Space Mountain Drops

[Tinker_Belle]

DD is terrified of big, steep drops (like Splash Mountain) but loves Big Thunder and Mine Train. What are the drops like on Space Mountain? It’s hard to tell on the YouTube videos.

 

[scrappinginontario]

There are drops but not as high as those on Big Thunder or Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (formerly Splash Mountain). The challenge is because of the dark there is no way to know how big they actually are or to prepare for them, but they are not big. In my mind they are equivalent to SDMT.

 

[gottalovepluto]

The problem is the dark. The drops are smaller but there is limited to no warning they are coming with no visual cue on when they’ll end making them feel more intense than they should for their size.

I would try it with her since she’s fine on BTMRR, they are kinda similar in intensity to me.

 

[Tinker_Belle]

Thank you both! I think we’ll try it!

 

[The Foolish Mortal]

One hint for her, try to sit in the back. Its still dark (obviously), but when I sit in the back, I can see the riders ahead of me start to drop an instant before I do. That way you at least get a little bit of warning when it is about to happen

 

[CarolynFH]

One hint for her, try to sit in the back. Its still dark (obviously), but when I sit in the back, I can see the riders ahead of me start to drop an instant before I do. That way you at least get a little bit of warning when it is about to happen

But not too far in the back. Each rocket is composed of two cars, 3 seats each, one in back of the other. The second car, seats 4-6, gets whipped around and dropped a bit faster and more roughly than seats 1-3. I always asked for seat #6 because I got the most airtime there. She might not like airtime! So in your daughter’s case I’d ask for seat 4 or even 3. Just don’t put her in seat #1!

 

[CarolynFH]

DD is terrified of big, steep drops (like Splash Mountain) but loves Big Thunder and Mine Train. What are the drops like on Space Mountain? It’s hard to tell on the YouTube videos.

I too was (am!) afraid of (hate) big, steep drops like Splash (or traditional roller coasters). I was terrified the first time I rode Space Mountain, but I quickly found out it’s more like a Wild Maus ride, with sharp turns, downward spiral curves, and short drops that allow airtime but don’t make my stomach feel like I’m losing it or that I’m going to fall out. Space was my favorite ride - we rode five times in a row on one wonderful E-Ticket night - until old age made it too hard to get out of the rocket, and I had to give it up.

 

[Tinker_Belle]

One hint for her, try to sit in the back. Its still dark (obviously), but when I sit in the back, I can see the riders ahead of me start to drop an instant before I do. That way you at least get a little bit of warning when it is about to happen

Great tip! Thank you

 

[The Foolish Mortal]

But not too far in the back. Each rocket is composed of two cars, 3 seats each, one in back of the other. The second car, seats 4-6, gets whipped around and dropped a bit faster and more roughly than seats 1-3. I always asked for seat #6 because I got the most airtime there. She might not like airtime! So in your daughter’s case I’d ask for seat 4 or even 3. Just don’t put her in seat #1!

Very true. Its not as pronounced a difference as BTMRR (where sitting in the back feels a lot faster), but its definitely a different experience

 

[Keladry84]

On Youtube you can find a 'lights on' pov for Space Mountain. The track is not very steep and to me was very similar in drops/intensity to big thunder. Space Mountain was a no-go for me until after I found the lights-on video so could have a better idea of how it ran. (It is also now a no-go after riding it because of how rough the last seat was....:/)

 

[Upatnoon]

I would put Space Moutain in the same category as Big Thunder.

To me, the slight difference is that Space is a bit more jerky and less smooth.

Also, you can't see the drops in the dark, so what you can't see won't hurt you (or make you scared).

 

[JCornell]

Also, if you're curious, do a quick search for "space mountain with the lights on" and you can watch a ride through video of the ride. You'll see that it's a lot of up-downs with no big drops.

 

[Eastern]

Space Mountain is very jerky. I have to hold my head when I go on it so it doesn't fly off.

 

[JCornell]

Space Mountain is very jerky. I have to hold my head when I go on it so it doesn't fly off.

Yeah, it reminds me a lot of a Wild Mouse ride if you've ever been on one of those. Since it's a much shorter car than like on a roller coaster, it can be built up higher with smaller, tighter turns which tend to jerk you around a bit.

 

[ars0525]

The front seat is fun IF you want to be surprised by the drops & where you are going. Have her sit towards the back more (there is only 6 seats per grouping single file) & your eyes do adjust somewhat so it's not total black darkness. I want to love SM, but as I get older it leaves me feeling like I need a visit to my chiro afterwards lol

 

[sponica]

Also, if you're curious, do a quick search for "space mountain with the lights on" and you can watch a ride through video of the ride. You'll see that it's a lot of up-downs with no big drops.

The lights were on once when I rode it, it is 10000000000000 times more frightening with the lights on.

But OP as far as drops go, it reminds me of an old school wooden coaster, a big climb then you keep going down and around and maybe some bunny hills?

I prefer the smoother ride of Guardians to the herky jerky Space Mountain.