Archive for December 5th, 2009

Fresh from a seven-month refurbishment, Starport Seven-Five is once again welcoming space travelers.  Changes to Space Mountain include the addition of interactive games along the queue, an onboard photo which can purchased at the end of the ride in the Tomorrowland Video Arcade, and a refreshed exit area.  Imagineers have also added a number of their special “touches” along the way.

Sadly, the glowing stripes on the sides of the ride vehicles have been removed, and the view of the “stars” once offered from the queue areas and a ride on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority has been lost; hidden by a new dome.

Passengers will have a greater sense of flying through the dark thanks to efforts to darken the ride, and make it smoother and quieter.  Guests hoping for a screaming new experience with updated sound system and new track configuration will be disappointed.  Those who were worried that the classic and relatively tame Mountain they loved would be irrevocably changed, can relax.

Although it can be a bit jerky, Space Mountain offers a fairly gentle roller coaster ride through the dark.  Vehicles seat passengers in a single file of six for an exciting trip on one of two nearly identical tracks, Alpha (ten feet longer) and Omega.  Riders twist and turn down through the darkness after a steep climb to the top of the Mountain.  A photo taken at the beginning of the ride in a glowing blue tunnel reinforces the sense of darkness with the flash of strobes.

Space Mountain

Magic Kingdom

44″ minimum height requirement

FastPass available

Guests must transfer from ECV to available wheelchair, then from wheelchair to ride vehicle

Park admission required