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Why Is It Taking Disney World a Full Year to Refurbish Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin?


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Disney World is undergoing some pretty intense refurbishments and adding some massive construction projects over the next few years.

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Animal Kingdom construction

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will be closed for refurbishment through at least the beginning of 2026, Dinoland U.S.A. has begun its transition into Pueblo Esperanza, It’s Tough to Be A Bug just closed to make way for Zootopia: Better Zoogether, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Disney more recently announced another massive closure that will take at least a year.

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Disney announced that beginning in August 2025, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin in Magic Kingdom would be undergoing a pretty intense refurbishment. When it reopens, we’ll see a new show scene, updated ride vehicles, and gameplay enhancements, and more! The only problem? Yeah, this refurbishment will also take AT LEAST a year.

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©Disney

Why the long wait? Well, Disney isn’t just smoothing out the track. There are a few big reasons why this project is going to take many months to complete.

It’s Getting All New Ride Vehicles

We’ve heard some Disney World guests over the years say that they wish the ride vehicles on Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin were a little more themed to him/the franchise, and it looks like those dreams may finally be coming true!

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©Disney

The new vehicles will have a new design inspired by the colors of Buzz Lightyear and Star Command, but it’s more than just a paint job being done. From what Disney has said, we’re getting ENTIRELY new ride vehicles, and that means testing them out time and time again to ensure they’re working to full capacity. That doesn’t just happen overnight.

New Game Playing Enhancements!

Even more exciting than the new paint job, and the main reason why Disney can’t just slap paint on the existing vehicles and call it a day, is that there are NEW additions being added to each ride ride vehicle.

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©Disney

No longer will you struggle to get that blaster stuck to the vehicle to move at the perfect angle, because new handheld shooters are coming to this ride! Additionally, Disney has confirmed that video monitors providing real-time scoring updates and other exciting features will also be added. With all that technology, it means that LOTS of testing will need to take place to ensure the new shooters are properly lined up and interacting with each target throughout the ride, which are ALSO getting a facelift with new technology.

A NEW Scene and A NEW Character

As if that wasn’t enough, Disney also confirmed that a friendly robot named “Buddy” will be added to the attraction to make sure you’re prepared for your mission. It’s sounding like Buddy will be in the last part of the queue, or at the beginning of the attraction before you make it to the targets, because Buddy will also be able to show you what some of the new, interactive target features can do before you blast off.

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©Disney

Yes, that means that there will be an entirely NEW scene in the ride! We’re expecting this means that a current scene towards the beginning of the experience is being completely revamped. Again, this can’t happen overnight — they’ve got to test and install what we assume will be a new animatronic, record its lines and match it up, then build the rest of the scene around it.

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Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin

We’re so excited for all of these changes, but can’t help but recognize that this closure will come as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is still closed, Villains Land is being heavily worked on behind Big Thunder, and while we’re still awaiting the official closing date of Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat, we’re heavily speculating it will be before the end of 2025. This means that there will be multiple major attractions/areas closed at once, and we’re not looking forward to seeing what that will do for crowds!

We’ll be sure to keep you updated on all the latest Disney World construction news, so stay tuned to DFB!

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Are you looking forward to these changes? Tell us in the comments!

The post Why Is It Taking Disney World a Full Year to Refurbish Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin? first appeared on the disney food blog.

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