Magic Kingdom ParkNews

NOTICE: Walls Block Tomorrowland Access to Magic Kingdom Guests

On Monday, Magic Kingdom Park guests were met with construction disruptions in Tomorrowland as part of the ongoing refurbishment of the Astro Orbiter. While the popular attraction has been undergoing a lengthy overhaul since January, the impact was felt this week when walls appeared, blocking part of the Tomorrowland area.

What makes this refurbishment different is that the entire structure of the Astro Orbiter was dismantled and removed for offsite work. Walt Disney World Resort typically conducts ride maintenance onsite, but this removal was so thorough that first-time visitors to Magic Kingdom Park would hardly know the ride was ever there at all.

Shortly after the Astro Orbiter closed in January, a crane appeared in Tomorrowland, surrounded by ground-level construction walls. The crane disappeared after crews dismantled the ride, taking the on-the-ground construction walls with it. Guests visiting the area in the past few months were greeted with a clear view, but the walls have since returned, signaling the continuation of work in preparation for the attraction’s eventual return.

Close-up of an empty Astro Orbiter ride vehicle.
Credit: Disney

According to WDWNT, the construction walls returned on Monday, once again surrounding a crane that will rebuild the Astro Orbiter. Walt Disney Imagineering filed for permits weeks ago to proceed with this project, and many of the refurbishments have taken place overnight, minimizing the disruption to guests.

Although much of the work occurred offsite, this year’s Astro Orbiter refurbishment seemed to focus mainly on necessary maintenance. The attraction isn’t expected to be noticeably different when it reopens.

Astro Orbiter
Credit: Disney Fanatic

As for the reopening date, Disney has confirmed that the Astro Orbiter will return sometime in the summer of 2025. Though no exact date has been set yet, the ride is expected to be operational before the next big attraction, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, closes for a major modernization project in August 2025. Disney avoids having both neighboring rides closed at the same time, so it’s likely the Astro Orbiter will reopen before then.

Has an attraction refurbishment impacted your Walt Disney World Resort vacation? Share your experience with Disney Fanatic in the comments! 

Jess Colopy

Jess Colopy is a Disney College Program alum and kid-at-heart. When she’s not furiously typing in a coffee shop, you can find her on the hunt for the newest Stitch pin.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Articles