A family-friendly ride at Magic Kingdom Park has been out of service for an unexpected four-day stretch, and there’s still no word from Walt Disney World Resort on when it will be back up and running. Astro Orbiter, a spinning attraction that towers above Tomorrowland, first shut down on Sunday afternoon and has remained closed ever since.
Temporary ride closures are a regular occurrence at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. They often happen due to bad weather, technical issues, or even guest disruptions. Typically, these closures are resolved within a few hours, but this latest suspension of operations is different. The Astro Orbiter was down for the rest of Sunday, and the ride failed to reopen on Monday and Tuesday. As of Wednesday, July 16, the ride is still not operational, with no update on its status.
This situation becomes even more curious considering that Astro Orbiter had just reopened on June 27, 2025, following a six-month refurbishment. In January, crews arrived in Tomorrowland with a crane to disassemble the ride and refurbish it offsite. For months, the attraction was absent from its place above the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover loading platform. The crane eventually returned, and Astro Orbiter was reassembled and thoroughly tested before it welcomed guests back. Now, just weeks later, it’s back down again, raising questions about the effectiveness of the recent refurbishment.
On July 14, X (formerly 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
Despite the questions and growing concerns, Walt Disney World Resort has yet to provide an official statement on the cause of the prolonged closure. As of now, the My Disney Experience app still lists Astro Orbiter as “temporarily closed,” with no estimated reopening date.
*Editor’s Note: The Astro Orbiter reopened on July 16 at around 2:00 p.m.
Do any other Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park attractions need refurbishment? Share your opinion with Disney Dining in the comments!
