When is Space Mountain scheduled for refurbishment?

LindseyDisney

LindseyDisney

Active Member
Original Poster
During my last trip in September 2024, my dad and I went on Space Mountain. Oh boy, it was a bit rough! My dad joked that they needed an chiropractor in the gift shop because he got major whiplash from the turns. The seats were somewhat small; I fit, but with my backpack on the floor, the whole vehicle felt worn down. With Thunder Mountain currently under refurbishment for about a year, do you think Space Mountain will be next? It could use a closure for a year to install updated, smoother tracks and ride vehicles.

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Disstevefan1

Disstevefan1

Well-Known Member
LindseyDisney said:
During my last trip in September 2024, my dad and I went on Space Mountain. Oh boy, it was a bit rough! My dad joked that they needed an chiropractor in the gift shop because he got major whiplash from the turns. The seats were somewhat small; I fit, but with my backpack on the floor, the whole vehicle felt worn down. With Thunder Mountain currently under refurbishment for about a year, do you think Space Mountain will be next? It could use a closure for a year to install updated, smoother tracks and ride vehicles.

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Just what WDW needs - another attraction closed.

That said, this could be the perfect time so that Disney can blame the low attendance in WDW to closed attractions and not the real reason.... EPIC ;)
 
Goofyernmost

Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
KDM31091 said:
It's extremely rough to the point of not being enjoyable. Admittedly I am not a huge coaster person in general but I do love SDMT and even BTMR is good. Space Mountain was a one and done until/unless it is substantially refurbished.
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It's been that way for many, many years. It is probably worse since I experienced it some 25 years ago, but there was nothing smooth about the ride back then. One of the reasons why I never rode it again.
 
osian

osian

Well-Known Member
I will ride it at rope drop (early entry) for as many circuits as I can get in before the line gets too big. On November 11th 2024 for example, I rode it a total of 6 times that day, can't remember how many of those were in a row during early entry though. Maximum number of times per day has been 7, on 13th February 2023, one of those times was a Lightning Lane. The ride always seems to get a long line so is very popular. I don't find it too rough to enjoy - though the back seat is a challenge.

Just adding a bit of balance.
 
HauntedPirate

HauntedPirate

Park nostalgist
Premium Member
I've never found it to be rough like many people make it out to be.

But it will be refurbished as soon as someone at TDO deems it worthy of spending money on, or there are structural issues with the track that they cannot mask any longer.
 
HauntedPirate

HauntedPirate

Park nostalgist
Premium Member
osian said:
I will ride it at rope drop (early entry) for as many circuits as I can get in before the line gets too big. On November 11th 2024 for example, I rode it a total of 6 times that day, can't remember how many of those were in a row during early entry though. Maximum number of times per day has been 7, on 13th February 2023, one of those times was a Lightning Lane. The ride always seems to get a long line so is very popular. I don't find it too rough to enjoy - though the back seat is a challenge.

Just adding a bit of balance.
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For the record, I did 18 times in a row in December 1991. :D But that was a different time and era, one that we shall never see again.
 
Z

Ztonyg

Member
HauntedPirate said:
I've never found it to be rough like many people make it out to be.

But it will be refurbished as soon as someone at TDO deems it worthy of spending money on, or there are structural issues with the track that they cannot mask any longer.
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If you want a rough Disney ride go to Disneyland and ride the Matterhorn.

That ride is a chiropractor's dream.

Space Mountain at WDW is silky smooth in comparison.
 
osian

osian

Well-Known Member
Ztonyg said:
If you want a rough Disney ride go to Disneyland and ride the Matterhorn.

That ride is a chiropractor's dream.

Space Mountain at WDW is silky smooth in comparison.
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Again, I don't find Matterhorn to be too rough to enjoy. And I don't think many people at all, if any, need a chiropractor after riding either of these. I don't particularly like rough rides at all and yes, there are some rides that I don't ride because I personally find them uncomfortable, but neither of these. Nor do I like to be scared and frightened and to be put in danger (witness the links I always get from people saying "you might like this" or "have you seen this", pointing to things that they personally find scary - and in many case not realising that I've probably already ridden it dozens of times - or things that are not rides at all but they make a link to something being "dangerous" or they consider dangerous or scary therefore they assume that I must like all things that they think are dangerous)

Both rides are probably overdue for a refurb, but that is on an objective basis, rather than hyperbolic personal opinions on whether they like the ride or not.
 
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cheezbat

cheezbat

Well-Known Member
Ztonyg said:
If you want a rough Disney ride go to Disneyland and ride the Matterhorn.

That ride is a chiropractor's dream.

Space Mountain at WDW is silky smooth in comparison.
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Both my last few rides on Matterhorn and Space were rough as heck…I expect that from the oldest tubular steel roller coaster that’s outdoors and indoors…unlike space which is completely indoors.

The thing is 50 years old now. It’s the worst version of the ride in the world…it needs it badly. I would assume after Big Thunder reopens this thing will eventually go down for a refurbishment…seeing as how now Tron dominates the area and Splash and Big Thunder will have had their extended downtime.
 
Z

Ztonyg

Member
cheezbat said:
Both my last few rides on Matterhorn and Space were rough as heck…I expect that from the oldest tubular steel roller coaster that’s outdoors and indoors…unlike space which is completely indoors.

The thing is 50 years old now. It’s the worst version of the ride in the world…it needs it badly. I would assume after Big Thunder reopens this thing will eventually go down for a refurbishment…seeing as how now Tron dominates the area and Splash and Big Thunder will have had their extended downtime.
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I agree that it needs to be refurbished. I don’t think it’s the worst version of the ride though as I prefer it to Disneyland’s by a large margin. I think as soon as Thunder reopens Space needs a refurb or the could do what Disneyland has been doing with the Matterhorn and slowly replace portions of the ride over time.
 
osian

osian

Well-Known Member
marni1971 said:
It’s a running joke that’s it’s overly rough.

Even Gurr agrees.
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Yes, I see he says he gave up riding it. How old is he now? 93?

It's nowhere near the severity of many other coasters, mostly Arrows and Vekomas and badly-maintained woodies. This is a decent family-friendly ride that many people enjoy. Is it still popular? Of course it is.

It actually feels very similar to Arrow's Steeplechase, and by extension the ex- Knott's Soap Box Racers and motorcyle ride. Very similar transitions. Yes, they're jerky, but not unrideable. Try Desperado. Oh, you can't, it's closed.

Too much hyperbole here.
 
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marni1971

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
osian said:
Yes, I see he says he gave up riding it. How old is he now? 93?

It's nowhere near the severity of many other coasters, mostly Arrows and Vekomas and badly-maintained woodies. This is a decent family-friendly ride that many people enjoy. Is it still popular? Of course it is.

It actually feels very similar to Arrow's Steeplechase, and by extension the ex- Knott's Soap Box Racers and motorcyle ride. Very similar transitions. Yes, they're jerky, but not unrideable. Try Desperado. Oh, you can't, it's closed.

Too much hyperbole here.
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Don’t get me wrong; I like the Matterhorn. But it’s not hyperbole when so many say the same thing. And yes, we’ve ridden Arrows Viper. That’s worse.
 

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