Walt Disney World Celebrates 50 Years of Space Mountain

Landmark attraction will be bathed in a golden glow for milestone anniversary

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Jan. 15, 2025) – Blasting off from Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort, Space Mountain has delighted guests with a thrilling adventure through the cosmos since its grand opening on Jan. 15, 1975. For 50 years and counting, Space Mountain has towered over Tomorrowland. It has launched unforgettable memories for millions of guests from around the globe with unexpected twists and high-speed turns, all set in the dark of night with stars, planets and solar systems lighting the way.

To commemorate the attraction’s 50th anniversary, the exterior of the iconic conical structure will be bathed in a golden glow throughout the night of January 15, 2025. It will be visible from points throughout the Magic Kingdom Park and nearby resort areas, providing a special celebratory backdrop for Guests visiting on the night of the 15th.

 

Space Mountain – Did You Know?

  • First of its kind: Space Mountain set a new benchmark for theme park innovation and thrills, inspiring generations of guests to dream big and reach for the stars. The attraction’s list of firsts includes being the world’s first indoor roller coaster in the dark, air conditioned and completely controlled by computer.
  • A part of Walt Disney’s legacy: Space Mountain was one of the last attractions Walt Disney personally worked on with his Imagineers, and its use of groundbreaking technology and innovation have been hallmarks of Disney attractions ever since. That approach continues to be the North Star for Walt Disney Imagineering, leading to the newest fantastic Walt Disney World thrills like Slinky Dog Dash, TRON Lightcycle / Run presented by Enterprise, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and more still to come.
  • By the numbers: Space Mountain’s brilliant white conical structure is a towering 183 feet tall (just six feet shorter than the theme park’s iconic Cinderella Castle). The ride dome has a diameter of 300 feet. It houses two mirror-image tracks – named Alpha and Omega – that are each approximately 3,000-feet long. Many are surprised to learn that the attraction reaches a maximum speed of 28 miles per hour; darkness and special effects create a feeling of traveling much faster.
  • Space Mountain around the world: Popularity of the original Space Mountain at Walt Disney World Resort led Walt Disney Imagineering to create Space Mountain attractions in five out of six Disney resort destinations around the globe. Each mountain features an iconic conical exterior and serves as a landmark for the park in which it is found.
  • A galactic celebration: Construction on the original Space Mountain in Florida began on Dec. 15, 1972, and the attraction debuted a little more than two years later. The out-of-this world celebration that marked the opening of the attraction included NASA astronauts, a 2,000-piece marching band, daytime fireworks, celebrity appearances, a nationally televised prime-time special and more.
  • Praised by astronauts: The first official ride on Space Mountain in 1975 was taken by astronaut Colonel James Irwin, who piloted the Lunar Module on Apollo XV to the moon. At the Space Mountain debut Irwin said, “We astronauts are here today to salute all those who…permitted us to see the Earth as a precious blue jewel in the blackness of space. Now, all of us may enjoy this sense of wonder because of Walt Disney. Walt had a dream; today, we see the results of that dream.”

A Rite-of-Passage Legacy of Disney Parks

Today Space Mountain is much more than a thrill-attraction; it is a cultural icon known the world over. With references on television and throughout pop culture over the years, the name Space Mountain evokes excitement even from those who have never experienced it.

And experiencing it is a rite-of-passage milestone for millions of young children around the globe as they ask that age-old question, “Am I tall enough to ride?” With a height requirement of 44 inches, the attraction is one of several Disney experiences that families use to literally measure their children’s growth. There is palpable joy with each child who marches up to be measured and finds they are tall enough to finally take flight on one of the world’s most famous attractions.

Moments like that and the timeless ride experience have earned Space Mountain legendary status around the world. With its exhilarating twists, turns and buoyant optimism about the future, it is safe to say that Space Mountain will continue to thrill for generations to come.

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