Have you heard the rumor that a major update is coming to Space Mountain at the Magic Kingdom? WDW Magic reported that a massive rebuild of the iconic coaster is coming in the near future. This rumor has popped up a couple times over the past several years, but we think it’s more credible now than ever before.
The rumor states that Space Mountain’s update would go far beyond the usual refurbishment. It’d be a full track rebuild, and include changes to the loading and unloading stations. It’s unclear if Disney would build the new track in the exact same layout as it is now, or if they’d build something new. Additional details, such as whether the coaster would move to side-by-side seating, add onboard audio, or other effects are also a mystery.
Summarized, the Space Mountain rumor is more in line with the recent Big Thunder Mountain Railroad update (which included a full track rebuild and updated scenes) than it is to routine maintenance.
We’ve seen this Space Mountain rumor pop up several times over the past 10-20 years. What makes this time any different? We think there’s more smoke this time than in previous years, and the timing makes a lot of sense. Maybe more so than ever. Space Mountain has needed some TLC for ages, but Disney has prioritized other areas of the park. We thought Space Mountain might go down once TRON Lightcycle Run opened, but that obviously didn’t happen.
So, why now? There’s the obvious reason that Space Mountain is long overdue for a new track. We remember writing about a planned track update when we first started this site in 2018, but the new track rumors go back much further than that. Eventually, band-aids aren’t a solution and Space Mountain has reached that point.
Disney also has two major projects underway at the Magic Kingdom (Piston Peak and Villains Land) that are expected to bring a ton of guests to the park. When the two new areas open over the next several years, Disney will want as much capacity available as possible to handle the crowds in the Magic Kingdom. Having a headliner offline at that time wouldn’t be ideal.
We think Disney is going to try and get a jumpstart on whatever they have planned for Space Mountain. If the update is as significant as it sounds, the dark coaster would be closed for at least a year. Likely longer. Starting on that sooner than later would give Space Mountain a better chance of being open around the time Piston Peak or Villains Land is ready.
What would a Space Mountain update include? A new track is a guarantee. The layout is the big question. Onboard audio on the coaster trains also seems like a certainty. Whether the new Space Mountain maintains its two separate tracks, adds show scenes, or does something else entirely remains to be seen.
We’re hoping an updated Space Mountain still feels like Space Mountain. It can be less rickety and more friendly to our spines, but it needs to maintain what makes it iconic. Our main complaint about the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad update (which is generally very good) is how the coaster doesn’t feel like the wildest ride in the wilderness anymore.
What would you like to see in a Space Mountain update? Let us know in the comments.
