and make sure they’re prepped for battle. You’ll meet him at the beginning of the ride, and he’ll give you a chance to test your aim with the new blasters before the action kicks off.

A New Show Scene is Coming

The ride will also include a new show scene, although Disney hasn’t revealed the full details yet. It’s part of the wider plan to refresh the storytelling and keep the Buzz Lightyear experience exciting for new generations of guests.

Imagineers Are Already Testing It

Disney Imagineers recently did a playtest of the new targets, blasters, and gameplay systems. According to project creative director Justin DeTolla, the playtest was a success:

“Everyone had a great time, and our team learned a lot. 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.”

This tells us the updates are well into development, and they’re not just theoretical—they’re real, tested, and moving forward.

Why Is Disney Keeping the Buzz Lightyear Theme?

Here’s something interesting. While Disney World is doubling down on Buzz Lightyear, other Disney parks are moving in different directions:

• Tokyo Disneyland is switching their blaster ride to a Wreck-It Ralph theme.

• Hong Kong Disneyland re-themed theirs to Ant-Man years ago.

So why keep Buzz in Orlando?

It looks like Disney sees value in keeping Toy Story in Magic Kingdom, especially since Buzz Lightyear remains a recognizable and beloved character for families. This refurbishment feels like a commitment to make the ride last another decade (or two) by modernizing the tech while staying true to the IP.

When Will Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin Reopen?

To make all of this magic happen, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will close starting in August 2025. The ride is expected to reopen in 2026—an exact date hasn’t been announced yet.

So if this is a must-do for your trip, make sure to hit it before August rolls around.

Final Thoughts

This is a smart move by Disney. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin has been showing its age for years. The blasters were clunky, the scoring unclear, and the ride felt stuck in the late ’90s.

But now, it’s getting the updates it deserves.

New blasters. New targets. A new character. A new scene. Real-time scoring. It’s the same ride concept—but way more fun, more competitive, and way more user-friendly.

If you’ve got kids who love Toy Story, or you’ve always dreamed of hitting Galactic Hero without guesswork, your timing is coming

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is closing. But it’s coming back stronger. And better. So gear up, Space Ranger. Star Command has some serious upgrades on the way.

20% Off site-wide, plus Free Shipping on all orders of $65+

Over 75+ Designs! Your next park shirt is just a click away

Looking To Book Your Dream Disney Vacation?

Save time & money on your vacation

Your Disney vacation should create unforgettable memories that last a lifetime.

Whether you’re a first-time Disney vacationer or looking to plan your next magical adventure, it isn’t enough just to go on a Disney vacation. We want you to talk about your vacation for years to come and create memories you’ll cherish forever. Vacation is calling! Are you ready to answer?

REQUEST QUOTE

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Jonathan Cotton 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
I’m no stranger to Disney planning, as a Disneyland magic key holder and DVC member. I’m the person people ask for trip planning advice. But I had never been on a Disney cruise, and had heard great about Nate and decided to reach out. I’m so glad I did because we could not have been happier with our experience. His tips and insights were incredibly helpful, and he was incredibly responsive any time we had a question. Who do the Disney experts turn to when they need help? Nate, that’s who.

We’ll definitely be using him again.
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Andria Skornik 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Our experience working with Nate as our Disney vacation planner was exceptional. He was responsive and thorough. He gave us insights that made the trip go much more smoothly. We were able to really relax and focus on quality time as a family and have so much fun doing it! I will definitely reach out for any future trips.
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 rpwoodjr 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Could not have wanted or expected more from Nate, our Distrips and More agent as we planned our 2025 Disney World trip. Nate was VERY responsive to emails and texts and more than willing to do whatever he could to guide us and answer our questions.  On several occasions I emailed him over the weekend not expecting a response until Monday but each time he responded before the weekend was over.  He even participated in a Zoom session with our group of five seniors as we planned our trip. He also helped us at the 11th hour when we added a family member to our travel group less than a month before our trip.  Without a doubt, I will reach out to Nate when I'm ready to plan my next trip to Disney World!
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Homero Rendon 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
We are so thankful we used Nate to plan not only our first Disney trip, but also our second. He made the process so easy for us, especially for us since it was our first time going. There was a lot to consider and many decisions to make, such as where to stay, when to go, and what to experience. Nate really helped us narrow down what we wanted to do overall, but he didn’t stop there. He provided detailed guides to help us navigate the airport and find our transportation to the resort, as well as a guide to explore the resorts and make sure we saw the best Christmas decorations. One of the many amazing things he also did was set up our dinner reservations for us. This saved us so much stress and allowed us to get some of our top choices. From the moment we landed in Orlando to the moment we headed back home, he made sure everything went smoothly. You truly can’t go wrong with going to him for your next trip.
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Lee Mathes 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Nate was absolutely the best planner I have ever had.  Will most definitely be using him again.   He took care of everything and kept me on track.  Was so very helpful in making all the dining reservations and everything.   Can't thank him enough.   He made our trip completely stress free!
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Amanda Moran 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Nathan has been an amazing trip planner for me! So helpful and responsive. I am a very type A person -- so someone who is even more on top of their game than me -- is so so appreciated! Nathan has booked 3 trips for me (1 completed 2 pending) and it was perfection. Thanks again!
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Hyperion Adventures Podcast 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Nate has helped us with our vacation planning for the last couple of years and we couldn't be happier with his service and expertise. We've used other travel agents in the past and none of them have done as phenomenal a job to make sure every detail is taken care of as he has. Switching to Nate was one of the best decisions we've ever made. He's always quick to answer questions and works tirelessly to make sure we get everything we want from our trips. Plus, he's just a genuinely great person who is wonderful to work with. Whether you're planning a trip to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, a Disney Cruise, or any other vacation, Nate is the guy you want putting it all together! Five stars across the board!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Google rating score: 5.0 of 5, based on 7 reviews 
 
   
 
 

Meet the Author: Nate Bishop

I’m a die-hard Disney fan with 38 years of visits under my belt, having stepped into Disney World 120+ times. Proud to be a Disney Annual Passholder, a Vacation Club member since ’92, a Castaway Club Member, and a runDisney enthusiast. Oh, and I’ve graduated from the Disney College of Knowledge. Need Disney insights or planning tips? I’m your guy!