Space Mtn question.......am I nuts?!

[TN Traveler]

We went to Disney 5/30-6/4 for our first time as a family. DH, and 3 DDs ages 12 1/2, 7 1/2 and 4 1/2 (birthdays June, Aug & Sept!) and myself had a great time. But I am wracking my brain trying to remember something about Space Mountain. Has it ever had the seats for 2 people to ride together instead of 1?! I was thinking when I went in Sept 01, they were double seats. So when my 4 yr old wanted to ride I said ok thinking she would be fine w/big sister (12). Then we got to the front of the line and realized the seats were for each person. It's a pretty fast ride for a 4 yr old to ride by herself. She's very tall for her age (45") so it's not like we broke rules on height restrictions but I thought for sure it was a 2 seater. I asked one of the CM if she'd be ok and make sure she was locked in especially tight which they did but I was a nervous wreck the entire ride and really didn't get to enjoy it. I guess we could have gotten out of line when we realized it was a single seat but after waiting I hated to and she said she wanted to ride it. When we got off she said she was fine but didn't want to ride it again. Someone help me remember!

 

[Jazzman]

If I'm not mistaken, Space Mountain at Disneyland does have tandem (side-by-side) seating, but WDW does not. Maybe you were thinking of that...

-Pete

 

[buzzz1]

Yes... you are right. It used to be double seating. I don't know when they changed it, but I wish it was still like that for the exact same reason.

Last year when I rode it when my son, we were in the same situation as you...... so we still rode it, and I looked like a weird woman leaning over the seat trying to hold on to my child !! I was completely paranoid he would fall out, but they are strapped in really well... and of course everything turned out fine

Wonder why they changed the cars to single riders only, anyone know the scoop ????

 

[kimwim8]

I could be wrong, but I thought so too! I remember when we went on it last trip in 2002 I was surprised that they were seperated.

Hmmmm.......

 

[laurajetter]

On a thread I read earlier today someone said they saw a DVD which showed Space Mountain having two seats side by side but was confused because in actuality it was a one-seater in WDW. Someone replied that Space Mountain in Disneyland was a two seater, and the DVD probably used footage from that park.

Perhaps you viewed a similar DVD or TV program which used footage from Disneyland and figured that was how the WDW ride was set up too?

Just a thought.

 

[decker96]

I am positive they had single seating at WDW in 1994. My sister and I were there together and we went on twice in a row because we both wanted to sit in the front of the car. I don't know about before that though.

 

[littleeyz]

I remember double seating when I was a child. Called and confirmed with my father. It wasn't side-by-side, but one person sitting in front of the other in the same compartment. One person's legs had to wrap around the second person . . . Maybe why they changed it???

 

[enchantedpixiedust]

Yea, it was definitely someone sitting between anothers legs on SM at WDW. I remember this because I'm a roller coaster weenie and the only way I would try it is if I sat behind my cousin and wrapped my legs around his so I would be pinned in.

 

[wdarling]

yes i remember double seats! it was the only way i rode it as a child i did it that way my first 2 disney visits. my mom has a pix of me getting off the first year i rode solo and im near tears bc i was so scared riding alone(i was like 7)

 

[WDWAurora]

Never side by side, yes to the leg wrapping...I was so afraid of it then! I loved it as soon as I got my own seat! It's never been side by side at WDW. The videos convince a lot of people that it was, but that's DL.

 

[snowglobe girl]

I can also remember it being one person sitting in front of the other in the same car when I went as a kid. That would have been back in 1982 and 1987. The next time I rode SM (because DH can't ride anything like that and we went with other family that would ride with me) was in 2001 and I also noticed that there was something different about the cars and finally remembered sitting in between my mom's legs when I was little. Glad someone else remembers that too!!

 

[DebbieB]

It was the same as it is now when I first went in 1994. I do seem to remember that the handle bar changed, I don't think it went between your legs the first time I was there.

 

[disneymom99]

I'm positive that SM had side by side seating. I remember going to WDW on my senior trip in high school in 1986 (has it really been that long ago?!!), and my best friend and I rode right next to each other. Then, the next time I rode it in 1999, the seats were single seats. I was wondering when they changed it.

 

[scrump]

My family took me back in 1981 for the first time, it was a one seater. I do remember my dad right behind me, and not next to me. Years later as an adult, I had the chance to go to Tokyo Disneyland and read somewhere that it is almost a replica of LA Disneyland (layout, attractions, etc) and it was side-by-side, which surprised me because my only experienc with space mountain had been a one-seater.

 

[disneysteve]

I've been going to WDW regularly since 1978. Space Mountain originally had the dual seating a couple of folks have described where 2 people sat on a bench type seat, one in front of the other. I used to go with my best friend who was several inches taller than me so he always got in first and I sat in front of him. They later changed, though I'm not sure exactly when but it was after 1990 because my wife remembers the dual seats.

Sorry Gayle, but Space Mountain in WDW has never had side by side seating.

 

[flyball]

I remember riding as a teenager in 1980, and I definitely sat in between somebody's legs (weird way to configure a ride)!!! I wasn't crazy about that arrangement, as I remember being banged around a lot (and I'm sure the guy I went with was not thrilled about the nail marks that are probably still-visible scars in his legs)!!! Anyway, last August I rode it for the first time since then, and loved it. I felt way more secure in my own seat!

 

[disney4us2002]

The change must've occured after 1997 because I know my 4 1/2 yr old sat between my legs because I whispered reassurances in his ear the whole ride. This sounds like a question for "Ask Dave".