Just How Rough *Is* Space Mountain, Anyway?

[Cadenza]

I don't remember so far as roughness, but I do remember feeling like I was about to go flying out of the car when I sat in seat 1

 

[ZoZo]

I've ridden Space Mountain at Disneyland and Matterhorn many times. Space Mountain at Disneyland is much smoother. The Space Mountain at Disney World feels similar to the Matterhorn, but I think its much worse because you can't see where you're going and the drops are bigger. I love Space Mountain at Disneyland, but can't do the one at Disney World because it hurts my back. I have had a back injury though, so that may have a lot to do with it. I say give it a go and try to sit up front. The back whips you around much more.

I think this is why Space seems more jerky and rough - it's because it's dark and you can't anticipate which way to lean. I rode Space at Disneyland two years ago, and vowed "Never Again" because I felt like I had been flung back and forth for three minutes. I never used to have that problem - maybe as I get older, it just seems worse.

I love coasters like RnR, Thunder Mountain, and California Screamin, but I think those are much smoother. There's a "Mad Mouse" type ride at California Adventure that is really jerky - I can't stand that one! And I think I'll skip Space from now on, too.

 

[MonorailCentral]

SM is not that bad. Pre-refurb Matterhorn isn't a bad reference. I find it much better than many of the other coasters you mentioned. Some of those older Arrow coasters can be quite brutal these days, and there are a number of woodies that aren't aging well/being maintained properly.

 

[KristenRB]

I hate to admit it, as I am a coaster lover...but the last time I went I about died!! Haha idk if its because I'm getting older, but something about the seats and speed make me feel like I'm going to fall out! If you want thrills, Big Thunder and Splash Mountain are fun without the heart palpitations haha

 

[softballmom3]

It's pretty darn rough to me! I bruised my bladder riding it in nov 2011. My kids thought I was joking when I said I felt like I was going to come out of the seat until they saw the pic walking off the ride. Imagine 2nd day of a trip...this happening...it hurt to "pee" for three days afterward.

 

[FortForever]

It's too jerky. I always feel like I may end up with back damage. One of these days I'm going to convince myself to quit riding it all together.

 

[Cuchman]

I think the "rough" aspect of the ride is greatly enhanced by the dark.
On your classic wooden coaster, you can see what is happening and anticipate.
SM is harsh because you just can't really tell which way you will be torqued next!
I actually didn't ride it on my last trip because I remember really disliking it on the previous trip. (and I have no qualms about giant rollercoasters - as long as they are not too "rough" ) Now, it has been so long that I want to ride it again on the next trip for a refresher.

 

[Megsie1000]

My daughter and I ride it together and always ask for the front 2 cars. Worth it even if you have to wait a couple extra minutes. The back is jerky and unpleasant. The front is just thrilling. Enjoy!

 

[CarrieR]

I get the impression, Mike, that you're a coaster nerd, so I will answer this with a straight-up coaster nerd answer. Hopefully you're familiar with the coasters I cite!

Roughness: SM is rough due to the elements, not the track itself, if you know what I mean. It doesn't jackhammer like, say, the Cyclone, or Cedar Point's Mean Streak. It's more of an elemental jarring. The best comparison I can come up with, weirdly, is Holiday World's Voyage. You know how Voyage is an awesome coaster *once you learn it* and can anticipate how to lean, when? But before that it's awful, because you'll just be sitting there and then WHAM you're going a different direction?

That's Space Mountain. Only, you can't anticipate and be an active rider, because it's in the dark. And even if you ride it a whole bunch, and get familiar with the layout, you have to lean the opposite way if you ride the other side! So you'll be riding along and suddenly the car is jerked out from under you -- left, or down, or right.

I think it would be the same with any wild mouse... if you can't see to anticipate the sudden drops and turns, it's going to hurt. I suspect that if SM were outside I would feel quite differently about it. I have zero trouble with BTMRR, but then, I am experienced at anticipating those elements.

The BEST advice I can give is to ride it first thing in the morning. We've found that it's an entirely different ride after the rails have cooled down overnight. (Please note that this does not apply over Christmas week when the parks are only closed for a couple of hours... ask me how I know :/) The more the rails warm up throughout the day, the faster - and therefore rougher - it runs. We can ride it first thing in the morning. It's an entirely different ride than at the end of the day.

Hope that helps

 

[wolfaroo]

it is rough enough that i have declined to ride it with my son the past two visits.
I did try the one at Disney Land a year ago and it was much smoother. I enjoyed that one so much i rode it twice!

 

[larryz]

What I want to know instead is just how rough is MK's Space anyway?

Let's put it this way -- if you boarded with a jar of whole milk, you'd disembark with a jar of butter.

 

[2012DisneyWorldBride]

Let's put it this way -- if you boarded with a jar of whole milk, you'd disembark with a jar of butter.

Hahaha!!

 

[hardrock01]

year later and my back still hurts!! but will do it again next time i visit!!

 

[LockShockBarrel]

So the lesson learned here is that some people just like it rough

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

So, just got off of FP side for first ride in 36 years. IMHO...way smoother than Matterhorn, very close to DLR's Space, not as rough as I feared at all, and totally, totally awesome.

 

[madzy]

I rode two weeks ago and loved every minute of it. I hadn't rid in over five years and got up the courage to ride with my five year old daughter. I can't say that I was hurting after. We rode twice in a row. I will say that it is fast and jerky and at times I felt I was going to fly out of the car but I enjoyed it. Now my husband will say it hurts his back after riding but he also has a bad back. I wouldn't hesitate doing it again. We did ride both tracks and one track has a bigger hill. That scared me more than the jerkiness than anything.

 

[cdatkins]

I think I can offer a unique perspective because I am a lifelong WDW visitor that went to DLR in July 2011 and just (last week) returned from a trip to WDW.

Let me assure you that the SM at MK in WDW is much, much rougher than SM at DL.

I was actually kind of shocked at how much rougher it was.

Granted, the last time I rode SM at MK was 2007 or 2009 (can't remember).

So take it FWIW.

I know this has been discussed before in various threads. But I'm really curious for flat-out, super-geeky, this is how it feels to me answers. DBF and I will be at WDW later this week for my first trip since MK's Space Mountain was *two years old*. Since then, I've gotten very familiar with DL's version of the ride. You'll be happy to know this is not another "which one is better" question.

What I want to know instead is just how rough is MK's Space anyway? Almost everyone calls it a "rough" and sometimes a painful ride. So...how rough is it? Feel free to compare. Are we talking Disneyland Matterhorn butt-breaking rough? DLP SM neck-breaking rough? Coney Island Cyclone back-breaking rough? SFGAm American Eagle shake-you-like-a-ragdoll-til-you-die rough? I just want to know what I'm in for!

 

[cdatkins]

The best comparison I can come up with, weirdly, is Holiday World's Voyage. You know how Voyage is an awesome coaster *once you learn it* and can anticipate how to lean, when? But before that it's awful, because you'll just be sitting there and then WHAM you're going a different direction?

Voyage is a great comparison, but I think Voyage is rougher than SM at MK. Voyage really should come with tylenol.

I am going to Holiday World in a month. Can't wait. My favorite them park in the world other than DL.

 

[disneydad78]

It KILLS my back. My kids even said something about their back hurting and being slammed around.