Birt Family Focus

Space Mountain -- 4/3/02
Photo by Paul

I believe we left off at the Speedway which brings us next to......Space Mountain! This is a must-do for our family. We never miss it when in the Magic Kingdom. Did you know there is a version of SM in every Disney Theme Park complex? There is, but OURs was the first one. The concept for SM actually originated with plans for a spaceport in the Tomorrowland area of Disneyland in Anaheim, in the mid 1960's. Those plans were scrapped, but, happily the SM part was revived for WDW. It was originally supposed to have a part that went outside, like Test Track, but was changed to be completely inside because of concerns with Florida's wet weather.

Space Mountain has 2 tracks mirroring one another. They are exactly the same with the exception that one is 10 feet longer than the other to cross over. I don't know which is which- does anyone out there know? Ours is also set up with rocket cars in trains of 2 that seat one in front of the other, single file. I believe they seat 6 total, 3 to a car. It might be 8, though, I must confess I never pay attention. I'm always too busy working up a good fright with which to enjoy the ride!!

Space Mountain was originally sponsored by RCA and when the ride ended, you walked through the "house of the future". In fact, ride chickens could bypass the roller coaster part altogether and just go through the house. These days we have met and exceeded the technology presented at the time. Fed Ex is now the sponsor and the house of the future is now vignettes predicting the delivery of packages in the future. There used to be a lounge for Fed Ex folks in SM, I don't know if there still is, any Fed Exer's out there know?

My family and I just LOVE Space Mountain. If you like roller coasters the least little bit, you will love hurtling around in the dark in your rocket ship on Space Mountain. Oh yes, and while in line, look up at the ceiling and check out the meteors. Are they meteors or are they........chocolate chip cookies? ;-)