Space Mountain - difference ride experiences?

[Musicman20]

You will think this is bizarre, but I've only just (this past month) been on Space Mountain. This was my 5th visit to Orlando and WDW/Universal, and the first time I've thought 'I'll just try as much as possible!'.

I had no idea Space Mountain was such a fun and interesting ride. I'd always loved the building and the Peoplemover view, but I always was told by an older relative (he told me this when I was under 10!) that it was quite a full on coaster.

It isn't. It's definitely quite jerky and unexpected, but that is more than likely because you can't see!

I love it now. I'd say EE and Space Mountain are some of the best rides I've ever been on, and my favourite coasters full stop along with RNRR.

However, I realise there are two tracks, but because it's dark, even the same track feels 'different'. I prefer the standby queue side (when you are facing the track and CMs to load in, the right side track) because it feels more intense and faster, especially the swirling section at the end (the music and effects seem better at that point as well).

On our last ride, both myself and my partner thought the cart 'jumped' a bit at the top of a hill. We had a few big tall guys on the ride with us, and it felt weird....I felt a tiny bit unsafe! To be honest, every ride felt different and different speeds.

I'm guessing this is just how the ride is. I'm guessing there is no way it can leave the track!

 

[Cowboy Steve]

On our last ride, both myself and my partner thought the cart 'jumped' a bit at the top of a hill. We had a few big tall guys on the ride with us, and it felt weird....I felt a tiny bit unsafe! To be honest, every ride felt different and different speeds.

I'm guessing this is just how the ride is. I'm guessing there is no way it can leave the track!

.
Rest assured... baring a catastrophic mechanical failure, there is no way a train can leave the track...

Coasters like SM that use steel tube track ride on a train or car that has wheels on 3 sides of the track - top, middle (inside or outside the track) and bottom. The tops wheels are pretty obvious - they are what you ride on. The middle wheels keep the car centered on the track, and the bottom wheels prevent the car from leaving the track on 'bunny' hills. Bunny hills are what you usually get a little 'air' time on and give the sensation of the train jumping the track. Some coasters are designed with a little slop on those bottom wheels for two reason - to prevent drag, and to give you that very real experience of feeling the train leave the track. It may only be an inch... but it is enough to notice. I don't know if SM has that slop on the bottom wheels - most coasters don't. I'll have to pay a little more attention during my trip at the end of next month!

 

[marni1971]

The hump before the first mid course trim is indeed a bit harsh. It's a known design... flourish. On both sides.

Alpha at present does have better show fx audio. But the music... don't get me started....

The rides SQ is being addressed slowly but it's a mountain to climb (no pun intended)

 

[Bairstow]

Before the newer, more aggressive trim brakes were installed, I felt like the left side track (Bravo?) had a slightly more intense mid-course drop. Nowadays I can't tell any difference between them- neither side is particularly thrilling by coaster standards.

I've read that both tracks were always perfect mirror images but I still recall feeling a difference.

 

[Cowboy Steve]

Before the newer, more aggressive trim brakes were installed, I felt like the left side track (Bravo?) had a slightly more intense mid-course drop. Nowadays I can't tell any difference between them- neither side is particularly thrilling by coaster standards.

I've read that both tracks were always perfect mirror images but I still recall feeling a difference.

I think I will make a point of trying to ride both sides back to back... just to see if I can tell any difference. My interest is now peaked...

 

[JIMINYCR]

The tracks are mirror imaged so there isnt a difference in the layout, the blueprints are available to see the setup. But you will get a different feel to your ride depending on where you are situated in the ride cars. I prefer the very front for my first ride through, then the very back for the next ride. My very first coaster ride that dear dad took me on years ago was front seat and although I was scared out of my mind, I was hooked on the thrill of coasters ever since.

 

[Bairstow]

I think I will make a point of trying to ride both sides back to back... just to see if I can tell any difference. My interest is now peaked...

Feel free to try, but with the current fastpass situation that might be hard to do- a cast member now directs you to one side or the other and sometimes an entire track is devoted to fastpass use. It never hurts to ask, though.

 

[HauntedPirate]

The tracks are mirror imaged so there isnt a difference in the layout, the blueprints are available to see the setup. But you will get a different feel to your ride depending on where you are situated in the ride cars. I prefer the very front for my first ride through, then the very back for the next ride. My very first coaster ride that dear dad took me on years ago was front seat and although I was scared out of my mind, I was hooked on the thrill of coasters ever since.

This. Your ride is going to vary each time based on where you ride and who else is riding. Their weight can change the ride experience... it's all physics, really.

 

[marni1971]

Feel free to try, but with the current fastpass situation that might be hard to do- a cast member now directs you to one side or the other and sometimes an entire track is devoted to fastpass use. It never hurts to ask, though.

Ask at merge. You'll be accommodated assuming both sides are running.

 

[marni1971]

I think I will make a point of trying to ride both sides back to back... just to see if I can tell any difference. My interest is now peaked...

Alpha is ten foot longer than Omega to accommodate crossing over each other. Aside from that they're identical.

 

[Cowboy Steve]

Feel free to try, but with the current fastpass situation that might be hard to do- a cast member now directs you to one side or the other and sometimes an entire track is devoted to fastpass use. It never hurts to ask, though.

I have a fastpass reservation...

 

[azox]

You will think this is bizarre, but I've only just (this past month) been on Space Mountain. This was my 5th visit to Orlando and WDW/Universal, and the first time I've thought 'I'll just try as much as possible!'.

I had no idea Space Mountain was such a fun and interesting ride. I'd always loved the building and the Peoplemover view, but I always was told by an older relative (he told me this when I was under 10!) that it was quite a full on coaster.

It isn't. It's definitely quite jerky and unexpected, but that is more than likely because you can't see!

I love it now. I'd say EE and Space Mountain are some of the best rides I've ever been on, and my favourite coasters full stop along with RNRR.

However, I realise there are two tracks, but because it's dark, even the same track feels 'different'. I prefer the standby queue side (when you are facing the track and CMs to load in, the right side track) because it feels more intense and faster, especially the swirling section at the end (the music and effects seem better at that point as well).

On our last ride, both myself and my partner thought the cart 'jumped' a bit at the top of a hill. We had a few big tall guys on the ride with us, and it felt weird....I felt a tiny bit unsafe! To be honest, every ride felt different and different speeds.

I'm guessing this is just how the ride is. I'm guessing there is no way it can leave the track!

So glad to find another person who loves this classic ride! The weight of the people you ride with and the seat you take on the coaster makes a big difference in the ride. My favorite is the front seat of the front car(1). I found you feel the car jump when you are in seats 3 and 4. I wish all of the SFX were working on both sides, the helix part at the bottom is great when you hear the sound that should accompany it.

 

[21stamps]

What seat were you sitting in?

Coasters always feel different bc of that. It's why there is always a long line for the very front seat or very back seat at every amusement park. I'm personally a last seat person, and my son took after me . We do occasionally ride in the front of a coaster as well..it is a completely different experience. We will wait 3-4 trains (sometimes more) for that.

At Disney you don't have much of a choice though, the CMs at EE did let us wait for the front seat and the last seat when we rode it last year..we were very happy campers!

 

[BigRedDad]

I grew up with Space Mountain and loved it. However, my body has out grown the ride. It is too jerky on either side for me to ride. They need to revamp it and turn it into a smooth ride coaster. So much more can be done with it now. Imagine it being a massive hypercoaster inside that building.

 

[21stamps]

I grew up with Space Mountain and loved it. However, my body has out grown the ride. It is too jerky on either side for me to ride. They need to revamp it and turn it into a smooth ride coaster. So much more can be done with it now. Imagine it being a massive hypercoaster inside that building.

Then the little kids wouldn't be able to ride it. Space Mountain is one of my earliest and fondest memories of Disney World...I'd hate to see that taken away from kids today.

 

[marni1971]

I grew up with Space Mountain and loved it. However, my body has out grown the ride. It is too jerky on either side for me to ride. They need to revamp it and turn it into a smooth ride coaster. So much more can be done with it now. Imagine it being a massive hypercoaster inside that building.

Imagine it being just the same but as smooth as Disneyland.

 

[AndrewsJ]

Imagine it being just the same but as smooth as Disneyland.

Disneyland's is incredibly smooth. I can ride it over and over and never have a single bump or bruise like at WDW.

 

[WDWVolFan]

I love that ride but whenever I ride with my son I worry that he does not have his lap bar tight and that the CM won't make sure it is so until we go on the first drop and I don't see him flying over me, I'm freaking out. Then, I enjoy it. LOL

 

[righttrack]

At it's heart, it's all gravity. Heavier people make you go faster down the hills but perhaps climb and corner more slowly. Sitting in the front has the feeling of the unknown to it, but the back of the train kind of whips you a bit more. For me, I enjoy the intensity of the back car of a coaster. Having ridden it once with the lights on, I can assure you that it is very low in the thrill department and it's going much slower than you think. The darkness makes a new ride of it completely. So what about RnRRC? It is in the dark, mostly, too, so why not a similar experience? There is no drama in RnRRC. It's fast, the same speed, the whole time. You get the feeling of power but not the slow/fast surprises you get on SM. Both are great, but both are very different. If you don't like one of them you might like the other.

 

[Bairstow]

At it's heart, it's all gravity. Heavier people make you go faster down the hills but perhaps climb and corner more slowly. Sitting in the front has the feeling of the unknown to it, but the back of the train kind of whips you a bit more. For me, I enjoy the intensity of the back car of a coaster. Having ridden it once with the lights on, I can assure you that it is very low in the thrill department and it's going much slower than you think. The darkness makes a new ride of it completely. So what about RnRRC? It is in the dark, mostly, too, so why not a similar experience? There is no drama in RnRRC. It's fast, the same speed, the whole time. You get the feeling of power but not the slow/fast surprises you get on SM. Both are great, but both are very different. If you don't like one of them you might like the other.

Wait, hang on- do you prefer the new Space Mountain?