ALERT: this is an experience from November 2014
As a Disney fan, I love almost all of the rides, but it is the Astro Orbiter the exception.
After an exhaustive refurbishment held in the latter months of 2014, the Astro Orbiter lacks the following:
- Synchronisation
- FastPass+
- Quick Service Elevators
- An accurate wait time
- One more Cast Member
Chronologically: you are in Main Street U.S.A. is 14:15 and have your iPhone/Smartphone or iPad/Tablet with the Disney App, you check the wait time, it is 25 mins. in the app (you think "perfect, quick one before seeing the 15:00 Festival of Fantasy Parade") so start to walk to Tomorrowland, and the grimace you make when you realise the real wait time is 35 mins.
After briefly thinking you make a line under the PeopleMover for 29 mins. then you're divided between "Blue Group" and "Red Group" climb up in an elevator that goes as slow as Crush the Tortoise, after arriving you're separated from the other group while you wait for other parties to finish their ride. (So long 38 mins. and it is 14:53) after having the blue group riding first during 4 minutes, finally comes your turn, and after you've ridded for 1:30 mins… you're isolated with the rest of the group to wait for the ride operator to allow you to go down in the elevator.
The final result: you've spent 51 minutes in the Astro Orbiter due to lack of control in the line and Cast Members' availability. You've spent 51 minutes of your life on the queuing, riding, and leaving of the Astro Orbiter, and you missed the Parade too! :(
