A host of subtle yet obvious clues sprinkled around Disneyland’s futuristic Tomorrowland peak has fans buzzing about the possibility of a “Lightyear” attraction makeover coming to the classic Space Mountain roller coaster.
A new Buzz Lightyear “face character” who looks like the photo-realistic version of the Space Ranger hero in the new Pixar “Lightyear” film that opened June 17 has been posing for photos with visitors in Tomorrowland at the Anaheim theme park.
The new “Lightyear” science fiction action adventure movie tells the origin story of the “real life” Buzz Lightyear who inspired the action figure in Pixar’s “Toy Story” film franchise. Buzz is voiced by actor Chris Evans who plays Captain America in the Marvel films.
Disney fan websites have been chronicling the clues sprinkled by Disney throughout Tomorrowland and the new Pixar animated film signaling a possible upcoming “Lightyear” attraction overlay at Disneyland’s Space Mountain.
Space Mountain has been host to past temporary attraction overlays themed to Star Wars (Hyperspace Mountain) and Halloween (Ghost Galaxy). Disneyland has conducted teaser campaigns in the past — most recently with the return of the Main Street Electrical Parade.
A Space Ranger launch port in the distinctive shape of Space Mountain features prominently in the new “Lightyear” film.
Disneyland’s Space Mountain will be overhauled to represent the “Lightyear” launch platform structure, according to WDW News Today. The new Lightyear Mountain will be the centerpiece of Disneyland’s biggest Tomorrowland makeover since 1998, according to WDWNT.
A Buzz Lightyear meet-and-greet location in the Space Mountain queue tied to the opening of “Lightyear” includes a photo backdrop with the film’s mountainous spaceport and the XL-15 hyper speed spaceship flown by Space Rangers.
A new Space Ranger logo with a winged rocket superimposed on a triangular launch port graphic can also be found on the meet-and-greet backdrop and the floor stickers leading to the Buzz Lightyear photo op location.
A permanent makeover of Disneyland’s iconic Space Mountain façade representing a 1970s vision of the future has long been speculated and would not be without precedent.
Tokyo Disneyland announced in April that the Japanese park’s Space Mountain would close in 2024 to allow for a $400 million makeover of the ride with a façade featuring neon blue undulating curves. The revamped ride is set to reopen in 2027.
Unlike most Disney rides, Space Mountain has a relatively sparse backstory with no characters or memorable scenes. A loose storyline finds riders entering a space station bound for a rocket mission to the furthest reaches of space. The journey through infinite darkness passes a spectacular spiral nebula, swirling solar field and geodesic laser satellite.
The Space Mountain attractions at Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland have opted to keep the popular Star Wars-themed Hyperspace Mountain overlays indefinitely.
Disneyland already has a Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters shooter dark ride in Tomorrowland that would likely have to be rethemed if Space Mountain became Lightyear Mountain.
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