Space Mountain, the roller coaster that launched Walt Disney World into a new era, turns 50 years old this month. The ride, a key part of Magic Kingdom’s first major expansion, opened to the public on Jan.

Fifty years ago this week, Space Mountain opened in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. The original Space Mountain, which opened at Walt Disney World in 1975, was the first fully-enclosed, dark roller coaster and the first to be controlled by a computer.

For fifty years now, guests to Magic Kingdom have had the chance to travel amongst the stars when riding Space Mountain. The iconic Tomorrowland coaster opened on January 15, 1975

Walt Disney wanted to build Space Mountain at Disneyland a decade before the indoor roller coaster forever altered the skyline of the Magic Kingdom a few years after the debut of the Florida theme park. Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Space Mountain on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

Space Mountain in Walt Disney World celebrates 50 years of operation. Initially opening on January 15, 1975, Space Mountain, an indoor steel rollercoaster themed to space travel, has been a staple of Tomorrowland, the area of the Magic Kingdom park where the ride resides.

Opened on Jan. 15, 1975, Space Mountain was launched in the Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland with a network musical variety special that you can still see on YouTube hosted by Lucie Arnaz and Broadway legend Tommy Tune. (Because this was the ’70s and we loved musical variety shows and groovy fashions).

As the demolition of the old Space Mountain and construction of the new one continue, work is now visible from inside Tokyo Disneyland. Space Mountain Demolition and Construction Tokyo Disneyland’s original Space Mountain — which opened with the park in 1983 — closed permanently in July of last year.

Space Mountain, at Walt Disney World! Celebrate the magic of milestones at Walt Disney World this year and reminisce about your own Disney childhood milestones.