Space Mountain Around the World

If there's one thing people love about developing nations, it's the bootlegs. My former professor of development economics once remarked that you can buy first-run films on DVD in Shanghai, three for ten dollars, a fringe benefit of his research trips. Now that's a deal. Developing countries pirate movies, games and, apparently, Disney theme park attractions. Throughout the world there are three bootleg Space Mountains, and like all bootlegs, are of varying quality.

Space Mountain - Divertido - Mexico City, Mexico

Anyone else have a bad case of deja vu?

Space Mountain Mexico appears to be built under a giant fumigation tent in front of a cheap knock-off of Sleeping Beauty Castle. Like the original Space Mountain, many fans have wondered what the ride looks like with the lights on, and what better light than that provided by the sun. Space Mountain Mexico used to be the Tornado at Alton Towers. Alton Towers, which purchased the coaster after a heavy night of binge drinking and QVC watching, sold the machine to Divertido after the English park realized what it had done. Whoever had the bright idea to stick Divertido's new coaster in a fumigation tent and name it "Space Mountain" should be named an honorary Imagineer.

 Scary but for the wrong reasons.

Here, the excellent staging of Divertido's Imagineerciόn department gives the entire experience a distinct rape room quality. No expense was spared with the fluorescent lighting on Space Mountain Anaheim's non-union equivalent. Unfortunately, in 2004, despite massive fan backlash that included an Internet campaign called "Save Space Mountain Mexico," the ride was sold to Salitre Magico in Columbia, though there is some question about whether or not it actually got there. For more information about Mexican roller coasters, please visit Montanarusa.com, Mexico's most thrilling and extreme web site.

Space Mountain  - Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village - Taiwan

 I know where I'm going on my next vacation.

The most impressive thing about Space Mountain Taiwan is its attention to detail, or balls, depending on your point of view. I want to meet the man who designed this suburb knock-off and shake his hand. Here is where the magic of bootlegging really shines, the ability to be so completely off the mark sometimes, and right on target other times. Like all bootlegs, something feels off. This copy is not quite as refined as the original, and it is probably filled with asbestos, but kudos nonetheless. This Vekoma classic has been operating since 1992 and is a staple of Aborginal Culture Village, or "Abo Ville" as we annual passholders call it.

 Space Mountain - Dream World - Bangkok, Thailand

 This is how Space Mountain would have looked if it were originally built for a family fun center.

In its former home at World Expo Park in Queensland, Australia, this coaster suffered from poor ridership and a habit of spreading cholera. When Dream World acquired the coaster in 1994, its owners did what television executives do when faced with failing ratings, steal someone's idea and call it your own. Thus, Space Mountain Thailand was born. 

 What Space Mountain Anaheim looked like before it suddenly went down for refurbishment in 2002.

Dream World is known for innovative roller coasters and Space Mountain Thailand is no exception. Featuring Christmas lights shoved into transparent water hoses, the coaster takes riders zooming past hanging rocks that were found outside one day and wrapped in a garbage bags for some reason. Hey, still more fun than the Rocket Rods and its successor, Nothing.  

They might also be cuts of meat wrapped in plastic.

Photographer Dave Arnold, who also runs the web site Dubai Theme Parkz, beautifully captures the wonder and magic of Space Mountain Thailand. Rumor has it that they are going to add a loop. Stay tuned.

The Space Mountains 'round the world are a varied bunch, but all of them have one special thing in common, undeveloped laws that prevent Disney from bringing suit against their owners. Godspeed, Space Mountain rip-offs!