Let's get this Space Mtn thing cleared up

[umbluegray]

I've heard rumors of "certain dangers" riding SM.

Is there any truth to them?

 

[toefungus]

Yeah, there are many dangers such as if you try to jump out in mid ride, stuck your head outside of the car, don't buckle yourself in correctly then SM is extremely dangerous. If you follow the directions you should be safe.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Driving or riding down I4 in Orlando is much more dangerous than Space Mtn.

 

[umbluegray]

So is it OK to keep your hands raised during the ride?

 

[Benjo]

I've been on Space Mountain tons of times, and a lot of those times, I have raised my hands, and never felt in danger of getting hurt.

However, I have heard of some cases where people have gotten injured, but I'd imagine these are most likely guests that are very tall.

 

[lightningcoach]

Space Mountain is very similar in design to a ride called the Galaxy that killed a young boy at Kings Dominion -(now owned by Paramount) in Virginia. Supposedly he stood up and was hit in the head. That ride was torn down after the incident. This happened back in the 80's. If you have ever had the pleasure to ride SM with the lights not very dark you can see that the metal structure comes pretty close to the car you are in and if you were to stand up or be extremely tall you have a very good chance of hitting your head.

Fortunately I am short and do not plan on standing up on the ride.

 

[seashoreCM]

Originally posted by umbluegray
I've heard rumors of "certain dangers" riding SM.

In your own words what dangers were you thinking of?

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

Clearances around the ride vehicles are tight in some areas but no one has hit outside objects without deliberately reaching out to touch them.

I saw Space Mountain briefly (from Tomorrowland Transit) with the lights on, it appeared to be a generic off the shelf amusement ride (with custom scenery for theming) as opposed to custom designed and constructed from the ground up at WDW like Jungle Cruise and Splash Mountain. I think the generic ride is known as Wild Mouse.

 

[Walt's Frozen Head]

it appeared to be a generic off the shelf amusement ride (with custom scenery for theming) as opposed to custom designed and constructed from the ground up

Appearances can be deceiving. Space Mountain was indeed custom designed and constructed from the ground up by Disney Imagineers working in conjunction Arrow Dynamics engineers. Space Mountain's control systems represented an order of magnitude leap in the integration of computer controls into amusement park rides. The two ride mechs, queue, and show building were also integrated to a then unprecedented degree.

As far as the actual topic goes, yes, some people can reach some structural elements of Space Mountain while seated in their car if they they purposely make effort against the normal forces of the train. You pretty much have to be looking for trouble for this to be any kind of problem. Go have fun.

 

[OhMari]

I lost my favorite sunglasses on Space Mountain.

My fault I tucked my sunglasses in the crock of my shirt. I tried to save them when they went flying. I tried to grab them when they flew off.

When I got off Space Mountain, the man behind me told me that I could of hit my hands on a bars we were passing. I told him I was just trying to save my sunglasses. He said that was a very foolish thing to do. He asked me if I didn't remember to keep my hands inside the ride. I said, "please, it was just a reaction".

I did get my sunglasses back-they make a clean sweep of the floor every nite and turn in lost things.

 

[grinningghost]

Any ride is dangerous if you act like an idiot while riding it.

 

[Dznefreek]

Any ride is dangerous if you act like an idiot while riding it.

Well said!

The real danger is passing by the Arcade at the exit with my kids.

 

[umbluegray]

Originally posted by seashoreCM
In your own words what dangers were you thinking of?

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

Clearances around the ride vehicles are tight in some areas but no one has hit outside objects without deliberately reaching out to touch them.

I was refering to the rumor about people's arms hitting the support structure and the rumor about "some guy who died when he hit his head".

I didn't want to be specific for fear of scaring folks unnecessarily.

 

[wdwguide]

Originally posted by umbluegray
So is it OK to keep your hands raised during the ride?

NO!!! And I speak from experience!

 

[Testtrack321]

Don't belive everything you hear. People always love to scare you and tell tall tales. No one has ever died on Space Mountain, ANY other them. The only ride caused fatality was last year on Big Thunder.

 

[Twende]

I have ridden both sides of this ride with my hands in the air. I have heard them say keeps your hands inside the car but for some reason I thought that meant you should not reach out to the side or try to touch the sides of the car.

I have a very tall child(6'5") who also likes to ride with his hands up on coasters and we have never had a problem.

I agree about the "danger" being the store on the exit! LOL! We got hit by the air gun toy(Airzooka) as we exited and just had to buy one! Great marketing but the Airzooka is a wonderful toy!

 

[OnWithTheShow]

Well you can definitely touch the tops of the two tunnels the train passes through. I have actually done this. The train doesn't travel fast through these sections but there is still the possibility of a laceration from a sharp edge.

 

[King Triton]

Don't ever try seat surfing while riding Space Mountain. Standing on the seat during the ride is very risky. The third time I tried it, I almost fell out.

 

[foodrocksluver]

Originally posted by King Triton
Don't ever try seat surfing while riding Space Mountain. Standing on the seat during the ride is very risky. The third time I tried it, I almost fell out.

Why on earth would you do this?? But come on guys. SM is such a wimpy ride. Theres the same amount of danger riding anything else in WDW as there is riding SM. But if you want there to be dangers then be like this guy. Come on!

 

[ErikdaRed]

Someone didn't get visited by the sarcasm fairy as a child.

 

[King Triton]

LOL!!!! Now that's funny!