It is almost unbelievable, but Disney's iconic Space Mountain is 50 years old! 50! On this day in 1975, Florida's Magic Kingdom debuted one of the most popular attractions ever built. Walt Disney World may have been home to the first one, but every single Disney castle park aside from Shanghai Disneyland has it. And for good reason! When television shows as popular as Friends reference it, folks who don't even frequent theme parks are familiar with it.
Riding Space Mountain has become a rite of passage for American youth. The attraction is so popular, the Oriental Land Company who owns the park has decided to give it a huge update. That's the piece of concept art shown above. It should be, like most everything in Tokyo, fantastic.
The original Space Mountain set the standard for all that came after. Upon opening, this roller coaster in the dark was groundbreaking with immediate impact. Whether the building guests see is the classic, iconic structure found in Florida, California, and Tokyo, a similar but slightly different one placed in a cartoonish and now Marvel based Tomorrowland in Hong Kong, or the absolute best one of all- the stunning, elegant Jules Verne styled masterpiece in Paris (which looks spectacular at night with all its neon), the sheer sight of the attraction makes park guests run to it immediately at park opening as well as queue up for it all through the day and night.
Blasting off through the universe has stayed a must-do experience for any park visitor, but for the very earliest of Disney park fans, this wasn't always the case. As with most things worth the result, the road to success was very long. Very long but worth it!
Read on for this attractions amazing story, tons of concept art, and a few personal photos.
Clem Hall's watercolor version of what would become
Disneyland's mountain classic.
Concept art with an inside view.
This piece alone sold me on a ride!
A new view planned with Disneyland's new Tomorrowland 98.
It had been almost a decade since Walt Disney had passed away when Space Mountain debuted at Florida’s Magic Kingdom on this day in 1975- even though he had planned it for Disneyland many years prior. Imagineers such as John Hench drew some of the earliest plans for a Disneyland space station and its fast moving rocket adventure. They knew it would happen eventually...
At the opening of the Walt Disney World resort four years earlier, the new park's Tomorrowland section was fairly empty, certainly incomplete and just as sad a state as the original rushed version of California's Disneyland due to shortage of time and money. Smaller attractions were quickly added to the section making it a bit more well rounded, but the best was yet to come.
At the opening of the Walt Disney World resort four years earlier, the new park's Tomorrowland section was fairly empty, certainly incomplete and just as sad a state as the original rushed version of California's Disneyland due to shortage of time and money. Smaller attractions were quickly added to the section making it a bit more well rounded, but the best was yet to come.
Certainly, guests found If You Had Wings charming, the Skyway and the Grand Prix Raceway fun, Circle-Vision 360 enjoyable, and Flight to the Moon (later Mission to Mars) provided minor thrills, but the land still lacked that special "E Ticket" calling card. This did not go without notice, but the Imagineers were already quickly working to enhance the area by adding a major blockbuster- and several supporting attractions.
Space Mountain was the centerpiece of a slate of these much needed additions. Like most all of the early classic attractions, its roots came from Walt himself for Anaheim, but the technology wasn't there yet to make it happen. The ultimate space adventure would eventually make it to its originally intended destination a couple of years later in a much smaller, single track configuration than what would first be built in the East. It would not only dominate the Tomorrowland skyline, it would act like a shining beacon to everyone who came to the Magic Kingdom. Guests just couldn't stay away from it!
A larger closer view!
This was used to promote California's version as well.
A nice pencil sketch.
This design is more squashed-
sort of like the mountain found at Hong Kong Disneyland.
In 1969 with American astronaut Neil Armstrong's steps on the moon, America’s refreshed obsession with space travel provided the perfect timing for this major thrill ride to come into existence. The technology needed was coming into its own. Finally.
The future had always fascinated Walt, and this love was reflected in his films, the television series, and at Disneyland. He loved science, space exploration, and new technologies. When the Magic Kingdom was designed, it was only natural that a futuristic themed land would also be in the plans. His Imagineering team had been working on a New Tomorrowland (1967) for Disneyland, and it would make its debut after Walt's unfortunate passing. Even so, the groundwork was being laid for Florida.
The future had always fascinated Walt, and this love was reflected in his films, the television series, and at Disneyland. He loved science, space exploration, and new technologies. When the Magic Kingdom was designed, it was only natural that a futuristic themed land would also be in the plans. His Imagineering team had been working on a New Tomorrowland (1967) for Disneyland, and it would make its debut after Walt's unfortunate passing. Even so, the groundwork was being laid for Florida.
New Tomorrowland for the Magic Kingdom.Carousel of Progress and the Peoplemover join the line up.
As discussions continued with his team about bringing an outer space rocket adventure to the Anaheim park, concept art for Walt’s Space Port began to emerge. As you can tell from all the concept art in this article alone, the Disney Imagineers created many different looks which were considered before settling on its initial timeless exterior. Variations included multi-level walkways, exterior coaster track as well as interior, smooth round roofs, roofs with spires of various sizes, access directly into the mountain, acmes via a covered pathway, etc. Nothing was tossed out, and as we know, no idea was wasted.
Imagineers Herb Ryman and John Hench each came up with their own designs but they would be slightly blended for the final result, leaving earlier designs by Clem Hall to be left to Disney art books for coffee tables throughout America.
Wow!
Once the mountain's unique design was settled upon, a detailed model was built, giving the Imagineers a chance to view how the attraction would fit into the Magic Kingdom. the decision was made to take guests under the railroad tracks and into the mountain. This trick was used to good effect at Disneyland with the Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion. Guests were slowly taken out of the ordinary and into another world. In this case to a space port, one somewhere in a galaxy far, far away... and long before Star Tours thrilled guests.
One of the major benefits of this particular configuration came from the attraction's placement just outside the park perimeter. Guests from the Magic Kingdom parking lot, the Contemporary Resort and the Polynesian Village Resort could view the gleaming white spires of the mountain from the other side of the Seven Seas Lagoon with little clutter of other attractions vying for attention. It was the perfect siren call for a new and innovative attraction.
(Current changes to the World's transportation systems have made the impact less powerful. Arriving at the Magic Kingdom via bus so close to Space Mountain lessons the wow factor to a large degree. What hasn't changed is the visual impact from viewing it high atop the Contemporary Resort from its California Grill restaurant deck.)
At Epcot, the Imagineers re-envisioned the old Universe of Energy building to house the new Guardians roller coaster. Like Space Mountain is viewed from the outside of the Magic Kingdom, guests arriving at Epcot from the main entrance can see the attraction. They may just not know it. That big blue box that punctuates the skyline and is visible from most anywhere in the park is what houses the coaster. It's not beautiful to say the least.
A model for the Magic Kingdom version.
Notice the rockets outside the structure?
With much fanfare after a couple of years of construction, Space Mountain opened, becoming an instant theme park icon and the new "must do" attraction. Imagineering and the money men knew they had a hit on their hands, so they took advantage of "The blessing of size” as Walt said, and enabled the Imagineers to build a full dual tracked thrill ride for the Magic Kingdom. The new coaster was a serious bid for the teen market who found much of the Magic Kingdom and its emphasis on slow moving attractions and shows not of interest.
Audio-Animatronic musicals like Tropical Serenade (Enchanted Tiki Room), Country Bear Jamboree, and The Mickey Mouse Revue, were still popular with young families and older guests, but it was time to round out the attraction roster and add to their reputation. Mission accomplished!
Perhaps its the same mindset that caused the character infusion into Epcot. Mainly due to lack of investment and refreshing in the park's major attractions, Florida's second Disney park was losing attendance. It needed a big, big draw to bring people back in- particularly teens who seemed to be too young for the drink around the world game during the various Food & Wine Festivals and too old for simple character interactions. Expedition: Everest did wonders for attendance at Animal Kingdom. A coaster was needed for Epcot. Then, there's the Marvel factor. Disney suits were hot to make the most of their acquisition as quickly as they could. Guardians fit the legal issues.
Great view of the Mountain from Florida's Peoplemover.
One reason their Tomorrowland is better than Disneyland's-
for the time being.
One reason their Tomorrowland is better than Disneyland's-
for the time being.
The most recent attraction poster for the Florida mountain.
New poster for a new century.
New poster for a new century.
Some art from the old official Disney blog.
The popular Magic Kingdom coaster attraction has seen very few changes over the years, save the removal of the sponsorship from the company that helped fund it, RCA. Park leadership spent years relying on it to keep the crowds coming as they neglected to make significant investments into the Magic Kingdom. Beyond opening Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in 1980, funds were only made available for changing out smaller rides until finally a New Fantasyland made its appearance in 2012. That's 30 years of neglecting its flagship theme park in Florida.
A few years ago, a quick refurbishing to Space Mountain meant a change in the music, new stereo sound, and a sparkling new attraction poster. Nothing else. The ride itself remains very rough. Much like Disneyland's classic Matterhorn Bobsleds, an entirely new track is needed. Long time Disney park fans know that maintenance is not a strong suit at Walt Disney World. When Tron Light Cycle Run finally opened, the suits may decide it is time to close Space Mountain for some much needed enhancements and revisions. If nothing else, it needs to be done for guest safety.
Back to our story. At Disneyland in Anaheim, California, the astounding success of the attraction in Florida meant one just had to be built in Anaheim. It only made sense as Walt first intended the space adventure for this park.
With land being more limited, the mountain was squeezed into a Tomorrowland that had a slice of room for growth. The smaller ride footprint demanded a similar but much smaller mountain, so there would not be the visual wow factor upon approaching the building. As Disneyland designers tend to do, they made good use of the problem and added a stage, a restaurant, and even a game arcade to round out the expansion. For the attraction itself, paring down was necessary. This also meant only single track and less ride capacity, a queue with a different loading zone, and a much tighter flight route. In spite of the changes, the public's response was no less incredible.
I love attraction posters!
Prior to the opening of California Adventure, it was possible to enter the Disneyland parking lot area right next to Space Mountain. Since I lived nearby, I took advantage of the opportunity to drive by regularly, collecting Disneyland guidebooks and memorabilia.
And I was always watching projects under construction.
When the attraction finally opened in 1977, I was among the first to ride. And what an enormous line it was! (Years later, I was also at the opening of the Indiana Jones Adventure as well.) At one point, the queue snaked all the way down Main Street. Hours passed as flights were on then off again during its test period. The initial flight experience was quite the rush at opening. The atmosphere was much darker, and the rockets much faster.
One of the earliest renderings of the attraction- for Disneyland.
Another Clem Hall creation.
Another Clem Hall creation.
The 1967 version of Tomorrowland was epic, but by the end of the 20th Century, the Imagineers were tasked with enhancing the land. Imagineer Tony Baxter was given the difficult task but with a very limited budget. A newly bronzed Space Mountain appeared after the transition alongside the most recent addition, the now defunct Rocket Rods. A couple of cheaply built cloned attractions from Florida completed the project. The revised land was not well received, and the epic mountain soon painted back to its original white scheme.
Copper mountain from Disneyland's Tomorrowland '98.
New art for a revised Tomorrowland.
With someone else's cash to burn and carte blanche access to the plans from Imagineering, Disney worked alongside the Japanese investors handpicking attractions from two differently designed Disney kingdoms. Tokyo Disneyland was an instant hit. Even with access to the larger Florida version, the Japanese executives chose California’s much smaller attraction as the one to be duplicated. When the park opened in 1983, visitors found this space journey to have an entirely different feel, a blending of both American parks and few unique elements at opening.
With Disney, it's usually better in Japan!
Tokyo's mountain and the proposed remodel that never happened.
In a strange twist that lasted for decades until the addition of The Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast, Tokyo Disneyland's Tomorrowland remained relatively untouched but in contrast to Florida, every single attraction was kept in pristine shape. Parkwide. What a show of respect for its guests and for the Imagineers who work so hard to bring a premium experience. The Oriental Land Company knows its business and does it well!
With the building of the amazing Tokyo Disneysea taking priority, its Magic Kingdom styled park retained its 1970s-ish take on the future. Plans for a revision - including a new exterior treatment for Space Mountain- were scrapped. In the long term, this may have worked to its advantage.
For years, European fans had to travel to the Sunshine or Golden State for a Disney vacation experience. Later, they could go to Japan. Once Disneyland Paris opened in 1992, it was a different story. Despite all predictions of doom and gloom, Discoveryland, the Parisian version of Tomorrowland, dazzled guests with its Jules Verne inspired roster of attractions. The entire park is a work of art.
Discovery Mountain was on the agenda but not there on opening day. Debuting in 1995, the iconic white mountain was swapped out for a steampunk inspired adventure but with the iconic attraction name. In contrast to previous versions, this one began outdoors next to a shimmering lagoon with its own Nautilus submarine.
My photo of the best Space Mountain yet!
At opening, the Jules Verne styled attraction
and its gorgeous soundtrack made it specular!
The attraction inside was as different from its cousins as was its exterior: the open air loading station sends its rockets into a smoke-spewing cannon as guests are launched upwards into the mountain. The views over Discoveryland are amazing, but they are nothing compared to the thrills found inside!
Photographer/artist unknown-
but what an image of Paris' version!
The track layout included multiple inversions- the first for a Disney park anywhere- and the addition of a majestic musical score to accompany the journey. This new twist on an old favorite brought in the crowds. Some could even debate Space Mountain saved the resort. It certainly did bring in the crowds.
Although the exterior building concepts remained largely the same, the Imagineers presented several different ideas for what was to be built inside the mountain. In addition to Space Mountain, ideas ranged from a Nautilus adventure including a restaurant inside the submarine, to a unique use of the technology that makes The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror so popular for an additional attraction themed to a different Jules Verne novel. All would be found inside the mountain.
An appropriate poster for a Jules Verne themed mountain!
(For more information and concept art,
track down the wonderful book
Disneyland Paris, From Sketch to Reality by Alain Littaye and Didier Ghez.)
Yes, these images are of what was planned to be found
inside the mountain!
Dining with Nemo?
Yes, not with the fish, but with the Captain.
Upon our first visit to Disneyland Paris in 1998, Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune, and Phantom Manor were at the very top of my must-do list. I must say, I did not expect every corner of the park to be as beautiful as it was. Every aspect has been brought to its fullest potential. It is a work of art from every view, every angle, every aspect. No other Magic Kingdom comes close. Well done, Tony and team! Well done.Once I finally entered the Space Mountain queue and hopped aboard the rocket, the ride was as scenic and incredible as I had imagined it would be! Smooth as silk! The Jules Verne man in the moon smiled as we zoomed by, bringing a smile to my face. I couldn’t wait to ride it again and again! I promptly returned to the queue for another trip.
Viewing the mountain and watching the Columbiad cannon send explorers on their journey was every bit as compelling as seeing the beautiful Eiffel Tower. I couldn’t take my eyes off the attraction. Original music by John Debney is the perfect icing on the proverbial cake, or should I say butter on the croissant.
Discoveryland and its mountain are beautiful during the day but like most things, absolutely spectacular at night. With its magnificent lighting, this Space Mountain was the ultimate execution of the trendsetting concept. Period. Until a "reintroduction" of the attraction and a new theme.
When we visited the park once more in 2007, we were shocked to find that the original story had given way for "Mission 2". It was a poor design and marketing choice, as much of the stunning set pieces and effects had disappeared as well as the original majestic theme music. Perhaps it will return one day.
The opening of the first Disneyland in China, Hong Kong Disneyland (2005), provided an opportunity for building yet another version of the Magic Kingdom classic. It would be the first kingdom to open with this attraction, but the park opened to a collective thud of a response. Due to budget adjustments and misguided opinions of what makes a Disney park, it remains short on attractions. Newer additions of a new Frozen themed land, Grizzly Gulch, Mystic Manor, and even a bigger castle bring a more complete experience, but the park is still lacking. For now.
The attraction poster for Hong Kong Disneyland's Space Mountain.
Is this a good look for Tomorrowland?
Space Mountain remains so popular and an instant draw, that the Disney suits decided a comparable attraction would help Epcot Center's dwindling attendance. With some obvious similarities, how does Space Mountain hold up to the newer Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind? The comparisons are too many to list, but after all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I'd say the original Magic Kingdom adventure is going nowhere- except hopefully down for rehab and a brand new track.
Once the new Japanese exclusive version of Space Mountain is complete, the next question is: Where will the next other worldly mountain show up? No one knows for sure. For all the questions we may have, one thing is certain. Space Mountain will continue to draw and thrill millions of visitors all over their world in their quest to explore the universe!
(Top photo by Tripster. All concept art and Tokyo Disneyland photos copyright The Walt Disney Company; all other photos by Mark Taft)
