Astro Orbiter (A Spinning Attraction in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom)
Astro Orbiter is an attraction at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. This classic ride is a spinner or aerial carousel, similar to the Magic Carpets of Aladdin and Dumbo, the Flying Elephant.
However, this attraction involves considerable heights compared to those rides. Astro Orbiter goes so high that guests can fly their own rocket ship among the planets that make up the attraction. As you orbit, you’ll be able to take in some of the best views of the Magic Kingdom.
Below, we’ll review the specifics for experiencing Astro Orbiter at Disney World. We’ll discuss who might enjoy this ride and who might prefer to skip it. Additionally, I’ll provide a few tips for the best time to ride this attraction.
Here are a few quick reference details for experiencing Astro Orbiter.
| Astro Orbiter | Magic Kingdom |
|---|---|
Location: | Tomorrowland |
Height Requirement: | None |
Lightning Lane: | No |
Ride Type: | Spinner |
Seats Per Vehicle: | 12 rockets hold 2 guests per rocket. |
Rider Switch: | No |
Early Theme Park Hours: | Yes |
Extended Evening Hours: | Yes |
Good For: | Children, Teens, Adults |
Scare Factor: | You must board an elevator to access this attraction. Some might experience motion sickness. |
Must-Do List: | Low |
Perfect For: | Children |
Special Mention: | Must board an elevator to access this attraction. Some might experience motion sickness. |
Additional Info: Guests in wheelchairs or ECVS must transfer to the ride vehicles. Details for those with mobility issues (e.g., wheelchairs and ECVs) are available on Disney.com.
Know Disney Rules When Riding With Children: A child under the age of seven or younger must be accompanied by an adult fourteen years or older.
Make sure to check our one-stop Lightning Lane Guide to plan your attractions.
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Astro Orbiter at Magic Kingdom
You might completely miss Astro Orbiter if you’re unfamiliar with touring the Magic Kingdom. That’s because it’s an elevated ride that’s difficult to see from the ground. Astro Orbiter sits on a platform directly above the Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover.
A sign outside the attraction’s entrance shows the wait time. Astro Orbiter only offers a standby queue. It doesn’t have a Lightning Lane. Disney lists this attraction as available for early entry and extended evening hours.
The Astro Orbiter queue is on the ground level past the attraction’s signage. Once you reach the front of the ground queue, a cast member will board your group into one of two small elevators. You’ll then ascend to the upper-level platform.
Once reaching the upper level, you’re assigned a loading area. From there, you’ll wait through one entire ride before it’s your turn to board the attraction vehicles.
While you wait, you can watch the group ahead fly their spacecraft.
When it’s your turn to board, parents (or those riding with smaller children) will need to sit toward the back of the rocket. One seatbelt will extend to wrap around everyone in the ride vehicle.
Here is a look at an individual rocket ship. While you ride, you can leave any belongings on the outer edge of the platform.
A lever inside the rocket allows guests to adjust how high they fly. Warning: The rocket does provide a forced feeling as it lifts. Because of the force, you’ll tend to lean back.
While Astro Orbiter offers great views of the park, I don’t often experience it due to the heightened sense of gravitational force. That said, many guests experience this attraction with no issues. But if you’re prone to motion sickness, you might skip it.
The best time to ride Astro Orbiter is anytime in the morning or evening when waits are at their lowest across the entire park. This isn’t a high-demand ride, but waits can build due to the boarding process and low capacity.
Fun Facts About Astro Orbiter
The attraction’s original version was called the Star Jets (1974-1994). It closed and was replaced with a highly stylized ironwork tower featuring planets in the solar system.
Between 1994 and 2009, the audio narration of the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover referred to the ride as the “League of Planets Astro Orbiter.”
Other Versions of Astro Orbiter:
- Astro Orbitor (Disneyland Version, California)
- Orbitron (Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland)
The Resorts Gal Spin on Astro Orbiter
We give Astro Orbiter the red light. If you find a long line at the base of the ride, you might skip it and return later. However, it wouldn’t be the end of the world if you missed this one!
Resorts Gal Traffic Signals
Green Light
We give an attraction the green light if we consider it a must-do, regardless of the posted wait. We also give the green light for attractions we deem suitable to experience anytime. For example, some attractions have high capacities. Therefore, the lines continuously move and you shouldn’t have a long wait unless the attraction experiences downtime.
Red Light
We recommend checking the posted wait times for red light attractions. Then, make a quick judgment call on whether to wait, skip it, or return later. We also red light some attractions that we feel might not be suitable based on our experience.
For other attractions in the same area of the park, you might enjoy the following:
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
- Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
- Space Mountain
- Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
- The Tomorrowland Speedway Ride
Or you can preview the complete list of rides at Magic Kingdom.
Resorts Gal specializes in Disney World Resorts, Characters, and Dining. Check out some of our resources, like our list of Disney World Resort Reviews. That article gives a brief overview of every Disney Resort Hotel.
We also have a complete list of our Disney restaurant reviews for planning dining reservations. We usually recommend scheduling one Disney World character dining meal, one Disney signature dining meal, and a reservation at one of the best restaurants at Disney Springs.
If you plan to meet characters in the parks, we have an updated list of Disney World Characters. It includes every available character meet in the parks and where to find rare characters throughout the year.
In the Comments
Do you have any questions about experiencing Astro Orbiter at Disney World? Have you ever ridden this classic attraction?
