Interesting New Rumor on Space Mountain

[Lee]

If anything, it will be the current DL version we get...

That's what they tested with, but I don't know if that will be what they use.

 

[Pete C]

I LOVE the music from the DL refurb, mainly the build-up from ride start to when you reach the top of the lift hill...it is just awesome. However, I don't know how that would work with our ride because there are 2 lifts on the DL version, and you are going up the second lift when the countdown starts. I guess they can mess with the timing of that aspect.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

This was posted by agame2323 on, as they say, "another forum":

Allow me to add some light to this subject.
First of all, yes it is a rumor. However, the idea of doing it is real (if that makes sense).

Understand, towards the end of September Disney starts its budgeting evaluation for its North American parks. All things are thrown into these evaluations, rehabs, new attractions, updates…etc. The reason why you hear so much talk each year about a SM rehab is because each yr they evaluate it. However, each yr. some attractions simply take priority over SM and it gets pushed back. Think of it as a waiting list. Believe me, Disney has been wanting to do this for years, but there were greater concerns.

Now again the subject has come up and for the first time it appears the timing is good. Understand, in all actuality, NOTHING is wrong with SM. Sure it could be smoother, but other than that it’s fine by industry standards (meaning safe). This “rehab would be more of an attempt on Disney’s part to stay current with the competition. The Haunted Mansion needed rehab, so did Spaceship Earth. SM still attracts many riders and on the technical side it’s hardly ever down for a long time.

So here’s what I can tell you about the rumor that’s true:
AMEC Dynamic Structures has been contacted. If you don’t know who they are…they are the company that built SM in DL. No word on has been released regarding if AMEC has won the contract. The reason why AMEC is being considered is because they (AMEC) would be able to perform the rehab much faster then any other company, being as though they built the one in DL. If Disney were to construct an entire new SM, based of an original design, this would take much longer then 12-18 months. It’s easier when the blueprint is already laid out. That’s why AMEC is in the picture.

As far as taking off the roof goes…this has not really been discussed. However, this would more likely happen as time is of the essence. A lot of people were asking why the summer? The answer is easy. They want to re-open it in the summer! Think about it. 12 months: May 2008, re-open May or June 2009. What better way to bring in the summer than with a new SM!!

So there you have it. Most of what I laid out is based of conversation with Disney executives and just understanding the business I work in. There are some things I know but won’t share them with you. Actually, I leave you with this. The person who created Spider-Man the ride at Universal Studio’s, recently joined the Disney team. There are some AMAZING (no pun intended) things in the works being driven from this person. All I’ll say is…The Black Hole and Who Framed Rodger Rabbit?..

 

[Lee]

This was posted by agame2323 on, as they say, "another forum":

^ Pretty accurate information, I must say.

 

[jedimaster1227]

That's what they tested with, but I don't know if that will be what they use.

Thats what I was told as well. I figure it would be nice to get a unique soundtrack, but my loud screams of "Ow, Ow, Ow" still block out any sound I hear on the ride to this date. I look forward to the day they shut it down so that when it reopens, I can have the smoothest ride through space I've had in (what will be) my 18 years of life.

 

[Spyne]

Geez, taking off the roof of the Space Mountain building? I sort of find that hard to believe. It seems this refurb has been rumored back and forth about whether it'll happen anytime soon or not. I personally don't know when and if it will, just hoping it's not during September next year when I'm down there.

But I guess to my knowledge, Space Mountain is due for a refurb, a big one at that. But I guess we'll keep our eyes peeled for any new news on this.

 

[GeneralKnowledge]

From a structural engineer's standpoint, assuming the roof of SM is made of reinforced concrete slabs, I can't see them taking off the roof. It would be too hard to maintain a stable structure during construction and even harder to return the structure to its full strength afterwards. Taking the top off would require cutting through concrete and rebar. There is really no way to get them back together in a way that will maintain nearly the strength of the original structure.

 

[Rob562]

From a structural engineer's standpoint, assuming the roof of SM is made of reinforced concrete slabs, I can't see them taking off the roof. It would be too hard to maintain a stable structure during construction and even harder to return the structure to its full strength afterwards. Taking the top off would require cutting through concrete and rebar. There is really no way to get them back together in a way that will maintain nearly the strength of the original structure.

Space Mountain's roof was built in pre-formed sections and then put into place. (There are construction photos earlier in this thread showing them lifting one of the panels into place). While the pieces are most likely reinforced concrete, there wouldn't be rebar in between panels or between the panels and the top and bottom. The pieces are sitting on the outer ring foundation, and are leaning inward, resting on the round central support platform. (Which is held up by four large columns inside.) Now, if this had been constructed so that the outer panels were the sole support for the central roof, like a real dome, there would be problems in removing any single panel. But as the panels are only holding themselves up and not any other part of the structure, they should be OK.

The questions are, though, what mechanisms were used to secure the panels in place, can that be undone, and can the panel then be re-installed with minimal effort. It's obvious that any individual panel isn't critical to the overall stability of the structure, but over time they may have shifted/settled slightly and they may be "stuck" and unable to be easily removed.

-Rob

 

[Master Yoda]

Space Mountain's roof was built in pre-formed sections and then put into place. (There are construction photos earlier in this thread shwoing them lifting one of the panels into place). While the pieces are most likely reinforced concrete, there wouldn't be rebar in between panels or between the panels and the top and bottom. The questions are, though, what mechanisms were used to secure the panels in place, can that be undone, and can the panel then be re-installed with minimal effort. It's obvious that any individual panel isn't critical to the overall stability of the structure, but over time they may have shifted/settled slightly and they may be "stuck" and unable to be easily removed.

-Rob

That will be the big X factor. Gooftink described the connection method earlier in the thread (pin on top notch at bottom) so providing that the pins have not corroded into place or the building settled in a manner that wedges a panel into place then theoretically a panel can be removed. If a panel or 2 must be removed there is also the option of breaking it out and rebuilding it. (king of like carefully removing a windshield with a sledgehammer.)

 

[joel_maxwell]

That will be the big X factor. Gooftink described the connection method earlier in the thread (pin on top notch at bottom) so providing that the pins have not corroded into place or the building settled in a manner that wedges a panel into place then theoretically a panel can be removed. If a panel or 2 must be removed there is also the option of breaking it out and rebuilding it. (king of like carefully removing a windshield with a sledgehammer.)

did you mention demo... i love to demo stuff with sledgehammers. especially harddrives that fry themselves and NO information can be taken off..... oh wait, we are talking about SM, im still of the mindset that cutting a DL version size hole in the side would be cheaper. but im no expert.

 

[GeneralKnowledge]

Space Mountain's roof was built in pre-formed sections and then put into place. (There are construction photos earlier in this thread showing them lifting one of the panels into place). While the pieces are most likely reinforced concrete, there wouldn't be rebar in between panels or between the panels and the top and bottom. The pieces are sitting on the outer ring foundation, and are leaning inward, resting on the round central support platform. (Which is held up by four large columns inside.) Now, if this had been constructed so that the outer panels were the sole support for the central roof, like a real dome, there would be problems in removing any single panel. But as the panels are only holding themselves up and not any other part of the structure, they should be OK.

The questions are, though, what mechanisms were used to secure the panels in place, can that be undone, and can the panel then be re-installed with minimal effort. It's obvious that any individual panel isn't critical to the overall stability of the structure, but over time they may have shifted/settled slightly and they may be "stuck" and unable to be easily removed.

-Rob

Yes, removing a panel or two should definitely be possible. I was saying that basically slicing off the top would not be feasible. The panels should be removable. The primary structural beams are visible on the outside of the building. Most likely, these support the slabs, not the reverse, so this should be feasible. As far as the pins corroding in place, etc, most of that kind of thing is fairly easy to handle.

 

[GeneralKnowledge]

That will be the big X factor. Gooftink described the connection method earlier in the thread (pin on top notch at bottom) so providing that the pins have not corroded into place or the building settled in a manner that wedges a panel into place then theoretically a panel can be removed. If a panel or 2 must be removed there is also the option of breaking it out and rebuilding it. (king of like carefully removing a windshield with a sledgehammer.)

I don't know if you are serious or not, but that is most definitely not a real option. I really think that if Disney had that as their only option, they would just choose to not replace the track.

 

[scarpiapiano]

Thank you for not posting a rumour haiku.:lol: Personally, I think a promise not to post anything in the form of a haiku should be part of the WDW Magic Terms Of Service.

A renovation
of a Disney classic ride
Please, not while I'm there!:ROFLOL: