Star Cadets and Galactic Heroes alike may have to bid farewell to the current Buzz Lightyear-themed attractions at Disney Parks.
Should the upcoming Pixar movie “Lightyear” succeed, the current plan is to update Walt Disney World’s Space Ranger Spin attraction. The more “realistic” aesthetic of the new film would fit better in the updated Florida Tomorrowland, where it would join TRON Lightcycle Run and possibly a Wreck-It Ralph attraction centered around a video game.
Since it opened in 1998, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin has seen very few updates and has become the most antiquated of the Toy Story shooter rides worldwide. Maintenance-wise, it doesn’t do very well either, with many broken effects and issues from the track that has been used since 1972’s If You Had Wings.
The second-generation Buzz Lightyear rides at Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris may see the updates as well if this comes to fruition at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. Of course, Hong Kong Disneyland’s Astro Blasters was replaced in 2019 with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Nano Battle, an attraction that uses the most-modern version of the ride technology, including projection-based targets and score screens in vehicles. Similar technology can be found in the Shanghai Disneyland attraction, “Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue,” which opened in 2016. These types of upgrades would be expected for any “Lightyear” version of the ride that gets approved to be built.
You can watch our video of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Nano Battle below to see the modernized version of the ride system.
“Lightyear,” starring Chris Evans (“Captain America: The First Avenger”) as the titular character, explores the story of the “real” astronaut behind the iconic toy. It arrives in theaters on June 17, 2022.
Would you like to see a “Lightyear” ride come to Disney Parks? Let us know in the comments.
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NO!!!!!!!….those are two favorite rides..big mistake! Build a new Lightyear ride, don’t take our favs!
It’s just a rumor. Take it with a grain of salt for now.
Disney has a rule that you can’t have 2 attractions with the same characters (example snow white’s scary adventures hit the road when they opened 7 dwarfs mine train.) Only exception, at Disneyland Alice and Wonderland has 2 rides (teacups and dark ride).
Update with modern technology sure.Keep basics of ride absolutely!Maybe 3D effects but still shooting Zurg.
This sounds alright to me, assuming the movie turns out well. The ride could definitely use some love, and the Toy Story iteration of Buzz still has a home over in Toy Story Land, so I wouldn’t be too sad to see Space Ranger Spin updated.
No,no, no they are doing it again, removing much loved rides just to be trendy! Just update the current ones.
Nope Disney needs to finish and fix the rides they have. They can’t handle park capacity as it is. So now do they expect Splash Mountain and Buzz to be down at the same time? These geniuses at Disney need to get a clue.
Would love to see a new ride. That Space Ranger Spin really isn’t much fun. I don’t have nostalgia for it , so maybe that’s why I seem to be in a minority.
I really want an updated version of this ride, but I was thinking more of redoing the ride system so it doesn’t suck so hard, making the cars, guns, and score screens more modern, and re-making the scenes to add more detail and perhaps more optional challenge. In theory it could potentially work with the new movie but really I love the vibe the current ride gives where it feels like you’re either in the world of that video game from Toy Story 2 or one that Andy built. I just want to see it done better.
The new movie has already doomed itself and now they want to make the ride match? Not good. Disney has really been shooting themselves in the foot lately. Bad call. Really bad call.
The film may not be appropriate for children if it includes a lesbian kiss. Consequently the film may not do very well. Current Buzz ride might therefore be safe.
Always happy to see Disney World update. They hold on to old rides too long. Walt was a firm believer in continually updating and improving. No issues here with the current ride being replaced with an vastly improved and updated attraction. While they’re at it, they should gut in the inside of Space Mountain and replace that with a modern coaster. Still keeping it ‘ family-friendly ala Hagrid’s, but they can vastly improve that experience as Hagrid’s has shown. Maybe bring the ships outside the building. And they can finally tear out Tomorrowland Speedway and install one or two new attractions. I’d really love to them bring back Mr. Toad has a trackless vehicle system that’s a true “wild ride” with Mr. Toad. One way to bring back a beloved IP but updated with modern ride systems.
The old rides do not deserve to be replaced. Mainly updated. But not replaced. The old rides are epic but aged pretty badly due to the tech.
I’m cool in the “wait-and-see” section. Space Ranger Spin could use some modernization.
I would like to see the update for Buzz Lightyear ranger spin! I think it’s going to be ok!
I think Zurg will likely end up a good guy continuing the trend the Disney movies doesn’t have villains anymore so it won’t make sense to keep shooting him.
i like how the ride looks today please dont change anything about it
No, No NO! We love the ride as is, in fact it’s one of our favorites. We love riding on it several times per trip. Don’t ruin this Disney
I agree!!
Do I think the ride system could use some tweaks? Sure. But I love the ride’s current aesthetic, and would absolutely hate to see it go! It would be another example of such a beloved attraction going away for Disney’s “modernization”. Besides, I’m currently a galactic hero! It would be years of academy training wasted!!
Please, no. Nothing against the human Buzz’s design, but even if Disney does update the ride with new technology, it should still feature the Toy Story Buzz that everybody knows and loves. I mean, the ride is supposed to make it feel like you’ve been shrunk down to toy-size.
I’m glad they will at least wait and see if they film succeeds. I still have serious doubts that it will. The Shanghai Disneyland iteration of this ride, “Buzz Lightyear Planet Rescue” is the best I’ve been on. If they want to update the ride, just use that version! The “action figure” will always hold more importance to the vast majority of guests than the new iteration of the character.
one of my/my daughters favorites. Should update and move to Toy Story Land with the other Toy Story characters!