There’s a certain kind of ride at EPCOT that guests either love or swear they’ll never set foot on again.
Mission: SPACE has long carried that “controversial” label, drawing thrill-seekers and spaceflight nerds on one side and motion-sick parkgoers on the other. But with chatter growing louder about potential future closures or retheming, Disney fans are stepping up in a big way to defend it.
A recent viral thread on Reddit has transformed into an outpouring of love for Mission: SPACE. Instead of the expected wave of criticism, what came flooding in were hundreds of guests sharing personal stories, favorite moments, and one big plea to Disney: “Please don’t take this ride away.”
A Ride That Stands Alone
Mission: SPACE has been at EPCOT since 2003, making it one of the park’s most distinct attractions. It’s built around a spinning centrifuge system designed to mimic the sensation of a rocket launch. Riders choose between two sides: Green for a calmer mission and Orange for the full-intensity, hold-on-tight blastoff.
For a ride that many guests won’t touch, its fanbase is surprisingly vocal and deeply loyal. One commenter put it simply: “Without Orange, there’s no reason to have Mission: SPACE. I’ve done Green a few times and nothing really happens other than some claustrophobia. If they got rid of Orange, they should just get rid of the ride.”
That sentiment echoed through the entire thread. The Orange mission is considered by many to be one of the most thrilling, realistic sensations you can find anywhere at Walt Disney World Resort — or Orlando as a whole.
“Closest Thing to a Real Launch”
Mission: SPACE has always worn its intensity as both a badge of honor and a warning sign. Some guests can’t stomach it. Others say it’s one of their highlights when they visit EPCOT.
“You’re just straight up spinning in a circle really fast, but it is absolutely the closest feeling you can get to a spaceship launch,” one fan wrote. “The immersion factor cannot be understated.”
Another added, “It’s the single most unique ride in all of Orlando. Nothing gives you even close to the same bizarre sensation.”
Many described moments they still think about years later — cheeks pulling back from the g-forces, that surreal moment of “reaching space,” and the rush of landing back on Earth.
Not Everyone Can Handle It… But They Still Respect It
Mission: SPACE has its critics, and they’re not shy either. The ride’s intensity has earned it a reputation as “the barf ride” for some. A few riders in the thread admitted they’ve gotten headaches, dizziness, or lingering nausea after riding Orange.
But here’s the surprising twist: even many of those same riders said they respect it.
One user put it best: “I do not like that ride — not one bit — but I respect the hell out of it.”
Another confessed, “I rode it once and got a splitting headache. But I’ll always appreciate what it does. Nothing else feels like that.”
Nostalgia Adds Fuel to the Fire
Mission: SPACE also carries emotional weight for EPCOT loyalists because of what it replaced: Horizons. Horizons remains one of the most beloved attractions in EPCOT’s history. Even some fans who still miss it say they don’t want to see Mission: SPACE meet the same fate.
“It’s a marvel of engineering even nearly 20 years on,” one person wrote. “I mean, you have actual astronauts that attest to its authenticity.”
There’s also the shared sense that this is one of the last EPCOT experiences from a certain era — before massive intellectual property integration started reshaping the park. Fans worry if Mission: SPACE goes, the original EPCOT spirit goes with it.
Calls for an Update, Not Removal
While many are begging Disney to keep the ride, they’re not against change entirely. In fact, a lot of fans in the thread agreed the attraction could use a little modernizing.
“The video and screens just need an update,” someone commented. Another added, “I wish they’d modernize it! The visuals feel outdated.”
This push for a refresh rather than removal is part of a broader pattern at EPCOT: guests wanting Disney to preserve what makes the park unique while improving the experience with updated tech, visuals, and storytelling.
The original Reddit post began with the line: “Ready for all the hate… but I like Mission Space Orange.”
But the OP didn’t get hate. They got backup. Lots of it.
“It seems like most social media posts about Mission: SPACE become an echo chamber about how it’s the worst ride of all time,” one user said. “I enjoy it. I love the G-forces. It’s a great amount of thrill for a ride that is usually less than 20 minutes.”
Another added, “I love it!! I hope they never replace this ride.”
What Happens Next?
Disney has not made any official announcement about Mission: SPACE being removed, but fans are clearly on edge. With EPCOT transforming rapidly, it’s not hard to understand why this rallying cry came now.
In a park where classic attractions are vanishing or evolving quickly, fans are fighting harder to hold onto what’s left of EPCOT’s early identity. For many, Mission: SPACE is a cornerstone of that identity — a ride that dares to be different.
As one commenter put it bluntly: “It’s okay to like things others don’t. But for me, nothing beats that blast-off.”
