Disney World Adds New Magic Kingdom Ride Closure to Refurbishment Calendar

The holiday season at Disney World is one of the busiest times of the year to visit. With seasonal decor, holiday-themed food, and special ticketed offerings like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Jollywood Nights, Disney World in Orlando attracts a ton of guests for the holidays.

However, early January is typically a slower time on our crowd calendar, which makes it a popular time for Disney to close attractions for refurbishment. Disney World just announced a short closure of one of Tomorrowland’s attractions for early 2027.

Keep reading for the full details, as well as how you might want to plan ahead if you’re visiting during the scheduled refurbishment. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including a surprise Disney theme park ticket flash sale and Disney actively enforcing new pin trading rules.

Disney World Astro Orbiter Refurbishment

The Astro Orbiter is a classic Disney World attraction located in Tomorrowland. Reimagined in 1994 from “Star Jets” as part of the “New Tomorrowland,” The Astro Orbiter allows you to pilot your very own rocket ship, controlling your flight with a joystick.

Disney World just announced a short closure of the Astro Orbiter from Tuesday, January 5 to Thursday, January 7, 2027. It is scheduled to reopen on Friday, January 8.

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Currently, Disney has not announced any details about the closure. However, with a short timeframe of just 3 days, it would seem that there is not enough time for Imagineers to perform any major updates. This closure of the Astro Orbiter is the first since its 5-month refurbishment back in 2025, when the attraction was fully dismantled and put back together.

The Astro Orbiter is just one of two attractions that will be closed for refurbishment in Tomorrowland in January 2027. The Carousel of Progress, which originally debuted at the 1964-1965 World’s Fair, is currently undergoing a major overhaul to update each of its scenes. While we don’t know exactly when it will reopen, Disney has stated that they expect it to be in late spring 2027.

If you’re planning a trip to the Magic Kingdom between January 5 and January 7, 2027, these closures are worth noting. With two Tomorrowland rides closed on the same day, there is a chance that other attractions in the area will experience longer wait times, especially with Tomorrowland housing two of the park’s most thrilling and popular attractions, TRON Lightcycle Run and Space Mountain.

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On the other hand, the scheduled closure is short, during the middle of the week from Tuesday to Thursday, and during an off-peak season. So guests can likely enjoy their day at Magic Kingdom without too much disruption.

If you’re planning a trip to Disneyland or Disney World, be sure to stay tuned for all the most recent updates on attraction closures.

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