Rumor MK Space Mountain REVISED in 2026? (One track? side-by-side seating?)

[JackCH]

I’d be in favor of this. I actually would like it to be intense with a higher height requirement. As I put in another thread:

I'd be totally fine with a truly intense coaster, it's just the exposed track issue. I'm probably one of the few that would be okay with a redo of Space Mountain to be such an intense coaster. One of its main "hooks" was it was sort of a "right of passage" of a first coaster experience, but now with 7DMT, Big Thunder, potentially Villains, not to mention Slinky and Monsters and Guardians and others at other parks, Space doesn't really have that anymore. So have it be a "new" right of passage as being the first truly intense coaster with inversions, etc.

I also kind of like having the coasters at MK be a sliding scale of intensity:
From "Kiddie" to "Intense":
Barnstormer
7DMT
Big Thunder
Villains
Tron
Space

Not going to happen, but I like it.

Don't think anything close to this is likely, but still.

 

[Sorcerer Mickey]

The ride itself. The coasters...

As far as I have seen and rode... it's nothing special. The thrill comes from riding it in the dark. I don't know why some seem to have an attachment to them or that it's important that they're be two of them. You could transplant the coaster to a boardwalk pier and it would be just a kiddie/family coaster with no big drop, no inversions. Just a standard boardwalk flat coaster.

What am I missing with regard to "protect the two tracks!"

<shrug>

We Disney fans must resist everything.

 

[mysto]

But it definitely needs something,

Shock absorbers.

 

[Touchdown]

Reducing the tracks to one halves the capacity. That’s a huge building, one track in there would make it empty, or massive. Even though it’s big, it’s not tall, and if you wanted inversions in there you would need to launch to achieve the speed needed. Currently everyone prefers LSM launches which while efficient and reliable produce a realitively slow acceleration compared to a peunomatic or hydraulic launch. I’m not sure the building is big enough to house a launch needed to do that and then curve or loop back and not hit the structure.

 

[JackCH]

How big is the structure TDL is building compared to the current SM structure at MK?

 

[Animaniac93-98]

We've been waiting since 2009 for a major rebuild/refurbishment of this ride.

As much as it would be nice, I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[peter11435]

Reducing the tracks to one halves the capacity. That’s a huge building, one track in there would make it empty, or massive. Even though it’s big, it’s not tall, and if you wanted inversions in there you would need to launch to achieve the speed needed. Currently everyone prefers LSM launches which while efficient and reliable produce a realitively slow acceleration compared to a peunomatic or hydraulic launch. I’m not sure the building is big enough to house a launch needed to do that and then curve or loop back and not hit the structure.

Capacity wouldn’t be halved if they went to double seating

 

[TheCoasterNerd]

 

[Touchdown]

Capacity wouldn’t be halved if they went to double seating

It would still be reduced due to odd numbered groups.

 

[peter11435]

It would still be reduced due to odd numbered groups.

No it wouldn’t. That problem would still exist with the current set up. They can easily fill every seat despite odd numbered groups. Cosmic Rewind isn’t sending empty seats.

 

[Haymarket2008]

My goodness, it is time. She needs a serious face lift.

I’m all in as long as George Wilkins’ background music stays.

 

[Tha Realest]

Is there any structural reason to replace the whole mountain? We have the largest mountain with three ride systems integrated.

Hmm. Does People Mover survive a refreshed Tomorrowland/SM?

 

[Moth]

Hmm. Does People Mover survive a refreshed Tomorrowland/SM?

I don't see why it wouldn't. It's a popular attraction and one of the most iconic on property.

 

[DisneyHead123]

It's such a tight space, even with a single track I would think this would still be a problem since you would still run more then one train on the track at a time.

Yikes!!

 

[Disone]

Interesting. Me personally I feel like the hate space mountain gets for being so rough is really quite exaggerated. I've been on many many coasters far rougher than space mountain. Almost every single wooden coaster, and wild mouse, and older vekomas are more rough then Space mountain. And the there are the intentional zero G coaster like Gwazi.... Now that can be painful (still a blast though). Space Mountain Florida might be the roughest roller coaster in in Disney's repertoire but it's far from one of the roughest roller coasters in the coaster industry.

For those who have gotten the Ride space mountain with the lights on or periodically get to see it from the people mover, there's a lot of space in space mountain. So there's plenty of space for a larger structure *if* they wanted to.

Passengers sit relatively high on Florida's version, which is probably the root cause of cell phones and car keys being a problem. Passengers are much more encased by the ride vehicle in other versions of the attraction.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ֊ᗩζᗩᗰ]

Interesting. Me personally I feel like the hate space mountain gets for being so rough is really quite exaggerated. I've been on many many coasters far rougher than space mountain. Almost every single wooden coaster, and wild mouse, and older vekomas are more rough then Space mountain. And the there are the intentional zero G coaster like Gwazi.... Now that can be painful (still a blast though). Space Mountain Florida might be the roughest roller coaster in in Disney's repertoire but it's far from one of the roughest roller coasters in the coaster industry.

For those who have gotten the Ride space mountain with the lights on or periodically get to see it from the people mover, there's a lot of space in space mountain. So there's plenty of space for a larger structure *if* they wanted to.

Passengers sit relatively high on Florida's version, which is probably the root cause of cell phones and car keys being a problem. Passengers are much more encased by the ride vehicle in other versions of the attraction.

Can be resolved quickly with the usage of a locker system similar to what was done with TRON. Or just stowing them in the coaster car itself.

 

[DisneyHead123]

Interesting. Me personally I feel like the hate space mountain gets for being so rough is really quite exaggerated. I've been on many many coasters far rougher than space mountain. Almost every single wooden coaster, and wild mouse, and older vekomas are more rough then Space mountain. And the there are the intentional zero G coaster like Gwazi.... Now that can be painful (still a blast though). Space Mountain Florida might be the roughest roller coaster in in Disney's repertoire but it's far from one of the roughest roller coasters in the coaster industry.

I haven’t been on it in years, but my guess is the lack of visual cues (when to brace your body and in what direction) is part of it.

 

[Turtlekrawl]

After riding this for 40+ years, the most iconic things left for me are the exterior structure and the star tunnel music. Keep those and redo the rest. The ride itself is not that enjoyable in its current state. (I much preferred 2024 BTMR to 2024 SM).
1 track vs 2 tracks - no strong preference here.

 

[Jrb1979]

An RMC single rail coaster would be a great replacement for space mountain.

 

[Disone]

Can be resolved quickly with the usage of a locker system similar to what was done with TRON. Or just stowing them in the coaster car itself.

That is one alternative solution, if you are advocating for keeping the existing track layout (which is fine, there is an argument to be made for keeping the classic original layout)