Anyone Been on Space Mtn with the Lights ON ????

[Jannino]

When we were in WDW this past December, we took our DS6 on SM for the first time during MVMCP. He had been looking forward to it for almost a year since the prior December during another MVMCP we took our DD7 on SM and she loved it (he couldn't go on due to height restrictions). Well, sure enough he was on SM for the first time and the lights came on. Now this might be a regular experience for the folks living in Florida, but it was a big deal for a family from New Jersey who try to make it down to WDW every year. Well, he LOVED IT and he'll always remember his first ride on SM.

You don't realize how close you actually come to the infrastructure when the lights are off. When we got back down, the CM told us that sometimes when one of the two queues gets backed up too much, the ride automatically shuts down and the lights go on.

Anyone else have any stories of riding SM with the lights on?

 

[WDWtinkbell1982]

I have never road SM while the lights were on...but during the first year they did EMH (they used to call it E-ticket night) Space Mountain broke down.

We decided to pass our time on the Tommorrow Land Transit Authority Ride...hoping they would fix it.

As the TTA went into SM we immediately notice th lights were on inside SM!!! I had never seen it before...and at first it was....shocking! It was like the magic was gone. And I hate to say this...but it was also really creepy! My DH and DS just sat there with our mouths wide open....like someone had just told us there was no such thing as Santa Claus!!!

But I have to say....it was really cool too!

 

[Tinkerbelll]

Yep!! We got stuck on it about halfway through the ride. It took them a while to fix too, becuase we had time to get out our cameras and snap some pictures!!!

 

[Jannino]

I actually had my video camera and I shot some video inside with the lights on. It was wierd seeing CMs walking on the very top of the ride (I believe the control room is high up inside).

 

[CrazyChik]

wow i wonder what it looks like with the lights on

 

[tink1978]

I have never ridden it with the lights on....I think that would ruin it for me....but I have been in line when it broke down. It's weird looking at it with the lights on.

 

[Tinkerbell10403]

This past September, DBF and I were fortunate enough to ride SM while the line was very short. So here we are walking along, get on the ride, and the lights come on! I must say, although it was kinda cool....it was not nearly as fun. The fun of it for me is riding with the lights off, and screaming as loud as you can down every drop...even though there arn't that many. I dunno, but the lights being on sucked the fun out for me. However, it was a neat experience, and we did get passes to ride again, but the lines were so short we did not need them.

 

[SandraVB79]

I have seen it with the lights on on Sunday may 7. I was on TTA for the very first time, and it took me some time to realize the lights were ON in Space Mountain. It looks weird, and "small" and the tracks are very very close to each other. So, no way I'm holding my arms up while on it!!!!

I was too late to take pictures, as a digital camera takes some time before it's "ON".

By the time I got again in Space Mountain with the TTA, the lights were off again...

 

[FINFAN]

Yep, back in 1985! We were so excited to ride it, no FP then mind you...we load on, take off and I swear, not 30 seconds later...stopped, lights go on and totally ruins it for me. Now DH ( DF at the time) thought this was great (as he was a mech. engineer at the time and his wheels started spinning)...I HOWEVER, DO NOT LIKE MY DISNEY MAGIC MESSED WITH! We were able to finish the ride, which was good, and actually after standing in line for an hour or so, it was o.k. with me to have a little extra sit down time...but it does take away from the fun, to see the limitations of where the track goes, ceiling, CM's etc.


Pam

 

[Shubunk]

I have never been on SM with the lights on but i have noticed how close you get to the beams overhead, that is why i never put my hands up in that ride! Great ride though.

 

[shalinao]

I have, it totally ruined the ride for me. Although usually I like knowing where I'm going on a coaster, it just wasn't the same on SM with the lights on!

Shalina

 

[disneynay]

My sister and I were at MK on 5/19 for a 1 day visit during our Universal vacation. We rode the TTA around 6:30pm Friday and saw that all the lights were on in Space Mountain. Talk about creepy. We wondered if something happened with the ride. There was no one inside the waiting areas where you board; no CM's, no guests. yet the strangest thing was that the waiting area outside had a wait time and people getting fast passes. Does anyone know what happened?

 

[MisunderstoodLilo]

My College Program cousin got to ride ALL the dark rides with the lights on one night. (It was a special CP thing, I guess) He said that Space Mountain is even scarier with the lights ON because you see how close you are to everything.

 

[princess22]

My sister and I were at MK on 5/19 for a 1 day visit during our Universal vacation. We rode the TTA around 6:30pm Friday and saw that all the lights were on in Space Mountain. Talk about creepy. We wondered if something happened with the ride. There was no one inside the waiting areas where you board; no CM's, no guests. yet the strangest thing was that the waiting area outside had a wait time and people getting fast passes. Does anyone know what happened?

It was just a normal breakdown that happens often. If it breaks down, people are still able to get fastpasses for when it does open again. Space Mountain breaks down a lot! But when it does break down it is normally a good thing. The most common break down occurs when the unload area is full of trains and the train coming in has no where to go. The computer tells the ride to stop and instead of running into all the trains at the bottom, it will stop out on the track area. It is still very safe, so if you ever see Space Mountain down, don't be afraid to go back on it when it reopens!

Also, I think it is neat to see it with the lights on. If you are one of the lucky people who have been stuck out on the ride, you are very fortunate to experience something that a lot of people don't get to!

 

[Joanna71985]

My College Program cousin got to ride ALL the dark rides with the lights on one night. (It was a special CP thing, I guess) He said that Space Mountain is even scarier with the lights ON because you see how close you are to everything.

I did that too. It was really scary seeing how close you were to the beams and stuff. I now am too afraid to ride with my arms up (it is a special CP thing, BTW).

 

[jlovesee]

They are running Space Mountain with its lights on for ACE Coaster Con this year, Im excited and I am sure I will be taking some photos! Ill post the link when we get back! (coaster con is the week after Father's day)

Jennifer

 

[ScottNBecky]

oVer spring Break we got stuck about half way down it. Were there for about 15 minutes. We had NO CAMERA or VIDEO CAMERA with us, b/c we had taped and taken pics all day long, and went back to the resort to rest for the afternoon. I asked my wife if we needed either camera for the evening and she said no we never really take pics at night so we didnt bring them. Of course we get stuck. But it was definitely weird seeing it (and being stuck on it) with the lights on.

 

[ampooh]

DS was in Disney last week. They went to the YES program Disney offeers. tehy were able to ride SM with the light on then off. I thought it was before the park was open but I might be wrong. That may be a reason for your experience.

DS thought riding it was cool with the lights on.

 

[Pdowning98]

About 15 years ago, we got to ride SM with the lights on at DL. It was quite an experience and I have never put my hands up on that ride again!

 

[martinp13]

They are running Space Mountain with its lights on for ACE Coaster Con this year, Im excited and I am sure I will be taking some photos! Ill post the link when we get back! (coaster con is the week after Father's day)

I'm very excited about riding SM with the lights on at CoasterCon. I've ridden our local "small steel coaster in the dark" ride with the lights on and it is MUCH more terrifying in the light. Although I'm sure you can't really hit them, the head-choppers look SO close!

I rode the then-WEDWAY People Mover and once thru SM the lights were on. Creepy indeed.