Disney World’s Classic Space Mountain to Undergo Refurbishment

The mountains are calling, and we must go ride them.

Walt Disney World’s iconic three mountain attractions – Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Space Mountain – make up a beloved set of attractions that Guests aim to do during their day at Magic Kingdom.

With their classic thrills, wonderful theming, and emblematic soundtracks, the three attractions have become firm favorites for many Guests making their way to the theme parks in Orlando, Florida.

Two of the three big mountains have recently undergone maintenance, with Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closed for lengthy refurbishments. Now, it seems Disney has plans for its third mountain to undergo construction.

With its galactic ambiance, the dark roller coaster is a must-ride for Guests at Walt Disney World seeking a wild trip to space.

Space Mountain made its Magic Kingdom debut in 1975, and this interstellar ride has been a popular attraction ever since. Visitors to Disneyland Paris, Disneyland in California, Tokyo Disneyland, and of course the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World can all scream as they experience its twists and turns.

The technology didn’t exist in the 1960s to bring the ride to life, so it took ten years to develop this attraction. Space Mountain was the first thrill ride to use computer-aided design and has two tracks: the Alpha track and the Omega track. The Alpha side is slightly longer, but the ride experience is identical for both.

And fun fact – it is about the same speed as a “children’s ride”! Goofy’s Barnstormer reaches speeds of 25 m.p.h., while Space Mountain reaches only 27 m.p.h. And yet Space Mountain feels A LOT faster.

Alongside the ongoing build of the TRON Lightcycle roller coaster in Tomorrowland, it looks like Space Mountain is getting some construction soon.

A recent permit filed by Walt Disney World Resort shows that there are plans for improvements to the ride, with Buena Vista Construction Company named as the contractor.

The general description of the refurbishment, as seen below, is to “provide labor, material and/or electrical for construction.”

Construction on the new TRON theme park ride at Walt Disney World has been famously delayed and has now taken longer than it took Disney to build the whole of the Magic Kingdom.

TRON has taken four years so far, but it only took around 18 months to build the entire Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

We’ll have to see when Disney announces the dates for this construction, but expect it to be before the end of the year. It makes sense that Space Mountain may need some attention, especially after the extended closure of the Walt Disney World Railroad due to the build of TRON.

We’ll keep you posted on any updates regarding Space Mountain’s construction!