Despite a six-month overhaul, Magic Kingdom Park’s Astro Orbiter attraction shut down unexpectedly on Sunday and has yet to reopen. Just weeks after reopening, the Tomorrowland ride is once again out of service.
Originally debuting as Star Jets in November 1974, Astro Orbiter has been a Tomorrowland icon for over 50 years. The ride is one of the few attractions that has seen iterations at Disney parks around the globe, though Tokyo Disneyland has since closed its version. Other parks still feature variations, including Jet Packs at Shanghai Disneyland, Orbitron at Hong Kong Disneyland and Disneyland Paris, and Astro Orbiter at Disneyland Park and Magic Kingdom Park.
In January, Astro Orbiter underwent a unique refurbishment that involved crews disassembling the ride and refurbishing it offsite. A crane surrounded by construction walls arrived in Tomorrowland to begin the project, and after the crane returned in the spring, the attraction was rebuilt and ready to reopen. The official reopening date was June 27, and it looked like everything was set for a fresh start for the ride.
However, on the afternoon of July 13, Astro Orbiter unexpectedly shut down again. While temporary closures are common at Disney parks, typically due to weather, guest behavior, or technical difficulties, this one didn’t seem to resolve as quickly. Instead of reopening after a few hours, the ride stayed closed throughout Sunday and into Monday, with no clear communication about when it would be operational again. By Tuesday, July 15, the ride was still listed as “temporarily closed” on the My Disney Experience app.
Guests took to social media to express their frustration, with some questioning the effectiveness of the recent refurbishment. On Monday, X (formerly known as Twitter) user @BeastCoasters wrote:
I don’t think Astro Orbiter opened at all today so I guess the refurb ended a bit too soon 🤷♂️
I don't think Astro Orbiter opened at all today so I guess the refurb ended a bit too soon 🤷♂️
— BeastCoasters (@BeastCoasters) July 14, 2025
On the same day, @TheSportsZu posted:
Astro Orbiter and Space Mountain down right now is not helpful!
Astro Orbiter and Space Mountain down right now is not helpful!
— SportsZu (@TheSportsZu) July 14, 2025
Walt Disney World Resort has yet to release any official statement regarding the days-long closure of Astro Orbiter. As of this article’s publication, the ride remains closed with no word on when it will reopen or if any additional repairs will be made.
Have you noticed any changes on Astro Orbiter since the refurbishment? Disney Dining would love to hear from you in the comments!
