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/* Ride Summery */
{{Infobox Disney ride| image=Astroorbiter2.jpg| caption='''The Astro Orbiter in Tomorrowland'''| land=Tomorrowland| opened= November 28, 1974 (as Star Jets) | closed= January 10, 1994 | vehicle_names=Rocket Ship| guests_per_vehicle=2| park= Magic Kingdom| duration=1:30| type=Hub and Spoke|custom_label_1 = Previously Known As|custom_value_1 = Star Jets (1974-1994)|custom_label_2= Reopened |custom_value_2= April 30, 1994 (as Astro Orbiter)|theme=Space travel|custom_label_3= Disney Genie +|custom_value_3= No}}Astro Orbiter is an attraction located in [[Tomorrowland]].
==Attraction History==
The attraction that would one day be known as the Astro Orbiter opened it Walt Disney World on November 28, 1974 under the name of Star Jets. Star Jets was a replica of the actually traces its history back to Disneyland attraction Rocket Jets. In fact the only differences between the two attractions (besides the name) was that the Walt 1956, Disney World vehicles were largerdebuted its first ever "rocket-spinner" attraction, and had a flatter back end with a larger tailthe Astro Jets. The Created by Klaus Company Bavaria, the attraction is a wheel and spoke attraction that allows allowed guests to board rocket ships, and "fly " 36 feet above Tomorrowlandground level in small "jets" <ref> http://davelandweb.com/astrojets/ </ref>. The rockets would fly around a replica Disneyland version of the Saturn V space ship, and the Star Jets attraction was considered the focal point of briefly renamed "Tomorrowland. The Star Jets were located above ", before it was moved to a new location atop the Rockettower Plaza which houses PeopleMover and renamed the [[WEDway People Mover]]"Rocket Jets" in 1967.
On January 10 1994 the Star Jets was closed. In conjunction with the "New Tomorrowland", the attraction was given a complete makeover. The replica color scheme of the attraction was changed, with the ride now being primarily grey and metallic looking. At this time, a stylized iron tower and various "planets" also replaced the Saturn V rocket that once was Rocket as the ride’s focal point . The new structure allowed guests to feel as if they were flying through the planets, instead of just around a stationary object. The new ride also featured 3 more rockets which helped to increase guest capacity. When the attraction reopened on April 30, 1994 it was renamed the Astro Orbiter. In 2014 the Astro Orbiter closed for an extensive refurbishment. During this time, the attraction was painted camoflouge green stripped and used in the television series "Thunder in Paradise"given a new ride system. The series Furthermore, during the refurbishment the exterior of the ride structure was produced at given a new paint scheme (including the [[Disney-MGM Studios]], attraction's elevator shaft being painted orange) and after the series ended, rockets themselves were given a new look. During the rocket refurbishment it was placed in speculated that the Boneyard scene rotating planets (which had been stationary for a number of years) would be repaired. When the Backstage Tourattraction reopened however, the planets remained stationary <ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/astro-orbitor/news/02oct2014-photos---astro-orbiter-reopens-with-new-color-scheme.htm </ref>.
==Ride Summery==
[[Image:astroorbiter4.png|thumb|400px| A closer look at the Astro Orbiter ride vehicles. Photo Disney| alt= Astro Orbiter ride vehicle]]
The Astro Orbiter allows guests to board rocket ships and fly high above Tomorrowland. Differentiating it from other "hub and spoke" attractions in Walt Disney World (such as [[Dumbo the Flying Elephant]] and the [[Magic Carpets of Aladdin]]), is the fact that the rockets actually sit atop Rockettower Plaza, 80 feet in the air. In order to board their rockets, guests must ascend up a small elevator which brings them to the loading area.
==Fun Facts and Trivia==
*The replica of the Saturn V rocket that was once the focal point of the Astro Orbiter was painted camouflage green and used in the television series "Thunder in Paradise" (the series was produced at the [[Disney-MGM Studios]]). After the series ended, the rocket was placed in the Boneyard scene of the [[Studio Backlot Tour]]<ref> http://www.mouseplanet.com/guide/742/Walt-Disney-World/Magic-Kingdom/Tomorrowland/Astro-Orbiter </ref>.
*The attraction vehicles themselves may have been based on the popular Buck Rogers series. <ref> http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/magickingdom/tom-astro.htm </ref>.
*Formally, On the [[Tomorrowland Transit AuthorityPeopleMover]], the Astro Orbiter is was referred to as the "League of Planets Astro Orbiter". This ties tied the attraction in with the backstory of Tomorrowland, which states stated that Tomorrowland is the land was the headquarters for the fictional League of Planets, which helps helped make Tomorrowland an intergalactic meeting place.
*A two day cast member Cast Member preview of the Star Jets took place on Nov 26th and 27th from November 26-27, 1974<ref> http://allears.net/tp/mk/starjets.htm </ref>. *When Walt Disney World still used ticket books the Star Jets required a "D" ticket to ride<ref> http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/magickingdom/tom-astro.htm </ref>.
==References==