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Credit: DisneyFor months now, something has been a little off in Tomorrowland. Guests step into the rockets, the music swells, and the Astro Orbiter begins to spin high above Magic Kingdom. But what many don’t realize is that the ride isn’t actually soaring the way it’s supposed to. A key element that gives Astro Orbiter its signature height has been broken for months, and the difference is not small.
A Rebuild That Didn’t Last
The Astro Orbiter reopened this summer after a lengthy refurbishment that kept it closed for more than five months. Disney gave the attraction a full rebuild, which had fans excited to see it flying high again. For a brief moment, everything looked and felt just right. The central lift—the mechanism that raises and lowers the entire ride platform—was back in action.
But not long after reopening, that central lift broke. According to reports from Blog Mickey, the issue popped up shortly after the ride came back online, and it’s been stuck ever since. That means Astro Orbiter is operating at about half its usual height, which might not sound like a big deal at first… until you ride it.
The Missing Magic
When the lift is working, Astro Orbiter gives guests that incredible “top of the world” feeling. You’re soaring high above Tomorrowland, catching panoramic views of Magic Kingdom, and it’s easy to feel like you’re flying. With the lift broken, though, that magic is dimmed. The lowest rockets now zip along the ground level, and even the highest ones only reach about half of the altitude they normally would.
For guests riding the attraction for the first time, the difference might not be obvious. But for anyone who’s experienced it before, it’s noticeable. The height was always a big part of what made Astro Orbiter special—it’s not just a spinner, it’s the spinner that towers over Tomorrowland.
Disney Knows — But Will They Fix It?
The tricky part here is that it’s unclear if this is a quick fix or something much more complicated. The central lift is no small piece of machinery, and if the issue runs deep, it may require a full teardown to address. That would likely mean another extended closure, which Disney might be hesitant to do so soon after reopening it.
For now, the ride is still spinning—just not the way it was designed to. Disney hasn’t shared an official update, and guests are left to wonder if or when Astro Orbiter will ever fully return to its signature height.
A Different Kind of Flight
The experience isn’t ruined, but it is changed. Instead of soaring high above the park, guests now get a slightly less spectacular view, spinning closer to the ground. For some, it’s still a fun family ride. But for others, it’s a reminder that even classic attractions can quietly lose their magic piece by piece.
Until Disney decides to address the problem head-on, Astro Orbiter will keep flying low—literally. For fans who love Tomorrowland’s skyline, that’s a tough pill to swallow.