Credit: Christian Lambert, UnsplashBig things are happening at the Magic Kingdom.
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The Magic Kingdom is home to dozens of incredible attractions, with Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan’s Flight, Space Mountain, and Pirates of the Caribbean arguably being the park’s most popular. Part of what makes Magic Kingdom so great is its variety, as there are things both kids and adults can enjoy.
The park is home to several dark rides, multiple roller coasters, and a few shows. However, Magic Kingdom is also home to three different spinner rides, on based on Aladdin, one on Dumbo, and on on, well, space. This space-themed adventure, Astro Orbiter, has taken guests high above Tomorrowland for years, but has been offline for the last six months for refurbishment.
It now seems like the ride is entering the final stages, with Disney crews working on testing the attraction.
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Testing is now underway on Astro Orbiter at Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland. Guests visiting the futuristic land today will notice cast members surrounding the high-flying rocket ship attraction’s main platform. According to reports, ride programmers were raising and lowering the attraction.
Astro Orbiter does not yet have an official reopening date, though Disney World has stated guests can expect it to return sometime this summer.
Disney World has been working on Astro Orbiter since January as the attraction undergoes an extensive refurbishment. At one point, the ride was dismantled completely, leaving a rather large gap in the center of Tomorrowland.
Astro Orbiter certainly isn’t the most popular or beloved ride at Magic Kingdom, let alone Tomorrowland, though it’s worth a spin if guests seek great views of the park. Astro Orbiter is essentially the same experience as riding Dumbo the Flying Elephant or Magic Carpets of Aladdin, only way higher in the air.
Astro Orbiter isn’t the only Tomorrowland attraction to undergo an extensive overhaul in 2025, as Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin will close this August for a massive refurbishment. The arcade-style shoot-em-up attraction has desperately needed some TLC for years, with Disney breaking the news earlier this year that Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin will finally be receiving significant upgrades.
These aren’t the only upgrades coming to classic Disney World attractions this year. Over at EPCOT, Disney is getting ready to reopen Test Track after its year-long refurbishment. This new, third take on the classic EPCOT thrill ride is promised to feature incredible new effects and a new storyline.
Rock’ n’ Roller Coaster will close in 2026 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for its big overhaul, which will see Aerosmith replaced by The Muppets. A similar project will begin next year at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, with Disney planning to rework the park’s DINOSAUR thrill ride into an Indiana Jones-themed experience.
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What is your favorite ride at Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland?