Walt Disney World As the first Space Mountain to open, Walt Disney World's version is what most people think of when you mention the name. Space Mountain was originally planned for a new section of Tomorrowland in Disneyland but ended up seeing the light in Florida first. The concept of a completely dark and indoors roller coaster was new to the world, but mostly stemmed from necessity. Florida's weather often shuts down outdoor roller coasters, so building one completely covered was the obvious next step. The building that houses the coaster was designed to be included in a "SpacePort" addition to Disneyland. In June of 1966, the name "Space Mountain" was coined. The building reaches 15 feet under ground, 300 feet in diameter, and towers 183 feet in the air, taller than Cinderella Castle. Space Port Concept Art © Walt Disney Co. Walt Disney World's Space Mountain has two tracks that are near mirror images of each other. The left track is 10 feet longer to accomodate for one to cross over the other. The left side (Alpha) is 3196 feet long and the right (Omega) is 3186 feet long. The large drop toward the end of the ride is 35 feet long. There are 30 6-person cars in Walt Disney World's Space Mountain. In order to board one of these cars, one must be at least 44 inches tall. Riders ride one in front of the other with each rider having his or her own lap harness. The length of the ride and the speed at which it travels depends greatly on the time of day and the weight of the cars. Early in the morning, when the ride has freshly opened, the cars do not move as swiftly. Grease that has congealed on the wheels overnight causes them to be a bit sluggish. By nighttime, the grease has liquified a bit causing less friction and producing faster speeds. Also, the heavier the people in the car, the faster it travels. While Space Mountain in Walt disney World reaches max speed at 28 miles per hour, it can pick up a few more under the right conditions. Average trip length is 2 minutes and 47 seconds. Behind the Scenes Space Mountain Codes Coes Words that Cast Members use in the Mountain to describe objects, positions and events. 101 Attraction is broken down. 102 Attraction is back up and running. 104 Guest in wheelchair or ECV. 105 Attraction is back up and running. T-Bone Strap used for checking the lap bar. Join in the Discussion at our: Magic Kingdom Forum