Disney’s Space Mountain Shuts Down, Guests Left in the Dark Over Safety Concerns
The Space Mountain ride at Walt Disney World Resort recently experienced an unexpected shutdown. An unknown issue reportedly forced the Disney Park attraction to remain closed for nearly two days.
This incident disrupted the plans of many visitors eager to experience the iconic Tomorrowland roller coaster. Magic Kingdom Park guests quickly shared their disappointment on social media, detailing their experiences and the impact of the closure on their park visits.
The closure affected thousands of Disney Park guests who planned to enjoy the ride during their visits. For some, it meant a lost opportunity to ride one of the most popular attractions at the resort, especially during events like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, where the ride’s spooky overlay enhances the thrill.
Causes of Ride Closures at Disney
Ride closures at Disney parks are common and can arise from a range of causes. Given the heavy daily usage by thousands of guests, wear-and-tear on the attractions is natural.
However, closures might not always stem from mechanical failures; sometimes, they are necessitated by guest-related incidents, such as lost items or inappropriate behaviors that could compromise safety.
At the Walt Disney World Resort, safety checks and maintenance play a crucial role in the overall operational integrity of attractions. Even if a minor issue arises, cast members often conduct extensive safety inspections before reopening. These safety checks are designed to ensure that guests can enjoy rides without encountering unforeseen risks.
Guest Experiences During the Space Mountain Closure
Earlier this month, u/vinnyv0769 posted about the Space Mountain closure on Reddit:
“Space Mountain has been down for most of today and for the last 8 hours. There must be something seriously wrong with the coaster if they can’t open one side. It’s the one ride that people want to ride during the Halloween party because it’s completely dark.
…It went down yesterday and then for most of the day today…It’s a huge issue that will most likely need to be addressed and not put off.”
The Disney Park guest felt that the extended duration of the closure sparked concern over the ride’s condition.
“It might be time to do a full refurb on it,” they said. “Honestly, it’s run its course. No reason both sides stay down for so long.”
Other Disney Parks fans agreed that Space Mountain needed maintenance but didn’t think the ride needed to be replaced (like Tokyo Disneyland’s Space Mountain) or rethemed to something like Star Wars: Hyperspace Mountain.
“A re-track would probably serve it well,” u/VayaConDios91 wrote. “…It is a nearly 50 year old coaster in nearly constant operation. There are many reasons for it to go down for an extended period, and I wouldn’t even call 8 hours an extended period.”
“You can easily have one sensor be faulty on a ride and it could take a while for the part to come in or be installed,” u/Automatic-Weakness26 replied. “It’s not a big deal or uncommon.”
Walt Disney World Resort didn’t publicly acknowledge the multi-day issues with Space Mountain. The roller coaster eventually reopened and was operating normally at the time of this article’s publication.
Has a Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park ride broken down during your trip? Share your experience with Disney Dining in the comments.
