It’s a milestone yr for the Toy Story franchise as the unique movie turns 30 – and certainly one of its most iconic rides is getting a significant overhaul at Disney World.
Confirmed again in March 2025, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, positioned in Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland on the Orlando, Florida resort, is present process a big renovation.
The goal? Greater immersion and upping the fun level. The attraction already lets you board a ride vehicle, spin it around, and join Star Command in the fight against Zurg. Since its original opening, guests have used integrated blasters to hit a variety of targets, but the upcoming updates take things to the next level. Disney shared back in the spring that the blasters would be removable rather than fixed in place, and that the target discs would get a full redesign.
At a Disney World media event in late July, we got an early look at the new experience – testing the updated blasters and being among the first to see the brand-new ride vehicles.
I was already excited about the changes coming to one of my favorite attractions, but after trying them out, I’m convinced: Disney is using practical technology in the smartest ways possible to boost immersion.
As we’ve seen with recent projects like the Haunted Mansion Parlor on the Disney Treasure ship or the Walt Disney audio-animatronic at Disneyland, Disney’s finish aim isn’t nearly specs and efficiency.
Take the brand new blasters, for instance. I acquired to deal with a pre-production model, and the enhancements are apparent. They’re extra ergonomic with a smaller general construct that is now free to maneuver in any route. Meaning you possibly can goal wherever you need with out spinning the whole experience car, which needs to be an enormous plus for accuracy. Beforehand, these blasters have been bolted down and could not be lifted up – only a fastened transfer left, proper, up, or down.
There are different enhancements, too: built-in haptics give suggestions while you hit a goal, LEDs mild up while you pull the set off on the entrance and rear, and every blaster in a car now has its personal colour for simple identification. You’ll both get purple or inexperienced, and the targets remodel with this shade as effectively. As somebody who’s misplaced monitor of my photographs within the sea of purple LEDs earlier than, it is a big improve.
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The targets are altering as effectively. As an alternative of the unique light-up discs, the brand new variations function round LED screens with bodily parts. The acquainted yellow-and-orange “Z” for Zurg stays, however the backing is now dynamic with animated hyperspace results, and there is the potential for themed overlays. As you’d count on, if you happen to hit the bullseye, the goal reacts with completely synced visuals, sound, and blaster suggestions.
Disney additionally unveiled the redesigned experience automobiles, styled after Buzz Lightyear’s personal House Ranger swimsuit. They’re slimmer however ought to nonetheless comfortably seat two riders.
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And sure, the scoring system is getting a glow-up, too. The outdated LED quantity shows capped out at 999,999 for “Galactic Hero” standing are being swapped for screens that can monitor scores far past that.
Whereas I didn’t get to sit down within the up to date car or see the brand new shows in motion, these really feel just like the cherry on prime of the general expertise. The upgraded blasters deal with significantly better, and the liberty of eradicating the mount ought to vastly broaden the variety of targets you possibly can hit – and enhance the competitors.
The tech enhancements underneath the hood – together with haptic motors, a smoother set off, and built-in LEDs – paired with the redesigned goal discs, actually convey this attraction into the trendy period. I can’t wait to expertise the total model when it debuts in 2026.
As soon as Disney World confirms a gap date, we’ll share an replace. We’re additionally wanting ahead to the promised new experience scene – basically the visuals you’ll see alongside the monitor – and the debut of a brand-new animatronic Imagineering has been growing.
Within the meantime, whereas ready for the official opening, you possibly can rewatch Toy Story on Disney+, one of many best streaming services on the market. Who is aware of – possibly a full ride POV will drop on launch day.
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