Riding with your hands up on Space Mountain

[ThornXBL]

Anyone else been dumb/brave/crazy enough to do this?

Is it even possible (for an adult) to safely ride with their hands straight up (perpendicular to car orientation) the whole ride?

Personally, I always freak out a little and pull them down at times.

I do fondly recall trying to freak out my youngest sister once, as she rode behind me. She saw me put my arms up, and so during the ride I tucked my hands inside my long sweatshirt sleeves. As soon as we got to the end where it was light enough to see, I pretended to flip out while waving my "stumps". Alas, she was too old to be fooled and whacked me over the head. Still worth the laughs.

I am sad that it will be closed for refurbishment during my June stay, but at least they are keeping the same layout.

 

[Jestocost]

I can't imagine that there's much risk from a safety perspective, but I will admit that the thought of it freaks me out and I refuse to put up my arms on Space Mountain.

 

[Aquagirl]

I wouldn't do it on Space Mountain. It feels like everything is so close to you. I would be afraid that my arm would hit something.

 

[Tiffany_PartyOf7]

I'm afraid to also LOL - but I'd imagine that if it were a true risk they would have some sort of sign saying not to raise your hands haha. Still - I wont try it.

 

[Amanda_the_awesome]

I agree with everyone else.
Far too scary.
I would like to have arms after coming off my favorite ride.

 

[LittleMissMagic]

I used to do it all the time.... then I realized just how close the bars above me seem. And now I duck down in the car (and I'm only 5'1")!

 

[Sandy321]

I cant help it - I often raise my hands on space mountain!! Its kinda neat to go "airborn" in the seat!! love SM!!

 

[Berlioz70]

I put my hands up EVERYTIME! I rode the coaster with the lights on so I can tell you that things are close, but I've never hit my hands during the ride.

However, the beginning when your shooting down the blue lights I can touch the ceiling, so I wait until we're out of that section before my arms go UP!

 

[Jacklynn]

I'm afraid to also LOL - but I'd imagine that if it were a true risk they would have some sort of sign saying not to raise your hands haha. Still - I wont try it.

hehe well it does instruct you to keep your hands, arms and legs inside the ride vehicle at all times Though I'm sure that isn't what they mean. I'm sure they have it measured out so even someone with really long arms wouldn't get an arm taken off. BUT even still, I won't do it, and I'm just under 5 foot

 

[disneyfanUSA]

DD14 5foot 8 keeps them up the whole time.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Like there's any chance the ride is designed so anything could happen. Fat chance. I bet you can't touch within 2 feet even stretching. Can you imagine the liability? Ain't no way.

 

[tzolkin]

Once when I was a kid, the lights were on. I was sitting behind my dad (6'3") and was convinced that he was going to get his head chopped off the whole time. It was terrifying. I know there's plenty of room, but I guess I was too traumatized as a child-- I also duck at certain parts and would not put my hands up.

 

[Finally08]

Well I rode with my hands up because I was filming with my camera to see how it came out, does that count? Lots of random lights zipping by and screams and noise...

Now I rode the DL version a few months back and did not like it at all. I LOVE rides, don't get me wrong. I think all of the coasters are WDW are pretty tame. But the DL version (which it seems WDW is getting now ) is just jarring. It whipped around fast and would throw you to the side, and being in darkness you couldn't prepare yourself for that and would crash into the side of the car. I was AMAZED that the height requirement on it was less too...as I would generally put my kids on anything but would not let dd ride that for a while because I'm afraid she'd get slung out the side of it.
It made me think of being on a mechanic bull with all the sideways jerking.

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

I have ridden Space Mountain with the lights on. You would be surprised at how close together the tracks truly are. I'm a tad paranoid so I wouldn't do it personally, but I have yet to hear about any injuries caused by raising your arms on Space Mountain.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I have been lucky enough to have ridden it once several years ago when the lights were on. This was a special tour from the Disneyana Convention which took plave prior to Park opening. There is at least enough clearance so if there was a person who was seven feet tall (with proportional arms) that person could keep the arms up for the entire ride and would not touch any supporting structure. It is designed to look very close, but then you really can't see much inside.

Knowing the propensity of people to raise arms on coasters, and the concern for Guest Safety, do you think Disney would build anything where a person could injure themself without doing something that is extremely stupid and abnormal (such as trying to get out of the restraints on Rock 'n Roller Coaster)? Do you know how much paperwork (and bad publicity) is involved in Guest injuries on any attraction.

 

[CleveRocks]

Cheshire,

As always, thanks for the inside info.

I, too, have touched the ceiling in the "blue tunnel" as I've moved through it. I'm guessing that when the train enters the tunnel it is going slow enough so that raised hands/arms wouldn't get injured upon entry.

 

[10_Kyle_10]

I cant help it - I often raise my hands on space mountain!! Its kinda neat to go "airborn" in the seat!! love SM!!

I love to do this as well, but there are times where I do freak myself out in the process!

 

[ThornXBL]

Well, I figured Disney accounted for this in the ride's design. I just like how even though deep down you *know* you'd be fine, most people still seem to flinch at spots and pull their hands down. It's a lot of fun; I can't wait to go back when it's open again.

 

[mat5]

Cheshire,

As always, thanks for the inside info.

I, too, have touched the ceiling in the "blue tunnel" as I've moved through it. I'm guessing that when the train enters the tunnel it is going slow enough so that raised hands/arms wouldn't get injured upon entry.

I never have tried it, I had no idea that you could touch the ceiling in the Tunnel

 

[WALTSAGOD]

We road it once when it broke down. They had to turn on the light for a while while they fixed the ride. The ride with the lights on reminds me of an empty parking lot.

The tracks are spaced FAR apart.