What did they do to Space Mountain

[Peanut Giggleface]

Totally agree. After riding Space at DL, I refuse to go on the WDW version anymore. It's so uncomfortable.

My sentiments exactly. After riding SM at DL my whole family refuses to ride SM at WDW. We were there in August and no one wanted to ride SM. When someone brought up the idea, someone else would remind them we're at WDW and how bad it is.

 

[patsal]

Could it either be that we are all just getting spoiled with the newer technology of smooth rides which makes this seem old and jerky??? OORRRR... are we maybe just getting OLD and rickety ourselves and it really isn't the ride that's changed at all, LOL

This exactly for me, the ride hasn't changed, I have!

 

[OThopeful35]

Were you in the back? The back always seems rougher to me.

I refuse to ride in the back. Felt like I had whiplash when I got off. It was so bumpy and not fun at all but it is one of DS favorite rides and that is the only reason I ride it.

In regards to the newer technology of other rides, Space Mountain is the first ride I have gotten on in years so that wouldn't be the case for me.

 

[Vickilynn42]

My very first experience with SM was in
DL and I loved it so much. On our first trip to DW I was shocked at the roughness of the ride. I have ridden it quite a few times there and have decided its just not worth the headaches and backaches any more. What a disappointment.

 

[Vickilynn42]

Oh I meant to add we took another trip right after the refurbishing of SM and it didn't seem any smoother to us.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

My kids dragged me on it several times this past May - I have never loved it - way to jerky for my taste. And after I screamed myself silly for the entire ride, I thought to myself, "this ride seems MUCH more crazy than it was before..." - I thought it was just me... But when I went to get out of my seat at the end of the ride, there was a CM standing there telling me to step to my left..cause someone had hurled on the floor. so clearly it wasn't just me.

 

[MouseEarsForAll]

I wasnt going to bring that up.

Too late! and cover before the old rickety people get us!

 

[bumbershoot]

The referbs at both Disneyland and WDW world were done about the same time. SM Disneyland is incredible. It's basically the same tract, but very smooth like Rock’n Roller Coaster. It has music playing within each car like RR as well. The Disneyland version is night and day different and better than the WDW version. They took SM down at WDW for 6-9 months and what’d we get? A very disappointing outcome.

DLR's was closed for over two YEARS, and it was between 03 and 05. WDW's was closed for seven months in '09. Pretty significant difference in time for the work to be done.

If we think of the Orlando version as being Matterhorn east, we would all have better expectations. Even with the new sleds, m'h is horribly difficult. About how space at WDW is!

 

[FigmentFans]

I have ridden the DW SM both before and after the refurbishment, and I think it is now rougher. Of course, I am now older too

On my last trip, I rode SM, and it didn't go well. Towards the end of the ride, there was a huge bump, and I got bounced in the seat. It felt like my spine was compressed like a slinky being pushed together - I thought I really did some damage. When the ride ended, I very gingerly got out of the car, shuffled to the exit and sat down for a while and then did some stretches. I was fine afterwards, but won't be riding it again.

I have ridden SM at DL and had no problems. I also ride and enjoy all the other coasters (BTMRR, EE, RRC) so I guess the DW SM is just not for me.

 

[themilesfamily]

I'm so glad somebody posted this thread. I notice a HUGE difference in Space Mountain after it had been taken down for that refurb. And not in a good way. In my opinion, it's much rougher, much jerkier.

I took my young DD on it, (who has no problem with any other rollercoaster at Disney), and she got off of it weeping because the entire ride she felt like she was going to fly out. The whole ride she was screaming "I'm falling out" and I had my hand extended back behind me, trying to comfort her. I'm surprised they didn't shut the ride down because my hand was outside of my seating area!

She fit the height requirement and then some, so I couldn't figure out what was going on. But she was really upset.

 

[jensuelee]

I'm glad to hear it isn't just me that thinks this ride is beyond uncomfortabley bumpy. I'm a west coaster and had ridden the DL version many times, in fact it is my favorite ride there.

The first time I rode SM at Disney World, I was shocked at how much bumpier and jerkier it was. Suffice it to say, we have a trip to DW coming up in less than a week and I will NOT even attempt to ride it this trip!

 

[sephorachick]

I was just here the back seat was terrible! I rode in front seat other times and was fine.

 

[MolonLabe]

I'm looking forward to checking it out this time. Last trip I missed it on both our MK days (girls were both too little). I didn't want to waste time on it, since I'd done it hundreds of times before.

Ok, maybe only 200 times. I think I rode it back to back 30 times one night near closing once back in 1994. Ditto again in 95.

I am excited to take DD8 on it. She is tall enough. She did ToT with me last trip at 6 and loved it.

I'll be sure to report back if it isn't as awesome as it used to be.

Being darker sounds great, I remember being able to see a decent amount back in the day. Especially riding it back to back at midnight.

My eyes are older now and if they made it darker... that's VERY cool, muhahahahaha!

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

This used to be a huge favorite of ours and we've ridden it many times, but not since 2008 - before the refurb. This time was awful! It was rough and jarring and even knocked the breath out of me once when my chest hit the bar. Has anyone else found this to be the case? I don't remember it ever being this rough!!

~I totally agree! I remember riding Space Mountain after the refurb and I felt terrible & soar, lol. I thought it was kind of rough. In spite of that, Space Mountain is one of my favorite rides. I just wish it was smoother and I wouldn't mind if Disney changed the cars to the ones like Disneyland!

 

[larryz]

This used to be a huge favorite of ours and we've ridden it many times, but not since 2008 - before the refurb. This time was awful! It was rough and jarring and even knocked the breath out of me once when my chest hit the bar. Has anyone else found this to be the case? I don't remember it ever being this rough!!

Sadly, I think it's a function of age -- both ours and the coaster's...

As the cartilage thins and the sinews stretch, so too do the bearings loosen and the suspensions relax...

Fortunately, both can undergo "rehabilitations" to tighten up the appropriate joints... but bodies aren't as renewable as the mechanical beast...

 

[LisaBi]

I think the seat location is a huge factor. I usually travel with DS and myself. He uses a wheelchair so that means we are always I'm the right side and always in the first two seats (and him always in front). I've never had an issue with the ride. But this last trip we went with friends, and I ended up in the fourth seat. Huge difference on being jerked around. I can't imagine the last car or last seat.

 

[reiella]

One ride I was positioned poorly and it hurt. Rode again without problem. May have just been the vehicle/that ride instance/quirk of how I was sitting the first time.