This last week Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin formally reopened at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. The attraction has long been a perfect complement to Tomorrowland, where it has recruited guests to fight the Emperor Zurg for the better part of three decades. As an attraction it has found a home at some time in all six Magic Kingdom style parks across the globe, making it one of the most commonly found attractions in any park. Moreover, it was the first Pixar based ride to be created in the theme parks. I remember being one of the first to ride it with my children in Cast Member previews in 1998. So I have a fond memory of this attraction, both here and across the globe. We’ll compare all of these versions, and talk about how some versions have since been replaced. And of course, we’ll board our ship and give you a review of the newly revised ride, emphasizing what is new and different. It’s a welcome improvement to a Tomorrowland that is always on the go. So join as a new Buzz Lightyear attraction comes to the rescue at Magic Kingdom!

This podcast is produced by myself and Performance Journeys, which offers training, development and consultant support to organizations big and small and entrepreneurs new and established. With a wide variety of resources and long-time in-the-trench experience, we offer workshops, online learning, coaching and more to organizations that want to build their teams, raise organizational excellence, improve leadership and create customer loyalty. Check us out at PerformanceJourneys.com.

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Key Points

• Magic Kingdom was the first to open a Buzz Lightyear “ride” attraction, though “Tough to be a Bug” opened months earlier as Disney’s Animal Kingdom months prior with that park’s opening and a Toy Story Parade had been happening in Disney-MGM Studios.
• While it is based on Toy Story, the attraction was initially sponsored by Mattel, who also sponsored the Around the World with Barbie show at Epcot a couple of years earlier. It also explains many of the toy-like elements in the experience. You can tell which ones they are because their design is more comic and one-tone than the other elements in the setting which incorporates gradation in color and shadow. Those toy elements include but are not limited to:
  • View Master in the queue with Etch a Sketch in later versions and other parks
  • Play Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em-Like Robot
  • Play-Dough Canisters
  • “Stick ’em Stickers
• Zurg is introduced in this attraction as a central figure, though he was only mentioned in the original Toy Story, and was not seen until Toy Story 2 in November of 1999.
• The ride vehicle was the fourth version of the Omnimover, but was made into one that you could direct yourself, rather than be directed.
• The success of this attraction confirmed that Pixar attractions could have a permanent home

Buzz Lightyear Across the Globe

Honorary Mention to Buzz Lightyear’s Astroblaster found in DisneyQuest in Walt Disney World and in Chicago. This was a bumper car style ride where you would collect foam balls and shoot them at other cars to make them spin. It actually opened in June of 1998 before the original Buzz Lightyear attraction opened at Magic Kingdom in October.

Videos & Photos

I want to bring to your attention some images and videos that capture Buzz Lightyear around the world. First is the original Magic Kingdom version. You can see that here.

The Paris version does a great job of representing how Paris Disneyland along with Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland all took their Circle-Vision spaces and translated them into Omnimover Buzz Lightyear attraction spaces. You can find the Paris Video here.

Shanghai Disneyland is a different look and feel, somewhat in the same way that Buzz Lightyear the movie is different than Buzz in the Toy Story movies. It’s not that it follows the plot of that movie, but rather has a more futuristic tone than a Cartoon or Toy look.

Hong Kong Disneyland took it even further with changing it out to Ant Man and Wasp ride, but still with target shooting. You can see that here. And know that while Tokyo is moving to a Wreck It Ralph theme, it will still also involve target play.

Magic Kingdom Attraction Breakdown

• Exterior Queue
• Interior Queue with Buzz and Mattel View-Master
• Moving Walkway Boarding Area
• Astro-Accelerator Disco Ball Replaced by Buddy Bot
• Robot Attack Scene with Box-O-Bot (Rock ‘Em Sock ‘EM Robot)
• Planet Z with Aliens Including Space Chickens, Alien in a Box, Pterodactyl and a Volcano
• Battery Delivery/Storage
• Zurg’s Fortress with Zurg in a Spiderbot
• Escape Hatch Leading into a Projection Tumble
• Fight Out with Zurg in the destroyed Spiderbot
• Commendations by Buzz Lightyear and Score Totals
• Moving Walkway Disembarkation
• Gift Shop & PhotoPass Area

My Review

You can see the new version of this Magic Kingdom attraction here.

• Love the new entrance signage–more architecturally appropriate to Tomorrowland, and less cartoonish, which prior, was just messy.
• Nothing changed about the standby line. My wife and I waited an hour and a half for it to reopen on Friday. It never happened. My colleagues, Brian and Nick, waited with me 30 minutes the first time, and around 20 minutes on our second round. It helped that the fireworks were going on the second time.
• Minimal changes to the indoor queue, though it looks really refreshed. Hopefully the wall paper is better applied so it’s less easy to pull on. That always looks disappointing. With the Lightening Lane moving faster and being closest to the wall, that may suggest less time to stand around and tug on it.
• Disappointing that Buzz and his View Master were behind a curtain. I heard that the facial display on Buzz had not really changed. This attraction is the only one with a View Master. All the other attractions have Etch a Sketchs.
• It feels a little like a “Fresh Paint Effect” where one looks at this attraction with a better perspective before. It all seems brighter and newer when in reality it is the same mural in the background when you board as before.
• Buddy Bot is one thing that is new and it really is much better than the previous Disco Mirror.
• No changes to challenges in the direction of the omnimover which in this part of the attraction tends to slant down to the left unless you self correct.
• Characters are all familiar, even the Space Chickens, but the targets are all new. And those of the highest points are not where they were before.
• Some say that it’s different in that you have to hit the black dot in the center. But that has always been the case. Still, the larger target area lights up when you strike it and signals when higher point values might be available. It adds a colorful dimension to the entire experience.
• There seems to be more additions to the animation at the Lock Out Chamber. What does seem certain is that the imagery is more detailed in the “Zoom Room” and includes Buzz himself. It carries itself better into the next scene as you see that the Zurg Spiderbot Ship is being destroyed, which destruction you see carried out in the next scene.
• Always bothers me that you can barely see Buzz in this room because this is the one moment the Omnimover forces your vehicle to face toward the camera.
• You come to the finale scene which is identical to before. The Status Board shows a new category of Galactic Hero, which is anyone who gets 1,000,000 points or more.
• No real changes with the gift ship and its PhotoPass monitors.

In 2017 Joffrey’s Revive Coffee opened in Tomorrowland. The food wasn’t what interested everyone. It was the design of the kiosk which harkened back to early Tomorrowland designs. In 2019 a sleek, more minimalist marquee opened in the front of Tomorrowland, replacing the more elaborate steam punk design. Since then there has been a continuation of that minimalist look, sometimes looking more bleached than anything, but admittedly very colorful at night. Add Tron which emphasized that other worldly look in 2023. The former Cool Ship took off and in its place came Coca Cola’s AstroFizz in 2025. And now Buzz Lightyear has a better more futuristic look for its entrance.

I appreciate any TLC that an attraction like this receives. And they did a great job with what they added, particularly new signage, the new Buddy Bot, and improvements to the projections in the Tunnel Room. I think because target values differ, it will still be a challenge to get the highest score possible. But it’s still fun and for the most part, the queue moves as quick as any attraction given the use of Omnimovers. It’s quintessential Tomorrowland and I think it will be around for a long time to come.

With this opening, look for Carousel of Progress to be closed next door for its remodeling. And we look forward to May 3rd, when Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opens.

Want to Visit Disney?

Hopefully this podcast has made you realize you need help and support in planning your next trip to Disney. David and Leah with Zanolla Travel know Disney in ways few do and they can make your next trip on land or sea an exciting one–or at least less stressful! Be sure to contact them as you explore your next vacation, whether it is a Disney theme park vacation, a cruise, or an Adventure by Disney. There is no charge to utilize their services, but it will save you enormous time getting all the details right, and with their insight you can be assured you’re going to experience the best trip possible. Contact them today!

Disneyland Insights: Inspiration, Ideas & Magic for You and Your Organization

For over a year I’ve been capturing and sharing stories of Disneyland, while creating a new online tool for you to explore all of them in one place. It’s called Disneyland Insights: Inspiration, Ideas & Magic for You and Your Organization and it’s an interactive, multimedia experience. This is truly designed for those who are seeking to find new ideas that will guide you to 

1. Provide Individual & Organizational Leadership Excellence
2. Create Employee Engagement & a Team Culture
3. Offer a Superior Customer Experience

Not only does the content through examples, stories and models play to these themes, but each section provides “Souvenirs for You and Your Organization”. They are reflective questions that may be used to better the work or operation you may be lead or be part of. And in that instance, it is more of a business focus. In fact, many may utilize funding set aside in their organization for training and development to purchase this volume.

Click here to order Disneyland Insights: Inspiration, Ideas & Magic for You and Your Organization. It’s also available on the show notes page of our podcast. Whether you’re on a comfy sofa at home or on Main Street, U.S.A. this experience allows you to navigate through all nine lands to explore some 100 locations where you can find Disney insights that will be inspire and guide you and your organization. 

Books From Your Host at Disney Insights

Also, if you’re looking to grab something today, go to Amazon where you will find four of my books available for purchase. Three explore Disney at length, and one explores world class businesses to include Disney. Check them out!

My newest book, A Century of Powerful Disney Insights, Volume I 1923-1973, The Walt & Roy Disney Years is available! 

Also, check out my two of my other books, The Wonderful World of Customer Service at Disney and Disney, Leadership and You. 

Also, for those examining other business benchmarks beyond Disney, check out Lead with Your Customer: Transform Culture and Brand Into World-Class Excellence.

Thanks for joining us for this podcast. Know that as in the title of my organization, Performance Journeys, it’s as much about the journey as it is about performance. Find the second star to the right, and keep going straight on till you reach it. Follow the compass of your heart, and know that with a smile and a song, a little faith, effort and pixie dust, your dreams can come true. After all, if we can dream it, we can do it. Until next time, bright suns, we’ll see you real soon!