Disney shared the first wave of new photos and a behind-the-scenes video from the fully refurbished Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at Magic Kingdom. This is the clearest look at what is waiting when the attraction reopens on April 8, 2026. The ride has been closed since August 4, 2025, and what Disney is showing off looks nothing like the version that shut down. New images and video below!
The most immediate thing riders will notice is that the blasters are no longer bolted to the vehicle. Guests now pick up handheld blasters that include an always-on laser, haptic vibration when a target is hit, and updated sound and LED lighting effects. The new blasters work alongside a completely rebuilt target system where targets now react visually and light up on contact, giving riders instant confirmation of every shot they land.
The ride vehicles themselves are all-new, replacing the original cars that dated back to when the attraction opened. The If You Had Wings attraction that once occupied this space in Tomorrowland, and Buzz used the same omnimover. The updated vehicles include onboard displays showing the revamped scoring system, and for the first time ever the on-ride Disney PhotoPass photo will capture both a rider’s score and their Space Ranger rank. Competitive riders have wanted that feature for years.
A new character named Buddy, a support robot created by Walt Disney Imagineering and Pixar, appears in a pre-ride training sequence that guides guests through the new blaster mechanics before the main mission begins. The climactic battle scene near the end of the attraction has also been updated to place Buzz Lightyear directly in the action alongside Emperor Zurg, which was not part of the original experience.
The images Disney released show riders inside the retooled scenes, the new green-and-purple ride vehicles, the Buddy training sequence area, and updated Zurg set pieces packed with glowing targets.
Join Buzz Lightyear beginning April 8 at Magic Kingdom Park to save the galaxy from the evil emperor Zurg on this recharged attraction. After boarding an enhanced ride vehicle, guests will meet Buddy, a new support bot at Star Command, who will help with target practice before heading out on a mission. From interactive targets that will now react and light up when hit, to new hand-held blasters that will include an always-on laser and new lighting, sound and vibration effects, Buddy has full confidence guests will succeed in their mission.
Fantasy Land News will be at Magic Kingdom this Sunday for cast member preview access and will bring Funatics a full first-hand ride review of the new Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. That review will cover how the new blasters actually feel in the hands, how the updated targets respond during gameplay, whether the scoring changes the competitive dynamic that has made this attraction a family rivalry staple for nearly three decades, and whether the Buddy scene lands the way Disney intends. Stay tuned to fantasylandnews.com for that full breakdown as soon as we are off the ride.
Public guests can ride starting April 8. Cast member playtests are running through the week of March 21, so some early test-and-adjust sessions may be visible to guests walking through Tomorrowland before the official opening date.
