How scary is Space Mountain?

[casnider]

Space Mountain was the one ride where my DD (17) was behind me and almost let her first wordy-dirty slip out "in front of" her momma. It was actually pretty funny at the time. It was her first time on the ride. I was in the very front of the car. And she was caught off guard, only because you can't really see what is coming up unless you are in the front like I was. I could catch a glimmer of track from the star lights. It is a fun coaster and worth at least one trip and to say you conquered Space Mountain. Then if you don't like it, you can say "NEVER AGAIN"

 

[siskaren]

Maybe it depends on your definition of the word "drop." If you consider any downward movement to be a "drop," then yes, it has drops.

Well, yeah, I consider downward movement to be a drop.

 

[disney world dreamer]

once you've been on a few times you know what's coming when.

if the not knowing is what is making you think twice i would watch it on youtube with lights on.

the track layout is a lot like the "wild cat" roller coasters if you've ever been on one of those.

if you can handle EE you can handle space mountain and vice versa.

 

[prettypatchesmsu]

I am scared of Expedition Everest and we did not ride it our first trip after Animal Kingdom had opened because just looking at it scared me. The next trip, I told my husband I would ride it if he would just so I could say I rode it. Well, I screamed so much I that I actually couldn't make more than a Woo noise half way though. But you know what, I ended up loving it even after being so scared. It's a great ride. I've rode it several times now, and twice last trip! I'm still scared, but it's less of a terrified scared and more an excited scared.

Our 2013 trip was the first and only time I rode RockNRoll Rollercoaster. I get scared going upside down. I'm debating riding it this year. As for Space Mountain, we normally ride it once each trip, only once. But I do not like it. I'm scared of it a little, but it's not real bad. Everest is scarier in my opinion, but funner. Space Mountain, is as others have mentioned, a very rough bumpy ride and it hurts my back. The seat also sits very low, and I find it hard to get into the seat. Kind of feels like you have to squat down to get in there. I would say, try it! If you don't like it you can not do it again (that's what I tell myself anyways). I do not think it is that intense of a coaster, just dark and very bumpy/jerky. And I'm kind of a ride wimp now that I've gotten older. We've resolved to finally riding AstroOrbiter this trip....I'm terrified but determined. Just hope I don't fall out haha! But then we will have ridden everything!

 

[disney world dreamer]

Space Mountain was the one ride where my DD (17) was behind me and almost let her first wordy-dirty slip out "in front of" her momma. It was actually pretty funny at the time. It was her first time on the ride. I was in the very front of the car. And she was caught off guard, only because you can't really see what is coming up unless you are in the front like I was. I could catch a glimmer of track from the star lights. It is a fun coaster and worth at least one trip and to say you conquered Space Mountain. Then if you don't like it, you can say "NEVER AGAIN"

ha for my niece's friend it was rip ride rockit at universal that crazy words came out of her mouth at age 15.
we could only hear one of them but then when we watched the video we could see the words as she said them lol.
she was pretty nervous to go on that ride so we didn't blame her.

 

[mindeola]

My sister loves coasters and is very adventurous and hates SM because it is dark and she can't see what is coming.

My niece and my son hate roller coasters , ToT , etc. and love SM because they can't see what is coming.

Weird. I have never tried it. I don't like roller coaster and I am certain I won't like it any better in the dark!

 

[casnider]

ha for my niece's friend it was rip ride rockit at universal that crazy words came out of her mouth at age 15.
we could only hear one of them but then when we watched the video we could see the words as she said them lol.
she was pretty nervous to go on that ride so we didn't blame her.

Rip ride rockit will make anyone lose it!!! It is fun but wow oh wow!

 

[scrapquitler]

I was considering going on Space Mountain too this trip. What made up my mind to try it was watching videos on Youtube that show the ride being ridden with the lights on. It made me realize that it really isn't that bad, just more scary because its dark.

This is exactly what I was going to suggest. Watch the lights on video on You Tube, it's not a big scary coaster, its just that it's in the dark. Once you see that, you probably won't be scared.

 

[soniam]

I am a chicken who is working her way up. Once 7DMT and BMTRR didn't bother me anymore, I decided to try Space Mountain, which was on our trip about 2 weeks ago. It's really not bad at all, unless you don't like the dark. I didn't really find it to be scary. It doesn't feel that fast, and there are not any big drops or any loops. I really didn't like how bumpy and rough it felt though. I think I might do it once trip, but that's probably enough.

 

[serenitynow]

Not as scary as it is rough and jerky.

 

[Jessiemendez1]

I am pretty scared of fast rides, Jungle Cruise and Peter Pan's Flight are enough action for me .

Over the last few years I have gotten better, in January I did Expedition Everest and did enjoy it. Space Mountain is one I'd like to try but would like to hear some thoughts on it. What scares me is not being able to see what's coming and drops...

I'm returning in December, worth experiencing or am I better off just enjoying The PeopleMover?

Thanks!

I think Expedition Everest is terrifying compared to Space Mountain. SM isn't a real wild ride, just dark most of the time and a little jerky. I am definitely not a roller coaster person and was petrified of SM at first, then I rode it and it's one of my favorites.

 

[KrazeeK120]

Well, yeah, I consider downward movement to be a drop.

OK, well, to clarify for the OP, the drops in Space Mountain are more like Big Thunder, POTC, or the old Maelstrom and less like Splash Mountain and Expedition Everest.

 

[Amanda999]

I wouldn't say its scary, but when I got past age 40 or so, I found the quick turn/changes - in the dark so you can't anticipate and brace yourself - to be a bit harsh on my neck. (I'm fit with no medical issues.) For comparison: I have the same issue now with TOT; no problem for me at all on 7DMT, BTMRR or Barnstormer. Even the big drop on Splash Mtn - while I don't love it (I do find that scary!) - it doesn't seem to hurt my neck or back because I can see it coming. HTH!

 

[TabithaStephens]

I was wondering, too! I've always avoided it because it seems a little much at the beginning with the intense strobe lighting.

 

[MrsDuck]

It's dark, jerky, and fairly sickening.

 

[squeezle]

My dad also likes being able to see what's coming up on roller coasters, so for Space Mountain he prefers to sit as far back as possible. Definitely not the first seat for him. That way he can see the people in front of him and can sort of tell what is about to happen.

For me, the jerkiness can be a problem. Sometimes I'm fine and sometimes I'm not. I went on it last week and ended up with a headache. But I still enjoy riding Space Mountain. And so does my dad.

HA! I am exactly the opposite. I have a bad neck so the jerkiness can be an issue for me, too. But I feel like in the very front seat I am able to focus on the track and know what to expect so my body doesn't get thrown around so much. I usually ask the cast member loading the ride if I can wait for the front seat.

Different strokes for different folks.

 

[monkistan]

i'm a big roller coaster chicken. i didn't ride Space Mountain until i was 29. And I made myself do it before I'd turned 30. It quickly became one of my favorite rides. That said, it's jerky. One thing that has helped me, though, is to ride with my eyes closed most of the time. The way Space is set up, it's trying to trick you into thinking your'e going to turn one way, you brace yourself and then you turn the other way, kinda magnifying the feel of that turn. If your eyes are closed, you just let your body feel the turn and brace into it, that way your eyes don't fool you.

 

[StitchMeansAloha]

It only goes 20 miles per hour.

 

[thelittlemermaid2]

I don't think SM is bad at all! I have hated big drops my entire life, but all space has is two tiny dips. You don't get the stomach-coming-through-your-mouth feeling on this ride. If you can handle the hill at the end of EE, you shouldn't be worried about it at all, neither dip comes even close in comparison. Most downward movement comes from spirals. As far as the darkness goes, I find that if you sit in the front seat you can almost always see whats coming next. While the front seat is "scary", the visuals make it worth it!

 

[aleksandr]

The top speed of space mountain is 28mph. It's not nearly the fastest coaster in the parks.

But, as many have pointed out, it is one of the roughest coasters you'll ride. As I get older, I find that I no longer like Space Mountain. All of the constant jerking around gives me a headache. It's not a smooth ride at all.

The only thing that makes SM vaguely "scary" would be the darkness so you don't know what is coming in terms of climbs, dips, spirals, etc.