Space Mountain

Part of Disneyland's mountain range, this roller coaster is completely indoors and mostly dark. While the ride never flips upside down, the confined space keeps the g-forces high without ever achieving high speeds (at least by modern roller coaster standards).

Since 2006, during the Halloween Time (mid-September through October) promotion at Disneyland, Space Mountian has been given a spooky overlay involving new music and projections. There have been changes most years (and one year in which it didn't happen), but if you visit at that time of year, expect something to be different.

Disneyland Resort > Disneyland Park > Tomorrowland

General Information

Location: At the back-right of Tomorrowland (when entering from Main Street).

Date Opened: May 4, 1977

# of Ride Units:

Ride Capacity: 12 passengers per rocket.

Restraint Method: Lapbar

Ticket Rating: E Ticket

Ride Photo: No

Time Commitment

Open/Close: Opens and closes with the park.

Wait Times: FastPass is strongly recommended for this attraction as standby wait times will almost always be 40 minutes or longer and will approach 90 on the busiest days. Open during Magic Mornings.

Length of Ride: 3 minutes

FastPass: Yes

Single Rider: No

Queue Description: After the remodel of Space Mountain from 2003-2005 there is not as much to see in the queue as in the past. Monitors show short clips and as you come around to the loading station you can observe a large spaceship suspended from the ceiling.

Access Information

Health Restriction: Guests should be in good health and free of heart, neck, or back problems that could be aggravated by sudden changes in motion and speed. Most of the ride takes place in near total darkness and ends with a strobe light effect that many find disorienting. Pregnant women should not ride.

Ride Access: Wheelchair and ECV access is through the attraction exit.

Wheelchair Transfer: It is necessary to transfer from wheelchairs and ECVs to ride Space Mountain. With the 2003-2005 reconstruction, a diversion was created that allows one ride to be shifted off the track to allow unhurried loading and existing.

Service Animals: No

Audio: Music plays out of headsets on the ride unit.

Weight and Size Issues: While the rockets should be able to accommodate all guests, many will find them uncomfortably tight. There is not much extra legroom, especially if you have any bags with you.

Parenting Information

Height Restriction: 40" (102 cm.)

Child Swap: Approach the cast member at the entrance to the queue and request a rider switch pass. When the rest of your party exits the ride, two people can return with the rider switch pass through the Fast Pass entrance.

Other Issues: The roller coaster is in the dark and shorter people may experience head jostling because they may not be tall enough to fit comfortably in the head rests. The ride ends very quickly and with a strobe affect that can cause disorientation. Closing your eyes during this part of the ride can reduce this effect.

History and Trivia

At this location: Most of the space occupied by Space Mountain was off-stage until the opening of the attraction in 1977.
The Attraction's History: In 2006, Space Mountain received its first seasonal overlay, called Rockin' Space Mountain. For this overlay the music played during the ride was changed out from the Dick Dale music to a version of the Red Hot Chili Pepper's "Higher Ground." New projections inside the dome and trackside lighting effects were also installed. After no overlay in 2008, a new overlay was created in 2009 has part of the resort's Halloween Time celebration. This new overlay is Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and returned again in 2010 suggesting it may become an annual tradition like other seasonal overlays at Disneyland.