Space Mountain has reopened at Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World after closing for almost the entire day on Aug. 7, 2026.
The closure came one day after the indoor roller coaster recorded an unusually long posted wait. On Thursday, Aug. 6, Space Mountain reached 175 minutes, or nearly three hours, according to WDWMAGIC. The report attributed the extended wait to the attraction operating on a single track.
Single-Track Operation Drove the Long Wait
The unusually long wait on Aug. 6 was linked to Space Mountain running on a single track. The Walt Disney World attraction has two separate tracks, known as Alpha and Omega.
Operating with only one track can greatly reduce the attraction’s available ride capacity. When demand remains high, fewer available ride vehicles can cause the standby queue to grow substantially.
The following day’s full closure meant the ride did not operate till 6 p.m., just in time for guests of the first night of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.
Space mountain has yet to open today and have not seen any testing. Wondering if they are hoping to finally get both sides back after a few days of 1 sided operations. pic.twitter.com/aA7swz3jqW
— RockNstardust🎸✨ (@CoasterK24) August 7, 2026
This led Magic Kingdom Vice President Sarah Riles to officially apologize via an in-app message.
Pardon the Inconvenience
On behalf of the entire team at Magic Kingdom, I’d like to apologize that Space Mountain is currently unavailable. Our Cast Members are working diligently to get the attraction up and running again, and we are sorry you are not able to experience this attraction at this time. I hope you will enjoy some of our other attractions during your experience in the park today.Sarah Riles
Vice President, Magic Kingdom Park
Space Mountain Is Listed as Operating
Walt Disney World’s official Magic Kingdom attraction page currently lists Space Mountain as an operating attraction. Disney describes it as an indoor thrill ride with a minimum height requirement of 44 inches, or 112 centimeters. The attraction is located in Tomorrowland. It opened at Magic Kingdom on Jan. 15, 1975.
That gives the attraction more than five decades of operating history at Walt Disney World.
What Happened to the Wait Times
The reported wait on Aug. 6 stands out because Space Mountain’s normal posted waits can vary significantly based on crowd levels and operating capacity.
TouringPlans‘ historical information shows that Space Mountain’s typical wait range can reach as high as 175 minutes under its highest crowd-level category. Its historical data also shows that waits vary substantially throughout the day.
Space Mountain in Tomorrowland at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom – Photo Credit That Park Place
The Aug. 6 figure was therefore at the upper end of the attraction’s documented wait-time range. The key factor reported that day, however, was not simply guest demand. The attraction was operating on one track, which reduced its available capacity.
No Confirmed Major Refurbishment
There has been continued reporting about a potential major refurbishment or rebuild of Space Mountain, with some reports pointing to a possible closure in late 2026 or early 2027. Some suggest Disney is planning a substantial rebuild that could include a full retracking of the coaster, along with changes to the queue and load station. Other reports have suggested that the work could go beyond the ride system and involve changes to the entrance, exit and other parts of the attraction.
However, those reports currently remain unconfirmed by Disney.
If a major project does move forward, the reported scope would make it considerably different from a routine maintenance closure. The work could require an extended shutdown, potentially lasting into 2028 or 2029. Those dates are projections based on the reported scope, rather than an announced Disney schedule.
The recent closure could mean that Space Mountain is due for a more extensive refresh.
Are you hoping Space Mountain gets an update? Did you experience the nearly three-hour wait? Sound off and let us know!
