Your visit to Tomorrowland at Disneyland is incomplete without riding the indoor Space Mountain. Unfortunately, many people have been to Disneyland without riding Space Mountain because they are scared.
Some younger children could not get on the ride because of age/height requirements.
Have you been avoiding riding the indoor roller coaster because you fear the unknown? Is the Space Mountain ride scary?
The Space Mountain ride is not scary in itself. If you’ve ever ridden a normal roller coaster, you should be fine riding Space Mountain. The only issue with the indoor Space Mountain at Disneyland is the factors that gave it scary illusions.
Factors such as darkness, speed, turns, and drops. The low visibility makes it seems like the ride is faster than it is.
Basic Facts About Disneyland Space Mountain
The Space Mountain ride is not as scary as it seems. As stated below, the speed is not faster than a regular highway car ride. Also, it doesn’t have an inversion.
Here are some statistics about Space Mountain.
| Ride duration | 3 minutes |
| Length | 3,459ft / 1,054m |
| Height | 76 ft / 23m |
| Speed | 56 km/h |
| Height restriction | 44 inches / 112cm |
How Scary Is Space Mountain on a 1–10 Scale?
When you say something is scary, it means you feel the emotion of fear. You feel like you are in danger, pain, or harm. You feel unsettled.
The mere thought that Space Mountain is scary is enough to make you feel scared. How we perceive fear is different and varies across individual humans.
The way a child will perceive the concept of fear is different from the way an adult will perceive it.
For example, I always feel frightened riding on bumpy roads, especially when the car is at full speed. However, another person might feel excited about the same scenario.
Riding Space Mounting in the dark and running into sudden unexpected turns and drops is enough to frighten someone like me.
Generally speaking, without bias, the Space Mounting ride is scary, 2 out of 10. The score is basically due to the darkness and your inability to foresee what will happen next on the ride. The other factor that makes the ride seems scary will be discussed below.
1. The Theme
The Space Mountain theme can sometimes present a scary vibe. However, the theme was designed to give its riders a spaceflight experience.
The dark fluorescent light on the pathway to your rocket can sometimes give scary vibes, especially for children. However, the long queue will give you enough time to change your mind if you feel unprepared.
The ride might be scary if your child is afraid of darkness. Therefore, it will be more reassuring to prepare such a child for the Space Mountain ride beforehand.
You can do this by explaining the concept and creativity behind the theme. This will help him/he to feel safe and confident about the ride.
2. The Speed
One of the most amazing things about Space Mountain is the speed illusion. Due to the darkness, you feel like the rider is faster, whereas the average speed is 54km/h.
The maximum speed of a car passing through a busy street is 50km/h. This is to show you how slow the ride is in comparison to how you will feel.
3. The Darkness
If you are afraid of darkness, the Space Mountain ride will make you feel creepy. But, to conquer your fear, you have to face it.
Having a 3 minutes ride in the dark can be a source of improvement for you. Especially in an environment you are not familiar with. Relax your shoulders and enjoy the ride.
4. The Drops
Space Mountain has minimal drops. The drops usually occur suddenly on the main track without any unusual stops and drop. Every dip occurs within the general flow of the ride. Those dips are over before you realize that you just had a drop.
5. Loops and Turns
The 3 minutes journey in the Space Mountain roller coaster consists of many sharp turns. Just like the drops, they happen so fast before you realize it.
You can sit at the back or in the middle if you want a smoother ride on the roller coaster. Then, you will feel less effect of the sharp turns.
The Space Mountain at Disneyland is loopless.
Space Mountain Age Limit and Safety
The minimum age limit for Space Mountain riders is seven years old. In addition, the 7-year-old child must also be at least 44 inches (112cm) tall.
Due to the ride’s intensity, it is recommended that you prepare your child beforehand. First, make sure they are willing to go on the ride.
Children tend to get scared quickly but can benefit from scary experiences under the right conditions. Make your child feel safe and confident before the ride.
Conclusion
Space Mountain ride comes with an amazing spaceflight experience that is worth cherishing. But is the scary illusion of the ride worth trading for the amazing experience the ride promises? The answer is NO.
The Space Mountain ride is not scary, do not hesitate to try it out.
The darkness is the sole cause of the fast-speed illusion. Once you’ve inscribed at the back of your mind that the speed is just 54km/h, the illusion fades away.
Relax your shoulders, distract yourself if you have to, and wave your hands in the air to enjoy the flow of the ride. The Space Mountain ride is safe for adults and children seven years old.
