Disney World Disassembles Fan-Favorite Tomorrowland Ride After 50 Years

Walt Disney World Resort guests may have noticed some construction walls in Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland, signaling the return of a disassembled attraction. The beloved Astro Orbiter, a staple in the park for over 50 years, is currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment. Guests visiting the original Central Florida Disney park over the past few months have seen the iconic ride structure disappear entirely, leaving the area looking almost as if the attraction had never existed.

Since January 2025, the Astro Orbiter has been closed for a major refurbishment. The ride, which sits atop the PeopleMover loading platform, is one of the tallest structures in Tomorrowland, making it difficult for guests to see the progress of the work being done. However, Disney Parks fans quickly took notice when large construction walls were set up in the area, surrounding a massive crane that was brought in to help disassemble and remove the ride’s components.

In an unusual move, Disney completely dismantled the Astro Orbiter during this lengthy refurbishment. The attraction has been removed entirely from Magic Kingdom, making it one of the most unique refurbishment projects the parks have ever seen. It would be difficult for first-time visitors to the Magic Kingdom to know that the Astro Orbiter had ever been there, as both the mechanical and decorative parts of the ride have been taken offsite for updates.

After months of offsite work, it seems the Astro Orbiter is nearing its return to Tomorrowland. Recently, construction walls reappeared around the ride area, and a crane was spotted, suggesting that the reassembly process is beginning. According to reports from WDWNT, much of the work on the Astro Orbiter has been taking place overnight to minimize disruption to guests, with little visibility into the construction during park hours.

While the refurbishment will likely include necessary updates and maintenance, the ride itself is expected to return without significant changes. Walt Disney World Resort has not yet announced an exact reopening date, but the Astro Orbiter is scheduled to welcome guests sometime in the summer of 2025.

The attraction’s reopening will likely precede the closure of the neighboring Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, which will undergo its own major modernization project in August. Disney typically avoids having adjacent rides closed at the same time, so it’s likely that the Astro Orbiter will reopen before then.

Have you noticed any other construction around Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Disney Tips would love to hear from you in the comments!