Space Mountain vs. Big Thunder Mtn.

[DDreamer]

Ok, I've never done space mountain and I think I really want to do it this time. I LOVE, LOVE Big Thunder Mountain and I am not a roller coaster type person at all. Can anyone give me the "lowdown" on space mountain? How does it compare? More intense I'm sure since it's in the dark .

What else can you tell me?

 

[JMD]

I would say its slightly more intense, but only because its dark. I don't know that it goes any faster, but it does have a bigger drop, but still nothing major.

Overall, the rides are comparable. If you "LOVE, LOVE" BTMR, then you will probably like Space mountain as well. The good thing is, its a pretty short ride, so if you don't like it, you won't have to wait long to get off.

 

[soupy11]

Very comparable. I would say that they are a 5 on a 1-10 thrill meter. I prefer space mountain due to the incredible theming and atmosphere but they are both pretty great.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Space Mountain is pretty tame. The ride takes place in total darkness which I like because I am a weenie when it comes to heights. You won't go super fast and there are no real big drops. It's more dips and quick turns that anything. I would definitely suggest you ride it.

 

[pepe of ohio]

We've been to WDW over 38 times, and I never have ridden Space Mountain. BTMR is a fav of mine as well is Splash Mountain but I don't ride what I can't see and do not want any unexpected thrills. I'll stick with BTMR and Splash, skipped on Everest too and no Rockin roller Coaster either.

 

[MelanieC]

I agree that it is slightly more intense than BTMR, but it's not too much more intense. Course, I love roller coasters too, so I can handle any of them.

I love to start and end my vacation on Space Mountain. It's just a very cool fun rollercoaster!

It's in the dark but you can sort of see things. It basically goes around in a bunch of circles as it goes down the tracks. It is over pretty fast, but it's so much fun!!

Give it a try! I think if you can handle BTMR you can handle Space Mountain.

 

[annej]

I love BTMR also and this year I did Space! Twice! I laughed the whole time. It is kind of rough - jerky - but very fun!

 

[MKhead72]

Space Mountain is a blast.... My kids finally want to ride it when we go this time They are teenagers now and its the only ride they have never done. Wait till they do and they will see what they have been missing out on.

 

[Westwingkath]

DH and I had lvoed both mountains but for our first trip with the kids (DD8 and DS5) in November we weren't sure how they'd like them, especially my son who has little ride experience.

We started with Goofy's Barnstormer -- he howled laughing the whole time. Then we went to BTMRR -- he loved it. He was JUST tall enough for Space Mountain. I wasn't sure about it because, and here's the big difference to me, on Space Mountain it's single seats. My barely tall enough boy was going to be seated alone. My worrywort DH insisted I sit behind my son with my hand on his shoulder.

Both kids loved it. My son insisted on sitting in the first seat on the second ride!

 

[GGOOFY1]

SM is an older roller-coaster and not a smooth ride at all. It reminds me of the mad-mouse roller-coaster when I was a kid, just in the dark!!

 

[Hopefully]

I am not a coaster fan, but I will do, and enjoy, BTMRR and Spash. I have been talked into going on Space Mountain and I will never do it again.
Being in the total dark and not knowing when the twists, turns and drops were coming terrified me.

 

[klj27]

Believe it or not, sit in the very front seat if you choose to ride. You'll have a much better view of the drops and turns and can prepare for them accordingly. If you like BTMRR, you will giggle yourself silly on Space Mountain.

 

[hogue123]

In my opinion, Space Mountain is very tame. I love roller coasters and darkness, twist, turns do not bother me. It is a little rough like other posters have said. It's is not complete and total darkness, there are things going on like shooting stars or something up in the ceiling. You can kinda see the track a little if you're in the front. My mom went with us in May 2006. She has motion sickness and she is scared to death of roller coasters. She rode it. She was a bit shaken when she got off the ride but she survived.

 

[mill4023]

The only reason it's a little more intense is because it's dark. I love coasters, but I'm not actually a big fan of Space. To me, it's just too rough. Not really more rough than BTMRR, but because it's dark, you don't see the turns and dips coming, so they throw you around a bit more.

But if you've never done it, you have to at least try it.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I rode Space Mountain in September after 28 years of being afraid of it. Meanwhile, I had been on EE, ToT and other "intense" rides. I am not a roller coaster person at all, but I remember whe I reached the end of the ride on Space, I actually said out loud "That's it?!" The people behind me, who knew from talking with me in line that it had been my first ride, laughed. It's among my favorites now-I didn't find it all that rough either but maybe I had been building it up in my head as more scary than it was. Try it...you'll be happy you did. Now, I'm just waiting to see when this refurb is going to happen-I want to ride it when I go in 2008!

 

[amery]

They really are 2 different animals.

BTMR is out doors, you know what to expect and is fairly smooth as coasters go. As you eluded, SM is enclosed, compact and is much more intense because of the darkness and lights.

 

[Pixiedust34]

I love BTMRR and ride it multiple times on every trip. I like it at daytime and at night time.

I don't care for Space Mountain, though I do ride it because my kids like it. It seems more of a "wild mouse" ride than a coaster, and it is too jerky for me. I know it's a wildly popular ride and a WDW classic, but if it weren't for my kids wanting to go on it, I'd be happy to bypass Space Mountain. JMHO.

 

[Bambi5826]

go to youtube and search space mountian. you can see the ride there with the lights on!

 

[WDW Peak Seasons]

Sm is more intense in my opinion. BTMRR has a few breaks in it not a constant Rollercoaster.

 

[boomhauer]

Not sure if it's been said yet or not, but BTMRR actually goes faster (35mph) than Space Mountain (28mph).

That being said, Space Mountain feels faster because it's inside and in the dark. Also, the calls are smaller.