Space Mountain (Original Ride) (2002 POV) - Disneyland California

[@Pilot-lk7xj]

I love this version of Space Mountain, it had this dark, mysterious, and cold feeling to it, which they got rid of when they refurbished it in the early 2000’s.

[@elevatoralarmcoasterandarc1214]

I remember that.

[@wickedphant0m]

The best part of this era of Space Mountain was the music. I don't know why a surf guitar cover of a late 1800s chamber music suite works for a ride about space... but it does. The 2nd best part was seeing the glowing sides of the trains fly past in the windows of the queue. That really built up the excitement.

[@Theme_parchive]

And don’t forget the “cookie” asteroids and the big red satellite ball

[@mjmmorales]

And don't forget the people movers.That went right through Space mountain

[@andrewc1199]

The reason why the track needed to be replaced was because the onboard audio system added a ton of weight to the ride vehicles, which in turn caused the track and supports to wear out prematurely.

[@Theme_parchive]

And the main culprits of all that weight? Three words. Big, Heavy Batteries.

[@lovelyfox-kz6ko]

Thanks for sharing David, I took this original ride in about 2000, I was a kid and I love it, it was so amazing, and I felt good that I can trust it when I felt like I'm in a totally dark space floating in the air. It is really something like "Ladies and Gentlemen, we are floating in the air!"

[@space_gamer9146]

Used to love watching these kinds of videos years ago, I came back to check out ome old videos, nd found out that more are still being uploaded!

[@samlibutti]

First rollercoaster I ever rode in 2000. I remember it really felt to me like I was hurling through the wide expanse of space. Funny to think now as an adult I was just kinda going around in a circle in some dirty warehouse structure with the lights off hahah

[@davidjellis]

LOL - so true

[@Borgaboe]

All personal, clear the launch platform

[@elevatoralarmcoasterandarc1214]

The ride starts at 0:30.

[@Paolo8772]

I've not ridden it, but from what I've heard it has two versions now: effects, or lights on. What's in this video is neither but it's no worse and also historic. I've also heard it has an incredibly complex amount of block zones. Also: there are two in the same building that are mirror images of each other. I could be wrong about one of the details I listed, but in any case: I have gained a new appreciation for this ride since I've learned more about it. Thanks for posting!

[@davidjellis]

I haven't ridden it since the ride was changed. Thanks for the information :-)

[@TheRedandWhitehandItsbruttiyu]

@@davidjellis Do you have the old tokyo version? from 1983/2006

[@davidjellis]

@@TheRedandWhitehandItsbruttiyu Sadly not - we had planned to spend time in Tokyo Disneyland on our tour in 2009 but it was a public holiday and they closed the gates at 10.30am as the park had reached capacity! So we spent the whole day in next-door DisneySea - amazing park and best theming ever, but the big attractions had 3-4 hour lines!

[@TheRedandWhitehandItsbruttiyu]

@@davidjellis Is this the space mountain footage you currently have?

[@davidjellis]

@@TheRedandWhitehandItsbruttiyu Yes - I only rode it once

[@christianf.2025]

This is an outstanding video!!!!! The greatest quality I’ve seen ! 🎉

[@davidjellis]

Many thanks - much appreciated - the recording is old and the ride is pretty dark, but I am pleased you enjoyed it

[@christianf.2025]

PURE GEM✨

[@elevatoralarmcoasterandarc1214]

In history.

[@elevatoralarmcoasterandarc1214]

You filmed it the year before the entire attraction got rebooted.

[@mamaluigi2064]

this brought back memories but this is one of those rare instances where I personally prefer the 05 revamp to the original I remember riding this when I was really young I preferred the original queue but the ride itself was pretty meh the 05 revamp was definitely needed also that giant jolt when taking off from the station was horrible

[@Olschoolvidz]

@Davidjellis do you have any footage of the original space mountain in paris that closed in 2005 not mission 2 but before

[@davidjellis]

I have DLP footage from 2005 that I am editing currently

[@Olschoolvidz]

@@davidjellis the first version of the ride ?

[@Olschoolvidz]

@@davidjellis you know the version with the moon

[@davidjellis]

@@Olschoolvidz Just checked - sadly it was from November 2005, so Mission 2

[@guce3869]

I was on that ride in 2002. It was called “De la Terre à la Lune” by then, with the Jules Verne theme and moon. I think I rode 5 times before leaving the park on closure time. One of my best experiences ever. Just found a video of it on YT. Not great but you can clearly see the moon: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5LOpJejmpyEpKs

[@Thatfoxatthebowlinglane]

Is it just me or is this version better than the new one

[@elevatoralarmcoasterandarc1214]

Both versions were good.

[@Hypernukeleosis]

Yup, I remember this ride well, even though I've only been to the California park once. To bad you didn't capture the "ghost of space mountain" which is literally a smudge on one persons camera of the ride, it's so stupid, lol.

[@hellacia8151]

Might have been from space mountain ghost galaxy. It ran during the halloween events, utilizing all of the projectors that usually arent used to have ghosts chase you around

[@MytokyokittyStudios]

I remember riding the original space mountain and it had a different soundtrack too. You used to be able to see the track as well and my siblings described the stars in space as Christmas lights. Lol 😆 Also I could have sworn the original space mountain started in the other direction. Did they switch the track around when they refurbished it to the newer/recent version? The one thing I didn’t like about the original was at the loading station. When you got on the ride, it would jerk you forward and slam you back towards the seat. I ended up hitting my head in the back of the seat and wound up with a headache. I just reminded myself to lean forward till you got past that jerking part leaving the loading station. Thankfully the newer/recent version of Space Mountain doesn’t do that.

[@davidjellis]

I only rode it in 2002 - so cannot comment on how it was originally or the changed version

[@Theme_parchive]

The layout is identical to how it originally was. The track from the drop to the turnaround into the last tunnel was all replaced, everything else is the exact same since 1977

[@guerrerodude]

Now i remember why i never put my arms up.

[@elevatoralarmcoasterandarc1214]

How come?

[@SonOfManMusic]

nice....

[@elevatoralarmcoasterandarc1214]

Very good.

[@chicagocarless]

Not exactly the original. When it first opened, the main lift hill had a complex infinity mirror lighting theme that was eventually replaced with that pathetic swirling red laser light.

[@davidjellis]

That's true - I only referred to it as the original as it predates the major changes that took place when the ride was closed between April 2003 and July 2005

[@chicagocarless]

@@davidjellis I WISH someone had a video of that lift hill, too!

[@andrewc1199]

@@chicagocarless You can see it in this video at 7:54 kzbin.info/www/bejne/inmYhYCwi9CIms0

[@_tommoses_]

@@chicagocarless kzbin.info/www/bejne/inmYhYCwi9CIms0 skip to 7:54 and there it is

[@_tommoses_]

@@chicagocarlessFound a link that has it, kzbin.info/www/bejne/inmYhYCwi9CIms0 7:54 timestamp

[@lessgo5214]

Ok so wheres the onboard soundtrack?

[@hellacia8151]

It barely ever worked. The audio system never charged up properly, so getting the original music to play 100% through the entire ride was rare.

[@elevatoralarmcoasterandarc1214]

There's no Dick Dale soundtrack!

[@PixarFan327]

Indiana Jones Adventure (2002 POV) Disneyland Davidjellis

[@davidjellis]

Why the reference to Indy?

[@davidjellis]

Higher resolution of that video will be uploaded tomorrow

[@DarkDoge]

@@davidjellis it's a bot.