In this post we give an overview of Space Mountain, an indoor roller coaster at Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park in Walt Disney World. We cover the basics of the ride, how to ride it, and our thoughts on the experience before closing with an FAQ. Read on to learn more!

Space Mountain Basics

Space Mountain is a ride at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. The ride

has a height requirement of 44 in / 113 cm
offers rider switch
is a Tier 1 ride on Lightning Lane Multi Pass
does not have a single rider line
is a part of Early Entry at Magic Kingdom
is about 3 minutes long

Disney warns that expectant mothers and persons not in good health should not ride. I’d also add that the ride is quite dark (not completely pitch black, but you won’t be able to see where you’re headed), so be aware of that.

If you’re visiting Magic Kingdom with small children, you’ll need to mind the ride’s 44 inch / 113 centimeter height requirement. Astro Orbiter, PeopleMover, and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin are nearby rides without a height requirement. Tomorrowland Speedway has a 32 inch requirement to ride with a supervising rider at least 54 inch tall.

Where is Space Mountain located?

Space Mountain is located in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World.

Entering the park, you’ll head to the hub and take a right, crossing the bridge into Tomorrowland. Space Mountain is at the back of the land. You might not immediately see it, but go around Astro Orbiter / the Lunching Pad and Space Mountain is unmissable.

If you’re riding it first at rope drop, you’ll wait with the group on the bridge into Tomorrowland. Since the ride is a part of Early Entry you need to be staying at a Disney hotel or select partner hotel to rope drop it.

How to Ride Space Mountain

Space Mountain is a Tier 1 Lightning Lane, but probably not worth an initial pick. You should have a decent chance at booking it same-day once you get going.

Without Multi Pass, you’ve got three options. First, you can start your day with Space Mountain if you have Early Entry. A Tomorrowland rope drop can be quite fulfilling as crowds will be focused on Peter Pan’s Flight, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and the TRON queue. Second, you can try and get there right after your first Early Entry ride, hoping crowds haven’t fully descended on it yet.

Third, you can just try and fit it into your day. Since TRON opened, Space Mountain isn’t the top dog in Tomorrowland anymore. As a result, you don’t need to overplan for it. The queue is mostly indoors, so it’s a good option for escaping midday heat.

I Didn’t Realize Space WAs So Bumpy!

Space Mountain is an indoor roller coaster in the dark. It isn’t completely black, but you should be prepared for a similar experience (if you use a Lightning Lane on a sunny day, your eyes won’t have time to adjust, for example).

The ride is pretty jerky, and despite its relatively low speed for a coaster, it certainly feels fast when you’re being tossed in every direction with no warning.

Overall, I think your feelings will mostly come down to the “in the dark” component. If that appeals to you, you’ll probably enjoy the ride. It delivers on “zip zap zow you’ve got no idea where we’re going next!”

If the darkness doesn’t appeal to you, then you might just think that was a big, bumpy, Barnstormer. And you’ll probably feel like more traditional, thematic Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train are easily superior experiences.

As with Big Thunder Mountain, though, Space has benefited from competition. Years ago it might have been easy to say Space Mountain wasn’t worth the effort unless you really loved coasters. Now, it is at least a unique experience that can usually be had for a moderate wait.

You can watch a video of the ride here.

Space Mountain FAQ

Does Space Mountain go upside down?

The Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom does not go upside down.

How Fast is Space Mountain?

Space Mountain reaches 28 miles per hour, making it the ninth fastest ride at Disney World.

Is Space Mountain Scary?

If not being able to see where you’re going while on a roller coaster in the dark is scary, then yes, Space Mountain is scary. Strictly talking about track design, the ride doesn’t have any notably scary moments.

All Your Other Disney World Planning Questions Answered

Don't be overwhelmed by Disney World planning! Take a second to check out our most important content and you'll not only be an expert, but you'll save big $$$ along the way.

Just starting out? Check out our Walt Disney World planning guide! If you're still picking dates, we've got everything you need to know about Disney World crowd calendars. For picking your hotel, check out our Walt Disney World hotels guide.

When it comes time to book we’ll help you find discount Disney World tickets. Decide whether you need a dining plan in our Complete Guide to Disney World Dining Plans! And don't forget to book those Disney World Advance Dining Reservations!

Don't forget to master your Disney World Lightning Lane Guide and Strategy a few months in advance. We'll keep you out of long lines so you can maximize the magical time in the parks! We've got park-specific guides as well: Magic Kingdom Lightning Lane Strategy, Epcot Lightning Lane Strategy, Animal Kingdom Lightning Lane Strategy, and Hollywood Studios Lightning Lane Strategy.

Know what to ride with our guides to: Magic Kingdom rides, Hollywood Studios rides, Epcot rides, and Animal Kingdom rides! Plus learn about the water parks with our guide to Blizzard Beach and our guide to Typhoon Lagoon! And for some some fun prep, check out our Ranking of Every Ride at Walt Disney World.

Finally, before you head out, be sure to check out our to-the-point packing list, 10 essentials you forget to pack for every Disney trip. And if you're interested in saving, there's no better list than our 53 Ways to Save on your Disney trip from start to finish.

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