It’s a milestone year for the Toy Story[1] franchise as the original film turns 30 – and one of its most iconic rides is getting a major overhaul at Disney World.
Confirmed back in March 2025, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin[2], located in Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland at the Orlando, Florida resort, is undergoing a significant 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[3] on the Disney Treasure ship or the Walt Disney audio-animatronic[4] at Disneyland, Disney’s end goal isn’t just about specs and performance.
Take the new blasters, for example. I got to handle a pre-production version, and the improvements are obvious. They’re more ergonomic with a smaller overall build that’s now free to move in any direction. That means you can aim wherever you want without spinning the entire ride vehicle, which should be a big plus for accuracy. Previously, these blasters were bolted down and couldn’t be lifted up – just a fixed move left, right, up, or down.
There are other enhancements, too: built-in haptics give feedback when you hit a target, LEDs light up when you pull the trigger on the front and rear, and each blaster in a vehicle now has its own color for easy identification. You’ll either get red or green, and the targets transform with this shade as well. As someone who’s lost track of my shots in the sea of red LEDs before, this is a huge upgrade.
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The targets are changing as well. Instead of the original light-up discs, the new versions feature circular LED screens with physical elements. The familiar yellow-and-orange “Z” for Zurg remains, but the backing is now dynamic with animated hyperspace effects, and there’s the potential for themed overlays. As you’d expect, if you hit the bullseye, the target reacts with perfectly synced visuals, sound, and blaster feedback.
Disney also unveiled the redesigned ride vehicles, styled after Buzz Lightyear’s own Space Ranger suit. They’re slimmer but should still comfortably seat two riders.
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And yes, the scoring system is getting a glow-up, too. The old LED number displays capped out at 999,999 for “Galactic Hero” status are being swapped for screens that will track scores far beyond that.
While I didn’t get to sit in the updated vehicle or see the new displays in action, those feel like the cherry on top of the overall experience. The upgraded blasters handle much better, and the freedom of removing the mount should greatly expand the number of targets you can hit – and increase the competition.
The tech improvements under the hood – including haptic motors, a smoother trigger, and integrated LEDs – paired with the redesigned target discs, really bring this attraction into the modern era. I can’t wait to experience the full version when it debuts in 2026.
Once Disney World[5] confirms an opening date, we’ll share an update. We’re also looking forward to the promised new ride scene – essentially the visuals you’ll see along the track – and the debut of a brand-new animatronic Imagineering has been developing.
In the meantime, while waiting for the official opening, you can rewatch Toy Story on Disney+[6], one of the best streaming services[7] out there. Who knows – maybe a full ride POV[8] will drop on launch day.
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References
- ^ Toy Story (www.techradar.com)
- ^ Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin (www.techradar.com)
- ^ Haunted Mansion Parlor (www.techradar.com)
- ^ Walt Disney audio-animatronic (www.techradar.com)
- ^ Disney World (www.techradar.com)
- ^ Disney+ (www.techradar.com)
- ^ best streaming services (www.techradar.com)
- ^ full ride POV (www.techradar.com)