Multi-Month CLOSURE Hits Popular Magic Kingdom Ride — What That Means for Your Trip

If you’re visiting Magic Kingdom in 2025 or 2026, there’s a long ride closure you should be ready for.

In March, Disney World announced that Tomorrowland’s Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin would close later this year and reopen sometime in 2026 after a lengthy refurbishment. We’re going to take a look at what this long closure means for Tomorrowland and Magic Kingdom altogether.

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is closing in August 2025 and will reopen at some point in 2026.  While closed, the ride won’t just be fine-tuned but upgraded as well.

The ride will feature a brand new scene with a friendly robot named Buddy, who will make sure Space Rangers are fully prepped and ready for the mission.

The current Z targets in the attraction will also be upgraded with new tech that allows them to react and light up when hit.

The ride vehicles are also getting some new handheld blasters, which will no longer be planted on the vehicle. Blasters will also feature an “always-on laser” that comes in two different colors, per vehicle, in addition to new lighting, sound, and vibration effects.

The ride vehicles themself will also look a little different. The new design will be inspired by the colors of Buzz Lightyear and Star Command, and the vehicles will include monitors that display real-time scoring updates.

Tomorrowland is going through a bit of a facelift. Astro Orbiter is currently closed but set to reopen this summer, putting Tomorrowland back together, if only just a little bit.

With that said, Astro Orbiter could accrue long lines, and with the refurbishments mounting up, things could get a little ugly at Magic Kingdom.

Currently, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is closed into 2026 for a refurbishment of its own. With all these rides closing (and popular ones, at that), we’re looking at a reality where park attendance doesn’t drop, but traffic is diverted elsewhere.

With the number of running attractions shrinking, there’s a likely scenario that we see longer lines at other rides.

This is something you should factor into your travel plans if you intend to visit Magic Kingdom in 2025 and/or 2026.

We’ll keep you posted on all the latest Magic Kingdom and Disney World updates, so stay tuned right here at AllEars to stay in the know!

Why Big Thunder Mountain Will Be Totally Different When It Reopens

Will the Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin closure affect your Disney World plans? Let us know in the comments!

Comments (2)