Space Mountain may be one of the scarier rides at The Magic Kingdom, but it’s really not terribly frightening.
Generally speaking, Disney parks tend to be pretty family-friendly, and there aren’t many scary rides.
This is especially the case at the Magic Kingdom, which is known for its delightful attractions based on beloved children’s movies and characters.
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Does Space Mountain go upside down?
Nope. Space Mountain has no inversions, loops or corkscrews.
Is Space Mountain really fast?
It has a top speed of 27 mph, although it can feel like you’re going faster because of how dark it is inside the ride building.
In fact, the ride is designed to feel faster than it actually is.
Are the drops on Space Mountain scary?
Its largest drop is only 26 feet, which can cause the feeling of a stomach drop, especially in the dark when you don’t see it coming. However, this drop is pretty modest compared to some other Walt Disney World rides.
By comparison, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train has a 39-foot drop. Splash Mountain (soon to become Tiana’s Bayou Adventure) has a 49-foot drop.
Finally, Expedition Everest in Disney’s Animal Kingdom has a much bigger drop at 80 feet.
Read Also: Is Splash Mountain Still Getting a Retheme? The Latest Plans (2023)
What is the scariest part of Space Mountain?
I can remember being a kid and thinking that the scariest part of Space Mountain was “the red part.” During the ride, your rocket is moving through a tunnel and there are red flashing lights and warning sirens blaring.
Just as you approach the end of the tunnel, the track takes a sudden unexpected turn and you are plunged into darkness.
However, as an adult, I think the scariest part is my kids asking me to ride it again after we disembark.
I’m (mostly) kidding because I really do love this ride and have fond memories of riding it as a kid and as a parent. But because it’s a roller coaster built in the 1970s, it’s pretty jerky. Even though most of Magic Kingdom’s coasters are more intense, they are generally much smoother.
Is Space Mountain an intense ride?
Space Mountain isn’t especially intense for a roller coaster. There are no loops or inversions. It’s a super fun ride that can be a bit disorienting since you can’t see or anticipate the twists, turns and drops.
The fact that it takes place in the dark is one of Space Mountain’s most unique features.
As you whiz past pinpricks of light that look like stars, you can’t see the track ahead. However, you can definitely hear the other ride vehicles zooming past you.
Is Space Mountain OK for a 7-year-old?
If your 7-year-old generally likes roller coasters and thrill rides, Space Mountain should be okay for him or her. The height requirement is 44 inches for Space Mountain. Most children reach this height around age 4 or 5.
That being said, Space Mountain is an indoor roller coaster that takes place in the dark to give the illusion of flying through outer space in a rocket. For some young riders, that experience could be frightening.
I think Disney World has other rides that might be considered scarier. For example, the Haunted Mansion can be a bit spooky, especially with the hitchhiking ghost at the end.
One of my kids was a little afraid of Pirates of the Caribbean as a preschooler. This is the same kid who self-reported having “peed a little” on his first experience riding Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios.
Both Dinosaur and the It’s Tough to be a Bug at Disney’s Animal Kingdom have some intense moments as well.
Read Also: 19 Scariest Rides at Disney World Ranked by a Scaredy Cat
Space Mountain’s seat configuration
Another point to keep in mind with kids riding Space Mountain for the first time is the configuration of seats in the ride vehicle. For example, most roller coasters have rows where guests are seated side-by-side.
On Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the ride vehicles have bench seats that can accommodate 2-3 guests (if some are children). As the parent of an odd number of children, I’ve always appreciated that flexibility.
The Space Mountain ride vehicle has three individual seats in each rocket with two rockets attached to each other. In other words, you’ll be sitting in front of or behind your kid. It might be a good idea to talk this through with your kiddo before the ride if you think they might get nervous about it.
When boarding the ride, a cast member may ask for your child’s age in addition to measuring their height. This is because Disney has policies for certain rides that children under age 7 must ride with an adult.
On Space Mountain, children under 7 must have an adult ride directly behind them. If you have two children under 7, you’ll need to make sure you have one adult to ride behind each of them. Disney’s policy considers older siblings, once they turn 14, as “adults” for the purposes of supervising.
Interestingly, the Disneyland version of Space Mountain in California has a different ride vehicle configuration.
The history of Space Mountain
Space Mountain originally opened in Tomorrowland in 1975. It was added as an attraction designed to appeal to older children and teenagers visiting Disney World with their families. Since that time, versions of this iconic ride have been built at four other Disney theme parks.
In 1977, a modified version of the coaster opened in Tomorrowland at Disneyland Park in California. When Tokyo Disneyland opened in 1983, Space Mountain was one of the original attractions.
A version of Space Mountain opened at Disneyland Paris in 1995. This was a few years after Euro Disney first opened in France.
The park became Disneyland Paris in 1994. The popular attraction was added to increase interest in the park. In 2017, it was rethemed and is now known as Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain.
The fifth version of the iconic ride was included as a debut attraction when Hong Kong Disneyland opened in 2005.
Who should not ride Space Mountain?
Anyone who is not in generally good health should not ride Space Mountain.
In other words, guests with high blood pressure, heart problems, expectant mothers or those who experience motion sickness are advised to sit this attraction out.
What to expect at the queue
Space Mountain is one of the most popular rides in Magic Kingdom. Generally, you can expect an average wait time of an hour or more.
If you want to skip the line, this ride is available on Lightning Lane through Disney Genie+. There is no single rider line.
Have you ridden Space Mountain in Orlando, Florida? Would you say it is scary? Let us know what you think in the comments.
