Space Mountain Tomorrowland Disneyland Ride Seating Photos & Advice

A case can be made that Space Mountain is the most famous Disney attraction, and certainly the company’s best known thrill-ride. For nearly 50 years, the indoor roller coaster-like attraction has been synonymous with the parks in popular culture, to the point that the name Space Mountain has become pop culturally synonymous with wild rides. Which it makes to all the more distressing to miss for those who suffer from motion sickness. Luckily, there are ways to mitigate those symptoms.

What is Space Mountain?

The concept that would eventually become Space Mountain was born in the 1960s when Walt Disney tasked his Imagineers with creating a “spaceport” indoor roller coaster using steel tracks like the Matterhorn for Disneyland’s Tomorrowland. However, technological limitations of the time, combined with Walt’s 1966 death put the concept on ice for just about a decade.

A simplified version of the concept – essentially an indoor wind mouse coaster with special effects – was revived in the early 1970s when Walt Disney World needs a new thrill ride to entertain a larger-than-expected amount of teenage guests. The ride opened at the Magic Kingdom in 1975 to massive success, changing the face of the Vacation Kingdom forever. A similar, though not exact duplicate opened at Disneyland in 1977, with similar versions opening in Tokyo in 1983 and Hong Kong in 2005. 

Twists and Turning Stomachs

While the various versions of Space Mountain have been beloved by generations of thrill seekers, the coasters have long been a bit of a nightmare for those prone to motion sickness. The ride’s sharp turns and sudden drops can wreck havoc with a weak stomach, leading to intense nausea and queasiness.

Tips for Taking Flight: 

The best ways to attempt and avoid Motion Sickness on Space Mountain include:

-Using anti-nausea medications including Dramamine prior to entering the park, which can do the trick for those who suffer minor to moderate symptoms.

-Requesting the cast member in charge of boarding to avoid sitting them in the front or back seat of the coaster car. Instead, they should sit in the middle seat of the car if-at-all possible.

-Closing one’s eyes and taking deep breaths.

-Ingesting some peppermint after disembarking.