How safe is Space Mountain?

WondersOfLife

Blink, blink. Breathe, breathe. Day in, day out.
Original Poster
Just a general question here... I know that it was supposed to go under refurb over a decade or so ago, yadda yadda, tracks replaced, ect... But it didn't happen.

So my question here, is... How safe is Space Mountain, really? I rode it 3 times this past week. It felt like it was going a LOT faster than normal! Maybe that was just me. The 3rd time we rode it, yesterday (July 2nd), it felt a lot rougher than it was the previous day. And on top of that, I could have sworn that my car (2nd car, sitting in the front row) either came off the track for a half second, or it was going way too fast for one of the drops. Because there was a VERY loud "clack" and it scared the crap out of all of us.

Also to note-- Space Mountain was down at LEAST 5 different times yesterday. DIFFERENT times. We counted every time we checked the app. Whenever it re-opened we would start walking over there only to find out it closed down again.

Time for a refurb when Tron gets here? Technically needs one right now.

Side note -- The show scenes on the old exit, from PeopleMover view, are still on with lights and everything.
 

Prince-1

Well-Known Member
I heard from the bus driver that engineering is extremely concerned about Space Mountain. I think they feel that the steel structure is starting to weaken and that it’s only a matter time before something catastrophic will happen. And yes because of the thinning of the steel bars the cars are definitely going faster which is very concerning. I definitely think you should write a letter and express your concerns.
 

epcotisbest

Well-Known Member
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msg7

Well-Known Member
You're more likely to get injured on your car ride to the park than on a roller coaster itself... Roughness comes with the age of the ride. (Space Mountain's track style is an older design which is rougher right off the bat then some other coasters...) And the clack was probably one of 2 things... A block brake (another safety feature of the ride which prevents the trains from becoming too close to each other; think MAPO on the monorail) or the chain dog which is a steel piece attached to the bottom of the train which will prevent the train from rolling back if the lift shuts down. The click-click-click sound you hear on coasters while going up on the lift is the chain dog bouncing up and down on the anti-rollback teeth.. Sometimes it can hit the track.. Anyways, you have nothing to worry about when going on Space Mountain or any coaster for that matter... It wouldn't be running if WDI and the state don't think that it's safe.
 

TwilightZone

Well-Known Member
You're more likely to get injured on your car ride to the park than on a roller coaster itself... Roughness comes with the age of the ride. (Space Mountain's track style is an older design which is rougher right off the bat then some other coasters...) And the clack was probably one of 2 things... A block brake (another safety feature of the ride which prevents the trains from becoming too close to each other; think MAPO on the monorail) or the chain dog which is a steel piece attached to the bottom of the train which will prevent the train from rolling back if the lift shuts down. The click-click-click sound you hear on coasters while going up on the lift is the chain dog bouncing up and down on the anti-rollback teeth.. Sometimes it can hit the track.. Anyways, you have nothing to worry about when going on Space Mountain or any coaster for that matter... It wouldn't be running if WDI and the state don't think that it's safe.
I would rebuttal like I usually do, but I don't want to cause any paranoia, since the likelyhood of death or injury by coaster is pretty rare.
I will just say don't go to a fair for rides.
 

LUVofDIS

Well-Known Member
Last December we too heard a load crack. Right after, they shut the ride down. Don't think it had anything to do with the crack though.
 

spacemtnfanatic

Active Member
It does not come off the tracks. What you heard was either a block brake opening or an anti rollback chain dog, as explained above. While it’s an old clunker now, there is nothing unsafe about the ride. It is just worn out and far from Disney standards of old. It is literally impossible for the vehicle to “come off the tracks” unless there is a catastrophic failure. Educate yourselves on the subject here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roller_coaster_wheel_assembly
 

WondersOfLife

Blink, blink. Breathe, breathe. Day in, day out.
Original Poster
Why did you keep riding it if you felt unsafe?

The first two times were fine. Just felt faster than normal. After that 3rd time with that loud sound and huge thump, we did not get back on.

I'd also like to note, that we were on the hand-right side of the coaster. Which was only being used for Fastpasses. And the ending load out dock was weirdly extremely bumpy/loud as well, all times. Wasn't too concerned about that part though.
 

HouCuseChickie

Well-Known Member
Not sure if I’m ok to share this link or not, but I remember Space mountain having several scheduled closures in 2013 for refurbishments. I found this to support that memory, although I cannot recall what all was being done at the time. https://touringplans.com/magic-kingdom/attractions/space-mountain/closures
I do recall being very happy that our trip didn’t coincide with any of these closure dates.

As for op’s concerns...
- a coaster is going to feel different depending on where you are in the vehicle. I believe we rode 3x last trip and each felt different because of where we were sitting. Even noises from different ride mechanisms (ex. Brakes) can sound different from different cars for a number of reasons. Different doesn’t mean bad.
- the dark will always make things feel different, often more intense, than they really are. Case in point, DH experienced EE his first time in the dark and swore he was coming out of his seat because it felt faster and turns felt tighter. He rode during the day...similar location in the ride vehicle...realized it was the darkness just messing with his mind. I’ve had this same nighttime intensity shift happen on BTMRR.
- Ultimately, if you don’t feel safe...don’t ride again.
 

WondersOfLife

Blink, blink. Breathe, breathe. Day in, day out.
Original Poster
Not sure if I’m ok to share this link or not, but I remember Space mountain having several scheduled closures in 2013 for refurbishments. I found this to support that memory, although I cannot recall what all was being done at the time. https://touringplans.com/magic-kingdom/attractions/space-mountain/closures
I do recall being very happy that our trip didn’t coincide with any of these closure dates.

As for op’s concerns...
- a coaster is going to feel different depending on where you are in the vehicle. I believe we rode 3x last trip and each felt different because of where we were sitting. Even noises from different ride mechanisms (ex. Brakes) can sound different from different cars for a number of reasons. Different doesn’t mean bad.
- the dark will always make things feel different, often more intense, than they really are. Case in point, DH experienced EE his first time in the dark and swore he was coming out of his seat because it felt faster and turns felt tighter. He rode during the day...similar location in the ride vehicle...realized it was the darkness just messing with his mind. I’ve had this same nighttime intensity shift happen on BTMRR.
- Ultimately, if you don’t feel safe...don’t ride again.
Fair enough.
 

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