Space Mountain remains closed at Disneyland
Disneyland’s Space Mountain remains closed for safety repair work, two weeks after state regulators cited the park for hazards to workers who maintain and repair the attraction.
Disney officials, who said they have no estimate on when the ride will reopen, closed Space Mountain and two other rides April 13, after receiving the state citations. The other rides, Soarin’ Over California at Disney’s California Adventure Park and the Matterhorn Bobsleds at Disneyland, have reopened.
State safety inspectors scrutinized the rides after a maintenance worker was injured in November from a fall he suffered while cleaning the outside of the Space Mountain building. They found, among other violations, that access routes for maintenance workers on the attraction did not have proper safety railing and other precautions.
But theme park experts say the two-week closure of Space Mountain is not likely to hurt attendance numbers for the park.
“It’s a huge disappointment for guests but not such a displeasure that it would keep them away,” said Dennis Speigel, president of International Theme Park Services, an industry consultant.
Based on comments on social media sites, the closure was sad news for Disneyland fans.
“I can’t believe Space Mountain and Thunder Mountain are closed.... Saddest news of my life,” Ashley Consolo wrote on Twitter.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, another popular attraction, has been closed for a major renovation since January.
Another fan who goes by the Twitter handle Bridget Sweatshirt said: “I’m trying not to let this ruin my trip, but Space Mountain is closed. Like, what’s the point in even coming to Disneyland?”
