Disney's Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin in Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland began a soft opening on March 31, 2026, ahead of its official April 8 reopening. The refreshed attraction features handheld blasters and updated scenes, but early guests reported audio and projector problems. The ride is operating on a standby basis without app listings or Lightning Lane access.
Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland has hosted Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin since 1998, where riders use blasters to score points against Emperor Zurg’s robots. After a refurbishment earlier this year, the ride returned with significant upgrades, including handheld laser-targeting blasters replacing fixed cannons, refreshed vehicles, a new Buddy practice scene, enhanced show scenes, and a revised scoring system. It soft opened for the second day on March 31, starting at 9 a.m., one hour after park opening, with only standby queues available and no Lightning Lane options. Disney has not announced previews for Annual Passholders or confirmed ongoing soft openings through April 8, and the attraction may close unexpectedly during testing. Guests like Theme Park Cheetah, posting on X as @GreenCheetah99, described initial glitches: Buzz’s queue audio was too quiet, his projector misaligned, and a View-Master toy spun endlessly. Within an hour, a curtain obscured the animatronic Buzz. These issues highlight the purpose of soft openings, which allow Disney to test systems, train cast members, and fix problems under real conditions before the debut. For visitors to Magic Kingdom before April 8, the ride's availability from around 9 a.m. offers a chance to try the updates, but without app wait times, planning around it carries risks. Other Tomorrowland attractions remain fully operational during this period.