We just got some huge news on Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin!
Buzz Lightyear!
Whether it’s the coming of massive lands or the upgrading of already existing rides, Magic Kingdom is undergoing a MASSIVE transformation period. We’re taking a quick focus on Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, as the popular ride is undergoing a lengthy refurbishment period. This includes updates and enhancements to the attraction. Well, we just found out about some of those updates, and we’re here to share them with you!
The fan-favorite Magic Kingdom ride closed on August 4th, with an intended reopening date falling somewhere in 2026. Disney just showed us new concept art that features Buddy the robot, a brand-new character joining the mission.
New concept art featuring Buddy the Robot!
The new vehicles are inspired by the old Buzz Lightyear space ranger vehicles, and each new ride car will also have real-time tracking of the scoring, so you can make sure that you’re score is accurate. The vehicles will also feature handheld blasters to make shooting targets even easier.
New ride vehicle!
There will also be new targets inside the attraction, becoming more interactive and reacting when you hit them. Lots of exciting stuff coming ot the ride!
©Disney
That’s not all the big plans Disney announced for what’s coming to the Magic Kingdom! They gave us a quick look at what’s coming to the other ride that is undergoing a lengthy refurbishment, but on the complete other side of the park.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
The ride will be seeing a brand-new and smoother track, lighting, and effects. They’ll also be getting an exterior change to match the upcoming Piston Peak addition. However, something else is coming to the popular attraction.
©Disney
Riders will get to enter “spectacular natural caverns full of phosphorescent pools, shimmering and illuminating iridescent stalagmites (the ones on the floor) and stalactites (the ones on the ceiling).” This is a nod to the Rainbow Caverns Mine Train opened in Disneyland in 1956 and closed in 1977 to make way for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad there. So, Disney is bringing it back!
©Disney
Beware, Disney told us that “they ain’t as friendly as they first appear” and “that menacing rumble from deep within the mountain may be a sign we ain’t welcome.” We can’t wait to experience this ride once again.
We’re looking forward to hearing more about the ride updates! To stay up to date with the latest Disney news, make sure to follow us at the Disney Food Blog.
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What are your thoughts on the updates? Let us know in the comments!
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Is it just me, or do those Buzz Lightyear cars look way narrower than the previous ones? That may be fine if you’re riding with a child or two really short people are riding together, but we have several tall people with long arms and more than one pair of pretty broad shoulders. Things could get crazy when the blasters were locked in place. I notice in the photo of the testers that they seem to be sitting only one to a car. There may be two people in the first car, but it looks more like the second person is standing beside and slighlty further back than the seated person. But if he is standing outside the car, he’s not very far away either (i.e. it shows that the car is not very big). Disney rides are often not very height-friendly (our group can’t go on Space Mountain anymore at all), but making the cars so that two grown people can’t ride in them if they have broader shoulders and longer arms than average just seems like a plan to make the line move even slower than before, because those people will want to ride alone. I hope I’m wrong, but it would be right in line with a lot of Disney’s choices lately.
I’m concern that the hand held blasters are going to be a little heavy and too large for my 3 year old grandchild.
Buzz sounds like it will be an exact copy of Shanghai Disneylands version. Which are a bit smaller ride cars.
Is the buzz ride still going to be wheelchair accessible?