Compare Big Thunder Mountain to Space Mountain

[jt8595]

Just got my 14-year-old on Big Thunder Mountain last summer on the last night we were there--last ride we rode! He loved it! He is not a typical teen in that he is slow to warm up to thrills (anything, really). Going back to WDW this summer. Can anyone compare Space Mountain to Big Thunder Mountain? I'm wondering if we can get him to ride Space Mountain or if I should leave that one alone.

 

[RMulieri]

Space mountain is completey in the dark ( except for flashing lights) and you seat one behind the other in a rocket.

 

[Nadjalu]

2 completely different rides. The only similar aspects of them is their catagory.....roller coaster and the fact they don't go super fast or have high drops.

That said, they differ more than compare. SM is more of a "Mouse" coaster that is in the dark, with seating in single file. As where BTMRR is more the traditional type coaster, with tiny hills.

If he liked BTMRR then he should at least try SM, a good indication of how he will like SM is to try Primevil Whirl at AK. This ride compares more to SM than BTMRR in it's design and ride thrill.

 

[B&Pdisneymom]

As said by another poster, there are only single seats, so you wouldn't be able to talk to him during the ride. We went on it a couple weeks ago, I think 3 times, but I really don't think it is a "great" ride. It is just ok. And, yes it is mostly in the dark. You can see more of what is going on in RnR that in Space Mountain.

 

[twokids0204]

BTMRR is much bigger then Space Mountain. And if all were equal (darkness vs. light) BTMRR would be considered much more of a thrill ride.

Being completley dark, you can't really gauge the next twist, turn or drop.

I say give it a shot, and I am confident he won't be disappointed.

 

[MHSweb79]

Space Mountain gets its thrills from being in the dark and feeling like you're going really really fast. I think it's a much smoother ride and I enjoy it much more than Big Thunder.

 

[thebells_Dallas]

2 completely different rides. The only similar aspects of them is their catagory.....roller coaster and the fact they don't go super fast or have high drops.

That said, they differ more than compare. SM is more of a "Mouse" coaster that is in the dark, with seating in single file. As where BTMRR is more the traditional type coaster, with tiny hills.

If he liked BTMRR then he should at least try SM, a good indication of how he will like SM is to try Primevil Whirl at AK. This ride compares more to SM than BTMRR in it's design and ride thrill.

i disagree. in my opinion, space mountain is not like a wild mouse coaster. it's a roller coaster. being in the dark it may seem different but it's not. there are links on you tube where you can watch the ride with the lights on during maintenance and such. i would say it's pretty comparable to BTMRR. cars are different, but neither has an extremely big drop, neither is super fast, and one is in the dark the other isnt. i think he'll enjoy it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoEd8rGhKEM

 

[FlightlessDuck]

My wife (MouseEarsJenny) loves BTMRR but refuses to go on SM because she is claustrophobic and doesn't want to go on a ride completely in the dark.

My DD 13 loves BTMRR and SM (and also EE), but she chickened out and didn't ride on RnRC.

But you can't really compare any of them.

 

[jt8595]

Thanks for all of your input! And a big thanks for the utube link. I didn't even think about checking utube. I hope to get him to try it. Sometimes he just needs an extra nudge and then finds out he loves something new!

 

[thebells_Dallas]

of course there are videos with the lights off to show too. my almost 8 year old little girl says she's going to ride now that she's seen the lights on. i'm not holding my breath. being 6' 8" i dont fit well in the cars on SM, and actually swore i wouldnt ride again. but if it means i can get her to ride, i'll fight thru it.

 

[jhaig]

So you're seated back to back at SM, but how many people fit into each car? Do the cars seat two riders or three?

 

[lllGurulll]

If I had to choose one over the other, I would choose Big Thunder Mountain. I do love SM though.

 

[vicb]

I used to ride SM and do ok until the year I saw the tracks in the light! I rode it one day which was the last day before rehab, then later in the week we went on the TTA and I saw it all lite up, yikes! When I realized just how tight it was I couldn't make myself do it again, the mind is a powerful thing!

I have no trouble at all with BTM.

 

[miranda_stella]

So you're seated back to back at SM, but how many people fit into each car? Do the cars seat two riders or three?

You are seated one behind the other. Two cars are connected, each car holds three...

 

[dan-tot]

Thunder mountain is the better of the two. If want a twist ride it at night. It was great. Space mountain at Disneyland is alot better than the in WDW. I tried riding it a couple of times but it was to jerky for me so I stopped riding it.

Dan-tot

 

[modernscarlett]

My daughter, 11, is the same way. She loved Space Mountain and BTMRR. It is in the dark, but it's really fun. I think he'll be fine.

I can't talk her into TOT, and she's scared of Haunted Mansion which has been closed both times we've been. Plan on doing some nudging of my own

 

[Costino1]

I love both the rides! When I was 13 I went on both rides for the first time. First I went on BTMR and LOVED IT! but then my friend wanted to go on SM and I was apprehensive. However I was dragged onto it and also LOVE it.

BTMR has more lateral turns and Gs....SM has a few "bigger" drops but nothing at all bad so no worries! If you can handle BTMR u can handle SM!

 

[gina2000]

I hate Space Mountain. Not because it's in the dark (I love coasters in the dark) but because I think it's a rough ride. I compare it to RnR and it comes up way short on the smoothness chart. BTMRR doesn't scare me because the dips and turns aren't too intense. The ride is jerky but not head snapping, at least in my opinion.

 

[g-dad66]

Two main differences, in my opinion:

1) Space Mountain is in the dark. This will bother some kids, but not others.

2) Space Mountain has some drops that are definitely bigger than any on Big Thunder (but none of the drops are as big as Splash, or Everest, or Tower of Terror of course). This will bother some kids, but not others.

I think if you let him know about those two things, he will then know what to expect if he tries Space Mountain.

 

[sharonabe]

My 6 yr old LOVES Space Mtn, but my 10 yr old isn't as enthusiastic, because he doesn't like not knowing what's going to happen. So, Space Mtn in the dark is a little uncomfortable for him. Funny thing is, he loves the Wild Mouse which is close to the same thing, just not in the dark.

Try finding the ride on You Tube; I think there's a video of it in the light. Let him watch it and decide knowing it won't be in the light, but in the dark.