Hi, Pat! Thanks for bringing your question to the Disney Parks Moms Panel.
The first time my daughter rode
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, she was not quite three years old. She giggled the entire time! She did get a little frustrated because she was a bit too short to see over the top of the laser cannon, but I let her take charge of the "Spin" controller and she had an absolute blast turning us around (and around and around)! She also loved watching our teeth and shoelaces "glow" under the black lights, too.
My daughter had already seen
Toy Story, so she was familiar with all of the characters (including the "Evil" Emperor Zurg). In addition to watching the movie with your little Space Ranger, you might also want to search for "Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin" on YouTube to see full point-of-view videos of this attraction. For my daughter, these types of videos have helped any time we've wanted to try a new attraction so she knows what to expect before going on the ride. (For this particular attraction, you might also find some tips for how to score the most points possible!)
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin also offers attraction photos. If you're wearing a MagicBand, your photo should magically appear in your
My Disney Experience account. (My husband and daughter like to try to see who can make the most intense infrared-laser-cannon-firing face in their photos.)
Check your Times Guide when you're at Magic Kingdom Park to see if
Star Command's #1 Space Ranger will be greeting Guests while you're there, too.
Have fun defending the Galaxy!
Amy