Description And Comments

Totally enclosed in a mammoth futuristic structure, Space Mountain has always been the Magic Kingdom's most popular attraction. The theme is a space flight through dark recesses of the galaxy. Effects are superb, and the ride is the fastest and wildest in the Magic Kingdom. As a roller coaster, Space Mountain is much zippier than Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, but much tamer than the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Disney's Hollywood Studios or Expedition Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Refurbished in 2009, Space Mountain got larger ride vehicles, new lighting and effects, an improved sound system, and a completely redesigned queuing area with interactive games to help pass the time in line. The track was replaced as well but retains the same paths as the old. Then in 2010, a soundtrack was added to the ride that accented high-octane music with sounds of speeding rocket ships and other intergalactic occurrences. It is difficult to know if it's just because of hearing asteroids whiz past your vehicle, but we think the new ride is slightly faster than it was. Roller coaster aficionados will tell you (correctly) that Space Mountain is a designer version of The Wild Mouse, a midway ride that's been around for at least 50 years. There are no long drops or swooping hills as there are on a traditional roller coaster--only quick, unexpected turns and small drops. Disney's contribution essentially was to add a space theme to The Wild Mouse and put it in the dark. And this does indeed make the mouse seem wilder.

A family of five from Laramie, Wyoming, has this to say:

The refurbished Space Mountain is fantastic! The cars are much more comfortable, and they've added video-game entertainment near the end of the tunnel portion of the wait.

A Texas mother of two advises working up to Space Mountain:

You might want to start all children off on Goofy's Barnstormer, then work up to Thunder Mountain and Space Mountain. We tried Space Mountain first because there was no line, and it ruined the boys for the rest of the trip.

And an Elburn, Illinois, reader recommends special equipment:

They should require you to wear a neck brace on Space Mountain. That ride is painful.

Touring Tips

People who can handle a fairly wild roller-coaster ride will take Space Mountain in stride. What sets Space Mountain apart is that cars plummet through darkness, with only occasional lighting. Half the fun of Space Mountain is not knowing where the car will go next.

Space Mountain is the favorite attraction of many Magic Kingdom visitors ages 7-60. Each morning before opening, particularly during summer and holiday periods, several hundred Space Mountain "junkies" crowd the rope barriers at the Central Plaza, awaiting the signal to head to the ride's entrance. To get ahead of the competition, be one of the first in the park. Proceed to the end of Main Street and wait at the entrance to Tomorrowland.

Couples touring with children too small to ride Space Mountain can both ride without waiting twice in line by taking advantage of "switching off." Here's how it works: when you enter the Space Mountain line, tell the first Disney attendant (Greeter One) that you want to switch off. The attendant will allow you, your spouse, and your small child (or children) to continue together, phoning ahead to tell Greeter Two to expect you. When you reach Greeter Two (at the turnstile near the boarding area), you'll be given specific directions. One of you will proceed to ride, while the other stays with the kids. Whoever rides will be admitted by the unloading attendant to stairs leading back up to the boarding area. Here you switch off. The second parent rides, and the first parent takes the kids down the stairs to the unloading area where everybody is reunited and exits together. Switching off is also available at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain, and for Fastpass users.

Seats are one behind another, as opposed to side by side. Parents whose children meet the height and age requirements for Space Mountain can't sit next to their kids.

If you don't catch Space Mountain first in the morning, use Fastpass or try again during the hour before closing. Often, would-be riders are held in line outside the entrance until all those previously in line have ridden, thus emptying the attraction. The appearance from the outside is that the line is enormous when, in fact, the only people waiting are those visible. This crowd-control technique, known as "stacking," discourages visitors from getting in line. Stacking is used at several Disney rides and attractions during the hour before closing to ensure that the ride will be able to close on schedule. It is also used to keep the number of people who are waiting inside from overwhelming the air-conditioning. Despite the apparently long line, the wait is usually no longer than if you had been allowed to queue inside.

Space Mountain Wait Times

This chart shows you roughly how long you'll wait for Space Mountain when you visit on a day with a given Magic Kingdom Crowd Level. The blue bars represent the average "peak" wait time (that is, how long the line will at its busiest). The bottom and top black lines represent the range of peak wait times to expect (for you fellow nerds out there: it's the 5th percentile and 95th percentile of peak wait times). Please note that these are estimates, and for a better forecast for your travel dates, see Space Mountain Wait Times.

Attraction Photos

Special Comments

Great fun and action; much wilder than Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. 44" minimum height requirement; children younger than age 7 must be accompanied by an adult. Switching-off option provided.

Special Needs

Disney Dish with Jim Hill

GAME ON...AND ON...AND ON...

The biggest drawback of the interactive games added to Space Mountain's queue in 2009 is that you start a game and then the line moves. So you start another game . . . and the line moves again. and so on. But what if you could enter the queue and play a single game until you reached the ride's loading area? That's just what the imagineers are hoping to enable guests to do once WDW's new radio-frequency identification (RFID) comes online. This cutting-edge technology will keep track of exactly where every Disney World visitor is in Space Mountain's queue - meaning no more interrupted play.

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Touring Plans with Space Mountain

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