The Magic Kingdom continues to invest in its classic attractions as the park approaches its 55th anniversary in October, and Space Mountain might be next on the list to be reinvented for a modern audience.

The rumor was first publicly shared by WDWmagic this week, but we at WDWNT have been hearing about this project for several months now.

Reinvesting in the Magic Kingdom Classics

Inspired by the updated Country Bear Musical Jamboree‘s success, Walt Disney World has embarked on a series of much-needed refurbishments of the aging Magic Kingdom attraction lineup. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad emerged refreshed and changed forever earlier this year, and now Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress has closed to receive similar treatment. Just steps away, the much-neglected, legendary, and original Space Mountain may finally have the investment it’s been waiting on for well over a decade.

Another New Tomorrowland

The last reimagining of Tomorrowland wholly was in 1994 with “New Tomorrowland”. While it ended up being short-lived as a cohesive and coherent land, Disney began a piecemeal “cartoonification” of the area in 1998 with the opening of Buzz Lightyear, and continued with Stitch’s Great Escape in 2004 and Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor in 2007. The staying power of some of these attractions wasn’t profound either despite their IPs, and Tomorrowland began to feel lost by the 2010s. With TRON Lightcycle Run on the way in the 2020s, Disney began to remove thematic and decorative elements from the 1990s and revert the land to a clean, mostly white aesthetic very slowly. In fact, they’re still removing these elements today, and there’s still more to go. Fast forward to 2026, given the Space Ranger Spin overhaul and the ongoing Carousel of Progress update, it leaves very little untouched as of late in the land of tomorrow, except for Space Mountain.

Too Much Space Between Refurbishments

In the 2000s, it was not uncommon to hear rumors of a full track-rebuild for the then 30-year-old ride in Florida. Disneyland’s Space Mountain emerged reinvigorated from a lengthy rehab in 2005 (out of necessity from years of poor maintenance during the infamous reign of park president Cynthia Harris) and many fans clamored for something similar at The Vacation Kingdom of the World. Instead, a much-celebrated, but budget-constrained update of Magic Kingdom’s roller coaster happened in 2009.

While the ride experience itself was mostly unchanged at that time (music was added along the track in 2010), the load station was sealed in with a roof to reduce the amount of light visible inside the mountain. Gates were also added to the platform where guests board the trains. The computer system was updated to reduce breakdowns and increase operational efficiency. The queue received interactive elements, the first in a trend for several years as part of the implementation of “MyMagic+” changes property-wide, which culminated in the eventual rollout of MagicBands. Despite all of this, the track only had some minor work done to it and not the full replacement that had been planned before being pushed off.

There has not been a lengthy or meaningful refurbishment of Space Mountain in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom since, in over 17 years.

“It’s Too Darn Rough”

While the most hardcore of fans understand the “rickety” and “rough” nature of the ride since it opened in 1975 and really before computers could help, tourists just don’t get it. Walt Disney World is supposed to be the pinnacle of theme parks. These infrequent or first-time guests probably wonder why Disney would have such an “uncomfortable” ride.

Space Mountain at the Magic Kingdom has a lot in common with the Matterhorn at Disneyland. They were both early entries in the world of tubular steel roller coasters (Matterhorn in fact being the first), both feature a single-row seating style, and both are not at all smooth rides by today’s coaster standards. While Disneyland has held on to much of what has been the Matterhorn since 1959, the ride has also evolved with new vehicles, show scenes, and plenty of track work. That being said, it’s worth mentioning that there is a far greater respect and admiration for the park’s history in Anaheim, while Walt Disney World more often has catered to the tourist audience to the detriment of their legacy (i.e. closing legendary rides like Journey into Imagination, Horizons, The Great Movie Ride, and MuppetVision 3-D rather than updating them).

I’m sure many of us hope that the Florida Space Mountain would keep its charming older facets, even if it makes for a painful experience, it just doesn’t seem like something Disney World management in 2026 might be interested in. In a world where the recently reopened Big Thunder Mountain couldn’t come back with the swinging possums in the town of Tumbleweed, I find it hard to believe that a ride with tighter clearances like Space Mountain would be able to survive much longer as is. Yes, the possums are coming back, but modifications are being made to take them away from the reach of guests. Given this example, modifications are likely for Walt Disney World’s first mountain in Tomorrowland.

It is not uncommon for a guest to put their hands up and hit the illuminated tunnel towards the end of the ride through the cosmos. While I wonder if the Big Thunder possums could actually be reached by a human aboard The Wildest Ride in the Wilderness, those in charge of the safety of the public deemed it a problem. There must be some beams and otherwise in Space Mountain that near guests at a similar distance, and if that is so, expect big changes.

Watch This Space

Rumors indicate that the project could be as simple as rebuilding the existing dual tracks from scratch, or as game-changing as removing the two and replacing them with one completely new roller coaster ride. Either way, I would expect a lot of “new magic” when Space Mountain returns.

Sources have indicated to WDWNT that there will be changes to the entrance, queue, exit, and ride, all major in nature. New tracks, trains, and scenes for Space Mountain are all possible, and all seem likely at this time.

In a world where Tokyo Disneyland literally bulldozed the entire Space Mountain ride, track AND BUILDING, and is constructing a totally new version set to open in 2027, the pressure is on Walt Disney World to keep up. I think it’s safe to say Imagineers aren’t planning to knock down the first iconic Space Mountain structure, it feels like how much of the inside could change was up for debate.

Not Yet Confirmed for Liftoff

So, when will this happen? A safe bet is not until at least January 2027. Walt Disney World probably can’t afford to have another attraction out of service in a Magic Kingdom already down Tom Sawyer Island, the Liberty Square Riverboat, and now Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress for a period.

When rumors like this become so prevalent, it’s hard to believe there is not validity to them. With our proximity to D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in August, I suspect we will be hearing at least a vague announcement of the project in Anaheim. Of course, it’s important to say Disney has stated nothing of the sort at this time, and the rumors remain unconfirmed until we hear from them.

But… if you have an upcoming trip to Walt Disney World, I would start getting in some farewell rides on Space Mountain as we know it, just in case…

For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.