It’s a milestone yr for the Toy Story franchise as the unique movie turns 30 – and one in every of its most iconic rides is getting a serious overhaul at Disney World.
Confirmed again in March 2025, Buzz Lightyear’s Area Ranger Spin, positioned in Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland on the Orlando, Florida resort, is present process a big renovation.
The purpose? Higher immersion and upping the enjoyable stage. The attraction already permits you to board a experience automobile, spin it round, and be part of Star Command within the battle in opposition to Zurg. Since its authentic opening, visitors have used built-in blasters to hit quite a lot of targets, however the upcoming updates take issues to the subsequent stage. Disney shared again within the spring that the blasters could be detachable quite than mounted in place, and that the goal discs would get a full redesign.
At a Disney World media occasion in late July, we acquired an early take a look at the brand new expertise – testing the up to date blasters and being among the many first to see the brand-new experience autos.
I used to be already excited in regards to the modifications coming to one in every of my favourite points of interest, however after attempting them out, I’m satisfied: Disney is utilizing sensible know-how within the smartest methods doable to spice up immersion.
As we’ve seen with latest initiatives just like the Haunted Mansion Parlor on the Disney Treasure ship or the Walt Disney audio-animatronic at Disneyland, Disney’s finish purpose 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 total construct that is now free to maneuver in any path. Which means you’ll be able to purpose wherever you need with out spinning all the experience automobile, which must be an enormous plus for accuracy. Beforehand, these blasters have been bolted down and could not be lifted up – only a mounted transfer left, proper, up, or down.
There are different enhancements, too: built-in haptics give suggestions once you hit a goal, LEDs gentle up once you pull the set off on the entrance and rear, and every blaster in a automobile now has its personal coloration for straightforward identification. You’ll both get crimson or inexperienced, and the targets remodel with this shade as nicely. As somebody who’s misplaced observe of my pictures within the sea of crimson LEDs earlier than, this can be a enormous improve.
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The targets are altering as nicely. As an alternative of the unique light-up discs, the brand new variations characteristic round LED screens with bodily components. 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 anticipate, for those who hit the bullseye, the goal reacts with completely synced visuals, sound, and blaster suggestions.
Disney additionally unveiled the redesigned experience autos, styled after Buzz Lightyear’s personal Area 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 previous LED quantity shows capped out at 999,999 for “Galactic Hero” standing are being swapped for screens that may observe scores far past that.
Whereas I didn’t get to sit down within the up to date automobile 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 tremendously increase the variety of targets you’ll be able to hit – and improve 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 fashionable period. I can’t wait to expertise the complete 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 – primarily the visuals you’ll see alongside the observe – and the debut of a brand-new animatronic Imagineering has been growing.
Within the meantime, whereas ready for the official opening, you’ll be able to rewatch Toy Story on Disney+, probably the greatest streaming companies on the market. Who is aware of – perhaps a full experience POV will drop on launch day.
