Anyone know if Space Mountain used to be more violent?

[Hurricane]

My dad claims that Space Mountain (wdw) used to be more violent back in the 70's. I rode it at Grad Nite (as well as probably thousands of previous times being APassholders and living relatively nearby) and everyone (including myself) noticed that it seemed faster. I realized after riding again that the click thru braking stations (what the heck are those things called?) were turned off and weren't clicking (turned off?). I'd be interested if anyone has any input on this or remember it being faster/darker or is my dad just getting old?

 

[Tom Morrow]

The things you are talking about are called "brake runs", "trims", or "Mid-course break runs." To my knowledge, Space Mountain doesn't have any of these other than in the load/unload/standby sections. I could be wrong though. It is normal for parks to turn the brake sections off sometimes, too.

 

[Fievel]

Well, the track is much smoother than it used to be...it used to be REALLY rough....but not as rough as the one in DL. They rehabbed it a couple years ago and made it much smoother.

 

[X Zoe X]

i don't like space mountain! it was very rough when i first went on it when i was about five and thats put me off for the rest of my life! i tried it out last year and im afraid to say i still find it to rough for me!

 

[Tom Morrow]

Originally posted by Fievel
Well, the track is much smoother than it used to be...it used to be REALLY rough....but not as rough as the one in DL. They rehabbed it a couple years ago and made it much smoother.

Its not the track.. its the new cars. You can't change a coaster track, so instead they either add new trains (or cars) or modify the existing ones.

 

[mickeyman]

i seem to remember that space mountain used to have a big drop in the beginning. Is that true or am i just imagining it.

 

[Thespis]

I don't believe SM has ever had a large drop. I was on the TTA on the Keys to the Kingdom tour last year. When we passed through SM, the lights were on! Believe me, it's less scary in the dark...

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

I also thaught Space Mountain used to bash you around a lot more not much fun if youve got a youngster with you.
I also think that when ToT first opened that one drop was quite severe as well, now this bouncy multi drop thing is not as thrilling, or is it that i know what to expect?

 

[tenchu]

Originally posted by happy snapper
I also thaught Space Mountain used to bash you around a lot more not much fun if youve got a youngster with you.
I also think that when ToT first opened that one drop was quite severe as well, now this bouncy multi drop thing is not as thrilling, or is it that i know what to expect?

What is the drop sequence now? And when did they change it?

 

[MrPromey]

Originally posted by Tom Morrow


Its not the track.. its the new cars. You can't change a coaster track, so instead they either add new trains (or cars) or modify the existing ones.

You are right. I think the thing that everyone is trying to put their finger on that made SM seem more thrilling, bumpy, rough or whatever was how they used to seat you. Way back, Space Mountain didn't have lap bars. You sat in the cars log-flume-style where somebody got in first and then somebody else got in front of them and sat sort of between their legs. I believe this is how the seating still is on the Astro Orbiters (although it's been quite a while since I've ridden them so I can't remember if they are still that way or if I'm remembering back to before the big rehab of Tomorrowland).In any event, you wore a seat belt on the old SM and that's what kept you in the cars.It probably seemed rougher because you weren't being held in place as firmly and you were getting jostled around with another person. I remember the first time I went on it as a child. At the end when it was time to get off, the seat belt was around my neck and my body was all shoved up in the fiberglass nose area. I don't remember if the ride did this to me or if I did it trying to duck down and hide but I remember being terrified of the thing for a good time after that.

 

[MrPromey]

Originally posted by tenchu


What is the drop sequence now? And when did they change it?

For some reason, I'm thinking that ToT has changed a total of 3 times. The first time, they added a second drop and then I think there was another change prior to the rehab and the addition of the extra lighting on the drop or maybe all they did was change the lighting the most recent time?.. In any event, I really preferred the way the original one set you up because it did it in such a way that left you not knowing what to expect. You would hear gears grinding like they were stripped and then your car would shake a bit and then they would drop you maybe two or three feet and it would shake some more and then the big drop would come... It wasn't as long but they got your nerves so worked up with the sounds and the vibrations and the little drop (like you were slipping) that when the final drop came, it felt totally unscripted. While I can understand not wanting to wait all that time for a rather quick one time drop, I think all the ups and downs take away from it somewhat because at some point in the current sequence, it starts to feel like a yo-yo a bit. I mean, it's still cool but after the first or second drop, it's more about the feeling in your stomach that you get from the sudden change in g-forces than it is about the fear in your body caused by falling - just MHO, anyway

 

[Pioneer Hall]

Originally posted by tenchu


What is the drop sequence now? And when did they change it?

Now they have a Random Drop Sequence. The ride is never the same twice. But there are about 3 big drops and some bobbing up and down.

 

[MrPromey]

Originally posted by DisneyInsider


Now they have a Random Drop Sequence. The ride is never the same twice. But there are about 3 big drops and some bobbing up and down.

I know that it was rumored a few months back that they might change to a random drop sequence but I don't recall it ever being chanced (Admittedly, I haven't been on it since Nov. because the people I go to the parks with are chickens) I haven't noticed anything in the brochures talking about it, though. I know with rides like Indy over in DL, they really push the fact that no two times are exactly alike and I would think that they'd do the same with this one. When did they change it?

 

[Tom Morrow]

They don't have a random drop sequence now. Its still the same every time, but its harder to keep track with so many drops.

I believe ToT has been modified 4 times:

The original: The elevator slowly rose up to the top, the outside doors would open, you would slip, and then drop, as MrP explained. This wasn't the most thrilling, but definately the most dramatic sequence as they really built up your anticipation of the drop. The tension was like that of RnRc's launch. This configuration also fit the ride's theme the most as it was the most realistic. Seeing the elevator doors open from the outside used to have a much greater effect, because they didn't open and close every couple of seconds. Instead, each one would open every couple of minutes revealing an elevator sitting there, waiting to drop. Don't get me wrong, the newest configuration is really fun, but they went a little overboard and ruined some of the ride's effect.

2nd configuration: Before rising up to the final drop, you would do a half drop unexpectedly, followed another teaser drop, a rise up to the very top, another teaser drop, and the final drop.

3rd configuration: It was the same as the 2nd configuration, but at the end, the elevator would rocket back up to the top and drop again without stopping. *This was my favorite configuration*

4th configuration: A few drops were added, but almost all of them were full drops.

5th configuration: The current configuration.

 

[TestTrack]

I rode it last year and it seemed fairly smooth while the ride in general is a rougher roller coaster because it has many quick dips and turns.

 

[TTA Traveler]

i have my arms up during the whole ride exceot when we get to the tunnel i freak out & put them down, anyone ever been able to keep em up? the ceiling looks so low how could u not touch it???

 

[Tom Morrow]

I don't put my arms up on Space Mountain, because if you stick them high enough, you actually can hit a few things. Of course, you'll probably just get a bad bruise, but still..