During a recent trip around Tokyo Disneyland, we checked on the construction progress of the park’s new Space Mountain.
Space Mountain Construction
The old Space Mountain closed permanently in July. Behind blue construction walls is scaffolding covered in white tarps. That’s not enough to hide the top of the iconic building, though, where more scaffolding is visible. The old version’s iconic spires have been erased as demolition on the original ride begins.
The new Space Mountain is under construction behind the former version, which will be demolished to make way for a new Tomorrowland plaza. Oriental Land Company (OLC) said when they announced the new Space Mountain that the plaza “will express the connection between Earth and the universe, representing an image of a future where humans are in harmony with nature.”
Work began on the construction site in 2022 and a groundbreaking ceremony was held in May 2023. The first piece of track arrived this past spring.
It’s now almost impossible to see the track given how much of the building is in place and the scaffolding that surrounds it. There are five cranes stationed around the new attraction. Its circular structure is visible between the cranes.
Large beams now create a slightly conical shape at the top of the building, leading to a large circle not unlike the shape of the original Space Mountain. The new version will have its own unique facade though, as seen in concept art at the end of this article.
Visible behind scaffolding are white columns. There’s an opening between these for a crane. Another crane was lifting a large beam as we passed on the Monorail.
A more rectangular section is at the back of the building.
OLC said the new version of Space Mountain will still be an indoor roller coaster “but will have enhanced performance and immersive special effects that will give guests even more thrills on this exciting rocket ride.” It’s rumored to be named Space Mountain Earthrise.
Concept art shows the new building’s curved shape with built-in lights and a plaza of fountains and gardens.
Space Mountain at Tokyo Disneyland was a clone of the Disneyland version of the attraction and opened with the park on April 15, 1983. OLC is spending approximately ¥56 billion ($437 million) on the new version, which is scheduled to open in 2027.
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