Space mountain fun facts

[carolahmed]

Hello,
Huge space mountain fan here. I was just wondering if you guys know any nice fun facts / details of this ride. Much much love for SM!

 

[marni1971]

The first spire installed on the roof was a radio aerial mast.

 

[wdwmagic]

Widely known, but it only goes 28mph (or did at opening). Feels much faster due to the design of the ride vehicles and darkness.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

The T bar restraint was designed by engineering students at UCF.

 

[Dragonman]

At least one of the original Spaceship Earth astronauts was modified and used in the 1994 FedEx post show for the ride.

 

[Heppenheimer]

Don't take this as gospel, but I seem to recall that the asteroid projection effect on the ceiling (is this still there?) is actually a chocolate chip cookie.

I also remember from one of those old souvenir "Making of Disney World" books that the external design was inspired by Mount Fuji.

 

[Smiley/OCD]

One track is 10 feet shorter than the other (Alpha side is 3196 ft., the Omega side is 3186 ft).

 

[erasure fan1]

8 out of 10 chiropractors don't recommend riding it.

 

[OrlandoDoc]

If you need to be evacuated from the lift hill (as I once was), you have to walk all the way down the lift hill stairs, duck under the track near the onride photo, and then walk the entire length of the blue tunnel back to the loading area.

 

[Kram Sacul]

A pile of arms and hand bones is on the bottom.

 

[BEARSHOUSE4]

If you’re lucky enough to see the track with the lights on, there are visible spray painted marks where they planned to cut and remove the track for replacement. That plan was abandoned, but the marks remain!

 

[Movielover]

It's not really well known but the ride doesn't actually go into space, it's all in a show building residing above the stations.

 

[Prince-1]

Years ago there was a drive-thru McDonald's booth going up the first hill where you could buy a snack.

 

[JustAFan]

It's not really well known but the ride doesn't actually go into space, it's all in a show building residing above the stations.

Get out!

 

[danyoung56]

Don't take this as gospel, but I seem to recall that the asteroid projection effect on the ceiling (is this still there?) is actually a chocolate chip cookie.

I saw an Imagineer once saying that it's more like the asteroids they designed kinda looked like chocolate chip cookies.

 

[Minthorne]

It is know as Spaceport 75 for a reason.

 

[wsmith1978]

I saw an Imagineer once saying that it's more like the asteroids they designed kinda looked like chocolate chip cookies.

I first rode SM in 2009 and although many felt the ride was worn down and needed an update, not knowing any better, I absolutely loved every aspect of it including the outdated vintage spacey vibe and the chocolate chip cookie looking asteroid projections on the ceiling. God I miss that. Nothing ever quite feelings like that first trip.

 

[ELG13]

A pile of arms and hand bones is on the bottom.

Lol!! I don't think I've ever been brave enough to keep my arms up, all the way, the whole time.

 

[JIMINYCR]

It was the first roller coaster to be entirely enclosed indoors.
Astronaut Gordon Cooper was brought in by the Imagineers as a creative consultant.

 

[monothingie]

Just save the time and watch @marni1971 tribute videos.