May the Coca-Cola be with you, Buzz's refresh, and more Disney parks news you should care about this week (6/27)
Galactic soda, anyone?
If there's one thing Disney fans and Emperor Zurg have in common, it’s a shared fear of downtime. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what’s coming for one of Magic Kingdom’s most delightfully janky rides — and this time, the aliens won’t save us.
🔫 Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin to close for refurbishment Aug. 19
The ride that launched a thousand stuck laser triggers is going dark. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will close on August 19 for a major overhaul, as confirmed by Disney this week. After 25 years of warped targets and parents rage-tapping the spin control, this could be a much-needed hyperspace refresh — and reportedly it will include a new room, a new character, and upgraded gameplay.
The thing that won’t change? Me bragging all day when I beat my family’s scores.
Coca‑Cola rolls out Star Wars‑themed cans with park-exclusive variants
Just in time for summer park runs, Coca‑Cola and Disney are launching 30 collectible Star Wars cans, and three will be park-exclusive featuring Mandalorian, Grogu, and Chewbacca at WDW, Disneyland, and Tokyo Disney Resort. Each can even unlocks an AR hologram experience via QR — perfect for those epic park photo ops.
WDW monorails are getting a glow-up — literally
Visitors to Walt Disney World might notice a subtle but kinda cool change to the monorail vehicles starting this week — logos that glow in the dark. I mean, it’s simple, but gets us one step closer to Tron being reality, so I’m in.
Hong Kong Disneyland’s 20th Anniversary kicks off June 28
Celebrations begin this weekend with the “Friendtastic!” parade and castle show, capping off Hong Kong’s Frozen-themed walk-through and a continued “Stark Expo” Marvel presence. It’s a global parks party.
Quick Hits
Spaceship Earth at EPCOT to close for refurbishment starting Aug 25, with updates to follow later in the year.
EPCOT now has roaming AI animatronics Ms. Information & Al near Cosmic Rewind — very Westworld meets Tomorrowland.
Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland will cease to have a lightning lane entrance — turns out it was only temporary while they worked on other stuff, like the Haunted Mansion queue.
The Eiffel Tower scene for Soarin' Around the World is now updated at both EPCOT and DCA.
Discuss Amongst Yourselves
Is it time for Buzz to get a total rebuild (a la Spider‑Man at Universal), or just a new laser battery?
Could a real DisneySEA‑style mega‑park come to the U.S., or will we just keep expanding parking lots?
Are AR Coke cans the future of park merch — or are you saving your money for popcorn buckets?
What did we miss in this edition? Let us know.