Disney Park Removes Final Trace of Space Mountain, Iconic Ride Now Fully Demolished

 Once the visual centerpiece of Tomorrowland, one version of Space Mountain has now been fully demolished—its track, spires, and show building officially removed.

The last remaining pieces were seemingly cleared as of this week, closing the book on a ride that had operated in the park since 1983. No formal fanfare marked its removal, just the slow fade of one of Disney’s most iconic coasters.

Space Mountain originally debuted at Walt Disney World in 1975 before inspiring new iterations around the world, including the opening of Tokyo Disneyland’s version in April 1983. It soon became a flagship attraction, anchoring the park’s Tomorrowland for more than four decades.

More than just a coaster, Space Mountain symbolized Disney’s ability to blend thrill with theme. Its pitch-black track and futuristic aesthetic made it a rite of passage for generations of parkgoers. But over the past decade, Disney has gradually begun shifting its vision for the future.

Demolition Marks the End of an Era

In 2022, Tokyo Disneyland announced that Space Mountain would permanently close as part of a major Tomorrowland overhaul. The ride officially ended operations on July 31, 2024. Since then, its slow and deliberate dismantling has taken place behind construction walls.

As of this week, this demolition is officially complete.

The move is part of a long-term redevelopment plan led by the Oriental Land Company, which owns and operates Tokyo Disney Resort independently from Disney’s parks division.

A new version of the ride—rumored to be titled Space Mountain: Earthrise—is currently under construction and is expected to open in 2027. The updated attraction promises a stronger narrative focus and a redesigned experience that highlights our connection to Earth and the wider universe.

“It’s not only a whole new ride experience, but the story also has so much emotion,” Walt Disney Imagineering Producer Kathleen Davis said. “Through the queue and then on the ride, we see our connection to our planet and gain a new perspective for how special it is in all the universe. It’s a roller coaster with both thrill and heart.”

Tomorrowland’s Evolution Beyond Space Mountain

The area around the former Space Mountain is also being transformed. A redesigned Tomorrowland plaza will replace the previous footprint, with new seating areas, lighting, and symbolic design elements intended to reflect a future in which humanity lives in harmony with nature. The plaza will shift in tone throughout the day, with immersive lighting and sound effects activating at night.

Elsewhere in the land, Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters closed in 2024 to make way for a new Wreck-It Ralph (2012)-themed shooter attraction, set to debut in 2026.

The changes follow the 2020 opening of The Happy Ride with Baymax, a family-friendly spinner ride set to an original soundtrack that has earned an unexpected cult following. With construction underway and more changes on the horizon, Tokyo Disneyland’s Tomorrowland is no longer just looking toward the future—it’s actively building one.

Do you think other Disney parks should update their versions of Tomorrowland?