Space Mountain
Even at the stroke of midnight, tired park visitors will stand in line for hours to ride this indoor, practically pitch-black coaster. As your rocket ascends through a series of lit-up tunnels and launch preparations, Space Mountain ramps up the excitement. The soundtrack swells until it reaches a cosmic crescendo just as you receive your first view of the star-spattered blackness. And after a brief countdown, you are thrust downward into a succession of sharp curves and startling drops that are almost all right-handed but still manage to seem surprising.
In the loading station, where passengers board the trains, the ride starts. A full-sized starship is hanging over the loading area of the station, which is built to look like a hanger. The spacecraft from the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey served as the inspiration for the first iteration of the hangar ship. The starship's design was changed to a more science-fictional one in 2005. Following loading, the trains advance to a holding area where a lap bar check is performed and the train waits its turn to begin the circuit. When the rocket is fired, the train makes a right turn and starts up the first lift hill as the red strobe lights surrounding it flash.
Two strobe lights flash on at the top, and the rockets then move into a tunnel of blue lights that are flashing to represent the transmission of power to the trains. The train ascends the second lift hill after exiting the tunnel, which is a lengthy tunnel lined with screens. Red rays spread along the displays and whirl as a galaxy is visible swirling at the very top of the tunnel as the trains start their ascent. The galaxy rises and disappears as the trains reach the top of the elevator. As the trains enter the ride's primary environment—the interior of the dome—the music reaches its climax. Trains turn around and proceed up one more little lift hill.
As soon as the vehicles reach the top of the hill and the rockets are launched into their fast trip through the dome, a countdown starts. The ride's numerous bends and minor dips generate the impression of speed because the riders can hardly see the track. The ride accelerates as it nears its conclusion by making a series of sharp right turns. As the onride photo is being taken, the trains make a sharp left bend and enter the re-entry tunnel with several colorful stars flying towards them. The trains execute a final right U-turn back into the station after applying the final brake run.
Location: Tomorrowland (Disneyland)
Best seat in the galaxy: Front seat of the front car
