Difference between front and back seat on Space Mountain

[Serrina89]

Hey DISers,

So a couple of years ago, I decided to go to WDW with one of my really good friends. We decided to get on Space Mountain and I had the time of my life. She got off scared and shaking. I just chalked it up to her being a bigger scared-y cat than me. Until.....

this past summer when I went with my boyfriend and we decided to ride. I was so excited about a roller coaster that I could ride with my eyes open. And it happened......that tiny baby coaster had me practicing breathing techniques for labor and delivery.....smh....

and then it dawned on me....the difference in riding in the front and back. I think the ride is less daunting riding in the back seat because even though it's in the dark you can slightly feel the car turn and drop before you do. However in the front you cant brace yourself for anything because you and the car are in sync. I rode the ride once again in the back to confirm my thoughts and i find it easier ridding in the back.

Does anyone else feel there is a difference?

 

[jade1]

You are 100% correct.

Plus if a piece of angle iron falls loose and is hanging there-you have a better chance of ducking.

 

[jade1]

By the way, DD keeps sunglasses on all the way through the line-and even closes here eyes as much as possible-and never opens at least one eye.

Then when on the ride-removes the glasses and still keeps both eyes closed until the top of the first drop-opens them and claims she can see much better that way.

Seems like a lot of work to me for a 2 min ride but anyway.

 

[DebbieB]

I found the opposite - the back is rougher.

 

[jade1]

I found the opposite - the back is rougher.

I think it might be rougher as well-but felt the turns and drops coming better anticipation anyway.

 

[PoohsFan1]

I don't care to ride in the front seat of Space Mountain, any other seat I am fine with. I guess because in the front car you can't see what is going to happen to you, but if I am behind someone, I can see their silhouette therefore I can see the car banking at each turn or go down the hills. As for smoothness, I really can't tell the difference, it all feels the same to me.

 

[Disney Sheri]

I found the opposite - the back is rougher.

I agree with you! We have an unwritten agreement in my family that Mom never rides in the back of Space Mountain again!

 

[Brad Bishop]

I found the opposite - the back is rougher.

I specifically request not to ride in the back seat because it beats me up.

 

[DisneyFan2013]

I've only ridden Space Mountain once. I was in the back seat and thought it was pretty awful. I was hoping you'd say the front seat was better. lol

 

[2Tiggies]

I specifically request not to ride in the back seat because it beats me up.

I'm exactly the same. I don't mind front or back seat, but I can't have the back seat on the back car. My body suddenly told me about 3 years ago that my back seat years on that ride are up!

 

[jade1]

I've only ridden Space Mountain once. I was in the back seat and thought it was pretty awful. I was hoping you'd say the front seat was better. lol

Smoother, but the OP wasn't worried about that.

 

[999DoomBuggies]

Just practice breathing and realize it will be over in a matter of a minute or so. The back seat will be rougher just like thunder mountain. Ride it a couple times in a row just to get use to the feeling.

 

[PolyLover]

The back seat beat me up pretty bad.....so bad I haven't ridden since! I used to ride it all the time and then that time back in college did me in. Maybe its because I'm older and am more prone to motion sickenss.

 

[redc]

Front: Chiropractor


Back: Spinal Fusion Surgery

 

[DisneyFan2013]

Smoother, but the OP wasn't worried about that.

I just know that when I rode it in the back seat, I had my eyes closed the whole time and was being jerked around so much, I thought I might be ejected from the seat. Unless the front seat feels a bit safer, I don't think I want to ride it again- and I LIKE roller coasters!

 

[W.E.D.]

Front: Chiroprator


Back: Spinal Fusion Surgery

Agreed. Last time we rode, in '11, will probably be the final trip on SM. Both DW and I have some minor back issues. We had never really noticed before, but we were hurting after that ride.

 

[ougrad86]

I found out that in the very front seat of each car, I get banged around so much more in term of the middle bar in there. Now I only sit in the middle or back of the car so I can stretch my legs out on either side - much less painful (I have very long legs). I never really noticed either being rougher, just the way I had to sit made it harder for me.

 

[DisneyRegulars]

I found the opposite - the back is rougher.

I specifically request not to ride in the back seat because it beats me up.

I've only ridden Space Mountain once. I was in the back seat and thought it was pretty awful. I was hoping you'd say the front seat was better. lol

Front: Chiropractor


Back: Spinal Fusion Surgery

I'm right with all of you. That back seat is brutal. If I get stuck back there I can't even focus on whether or not it is less or more scary than the front because all I'm thinking about is the tremendous headache I'm going to have when I get off.

 

[2Tiggies]

I found out that in the very front seat of each car, I get banged around so much more in term of the middle bar in there. Now I only sit in the middle or back of the car so I can stretch my legs out on either side - much less painful (I have very long legs). I never really noticed either being rougher, just the way I had to sit made it harder for me.

I'm not very tall so perhaps it's different issues for different people, but I find the back car gets me in my neck.

 

[wordwitt]

I rode SM the first and only time in the back. I knew there were differences between the SM at WDW and the one at DLR, but I was not prepared for the pain. My back was killing me when I got off. It was the first time I ever felt old on a ride. I just wanted it to be over-- and I LOVE the DLR version, esp. since the update.

Edit: and now I'm remembering my neck hurt from being snapped around, as well. I honestly thought I had whiplash. We are there in three days, and I was considering riding it again. Until this thread. ha ha.