The ride cars are very different in an important way Instead of two side-by-side seats with head rests (like the Disneyland version), Space Mountain in Disney World has three single-rider seats per car. Disneyland lovers will recognize this layout as similar to the Matterhorn Bobsleds.

No, the seating configuration for Space Mountain at Disneyland Park in California is not side-by-side; it features a single-file, tandem seating arrangement. Each rocket vehicle consists of two connected cars, and each car has three individual seats arranged one behind the other. This differs significantly from Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom in Florida, where guests also sit in single-file but in a much more "bobsled" style vehicle where the seats are lower. In the California version, the ride vehicle is slightly wider and more comfortable, but you will still be sitting directly behind your companions rather than next to them. This layout is designed to keep the center of gravity stable for the sharp, dark turns of the coaster. If you are looking for a side-by-side Disney coaster experience, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad or Matterhorn Bobsleds (in some sections) would be the alternatives to consider.