Astro Jets (1956–1964) was a rocket-spinner ride in Disneyland’s Tomorrowland, operating from April 2, 1956, to September 1966, though renamed Tomorrowland Jets in 1964. Manufactured by Klaus Company Bavaria, it featured 12 jet-like vehicles circling a 50-foot diameter around a red-checkered rocket, with guests controlling heights up to 36 feet. Initially located between Submarine Voyage and Rocket to the Moon, it closed in 1966 for Tomorrowland’s 1967 overhaul, reopening as Rocket Jets on the PeopleMover platform in August 1967. It closed again in 1997, replaced by Astro Orbitor at Tomorrowland’s entrance in 1998 due to weight issues.
Below are 10 fun facts about Astro Jets (1956–1964) at Disneyland:
- Carnival-Inspired Design: Built by Klaus Company Bavaria, Astro Jets resembled traveling carnival rides, with 12 two-person jets attached to a central tower by 20-foot metal booms, spinning in a 50-foot circle.
- Guest-Controlled Flight: Riders used a lever to adjust their jet’s height, climbing up to 36 feet above ground, offering a thrilling sense of piloting their own spacecraft.
- Military Ceremony Opening: The ride debuted on April 2, 1956, with a ceremony featuring pilots from the El Toro Marine Air Station, 11th Naval District, and Long Beach Army Air Force Base, who took the first “official” flights.
- Prime Location: Positioned between Submarine Voyage and Rocket to the Moon, Astro Jets was a focal point in early Tomorrowland, visible from the land’s entrance near the Moonliner rocket.
- Name Change Dispute: In 1964, United Airlines, sponsoring The Enchanted Tiki Room, argued “Astro Jets” promoted American Airlines’ Astrojet service, prompting the rename to Tomorrowland Jets.
- Red-Checkered Rocket: The ride’s centerpiece was a tall, red-and-white checkered rocket, evoking a retro-futuristic aesthetic that complemented Tomorrowland’s 1950s vision of space travel.
- Ticket Requirement: Guests needed a “C” coupon to ride, handed to the operator before boarding, aligning with Disneyland’s early ticket-based system for attractions.
- Closure for Redesign: The ride closed in September 1966 to accommodate Tomorrowland’s 1967 overhaul, which introduced a new elevated Rocket Jets on the PeopleMover platform.
- Reincarnation as Rocket Jets: Reopening in August 1967 as Rocket Jets, the ride moved atop the PeopleMover station, featuring a NASA-inspired Saturn V rocket and reaching 70 feet high.
- Astro Orbitor Relocation: In 1998, Astro Orbitor replaced Rocket Jets but was moved to Tomorrowland’s entrance at ground level, as its weight was too heavy for the PeopleMover platform.
