Space Mountain to celebrate 50 years in Walt Disney World

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — 3...2...1... Blast off!

Space Mountain in Walt Disney World celebrates 50 years of operation.

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Initially opening on January 15, 1975, Space Mountain, an indoor steel rollercoaster themed to space travel, has been a staple of Tomorrowland, the area of the Magic Kingdom park where the ride resides.

Walt Disney World Celebrates 50 Years of Space Mountain Blasting off from Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom Park, Space Mountain goes gold for the 50th anniversary of this rip-roaring roller-coaster ride in the dark. Mickey Mouse and the Gang along with Astronaut Donald Duck join Walt Disney World Ambassadors Shannon Smith-Conrad and Serena Arvizu in celebration of 50 years of launching unforgettable memories on this out-of-this-world attraction at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Walt Disney World) (Walt Disney World/Disney Parks)

Walt Disney World Celebrates 50 Years of Space Mountain (Disney Photographer/Disney)

Walt Disney World Celebrates 50 Years of Space Mountain Blasting off from Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom Park, Space Mountain goes gold for the 50th anniversary of this rip-roaring roller-coaster ride in the dark. Mickey Mouse and the Gang along with Astronaut Donald Duck join Walt Disney World Ambassadors Shannon Smith-Conrad and Serena Arvizu in celebration of 50 years of launching unforgettable memories on this out-of-this-world attraction at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kenslie McGuire, Photographer) (Kenslie McGuire/(Kenslie McGuire, photographer))

Walt Disney World Celebrates 50 Years of Space Mountain Blasting off from Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom Park, Space Mountain goes gold for the 50th anniversary of this rip-roaring roller-coaster ride in the dark. Mickey Mouse and the Gang along with Astronaut Donald Duck join Walt Disney World Ambassadors Shannon Smith-Conrad and Serena Arvizu in celebration of 50 years of launching unforgettable memories on this out-of-this-world attraction at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Amy Smith, Photographer) (Amy Smith/(Amy Smith, photographer))

Walt Disney World Celebrates 50 Years of Space Mountain Blasting off from Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom Park, Space Mountain goes gold for the 50th anniversary of this rip-roaring roller-coaster ride in the dark. Mickey Mouse and the Gang along with Astronaut Donald Duck join Walt Disney World Ambassadors Shannon Smith-Conrad and Serena Arvizu in celebration of 50 years of launching unforgettable memories on this out-of-this-world attraction at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kenslie McGuire, Photographer) (Kenslie McGuire/(Kenslie McGuire, photographer))

Walt Disney World Celebrates 50 Years of Space Mountain Blasting off from Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom Park, Space Mountain goes gold for the 50th anniversary of this rip-roaring roller-coaster ride in the dark. Mickey Mouse and the Gang along with Astronaut Donald Duck join Walt Disney World Ambassadors Shannon Smith-Conrad and Serena Arvizu in celebration of 50 years of launching unforgettable memories on this out-of-this-world attraction at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Olga Thompson, Photographer) (Olga Thompson/(Olga Thompson, photographer))

Walt Disney World Celebrates 50 Years of Space Mountain Blasting off from Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom Park, Space Mountain goes gold for the 50th anniversary of this rip-roaring roller-coaster ride in the dark. Mickey Mouse and the Gang along with Astronaut Donald Duck join Walt Disney World Ambassadors Shannon Smith-Conrad and Serena Arvizu in celebration of 50 years of launching unforgettable memories on this out-of-this-world attraction at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Amy Smith, Photographer) (Amy Smith/Amy Smith, Photographer)

Walt Disney World Celebrates 50 Years of Space Mountain Blasting off from Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom Park, Space Mountain goes gold for the 50th anniversary of this rip-roaring roller-coaster ride in the dark. Mickey Mouse and the Gang along with Astronaut Donald Duck join Walt Disney World Ambassadors Shannon Smith-Conrad and Serena Arvizu in celebration of 50 years of launching unforgettable memories on this out-of-this-world attraction at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Amy Smith, Photographer) (Amy Smith/(Amy Smith, photographer))

Walt Disney World Celebrates 50 Years of Space Mountain Blasting off from Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom Park, Space Mountain goes gold for the 50th anniversary of this rip-roaring roller-coaster ride in the dark. Mickey Mouse and the Gang along with Astronaut Donald Duck join Walt Disney World Ambassadors Shannon Smith-Conrad and Serena Arvizu in celebration of 50 years of launching unforgettable memories on this out-of-this-world attraction at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Olga Thompson, Photographer) (Olga Thompson/(Olga Thompson, photographer))

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the ride, the exterior of the ride will be shown with golden lights.

The ride itself was based on the Matterhorn Bobsled, a Swiss Alps-themed attraction in Disneyland, California, which opened in 1959.

During the 1964 renovations to Tomorrowland, Walt Disney had pitched the idea of the then-named “Space Voyage” attraction, which would later become the ride.

After years of development through WED Enterprises and sponsorship by RCA, the ride would be confirmed to be coming to the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. Disneyland would later open the ride in 1977.

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