Magic Kingdom is set to reopen two major attractions this spring after an extended closure. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad return with upgraded effects, a few changes in story and a refresh to the long standing rides. In this post, we’ll share their opening dates and add our commentary. Let’s start with Buzz!

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin Reopening April 8th

Around this time last year, Disney World announced that Space Ranger Spin would be receiving an update. The closure, which began in August, would give the attraction time to add a new scene, updated ride vehicles, handheld blasters and interactive targets. We’ve since learned that there will also be a refresh of the queue.

Disney got to work on this right away and this has led to a quick turnaround. We just got word from Star Command: our mission is ready. Join Buzz Lightyear beginning April 8 at Magic Kingdom Park to save the galaxy from the evil emperor Zurg on this recharged attraction.

After boarding your enhanced ride vehicle, you’ll meet Buddy, a new support bot at Star Command, who will help you train with some target practice before heading out on your mission. From interactive targets that will now react and light up when hit, to new hand-held blasters that will include an always-on laser and new lighting, sound and vibration effects, Buddy has full confidence you’ll succeed.

Once you return to Star Command, there will be new Disney PhotoPass memories for you featuring, for the first time, your scores and rank for all the bragging rights.

The reopening announcement from Disney is a little light on details. But Imagineering did showcase a new video with some ride footage.

I’ll get this out of the way now – I’m a stubborn guy in his 30’s thinking, “I don’t need Buddy to tell me what targets to hit.” Joke will be on me when the 9-year-old outscores me on my first go around!

Jokes aside, I’m very happy that this project is happening and nearing completion. Walt Disney World had the worst version of the ride and this refresh could, rather easily, make it the best. Handheld blasters is a game changer and I’m excited to see what the cleaning up of the ride scenes looks like.

For those that take defeating Zurg a little less seriously, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will have references to Toy Story 5 and plenty of other eye candy along the way.

The April 8th timeframe is mostly good news, as that’s less than a month away now. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a week or so of soft openings but there isn’t much time. It does appear that most of the on-ride changes are complete so most things are cosmetic now. If you’re visiting before April 8th, I wouldn’t count on this being open but it doesn’t hurt to hope.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Opening in Early May

In less enthusiastic news, we don’t have a specific date for the opening of Big Thunder. The iconic roller coaster has been down at Walt Disney World for over a year at this point and it appears to have hit a delay in opening. While May still hits the spring timeframe that the company has announced, I think the goal was around spring break time and this reopening won’t make it for that.

This is the message from Disney that was included in their Cool Kids’ Summer announcements:

And that’s not all the fun Magic Kingdom has to offer during Cool KIDS’ SUMMER, as the prospectors over at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad put the finishing touches on the wildest ride in the wilderness. The attraction will reopen with new magic and the shine and polish of an all-over refurbishment in early May.

The good news is that there’s a silver lining in here. Disney has pinned themselves down with a window here, stating early May. That will be before any of the summer offerings kick off and could give Magic Kingdom a nice boost heading into a new season.

While it’s conjecture on my part to say that this reopening was delayed, Disney World hardly ever means May when they list spring as an opening season. Technically, they weren’t wrong here assuming that Big Thunder does open in early May. The calendars give them the benefit of the doubt! But adding the fairly high capacity coaster before the late March crowd rush was likely the goal.

Recent days have seen the refurbishment stretch to working on the pavement in front of the project. That points to this construction winding down. When the coaster does open back up it’s going to boast new special effects along with a new look story.

Magic Kingdom has missed Big Thunder. It’s one of the best attractions in the park and will make a run at being the very best with a fresh look. Without a specific date given, it appears that Imagineering is trying to get this done as quickly as possible but I wouldn’t expect the attraction to open before May.

We’re eager to see both rides back at the world’s most popular theme park. They will help ease lines at other attractions and both should be improved. After Epcot’s ride improvements over the last year, it’s good to see Magic Kingdom get some love!

Are you excited for the reopening of Big Thunder Mountain and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin? Let us know your thoughts or any questions you might have in the comments below. Planning a trip to Walt Disney World? Check out our Disney World Trip Planning Guide to help you out. Looking for discount tickets? Check out this site! If you enjoy what you are reading here on Wandering in Disney please share this post with your friends, as well as like our social media pages. You can also subscribe to the blog via WordPress or email. All of those links are on the right side of this page. Thank you for reading, we really appreciate it!