Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune
Disneyland Park Paris · Discoveryland
Overview
Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune was Disneyland Paris's original version of the park's signature indoor launch coaster, themed around Jules Verne's novel From the Earth to the Moon and the pioneering silent film A Trip to the Moon. Riders were loaded into a massive Victorian-style cannon — the Columbiad — and launched into a darkened mountain interior filled with meteor fields, asteroid debris, and elaborate steampunk machinery, experiencing three inversions along the way. It gave the park a one-of-a-kind version of Space Mountain unlike any other Disney resort's.
ParksLog Verdict
Widely regarded by coaster enthusiasts as one of the most ambitious and thematically rich versions of Space Mountain ever built — the Jules Verne theming gave it a level of narrative detail most launch coasters never bother with. Its retirement in 2005 is still a point of nostalgia for longtime Disneyland Paris fans who consider it superior to what replaced it.
About this experience
A Jules Verne–inspired launched indoor coaster blasting riders from a Victorian Columbiad cannon through three inversions, past meteors and towering steampunk machinery, in a tribute to the lunar voyages of Verne and Méliès.
Best For
- Jules Verne fans
- Guests who rode the original Discoveryland version
- Coaster historians tracing Space Mountain's many global versions
Tips
- Space Mountain's mountain structure and launch cannon are still in use today under different theming — the physical bones of this ride are still there
- Compare this Verne-inspired version with the later overlays that followed to see how the ride's story changed over time
- Look for Columbiad cannon imagery in Discoveryland as a nod to this original theme
Details
History
This Jules Verne-themed version opened in 1995 and ran until 2005, when it was reimagined as Space Mountain: Mission 2 with a more contemporary sci-fi theme, reusing the same cannon-launch system and track layout.
Fun Facts
- The ride's cannon-launch concept was directly inspired by Jules Verne's 1865 novel From the Earth to the Moon
- This version featured three inversions, making it more intense than most other Space Mountain versions worldwide at the time
- It was replaced in 2005 by Space Mountain: Mission 2, which reused the same track layout with new theming
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long does Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune take?
- The experience runs about 3 minutes. Budget extra time for the queue, any pre-show, and boarding — on busy days the full process can take considerably longer.
- Is Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune good for young children?
- Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune is not marked as kid-friendly on ParksLog. Check the height requirement and thrill level before visiting with young children.
- How intense is Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune?
- ParksLog rates this as high intensity — significant speed, drops, or motion effects. Not recommended for guests with motion sensitivity or relevant health conditions. Use your own judgement based on personal comfort and any health advisories posted at the entrance.
- When did Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune open?
- Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune opened at Disneyland Park Paris in 1995.
- Is Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune still operating?
- ParksLog marks this attraction as retired or no longer operating. Check Disneyland Park Paris's official site for the current lineup.