Disney Just Filed to Make Changes to Its 48-Year-Old Coaster and the Permit Reveals the End Date
Space Mountain at Disneyland opened in May 1977. It is 48 years old. And a new Disney permit just confirmed exactly what is happening to it this spring and when it ends.
Disneyland has filed to install the Hyperspace Mountain marquee overlay on Space Mountain starting around April 17. The permit runs through June 1, giving guests the first concrete timeline for the Star Wars takeover of the 48-year-old coaster in 2026. Hyperspace Mountain officially launches on April 28, which means the window to ride the Star Wars version of Space Mountain runs from late April through the end of May.
If you want it plan accordingly because the permit makes clear this one ends on a specific date.
What the Overlay Actually Is
Hyperspace Mountain transforms Space Mountain from a classic cosmic coaster into a Star Wars battle sequence. Instead of drifting through ambient darkness, guests find themselves in the middle of a Rebel fleet engagement, dodging TIE fighters and weaving around Star Destroyers with a cinematic soundtrack replacing the standard Space Mountain audio.
The core ride infrastructure does not change. The Space Mountain experience guests know is still underneath the overlay. But the visual and audio transformation is significant enough to make Hyperspace Mountain feel like a meaningfully different experience rather than a superficial seasonal decoration.
The overlay has developed a loyal following among guests who specifically time Disneyland visits around its availability and the roughly six-week window confirmed by the permit is the timeline to plan around for 2026.
What Else Is Happening in the Same Window at Disney
The Hyperspace Mountain permit landing in the April through June window is one piece of a larger Star Wars programming picture Disneyland is building for spring 2026.
On May 22, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will debut an entirely new mission inspired by The Mandalorian and Grogu, replacing the Hondo Ohnaka storyline that has run since Galaxy’s Edge opened. The May 22 date aligns with the theatrical release of a new Star Wars film on the same weekend, creating a level of synergy between the parks and the franchise that Disney has been deliberately building toward.
The overlap between Hyperspace Mountain running through June 1 and the new Smugglers Run mission launching May 22 means there is approximately a 10-day window when both experiences are available. For Star Wars fans visiting Disneyland in late May, that window is the sweet spot of the entire spring season.
What Disney Guests Need to Know
Hyperspace Mountain runs April 28 through approximately June 1 based on the permit timeline. The new Smugglers Run mission launches May 22. A new Star Wars film releases the same weekend. Space Mountain turns 49 in May.
Disneyland spring 2026 is a significant moment for Star Wars fans, and the permit just confirmed the deadline for one of its most anticipated offerings.
