At a glance
The storyline drops you into a space battle alongside the Rebellion. Admiral Ackbar briefs the pilots in the queue, then you board an MK-1212 train decorated with steampunk patterns, stars and cogs, a nod to the original Jules Verne theme. The catapult developed with engineers from Dassault Aviation launches the train at 1.8 G into the Columbiad cannon, before it races through a battle above Jakku, harassed by TIE fighters and a Star Destroyer, to John Williams’s themes recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra.
Technically, it’s one of the most impressive Space Mountains in the world: 1,027 metres of track, 32 metres high, up to 75 km/h (47 mph), three inversions (sidewinder, corkscrew and classic loop), and the only one at any Disney park with an outdoor section visible during the launch.
Like most headline rides, Hyperspace Mountain sometimes closes for several weeks for refurbishment. Before your visit, have a look at the scheduled ride closures.
The most intense coaster in Disneyland Park. An inverted loop, a sudden launch and a plunge into deep space to an orchestral Star Wars soundtrack. Single Rider often cuts the wait considerably on busy days.
History
Opened on 1 June 1995 as Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune, the ride was designed by Imagineer Tim Delaney and inspired by Jules Verne’s novel. It is the only Space Mountain in the world with a launch catapult and three inversions.
It was rethemed as Space Mountain: Mission 2 in April 2005, with a new storyline and soundtrack, then transformed into Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain on 7 May 2017 for the park’s 25th anniversary. Originally temporary, the theme became permanent, with an orchestral soundtrack and projections tied to the Star Wars saga. For the park’s 30th anniversary in 2025, the exterior lighting was revamped with over 640 LED light fittings and 17 kilometres (11 miles) of cabling, turning every launch into a show visible from all over Discoveryland.
From the original version to today, discover the full history of Space Mountain.
Technical data
- Top speed
- 71 km/h
- Duration
- 2 min 15
- Length
- 1 km
- Opened
- 2017
- Type Rollercoaster
- Opening date 1 June 1995 (re-themed as Hyperspace Mountain on 7 May 2017)
- Duration 2 min 15
- Model Coaster with several inversions
- Top speed 71 km/h (44 mph)
- Maximum height 32 m
- Number of inversions 3
- Launch system Hydraulic catapult
- Track length 1,000 m
- Number of trains 5
- Cars per train 6
- People per car 4
- People per train 24
- Hourly capacity 1,980 people/hour
- Minimum height 1.20 m
- Design Walt Disney Imagineering
- Builder Vekoma
- Imagineers Tim Delaney
- Composer Michael Giacchino (the Star Wars overlay uses John Williams’s themes)
Theme & story
Levels & accessibility
- Fear level moderate
- Thrill level big thrills
- Emotional impact high
- Perceived wait moderate
- Minimum height 1.20 m
- Recommended age teens, adults
- Wheelchair access must transfer from wheelchair
- Suitable for pregnant visitors
Premier Access, Single Rider, PhotoPass
Skip the regular queue whenever you like. Handy in peak season, when the wait often goes over 60 minutes.
"Single rider" queue: you fill the empty single seats, often much faster than the regular queue.
Automatic photos taken during the ride, to collect after you get off.
Usually open during this slot before the park opens to the public, reserved for Disney hotel guests and Disneyland Pass Gold holders, among others. The right time to ride it with a shorter queue.
Who it’s for
Pros and cons
Strong points
- Star Wars theming (for fans)
- A spectacular launch
- Incredible exterior sets
Weak points
- Star Wars theming (far from the original spirit of Discoveryland)
- Rough jolts and inversions
My verdict
Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain is the most intense coaster in Disneyland Park: a 1.8 G launch, a top speed of 75 km/h (47 mph), three inversions and a ride right through the dome to an orchestral Star Wars soundtrack. It’s the third incarnation of the legendary Space Mountain that opened in 1995, which became Hyperspace Mountain on 7 May 2017. Minimum height 120 cm, with Single Rider and Premier Access available.
When it comes to thrills, it’s the park’s benchmark for coaster fans. My real tip is to go and watch one or two launches at night from outside: the dome literally lights up with every launch and it’s stunning. I know fans of the original Discoveryland spirit still mourn the Jules Verne theme, and I understand why. If your children aren’t tall enough, remember the Rider Switch (formerly Baby Switch).
Best time to visit
Calculated from the ride’s queue time history, updated every day.
Map & getting there
Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain is in the centre of Discoveryland, between Star Tours: The Adventures Continue and Autopia.
Your questions about this ride
01 How can you avoid long queues for the most popular rides?
To avoid long queues at Disneyland Paris, I combine several tactics. First, Single Rider is free and really speeds things up on the rides that offer it, including Crush’s Coaster, Flight Force, Ratatouille and Spider-Man, as long as you’re happy not to ride with your group. Next, Disney Premier Access is a paid service that gives you priority access to the headline rides. If you’re staying in a Disney hotel, Extra Magic Time lets you into the park before official opening, and it’s the best time to ride the popular attractions back to back without queuing. Finally, heading to the most popular rides during a parade or a big show empties the queues considerably.
02 Are the queue times shown in the park reliable?
Yes, the queue times shown in the app or on the screens around the park are generally reliable. They’re often the same as, or slightly longer than, the real wait, which helps you plan your day better.
03 How can I find out if a ride will be closed for refurbishment during my trip?
Disneyland Paris publishes the list of rides closed for refurbishment on its official website, several weeks in advance. Because the parks are open all year round, the maintenance teams sometimes work on days when the parks are open, which leads to temporary closures. My advice: check this calendar (or the one on my blog) before booking, especially if there’s one particular ride you really care about.
04 What are the minimum heights for each ride at Disneyland Paris?
Here are the minimum heights for the thrill rides at Disneyland Paris. In Disneyland Park: Autopia 0.81 m, Star Tours and Big Thunder Mountain 1.02 m, Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain 1.20 m, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril 1.40 m. In Disney Adventure World: Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop 0.81 m, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 1.02 m, Crush’s Coaster 1.07 m, Avengers Assemble: Flight Force and RC Racer 1.20 m. The other rides have no height restrictions, which makes them ideal for families with young children.
05 Which rides have loops or inversions at Disneyland Paris?
Three rides at Disneyland Paris have inversions. Avengers Assemble: Flight Force, in Avengers Campus, is an indoor launched rollercoaster with inversions, all in the dark. Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain, in Discoveryland, is also an indoor launched rollercoaster with inversions, with a space theme. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril has an outdoor loop. If you love big thrills, these are really the three to try first. The minimum height is 1.20 m for the first two and 1.40 m for the last one.
