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Space Mountain (Magic Kingdom) facts for kids

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Space Mountain
Space Mountain (23062420779).jpg
Magic Kingdom
Park section Tomorrowland
Coordinates 28°25′09″N 81°34′38″W / 28.41917°N 81.57722°W / 28.41917; -81.57722
Status {{{status}}}
Opening date January 15, 1975 (1975-01-15)
General Statistics
Type Steel – Dual-tracked – Enclosed
Manufacturer Arrow Development
Designer WED Enterprises
Model Bobsled
Alpha Omega
Height 90 ft (27.4 m) 90 ft (27.4 m)
Drop 26 ft (7.9 m) 26 ft (7.9 m)
Length 3,196 ft (974.1 m) 3,186 ft (971.1 m)
Speed 30 mph (48.3 km/h) 30 mph (48.3 km/h)
Inversions 0 0
Duration 2:30 2:30
G-force 3.7
Height restriction 44 in (112 cm)
Trains 30 trains with 2 cars. Riders are arranged 1 across in 3 rows for a total of 6 riders per train.
Sponsor

RCA (1975–1993)
FedEx (1994–2004)

None (2005-present)
Music Mike Brassell
"Mount Bop" (2010 version)
Trains Per Track 13
FastPass+ available
Handicapped/disabled access Wheelchair accessible
Must transfer from wheelchair
Space Mountain at RCDB
Pictures of Space Mountain at RCDB

Space Mountain is an exciting indoor roller coaster ride. It is located in the Tomorrowland area of the Magic Kingdom theme park. This park is part of the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The ride first opened on January 15, 1975. It is the oldest roller coaster still running in Florida.

Space Mountain was the first of its kind. It inspired similar rides at other Disney parks around the world. For many years, companies like RCA and FedEx helped pay for the ride.

Walt Disney first thought of a space-themed roller coaster in the 1960s. This was after his successful Matterhorn Bobsleds ride. But back then, the technology wasn't ready. Also, Disney was busy building Walt Disney World. So, the idea was put on hold.

After the Magic Kingdom opened, it became very popular. Especially with teens and young adults. Disney then decided to build a thrilling ride. They revisited the Space Mountain idea. New technology made it possible. The ride opened in 1975. Since then, Space Mountain has been updated many times. This includes new ride trains and modern technology. Its look has also changed, especially with different sponsors.

Creating Space Mountain

The idea for Space Mountain came from the Matterhorn Bobsleds ride at Disneyland. That ride opened in 1959. Its success showed Walt Disney that thrilling rides were a good fit for his parks.

In 1964, Walt Disney shared his idea for a new ride. He wanted it to be the main attraction in a new Tomorrowland. His "Space Port" would have a roller coaster in the dark. It would use special lights and effects. The first name for the ride was "Space Voyage."

WED Enterprises worked on the idea. By June 1966, it was called "Space Mountain." WED teamed up with Arrow Development Company. This company had helped build the Matterhorn's roller coaster.

The first plan was to have four separate tracks. But the technology and space at Disneyland weren't enough. Walt Disney passed away in December 1966. This put the Space Mountain project on hold. The focus shifted to building Walt Disney World.

When the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, it was a big hit. Disney decided to add thrill rides. They thought about building another Matterhorn Bobsleds. But it wouldn't fit in Florida's Fantasyland. So, designers went back to the Space Mountain idea.

The Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland had enough space. Computer technology had also gotten much better. To help pay for the ride, Disney got RCA to be a sponsor. RCA gave $10 million to support the new attraction.

The inside of the ride, the waiting area, and the tracks changed a lot during design. At first, the mountain was planned for a different spot. But it ended up outside the park's main area. A tunnel, called the "star corridor," was built. This tunnel goes under the Walt Disney World Railroad tracks. It lets people reach the ride.

Your Space Journey

WDW SpaceMountain Tunnel
The "energizing" tunnel takes the trains to the lift hill.

When you enter Space Mountain, you step into a big room. It has small, silver, ball-pit like balls. There's also a "star map" on display. The line then goes into the "star tunnel." This tunnel takes you under the Walt Disney World Railroad tracks. You are now inside the huge cone that holds the ride.

The line then goes up to a second floor. You'll see "space windows" in the walls. These windows show planets, astronauts, and a model spaceship. The line keeps turning until you reach the loading station. In the past, you could play video games while waiting. These games were hosted by a robot. Now, the screens show space images. You can play games on your phone using the Play Disney Parks app.

At the loading area, you'll see rockets leaving every few seconds. Mission control voices can be heard over speakers. The line splits into two tracks: Alpha (left) and Omega (right). Both tracks are about 90 feet high. They are mirror images of each other. Alpha's track is slightly longer, at 3,196 feet. Omega's track is 3,186 feet.

The Ride

WDW SpaceMountain LightsOn
Before 2009, you could see inside the ride dome from the loading station when the work lights were on.

You board your rocket in the Starport: Seven Five. This area is inside the mountain. The mountain is hollow and 300 feet wide. People riding the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover can see some of the ride's effects.

As your rocket leaves the station, it turns around. It passes the loading area and Mission Control. Then it stops briefly. After a few seconds, you roll down a small drop. You enter a tunnel with flashing blue lights. These lights flash faster as you go. A warping sound plays, like an energy charge. You roll towards a blue glowing orb. At the end of the tunnel, stars appear.

Your rocket then turns and climbs the lift hill. This part looks like a launch bay. It has a large, narrow spaceship. This ship is like the Discovery One from the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey. Astronaut figures hang upside-down, looking like they are in zero-gravity.

As you climb, you can see projections of planets and stars. You might spot the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. Also, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. You'll see stars, comets, meteors, asteroids, and the Milky Way. You can also see other rockets climbing the lift hill. And you might see Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover cars passing by.

At the top, your rocket dips quickly. Then it plunges into twists and turns. You travel in almost complete darkness. The steepest drop is 39 degrees. The ride ends as your rocket passes through a red swirling wormhole. Then it hits the final brakes. You arrive at the unload station, which is below the loading station. After you get off, the empty rockets go up a short lift hill. They return to the loading station.

Ride Vehicles

WDW SpaceMountain Train
Before 2009, each train had glowing stripes.
WDW SpaceMountain Train2009
The same trains after the 2009 update.

The ride has 30 trains, with 15 for each track. Usually, 13 trains are running on each track. Each train has two rocket-shaped cars. Each car seats three people, one behind the other. So, six people can ride in one train.

From 1975 to 1989, the trains were different. They had two seats per car. Each seat held two passengers, one on the other's lap. This meant eight passengers per train. Each rider had their own restraint.

In 1989, the current trains were introduced. They look similar to the old ones. But they seat riders one behind the other. Each person has their own seat. These trains use lap bars to keep you safe. The lap bars were updated in 1998 to the current T-bar style.

The trains were originally white. In 2009, they got new seat fabric. They were also repainted blue and gray.

Building and Sponsors

Sponsors (1975–2004)

From 1975 to 1993, RCA sponsored Space Mountain. The entrance had "Space Mountain" in bold blue letters. The RCA logo was above it. Below the name was the slogan, "A Journey Through Time and Space," presented by RCA.

The entrance building had red, yellow, and orange colors. A large white pole had the RCA logo. Four astronaut figures were attached to it in an old ride vehicle. A dedication plaque was below the pole. It honored those who explored space.

Inside, the lobby had black and blue walls. It had yellow and orange designs. There were also floor-to-ceiling mirrors and blue lights. For a short time, a model of an RCA satellite was on display. Later, a flying saucer with RCA's Nipper mascot replaced it.

In 1989, RCA updated the entrance. The entrance door got a yellow and black pattern. The walls were repainted white and blue. The "Space Mountain" lettering changed to a new white, angular font. The slogan "A Journey Through Time and Space" was still there. But "presented by RCA" was removed. The RCA logos on the pole were also taken down. A new six-seater vehicle replaced the old one. This was because the ride trains had changed.

In 1994, FedEx became the new sponsor. The entrance building was partly changed. Exiting riders now went into an arcade and gift shop. The old entrance wall with the Space Mountain sign was removed. A new sign on the right wall had the ride name in a tall, thin orange font. This matched the new Tomorrowland style.

New warning signs and announcements were added. A new pole tower also featured the new Space Mountain font and FedEx sponsorship. A warning video was updated to include FedEx. In the queue, monitors played "SMTV" videos. These showed Space Mountain mission control and news from around the galaxy. They also had funny commercials for "Crazy Larry's Used Spaceships" and FedEx. The FedEx footage was removed in 2005.

The lobby was updated with orange and brown colors. It still had blue floor lights. A FedEx-sponsored mural of the Milky Way was added. In 1998, the floor was changed. A staircase was added for the standby line. A ramp was added for the FastPass line, making it wheelchair friendly. FastPass machines were also added outside.

No Sponsor (2005–Present)

FedEx stopped sponsoring Space Mountain in 2004. Most FedEx logos were removed by 2005. The last ones were taken down in 2009. That year, the old Skyway terminal was partly removed. This made a bigger entrance area. The orange colors on the pole were changed to lime green. The murals inside the entrance building were also updated.

From April to November 2009, Space Mountain had a big update. It was the first major renovation since 1999. It cost about $12.3 million. The ride got a new futuristic look, like the one at Tokyo Disneyland. The ride itself didn't change. But the sound effects in the energy and wormhole tunnels were updated. An on-ride camera was added. The biggest change was in the loading station. A roof was added to reduce light inside the dome. Gates were also added where guests board the trains.

In August 2010, the ride got "Starry-O-Phonic Sound" effects. These new sounds play throughout the mountain. They make the ride even better. The music was created by Mike Brassell. He also narrates the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover ride. The music includes parts from the Disneyland Space Mountain score.

Ride Music and Sounds

From 1975 to 1985, music played in the entrance and exit areas. It was a big band song from RCA called "Here's to the Future and You." The lobby had a softer part of this song. But the music in the Star Corridor and near the loading station is still the original from 1975. The warning announcements and most sound effects are also original.

In 1985, RCA changed the music. New general music was added for Space Mountain. Since 1985, there has been no outdoor music around the ride. Only the warning announcements play. In the lobby, you can hear music by George Wilkins. This music has been there since 1985.

When riders got off the ride, they entered the post-show area. This area was also open to people who didn't ride the roller coaster. From 1985 to 2005, the unload and merger corridors had a soft tune. It was part of RCA's song "We've Come So Far." The main version of "We've Come So Far," with singing, played in the exit tunnel until RCA's sponsorship ended.

In 2005, this music was replaced. New music from Disneyland's updated Space Mountain was used. After the 2009 updates, the same songs play in the queue. But the Disneyland Space Mountain music is no longer in the post-show. Most of the main ride sound effects were updated.

What Happens After the Ride

After your ride, you used to step onto a moving walkway. This walkway took you back to Tomorrowland. A flashing warning sign was above the entrance. While on the moving platform, you passed different rooms and displays. Many of these changed a lot in 2009.

The first post-show was RCA's "Home Of Future Living." It showed how electronics would be used in a future home. Later, it promoted RCA's Selectavision Videodisc player. In the mid-1980s, "Home of Future Living" was replaced by "RYCA-1." This showed what life might be like in a space colony.

When FedEx became the sponsor, the RYCA-1 sets were updated. The story was about sending packages across space using teleportation. One scene showed astronauts digging up alien fossils. They teleported them to a base where a robot dog, the "lab retriever," received the package. This post-show also had a voice explaining each scene. All FedEx traces were removed after their sponsorship ended. The post-show stayed the same until 2009. Only the narration was removed. Music based on Michael Giacchino's score for Disneyland's Space Mountain was added.

The post-show got big updates in 2009. Many rooms were made to look more futuristic. They got sleek, modern designs. The scenes now connect to the spaceport theme of Space Mountain. They show different places in the universe you could visit. Monitors were added to the RYCA-1 scene. They showed activities you could do at these destinations. The post-show kept some popular features. This included monitors showing riders as they passed cameras.

In summer 2018, the post-show was updated again. The moving walkway, which had been there since 1975, was removed. It was covered with carpet. The green screen room was replaced with ramps. These ramps lead to a slightly different exit into the gift shop. The ride stayed open while the walkway was removed. Guests used a temporary path outside the mountain.

Some parts of the post-show can be seen from the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover. This is after you pass through the lift hill bay. This is because these rooms have no ceilings.

When Space Mountain was updated, some tributes to the old Epcot ride Horizons were added.

  • One bag in the baggage claim area says "Mesa Verde" on it.
  • An undersea scene in the post-show is like a scene from Horizons. This was the only new scene added in the update. It describes the scene as "20,000 Light-years under the Sea." This is a play on "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea." It refers to an old Disney movie and a past Magic Kingdom ride.
  • The robot valet and futuristic city skyline are similar to a scene in Horizons. They also look like a lounge Disney used to have at LAX.

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