The SECRET To Becoming a Galactic Hero on the NEW Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin

After a long-term refurbishment, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin has reopened at the Magic Kingdom, and wannabe Space Rangers are once again aiming to become Galactic Heroes!

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin first opened at the Magic Kingdom back in the fall of 1998. The Toy Story-based attraction replaced the Delta Dreamflight (itself the final iteration of the long-running If You Had Wings attraction). Using the same omnimover ride system as its predecessors, Space Ranger Spin allowed riders to “shoot” at intergalactic targets with blasters affixed to the ride vehicles as they traveled through space with Buzz on a mission to defeat Emperor Zurg. In the summer of 2025, the Tomorrowland attraction closed for a long refurbishment before reopening April 8th.

The attraction’s refurbishment brought several new features to Space Ranger Spin, including new ride vehicles with removable blasters!

It’s also brought changes and updates to the ride’s targets, which are now more interactive targets and change colors when they’re hit. In turn, that’s changed how riders can attempt to achieve the ride’s highest ranking of Galactic Hero!

These are some of the tips we’ve found during our rides on the updated version of the attraction:

• Riders get more points when they hit targets that are flashing white.
• Clusters of targets that are flashing in rainbow colors give even more points and can seemingly unlock a bonus round.
• You can hit rainbow targets to unlock a 10-second bonus mode and rapid-fire any target for massive points…hopefully leading to a score over 1 million (Galactic Hero status).
• It’s more beneficial to shoot a lot around the environment as opposed to focusing on one target. Try to hit as many targets as possible in quick succession, as their values can change.
• You can hit a target multiple times to increase the number of points earned.
• You can hold down the trigger and just focus on aiming for that black circle in the center of the target.

If those tips feel overwhelming, don’t fret. The ride now offers a new opening scene where “departing Space Rangers are fully prepared for their mission” by the brand new animatronic character Buddy, who enthusiastically provides encouragement, and most helpfully, gives guests a chance to hone their blaster aim before the ride officially begins.

All of these changes have given Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin way more than a proverbial new coat of paint, as the experience — especially the interactive blaster element — has been altered, making achieving the rank of Galactic Hero a different experience than it’s been for the last 25+ years! Stay tuned to AllEars for more on the latest changes at Disney World.

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Have you ridden the new version of Buzz yet? Let us know in the comments below.