Is Disney planning to rebuild Space Mountain at Walt Disney World?
For more than five decades, Space Mountain has stood as one of Walt Disney World’s most recognizable attractions. Generations of guests have made it a must-do at Magic Kingdom, helping cement its place as one of Disney’s greatest theme park icons. But according to a new report, that legendary coaster could soon be headed for its most ambitious refurbishment ever.
According to WDWMAGIC, Walt Disney World is in the planning stages for what could become the most extensive overhaul in the attraction’s history—a project that reportedly goes far beyond a standard refurbishment.
Report Claims Disney Is Planning a Massive Space Mountain Rebuild
According to the report, Disney is considering a complete interior rebuild of Space Mountain, including a full retrack of the coaster itself.
If those plans move forward, the project would reportedly include:
- A complete replacement of the ride track.
- Significant updates to the queue.
- Changes to the loading station.
- A broader interior refurbishment of the attraction.
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That would make the project much more comparable to the recent reconstruction of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad than a typical seasonal refurbishment.
It’s important to note that Disney has not officially announced any Space Mountain rebuild or refurbishment, and the report states these plans remain in the planning phase and could still change.
Space Mountain Has Been Running on Its Original Track Since 1975
Space Mountain first opened at Magic Kingdom in January 1975 and remains one of the park’s signature attractions.
While the ride has received numerous refurbishments over the decades—including updates to lighting, audio, ride controls, and queue elements—the coaster’s original track has largely remained intact.
The exterior of Disneyland’s Space Mountain – YouTube, LMG Vids
The largest refurbishment occurred in 2009, when Disney:
- Replaced select worn sections of track.
- Installed new ride control systems.
- Updated the queue with interactive elements.
- Refreshed the loading area.
- Added new exterior lighting.
Notably, Disney did not replace the entire ride track during that project.
More than 17 years later, some guests have commented that Space Mountain has become noticeably rougher than Disney’s modern coaster lineup.
Could Disney Change the Ride Layout?
One of the biggest unanswered questions is whether Disney would simply recreate the existing coaster layout with new track or completely redesign the attraction.
According to the report, both possibilities remain under discussion.
Tron Lightcycle Run in Tomorrowland at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom – Photo Credit That Park Place
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Another reported possibility is replacing the current single-file ride vehicles with side-by-side seating similar to Disneyland’s version of Space Mountain. The report also suggests onboard audio is being considered, bringing Magic Kingdom’s version more in line with many of Disney’s newer thrill attractions.
If true, the actual track fabrication would likely be handled by Vekoma, which has become Disney’s preferred roller coaster manufacturer in recent years.
A Closure Could Last Nearly Two Years
If Disney proceeds with a project of this magnitude, the closure would likely be lengthy.
Based on the timeline for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, WDWMAGIC estimates construction could take roughly two years.
Bob Iger | 2019 Disney Legends Awards Ceremony | D23 EXPO 2019. Photo Credit: nagi usano from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
The outlet speculates an announcement could come during D23 later this summer, with a possible closure beginning in late 2026 or early 2027. If that timeline holds, Space Mountain might not reopen until sometime in late 2028 or early 2029.
Again, none of those dates have been confirmed by Disney.
Tomorrowland Could Look Very Different
A Space Mountain closure would join several other major projects already reshaping Magic Kingdom.
Carousel of Progress is currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment, while Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin only recently reopened following its own overhaul.
Concept art of Buddy the robot in Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World – Disney
At the same time, much of Frontierland is already hidden behind construction walls as Disney continues work on Piston Peak (Cars Land) and Villains Land. Those massive expansion projects have significantly altered one side of the park. Closing Space Mountain would temporarily remove one of Magic Kingdom’s biggest headliner attractions while a large portion of Frontierland remains an active construction zone.
That timing could present a challenge for Disney. With large portions of Frontierland already inaccessible due to ongoing construction, temporarily closing one of Magic Kingdom’s signature attractions would leave guests navigating a park with multiple major projects underway at the same time. That may also help explain why the reported rebuild remains in the planning stages, as Disney could choose to better stagger its largest construction projects rather than overlap them.
Final Thoughts
At this point, everything remains based on planning-stage information rather than an official Disney announcement.
After more than five decades of operation, a full rebuild of Space Mountain could breathe new life into one of Walt Disney World’s most iconic attractions. A smoother ride, updated systems, and carefully considered enhancements could ensure the coaster remains a Magic Kingdom staple for another generation.
The exterior of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Walt Disney World – Photo Credit: M. Montanaro
At the same time, longtime fans have reason to be cautious. Modern Imagineering’s efforts to “plus” classic attractions have not always been embraced by guests, with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure proving to be one of the most divisive replacements in Disney Parks history following the closure of Splash Mountain. Whether a Space Mountain rebuild is ultimately celebrated or criticized may depend less on the new track itself and more on how much Disney chooses to change beyond it.
For now, fans will have to wait and see whether Disney makes the project official—but if these reports prove accurate, Magic Kingdom’s signature indoor coaster could soon be preparing for the biggest transformation in its history.
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