With everything going on in Magic Kingdom right now, it’s hard to keep up with progress.
Over in Frontierland, Disney is getting ready to permanently close Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island to start work on Piston Peak, a new Cars expansion. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is currently getting a massive refurbishment. In Tomorrowland, Astro Orbiter is getting put back together after a refurbishment. Meanwhile, another ride in Tomorrowland, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will close in August for a big refurbishment, and we now have a permit that hints at some of the work to be done at this attraction.
According to a new permit filed with Orange County, Florida, Walt Disney Imagineering has contracted Elite A/V System Inc. to do “electrical work” on Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. This is part of the major refurbishment the ride will soon undergo.
This electrical work is part of a larger refurbishment that will add a new show scene to the ride, as well as update the ride vehicles and add additional game enhancements. The ride will also introduce a new character, a robot named Buddy, who will introduce you to the ride and how it works.
The ride vehicles will also get a new design in new colors inspired by Buzz Lightyear and Star Command. Each vehicle will also get a video monitor with real-time scoring updates. The blasters will also be updated so you can hold them in your hand (rather than have them bolted to the vehicles) and will have an always-on laser. Even better, each blaster in the car will have a different color so you can tell who is aiming at what.
These changes are sure to make the ride a little more enjoyable for everyone, so we’ll be looking forward to seeing them when the ride reopens in 2026.
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All of the Changes Confirmed for Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin in Magic Kingdom
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