10 unusual facts about Space Mountain as it turns 50
Space Mountain turns 50 at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and has been a thrilling fixture of Tomorrowland since its debut on January 15, 1975. Riders have embarked on high-speed journeys through the cosmos, experiencing twists and turns in near-total darkness punctuated by dazzling displays of stars, planets, and celestial wonders.
While some of us may have aged out of the thrill-seeking experience (I chickened out after riding in complete darkness during the Halloween theming), Space Mountain continues to captivate guests of all ages, proving its enduring appeal as a cornerstone of the Magic Kingdom.
To commemorate the attraction’s 50th anniversary, the exterior of the iconic conical structure will be bathed in a golden glow throughout the night of January 15, 2025. It will be visible from points throughout the Magic Kingdom Park and nearby resort areas, providing a special celebratory backdrop for Guests visiting on the night of Jan. 15th.
Space Mountain has been a rite of passage for many of the youngsters visiting Disney World. With a height requirement of 44 inches, the attraction is one of several Disney experiences that families use to literally measure their children’s growth.
Even though some riders might find Space Mountain a bit intense, particularly if they’ve seen it with the lights on (reminding many of a typical boardwalk coaster), it remains a must-do experience for many visitors to the Magic Kingdom.
Here are 10 things you might not know about Space Mountain as it turns 50:
1. Many Firsts: Space Mountain set a new benchmark for theme park innovation and thrills. The attraction is the world’s first indoor roller coaster in the dark, air conditioned and completely controlled by computer. Yes, by computer in 1975, imagine how big those processors were.
2. Walt Disney involvement: Space Mountain was one of the last attractions Walt Disney personally worked on with his Imagineers. Walt Disney pitched the idea of a “Matterhorn in outer space.” While the idea was solid, the technology did not exist at the time and it would take a couple of decades before the ride could be constructed.
3. Tower Height: Space Mountain’s brilliant white conical structure is a towering 183 feet tall (just six feet shorter than the theme park’s iconic Cinderella Castle). The ride dome has a diameter of 300 feet.
4. How Fast is Space Mountain – No Very: The a maximum speed of Space Mountain is 28 miles per hour. That makes it the slowest of all the major roller coasters at Walt Disney World. Next door neighbor TRON Lightcycle Run has a maximum speed of 60 mph; Seven Dwarfs Mine Train has a top speed of 34 mph; Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (now closed for refurbishment) has top speed of 36 mph; Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in EPCOT has a top speed of 60 mph, Test Track (which I would not consider a coaster, but many people may ask about it) had a top speed of 65 mph, Expedition Everest in Animal Kingdom has a top speed of 50 and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster has a maximum speed of 57 mph and Slinky Dog Dash reaches a top speed of 40 mph. The only coaster that is slower is kids coaster, The Barnstormer in Magic Kingdom. The darkness and special effects create a feeling of moving much faster on Space Mountain.
5. Space Mountain Has Two Tracks: Yes, there are two different tracks on Space Mountain – Alpha and Omega. They are mirror-image tracks so the turns will feel opposite has you ride. Alpha is 10 feet longer at 3,196 feet.
6. Construction: Construction on the original Space Mountain in Florida began on Dec. 15, 1972, and the attraction debuted a little more than two years later. The out-of-this world celebration that marked the opening of the attraction included NASA astronauts, a 2,000-piece marching band, daytime fireworks, celebrity appearances, a nationally televised prime-time special and more.
7. Astronauts Attended the Opening: NASA astronauts Gordon Cooper, James Irwin, and Scott Carpenter were there to celebrate the opening of the ride.
8. First Official Ride: The first official ride on Space Mountain in 1975 was taken by astronaut Colonel James Irwin, who piloted the Lunar Module on Apollo XV to the moon. At the Space Mountain debut Irwin said, “We astronauts are here today to salute all those who…permitted us to see the Earth as a precious blue jewel in the blackness of space. Now, all of us may enjoy this sense of wonder because of Walt Disney. Walt had a dream; today, we see the results of that dream.”
9. Starport 75: This gateway entrance refers to the year Space Mountain was built.
10. Longest Operating: Space Mountain is the longest operating roller coaster in Florida.
