At a glance
Orbitron captures the retro-futuristic spirit of Discoveryland perfectly. Rather than copying the NASA-style Rocket Jets of the other Disney parks, the Imagineers went for a steampunk vision inspired by the 1930s Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon comics, the drawings of Leonardo da Vinci and antique astronomical instruments.
It’s simple but effective: you climb aboard one of the twelve little copper and bronze rockets, each dedicated to a sign of the zodiac, on your own or in twos. As it spins, you control the height yourself with a lever, rising up to about 7.80 metres above the ground. In the centre of the ride, a giant planetarium shows the planets of the solar system, which turn in the opposite direction to the rockets: the illusion makes you feel you’re racing through space at two times the real speed.
Visually, Orbitron is a real beacon at the entrance to Discoveryland, and especially spectacular after dark, when its neon lights and golden spheres reflect in the nearby Discovery Lagoon.
Discoveryland’s signature retro-futuristic ride. Rockets with adjustable height spin around a mobile of copper planets, and each passenger controls how high their pod climbs. Gentle thrills and a bird’s-eye view over the land. Especially good at nightfall, when the lighting shows off the setting.
History
Opened on 12 April 1992 along with the park, Orbitron is the Disneyland Paris version of the spinning rocket rides found in several Disney parks since Disneyland in Anaheim (1956). Set in Discoveryland, it stands out for a retro-futuristic look inspired by Jules Verne and Leonardo da Vinci, unique to the Paris version, which science fiction author Ray Bradbury helped shape. It was such a success that it in turn inspired the Astro Orbitor at Disneyland in California in 1998.
Sponsored by BNP Paribas for its first ten years, the ride was fully restored in 2021 (taken down to its foundations, a new queue, LED lighting), then had an extended refurbishment until summer 2025 to maintain the structure.
Technical data
- Duration
- 1 min 30
- Opened
- 1992
- Type Classic ride
- Opening date 12 April 1992
- Duration 1 min 30
- Number of rockets 12
- Design Walt Disney Imagineering
- Builder Zamperla
Theme & story
Levels & accessibility
- Fear level low
- Thrill level low
- Emotional impact moderate
- Perceived wait moderate
- Minimum height None (open to all)
- Recommended age kids, tweens, teens, adults
- Wheelchair access must transfer from wheelchair
- Pregnant visitors suitable
Premier Access, Single Rider, PhotoPass
Skip the regular queue whenever you like. Handy in peak season, when the wait often goes over 60 minutes.
No Single Rider here. To save time, count on Premier Access or park opening.
No PhotoPass on this ride.
Not open during Extra Magic Time: it opens at the same time as the park.
Who it’s for
Pros and cons
Strong points
- The visual icon of Discoveryland
- A retro-futuristic design found nowhere else in the world
- You control the height of your rocket
Weak points
- Low hourly capacity
- Weather-dependent (no cover when it rains)
- The spinning planets often break down
My verdict
Orbitron is the visual icon of Discoveryland: twelve copper rockets spinning around a mobile of golden planets, with each passenger controlling how high their pod climbs. Very gentle, with a minimum height of 81 cm and a ride time of 1 min 30. Its retro-futuristic design, like a time machine, is found nowhere else in the world, with no equivalent in the other Disney parks.
What I love most is riding it after dark: the neon lights reflect in the Discovery Lagoon and the whole land lights up. A detail to look out for: each of the twelve rockets is dedicated to a sign of the zodiac. Capacity is low and the central spinning planets regularly break down, so bear that in mind when it comes to the queue.
Best time to visit
Calculated from the ride’s queue time history, updated every day.
Map & getting there
Orbitron is at the entrance to Discoveryland, between Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast and Autopia.
Your questions about this ride
01 How can you avoid long queues for the most popular rides?
To avoid long queues at Disneyland Paris, I combine several tactics. First, Single Rider is free and really speeds things up on the rides that offer it, including Crush’s Coaster, Flight Force, Ratatouille and Spider-Man, as long as you’re happy not to ride with your group. Next, Disney Premier Access is a paid service that gives you priority access to the headline rides. If you’re staying in a Disney hotel, Extra Magic Time lets you into the park before official opening, and it’s the best time to ride the popular attractions back to back without queuing. Finally, heading to the most popular rides during a parade or a big show empties the queues considerably.
02 Are the queue times shown in the park reliable?
Yes, the queue times shown in the app or on the screens around the park are generally reliable. They’re often the same as, or slightly longer than, the real wait, which helps you plan your day better.
03 How can I find out if a ride will be closed for refurbishment during my trip?
Disneyland Paris publishes the list of rides closed for refurbishment on its official website, several weeks in advance. Because the parks are open all year round, the maintenance teams sometimes work on days when the parks are open, which leads to temporary closures. My advice: check this calendar (or the one on my blog) before booking, especially if there’s one particular ride you really care about.
04 What are the minimum heights for each ride at Disneyland Paris?
Here are the minimum heights for the thrill rides at Disneyland Paris. In Disneyland Park: Autopia 0.81 m, Star Tours and Big Thunder Mountain 1.02 m, Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain 1.20 m, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril 1.40 m. In Disney Adventure World: Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop 0.81 m, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 1.02 m, Crush’s Coaster 1.07 m, Avengers Assemble: Flight Force and RC Racer 1.20 m. The other rides have no height restrictions, which makes them ideal for families with young children.
05 Which rides might scare young children?
Several rides at Disneyland Paris can frighten young children even without a height restriction. Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains, in Fantasyland, has dark scenes with the witch that can catch them off guard. Les Voyages de Pinocchio also has some unsettling scenes. La Tanière du Dragon, under Sleeping Beauty Castle, is home to a very impressive animatronic dragon. Phantom Manor, in Frontierland, plays on a ghostly atmosphere and is really intense for toddlers. Pirates of the Caribbean switches between cheerful moments and darker scenes. I’d suggest watching how your child reacts before you get on.
