How safe is Space Mountain?

[marni1971]

Disneyland was forced to close their Space Mountain and do a total track replacement early because of a catastrophic failure during testing once morning, where I believe a car did indeed come off the track.

Incorrect, in case it gets reported as truth.

There was no catastrophic failure, nothing left the track.

It was found if the ride was allowed to open to operate as usual that day there could be a structural issue.

 

[WondersOfLife]

That's not skimping, those disney couldn't really control.

You're telling me that constant wear and tear and a lack of maintenance and proper installations is not something Disney can control?

 

[TwilightZone]

You're telling me that constant wear and tear and a lack of maintenance and proper installations is not something Disney can control?

They probably did install them correctly and disney does maintain their rides everyday. All the examples you gave were mechanical errors, or something the disney check up crew missed. Now missing something does get one fired, but all of the examples you gave aren't nearly as bad as someone letting a girl on a ride that she didn't fit in.

 

[Goofyernmost]

I'm sure Monorail Red's doors that opened in the middle of transit as a result of fail-safe systems not operating is nothing. As well as that chunk of metal that fell off of Monorail Coral. Or Maleficent's Dragon Head catching fire in the middle of a parade. Or that time the Magic Carpet in Disneyland's Aladdin show flipped two actors upside down dangling for their lives. Or that time in 2005 when a California Screamin' train rammed into the back of another train and injured 25 people as a result of a faulty brake valve.

But I mean... That's like nothing.

Actually, put in perspective and considering the amount of usage all that stuff gets, the hours of operational time, the number of people that have ridden or enjoyed those things and considering that every single mechanical thing the we humans have created can and will have breakdowns then, yes, it is like nothing. And with that considered instead of being critical we should be patting them on the back and letting them know just how good that they have been at keeping things safe for all of us. Mechanical problems cannot always be predicted or anticipated, considering all that, they do a hell of a good job at keeping us safe.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

I'm sure Monorail Red's doors that opened in the middle of transit as a result of fail-safe systems not operating is nothing. As well as that chunk of metal that fell off of Monorail Coral. Or Maleficent's Dragon Head catching fire in the middle of a parade. Or that time the Magic Carpet in Disneyland's Aladdin show flipped two actors upside down dangling for their lives. Or that time in 2005 when a California Screamin' train rammed into the back of another train and injured 25 people as a result of a faulty brake valve.

But I mean... That's like nothing.

The answer is simple...if you're AFRAID...don't ride on it or better yet, stay off all the rides and spend your vacation at M & G's... I can't think of a better place to breathe my last breath...I'll have a smile on my face, and my family will be rich...

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

Incorrect, in case it gets reported as truth.

There was no catastrophic failure, nothing left the track.

It was found if the ride was allowed to open to operate as usual that day there could be a structural issue.

You must be a member of Parliament.

(Not saying there was or wasn't)....but that response was impressive......basically, if the ride opened everybody was f***'ed

 

[bsiev1977]

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.

I’m not sure there’s a point to me asking this, but I’ll do it anyway.
#1-How did this topic of conversation come up with the bus driver?
#2-why would you think that engineering is passing information like this to the bus drivers?

 

[Bairstow]

I’m not sure there’s a point to me asking this, but I’ll do it anyway.
#1-How did this topic of conversation come up with the bus driver?
#2-why would you think that engineering is passing information like this to the bus drivers?

It was a troll post.
"A Disney bus driver told me that..." was a common citation for flimsy theme park rumors on the internet.
Now it's something of an inside joke to make up something stupid on the forum and attribute it to a bus driver.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

I’m not sure there’s a point to me asking this, but I’ll do it anyway.
#1-How did this topic of conversation come up with the bus driver?
#2-why would you think that engineering is passing information like this to the bus drivers?

#1.........Because it always comes back to Bus Drivers.
#2.........Because they are Bus Drivers.

 

[Prince-1]

I’m not sure there’s a point to me asking this, but I’ll do it anyway.
#1-How did this topic of conversation come up with the bus driver?
#2-why would you think that engineering is passing information like this to the bus drivers?

 

[Prince-1]

It was a troll post.
"A Disney bus driver told me that..." was a common citation for flimsy theme park rumors on the internet.
Now it's something of an inside joke to make up something stupid on the forum and attribute it to a bus driver.

Joke post...not a troll post.

 

[Walt Disney1955]

I think Space Mountain is about as safe a ride as possible. At least for me. I'm 6'2" 280lbs. and built in all the "right: areas too (shoulders, arms, chest, stomach is big). I'll tell you, there is no ride I am more snug and safe in than Space Mountain!

 

[Castle Cake Apologist]

Incorrect, in case it gets reported as truth.

There was no catastrophic failure, nothing left the track.

It was found if the ride was allowed to open to operate as usual that day there could be a structural issue.

Thanks for the correction, Martin. I'm usually good at separating legend from fact with the parks, so I offer my apologies.

 

[Driver]

It was a troll post.
"A Disney bus driver told me that..." was a common citation for flimsy theme park rumors on the internet.
Now it's something of an inside joke to make up something stupid on the forum and attribute it to a bus driver.

Yeah thanks for thatNot all bus drivers are BS'ers. Myself included, however I do have other CM friends that work elsewhere in the parks and I am able to get first hand knowledge about points of interest. This happens to be one of those cases. All rides are inspected every night! By a dedicated experienced team, they have a checklist to follow and a system to back check each other. It's thorough. A ride " shut down " is not always a sign of hardware failure often it is simply a track sensor giving a false reading.

 

[Driver]

Also if you ever saw SM with the lights on you would realize the stories about people reaching out to grab things and getting hurt are unfounded. This is why selfie sticks are not allowed because it would take that extra reach to actually hit something. Wow and all that from ,wait for it............ a bus driver!!

 

[Goofyernmost]

Also if you ever saw SM with the lights on you would realize the stories about people reaching out to grab things and getting hurt are unfounded. This is why selfie sticks are not allowed because it would take that extra reach to actually hit something. Wow and all that from ,wait for it............ a bus driver!!

Well, we all know that Bus Drivers are low life dregs of society with absolutely no powers of observation. That explains why bus drivers are always running into things. Wait... they don't do that do they.

Instead of people blaming their own gullibility for believing mis-information, they like to blame drivers for making things up. We all know that, like myself, I have no inside direct information, only what I see or hear, even the "insiders" are being fed only what Disney wants them to hear about. Unless any of us are sitting in the board room when things are approved or developed we are going by what we are told. There are no guarantees about how accurate any of that is.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I love "Space Mountain" but I swear it comes off the tracks at one point as well.

Not possible due the invention of the upstop wheel...

...in like 1920

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Also if you ever saw SM with the lights on you would realize the stories about people reaching out to grab things and getting hurt are unfounded. This is why selfie sticks are not allowed because it would take that extra reach to actually hit something. Wow and all that from ,wait for it............ a bus driver!!

Ehhhh...you been on that thing with the lights on??

I agree that contact is next to impossible...but the clearance is “just out of reach”....

It was also built in a different era of amusement parks and was ordered to specifically cater to thrill seekers...for the appearance of danger. Few if any Disney rides have ever had a similar mandate.

 

[KBLovedDisney]

The first two times were fine. Just felt faster than normal.

Sure the "space-star-chasing" effects weren't possibly going at a faster rate?

 

[WondersOfLife]

Sure the "space-star-chasing" effects weren't possibly going at a faster rate?

Nah, fam. I really do believe it was rougher than when I was on it a year ago. Are there any differences to the two sides, though? Because when I went a year ago, and this past May, I didn't ride on the right side.