Tomorrowland’s latest paintwork may not be a full reimagining, but it is bringing some retro vibes back to the land.
Hints of 1960s Futurism Return to Tomorrowland
Paintwork is underway around Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters in Disneyland Park, and the latest changes appear to shift the aesthetic back towards the 1967-ish Tomorrowland color palette.
The work is visible around the exterior of Astro Blasters, where construction walls remain in place near the attraction’s entrance. While the attraction’s familiar blue starfield signage is still present, several surrounding architectural elements have been repainted in colors that feel more in line with Disneyland’s mid-century Tomorrowland identity.
Before the ongoing refurbishment work, the same area used a heavier mix of gray, white, green, purple, and red, pictured above. This range of colors fell more in line with Buzz Lightyear’s specific character design and less so any overarching color palette used throughout Tomorrowland.
The main attraction marquee sat above the entrance with green trim along the lower edge, while the nearby show-building elements and entry signage featured a darker gray canopy and bright green borders. The entrance columns also included purple and red accents, again echoing Buzz’s design.
The current refurbishment in progress shows a noticeable shift. Around the Astro Blasters facade, the lower trim has been repainted in a bright blue/teal tone. Much of the surface on the facade’s large, angular tower is now painted a bright white, whereas parts of the tower used to be painted in gray, green, and beige accents.
The overall color palette has shifted more toward a bright white, similar to the bright white colors used throughout Tomorrowland in the land’s early operating years during the 1960s. Other accents on the facade now lean more toward blue, yellow, and warm copper tones.
Several areas around the attraction entrance have also been updated to match the warmer, whiter color palette.
The vertical columns near the standby and Lightning Lane entrances have also had elements changed from purple to yellow, and from red to blue, with clean white bases and silver saucer-like caps still intact. The formerly green trim around the queue signs has also changed to the new light blue.
We also noticed the Space Mountain mural outside Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters has now been largely restored to view, following its covering just a few days ago.
At the time, it was unclear whether the covering was a temporary refurbishment measure or part of a larger exterior design update. Now, the visible sections of the mural appear unchanged, though seemingly cleaned and polished at a minimum.
These paintwork changes come after a report earlier this year that plans for a larger Disneyland Tomorrowland reimagining had reportedly been rejected. That report noted years of rumors about a major land overhaul, while also pointing to previous efforts to restore some 1967-inspired details in the area.
For now, while the paint changes do not appear to be part of a top-to-bottom Tomorrowland redo, it may signal the early stage of a visual refresh for the aging Disneyland area that could steer it back toward the brighter, space-age look associated with its early days.
For now, Astro Blasters remains closed for refurbishment, and construction walls remain up in front of the attraction. The ride is scheduled to reopen on Friday, June 12.
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