Space Mountain

[jtimmons]

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like they are going to hit the other parts of the track while riding Space Mountain. I heard a news article about a person who stood up during the ride and hit her head on some duct work, ever since then I've been afraid to put my arms up.

Am I crazy, probably, but I wanted to get everyone else's opinion.

Anyone have any picture of the ride with the lights on?

 

[Belle_princess]

I have a picture with the lights on (before the refurb), but I don't have it right now.

The tracks were very close together. It was very strange and scarey riding with the lights on!!! However, I don't think it was as close as it seems. I think having your hands up would be fine. (Lights on was totally awesome!!! However, before the refurb, it was DUSTY!!! Shh. . .don't tell Mickey!!!)

 

[Dennfamily4]

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like they are going to hit the other parts of the track while riding Space Mountain. I heard a news article about a person who stood up during the ride and hit her head on some duct work, ever since then I've been afraid to put my arms up.

Am I crazy, probably, but I wanted to get everyone else's opinion.

Anyone have any picture of the ride with the lights on?

I totally feel the same way!! We just rode last week and I remember hearing the Cast Member announcing to keep your hands inside the ride. My son is 6'0 and I told him not to put his hands up because I was so worried he would hit something

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

I wanna know how they were able to stand up, the Space Mtn restraints are very good at restricting your leg movement and hit right at the waist, I can't imagine how they got around that. I would take that article with a grain of salt.

But I also get that feeling and hate riding in the front for that very reason. At least if someone is in front of me I guess in my mind I think if we are gonna smack into the track or a beam they will hit it before me. Crazy I know but I just can't get past that sensation when I ride in the first seat.

 

[goochy18]

Anyone have any picture of the ride with the lights on?

You can search for it on youtube and I know that I saw a video of someone riding with the lights on (i think a CM) while they we're doing a maintenance check ... it was neat but yes it made me nervous in the dark ... then i saw with lights ... it still makes me nervous!

 

[IndyClown]

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like they are going to hit the other parts of the track while riding Space Mountain. I heard a news article about a person who stood up during the ride and hit her head on some duct work, ever since then I've been afraid to put my arms up.

She stood up on the ride??? Hopefully it knocked some sense into her.

 

[HdnMickeyGrl]

I'm only 5'2" and I think my head is gonna get knocked off. It does seem awfully close. Of course I know I'm safe but I'd never raise my hands. I'm chicken like that.

 

[madalex]

I totally feel the same way!! We just rode last week and I remember hearing the Cast Member announcing to keep your hands inside the ride.

They tell you to keep your hands inside the ride at every single ride at every WDW theme park (and, in all likelihood, every non-WDW theme park as well). That warning had nothing particulalry to do with the close quarters of SM.

 

[NJRRK]

Space Mountain has been operating for about 35 years, with some minor tweaks over the years, nothing major. If there was a problem with clearance issues you think that over these past 35 years you would have heard about it.

I don't take notice of these issues as I have no depth perception as it is most every roller coaster appears to have clearance issues, so I ignore it and enjoy the ride. I have ridden Space Mountain over 30 times and many of them were as a teenager with my hands in the air.

 

[cmcinc]

I have always thought about that, but still love it.

 

[CandyMandy]

You can search for it on youtube and I know that I saw a video of someone riding with the lights on (i think a CM) while they we're doing a maintenance check ... it was neat but yes it made me nervous in the dark ... then i saw with lights ... it still makes me nervous!

The video you are referring to was not shot by a CM during maintenance, it was shot by a member of the American Coaster Enthusiasts during a special event they had, where Disney allowed them to ride SM with the maintenace lights on.

The video is basically useless in addressing the question of this thread (how close do you come to support structure/tracks?) The maintenance lighthing is dim and the camcorder the rider is holding shakes so much that most of what you see is just a blur of brown and grey.

But for skeptics, here's a link to that "lights on video" if anyone else wants to waste three minutes of their life watching it!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXyTPdOjWlo

Frankly, to get a sense of the twisting nature of the track layout (and how it continually weaves through support beams) these rare "someone snuck past WDW security with a camera" pictures are a lot more useful than the video:

 

[crcurton]

"Frankly, to get a sense of the twisting nature of the track layout (and how it continually weaves through support beams) these rare "someone snuck past WDW security with a camera" pictures are a lot more useful than the video:"
Cool Pics

 

[goochy18]

The video you are referring to was not shot by a CM during maintenance, it was shot by a member of the American Coaster Enthusiasts during a special event they had, where Disney allowed them to ride SM with the maintenace lights on.

Not the video I was talking about ... but thanks for sharing this one too.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I don't have that feeling. A few guys I know who are 6'4"+ tell me they worry about it all the time though

It would have NEVER crossed my mind without that first person telling me about their fear.


And.... today Space Mountain was shut down for at least an hour and I rode TTA a few times and saw inside. I also saw people at the top of part of the track stranded with CMs around them. I wonder what happened. Anyone know? I went back at about 4PM (it was shut down from at least 1PM) and it was going with a 70 minute wait so it couldn't be too serious. But.... I did shot a video from the TTA of the whole thing lit up and people doing some tests/people stuck in the ride. Maybe I'll find a way to upload it soon.

 

[WEDWDW]

All I am going to say is that the Headless Horseman WAS a HUGE Space Mountain fan.

 

[d1gitman]

...At least if someone is in front of me I guess in my mind I think if we are gonna smack into the track or a beam they will hit it before me. Crazy I know but I just can't get past that sensation when I ride in the first seat.

but then they would splatter all over you, how do you get rid of that feeling?

 

[nytimez]

It feels close to me, too, but I imagine in reality there's plenty of room for people of all sizes to stick their hands up. Just from a pure liability standpoint...

I can't believe someone stood up during the ride, though. I don't think it's possible.

 

[DisGirl23]

My ex was 6'6" and he rode it all the time with no issues or thoughts that he would get bonked on the head which was obviously a concern of his all the time on dark rides. I wouldn't be concerned.

 

[kimmar067]

I

But.... I did shot a video from the TTA of the whole thing lit up and people doing some tests/people stuck in the ride. Maybe I'll find a way to upload it soon.

...ooooh, that would be awesome....

 

[floridianer]

All I am going to say is that the Headless Horseman WAS a HUGE Space Mountain fan.

I am 6.4 and I too have the feeling that I might touch the track if I put my hands in the air... I guess it is supposed to be like this

I doubt that I could though! Imagine Disney is building a ride where a "normal" human can be seriously hurt... NO WAY a human can ever touch anything if not standing, leaning or whatever...

I doubt that someone is able to stand up in Space Mountain also and IF she did it, it was really hard to get out of the restraints and I hope she learned something SHOULD this ever happened...
OH, and I seriously HOPE that she didn´t try to blame DISNEY should it happened!!!