The Disney Attractions Discussion Series: Space Mountain

Post by **Luke** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 4:35 pm

This following post was originally made (twice) by snowbot. It, along with all other posts made in the last five days were lost due to Database Woes. Here is the best I can do at reconstructing the second thread posted by snowbot:
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Well, since I just started this series yesterday, I'll give it another go today. Thanks to those who replied yesterday, I enjoyed the few posts that I got to read.

The Disney Attractions Discussion Series:
Space Mountain 

<img src="http://snow1215.tripod.com/spacemountain">

Statistics 
Premiered in Walt Disney World in 1975. It was the world's first all-indoor and all-in-the-dark rollercoaster.

snowbot · Post by **snowbot** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 5:05 pm

Sweet, thanks Luke! It sucks that we lost those great replies by Jens, awallaceunc, Jack, and whoever else, that I didn't get to read. Thanks anyway guys!

So, hopefully this thread won't completely die. If it does, I'll start Part Two soon. Anyway, here's my own contribution from earlier, more or less:

Yeah, so I used to be completely petrified of this ride when I was a kid. However, I've grown to love it since then, and enjoy it's retro-futuristic feel. I also really like the atmosphere inside. I still get worried, though, that my head will get lobbed off by one of the low-hanging bars that the cars zip under. I doubt that's ever happened. That would suck, though.

tinkerbell-cup · Post by **tinkerbell-cup** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 9:18 am

i love space mountain last time i went to wdw was when hurracaine frances was about to hit and so there were no ques for it so i went on 6 times!

I am the Doctor · Post by **I am the Doctor** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 8:53 pm

At least until they closed it down for refurbising-the Disneyland version of Space Mountain was far superior to the WDW version. At Disneyland, the entire ride was enclosed, unless you sat in the front seat you couldn't see where you were going (which is a big part of the fun!) When I went to WDW, I was so disappointed. The lights from the line/loading dock area filter up into the ride-spoiling the whole effect (now you can see the track and know what's gonna happen next).

I hope the Disneyland refurbishing doesn't ruin what was a great ride-I suppose I'll find out-going to Disneyland for the fiftieth anniversary (Yay!)

MickeyMousePal · Post by **MickeyMousePal** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 9:20 pm

I love Space Mountain but lately Disneyland had it closed for like over 3 years. So hopefully when it opens in November 2005 I could ride it like 10 times since it's my favorite ride at Disneyland. I know the long lines but who cares it's a fun ride.

Disneykid · Post by **Disneykid** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 10:11 pm

Space Mountain's my favorite thrill ride at WDW, no doubt about it. I love roller coasters in general, and the whole concept of riding one in the dark is very cool. Not knowing where exactly you're going to turn or dip next is exciting, and makes Space Mountain one of my most anticipated rides everytime I arrive at the parks. It's also usually one of the first I go on, because the lines for this are ridiculously long.

Escapay · Post by **Escapay** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 11:02 pm

I used to be terrified of rollercoasters, the very first one I rode was at Dutch Wonderland when I was probably 8 or 9, and I hated it. Strangely, my mom decided to ride the coaster with us, so instead of the usual 4 (Dad, Jane, Kram, me), it was 5, and when it came to seating, I was the odd man out, and they had me sit with some teenage girl. So that didn't help much, and I hated hated hated that rollercoaster.

But what does that have to do with Space Mountain? Absolutely nothing, except that it was about a rollercoaster. The first time I rode Space Mountain was in 1998, at Disneyland. I think I rode next to my cousin, and since the two of us were rather plumpy, it was a tight fit, which was rather comforting, as I knew I wouldn't fly out of the coaster. I don't remember much from the Disneyland Space Mountain, but I love the Magic Kingdom one in Orlando. In 1999, I think we rode it for the first time, and it wasn't so bad, probably cause I couldn't see anything.

2001, I remember it was just Dad, me, and Jane, and the whole time, I was shouting out The Lord's Prayer, hoping I wasn't gonna die.

2003, I rode it with a couple friends on Senior Trip, then I got lost when we exited, so we spent an hour trying to find each other.

2003 again for the family trip, we rode it, but it was just Jane, Kram, and me.

2004, Kram and I got fastpasses from Jane, so we were able to ride it a couple times during which I sang "Singing in the Rain".

It's become a tradition for me to either say The Lord's Prayer or sing a song when on a roller coaster.

Escapay

AwallaceUNC · Post by **AwallaceUNC** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 12:12 pm

I spent a day and a half in the Magic Kingdom this week and got to ride Space Mountain 5 times! (Twice on the tamer track, thrice on the wilder track). I can't remember everything I said in my original post, but I do know that this has, in a short span of time, become one of my favorite Disney attractions.

I was (and still am) very scared of roller-coasters. When I was young, we once waited in line for around two hours to ride this and the lines through the narrow, dark, spooky corridors got to me and I couldn't go through with it. A couple of years ago on my high school senior trip, my best friend and I and our girlfriends went to WDW. I had agreed to ride Space Mountain but was terrified. We put it off for E-Ride Night so I had a pit of fear in my stomach all day. As we approached it, I'm told I went completely pale, my hands were shaking, I was breathing heavily, and I remember that my mouth went completely dry. I ended up loving it, though, and rode it twice more that night and have ridden it plenty of times since then. It never gets old! I'd love to ride it with the lights on just once, as mvealf said he was able to do.

Space Mountain is a classic example of how Disney can take something as simple as the common slow-moving Mouse coaster and theme it into one of the greatest and widely loved attractions of all time.

-Aaron

Tiresias · Post by **Tiresias** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 2:12 pm

The faint light from the loading area at WDW only adds to the experience (but I think the planets and stuff add more light than the loading area). You can still see the glow in the dark cars, and it is still very dark. However, you can see faint outlines of support bars that sweep by, almost beheading you. Very scary. I never raise my arms on this ride.

Also, while waiting you can see the glow of the cars up above you. One time they did have to turn on the lights to the ride. That sorta ruined it.

Maerj · Post by **Maerj** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 3:53 pm

I love Space Mountain just as I love almost every attraction at WDW. It can be hard to describe to people who have never been there but it's just the whole experience. The dark line queue, the background music, even the smells make it a very memorable experience. I love the line queue music, its this trippy little synthesizer ditty. I have an MP3 of it, unfortunately there is a lil disruption in the middle of it, but I still listen to it and get that feeling of being there.

The ride itself is a blast. Sure it's a slow moving coaster, I believe the top speed is only 35 mph. But in the dark it feels much faster. Plus you have that 'not knowing where you are going next' thing going on. I want to back to WDW now!!

Melly · Post by **Melly** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 9:52 pm

The one at Disneyland Paris is my favourite out of the three I've been on, DL being second. I can't wait til they reopen it next year

The first time I went on Space, I screamed the entire time. The fear of having your head chopped off just added something to it

A must (if it's open

) when I go to a Disney park

BrandonH · Post by **BrandonH** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 10:17 pm

This is my second-favorite Disneyland/Magic Kingdom ride (I'll mention my favorite when the thread opens up). The music, the retro feel, the sharp turns and dips, and the mystery of where you'll go next all combine for one of the best roller coasters around.

Key · Post by **Key** » Tue Jan 11, 2005 4:46 pm

Hm, not much to ressurect. I thought this thread was ancient or something. XD Can't believe I missed it.

I only clearly remember riding Space Mountain once when I went with my bell choir (we performed there at 12 AM then had until midnight to just dally around int he park). It actually sorta broke down while we were on it so they had to turn on all the lights and even gave us a free ride. It's actually scarier with the lights on because the rails look so rusted and old it makes you feel as though it's going to fall apart any second.

Yep, can't wait til I get to ride this coaster again.

mikevester · Post by **mikevester** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 6:54 am

The best "Space Mountain" was at Disneyland Park in Paris. It had a great Jules Verne theme and the track featured loopings and a wild ride. Unfortunately the ride got very rough. At the moment Space Mountain is closed - this April we will see the premiere of Space Mountain: Mission 2 with new effects (exploding super-nova, heat-effects etc.). I only hope that they can handle the roughness, because lately is has no more been fun to ride it (it's just a Vekoma coaster *fg*)

Mike

Joshrzmeup · Post by **Joshrzmeup** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 6:34 pm

I'm new, so could someone please explain to me why exactly they closed it down for that long?
I know to do maintnence and spice it up a bit, but how? I mean, 3 years is a long time for a ride to be closed.

dizfan · Post by **dizfan** » Sun Jan 23, 2005 7:10 pm

^ Pretty much ripping everything inside the building out and rebuild it from scratch. One of the reasons it took so long was because they had to work within the building. Meaning they had to take out the entire track piece by piece through a hole they made on the side of the building, then bring in the new track piece by piece through the same hole. And then construction actually started.

I went backstage to see the progression of the construction, it was pretty neat.

Loomis · Post by **Loomis** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 5:34 am

Escapay wrote:I used to be terrified of rollercoasters...

Yes, me too. As it turns out, I'm a thrill ride junkie

After convincing my girlfriend to go on every Mountain in the park, I was still having trouble convincing her that Space Mountain needed to be conquered. After all, when we arrived, it had only recently re-opened for the first time in 3 or 4 years.

I got through the line surprisingly quickly on the fateful morning I decided to go for it, although my heart was in my throat by the time I hopped into the carriage. Now, I haven't been on the previous versions of Space Mountain, but this one was incredibly fun. While I was expecting more of an "upside-down loopy thing", it was what it said: a fast-paced rollcoaster in the dark. The special effects - especially as you 'launch' into space - look really good. Then again, as I said, I can't compare them with the previous edition, but the re-modelled Space Mountain is definitely a great thrill ride.

My only regret is the the "action shot" taken of me on the ride was obscured by some fool with his hands in the air.

Fidget1234 · Post by **Fidget1234** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 8:18 am

My husband used to work all the attractions in Tommorrowland (WDW) & Mountain was one of them. We left FL in '02 & everytime we go to MK we still have hookups at this attraction. One of the classics in DIsney Theme Parks!

Loomis · Post by **Loomis** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 7:04 pm

According to Disneyland's Grad Night website, Space Mountain is about to undergo ANOTHER upgrade that will be unveiled on Grad Night.

http://www.disneylandgradnite.com/home.html

Watch the video and find out about 'Rocket Mountain' (possibly Rock It Mountain according to some sources) which will give a whole lot of new special effects to the ride. Looks kinda cool.

blackcauldron85 · Post by **blackcauldron85** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:37 am

Attention Passholders: Enter to win a piece of Walt Disney World Magic
http://www.mickeynews.com/News/DisplayP ... _E_3139Win

Plans are being finalized for the refurbishment project scheduled for Space Mountain at the Magic Kingdom Park. Time is dwindling down fast, leaving only a few week's left to ride Space Mountain as we know it today. However, if you are an annual Passholder there is a chance for you to win a way to remember this Walt Disney World classic ride for eternity.

One lucky Passholder will be selected to win a piece of history before Space Mountain's renovation begins. All you have to do it register to win in person in Tomorrowland at the Tomorrowland Light and Power merchandise shop. Entries need to be placed inside the box in the store by 5 p.m. on April 3. The winner will be notified by April 15.

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The Disney Attractions Discussion Series: Space Mountain

The Disney Attractions Discussion Series: Space Mountain