Some have questioned whether Mission:Space is one of those rides you'll want to ride multiple times every visit--- or whether it quickly will become a "been-there,done-that" attraction.
I've now ridden M:S nearly a dozen times (and I know others have logged many many more trips). Like many other Disney attractions, you keep noticing small details each time you ride-- both in the attraction itself, and in the technical marvel that it is.
The film itself has so many details. The birds flying over the launch pad, the smoke billowing alongside of you, the landing strip on Mars, etc. (oh yeah, and who build that landing strip if you're the first manned mission to Mars?!?!?!) Anyway, you're so consumed with the PHYSICAL sensation that visual details are too much to comprehend the first few trips.
Only after several repeat visits do you notice what's playing on the small video monitor mounted next to the "window". Throughout the flight, it shows you what the X-2 looks like at that moment (ie, stage separation, shield deployment, wings extended, etc)
You also appreciate the detail of the capsule itself. Some of the switches activate lights, you just gotta play with em. And there's so much buried dialogue in the Mission Control radio chatter.
I also think the unique exhilaration of the G-forces and the physical sensations will make for repeat visits. I can only compare it to the LAUNCH of Rock-n-Roller Coaster. (I think many people consider RnRC a pretty basic coaster, with minimal theming inside. But that high speed launch with the pulsing music is what gives RnRC its high re-ridability factor.)
Stepping back from the attraction itself, I think it takes multiple visits to really appreciate the OPERATION of this attraction. First of all, the amazing choreography of the CMs, who are able to shuffle people through this unusual ride system. (It appears a CM is responsible for opening the doors to the preshow area and escorting groups to the capsule boarding area ("the circle"). As soon as the previous ride completes, that same CM must run inside the centrifuge and help departing guests out. They must then quickly help the new riders into the capsules, check their harnesses, and close the cabin doors. Quickly. Finally, those same CMs must hurry BACK to the pre-show area to begin escorting another group of riders to "the circle". In other words, THEY'RE CONSTANTLY ON THE RUN!)
Even technical details like how the doors on either end of a capsule swing open in opposite directions. One door swings inward, preventing BOARDING guests from walking into the middle of the centrifuge. The other door swings outward, allowing DEPARTING guests room to walk INTO the center and eventually to the exit doors in between capules.
You also may notice dumb trivial details like how when you're assigned your jobs in the boarding area "circle"--- the seating arrangement is actually a mirror opposite of the "standing" arrangement. (ie, the guy standing on the far LEFT of the boarding area sits in the far RIGHT of the capsule) Disney had to think this out and create the preshow videos long before concrete was ever poured at Epcot.
Part of the fun is also listening to other riders enthusiastic reactions-- both during the ride and afterwards. Like a movie that seems funnier when more people in the theater are laughing, a bunch of talkative "co-pilots" makes M:S more exciting.
In terms of re-ridability and noticing new details, M:S is certainly no Pirates of the Caribbean or Haunted Mansion (20 years later, I'm STILL noticing new details on those!) But M:S does have a lot more going for it than any of the 3D movies, Star Tours, and other film/sensory/simulator attractions.
I've now ridden M:S nearly a dozen times (and I know others have logged many many more trips). Like many other Disney attractions, you keep noticing small details each time you ride-- both in the attraction itself, and in the technical marvel that it is.
The film itself has so many details. The birds flying over the launch pad, the smoke billowing alongside of you, the landing strip on Mars, etc. (oh yeah, and who build that landing strip if you're the first manned mission to Mars?!?!?!) Anyway, you're so consumed with the PHYSICAL sensation that visual details are too much to comprehend the first few trips.
Only after several repeat visits do you notice what's playing on the small video monitor mounted next to the "window". Throughout the flight, it shows you what the X-2 looks like at that moment (ie, stage separation, shield deployment, wings extended, etc)
You also appreciate the detail of the capsule itself. Some of the switches activate lights, you just gotta play with em. And there's so much buried dialogue in the Mission Control radio chatter.
I also think the unique exhilaration of the G-forces and the physical sensations will make for repeat visits. I can only compare it to the LAUNCH of Rock-n-Roller Coaster. (I think many people consider RnRC a pretty basic coaster, with minimal theming inside. But that high speed launch with the pulsing music is what gives RnRC its high re-ridability factor.)
Stepping back from the attraction itself, I think it takes multiple visits to really appreciate the OPERATION of this attraction. First of all, the amazing choreography of the CMs, who are able to shuffle people through this unusual ride system. (It appears a CM is responsible for opening the doors to the preshow area and escorting groups to the capsule boarding area ("the circle"). As soon as the previous ride completes, that same CM must run inside the centrifuge and help departing guests out. They must then quickly help the new riders into the capsules, check their harnesses, and close the cabin doors. Quickly. Finally, those same CMs must hurry BACK to the pre-show area to begin escorting another group of riders to "the circle". In other words, THEY'RE CONSTANTLY ON THE RUN!)
Even technical details like how the doors on either end of a capsule swing open in opposite directions. One door swings inward, preventing BOARDING guests from walking into the middle of the centrifuge. The other door swings outward, allowing DEPARTING guests room to walk INTO the center and eventually to the exit doors in between capules.
You also may notice dumb trivial details like how when you're assigned your jobs in the boarding area "circle"--- the seating arrangement is actually a mirror opposite of the "standing" arrangement. (ie, the guy standing on the far LEFT of the boarding area sits in the far RIGHT of the capsule) Disney had to think this out and create the preshow videos long before concrete was ever poured at Epcot.
Part of the fun is also listening to other riders enthusiastic reactions-- both during the ride and afterwards. Like a movie that seems funnier when more people in the theater are laughing, a bunch of talkative "co-pilots" makes M:S more exciting.
In terms of re-ridability and noticing new details, M:S is certainly no Pirates of the Caribbean or Haunted Mansion (20 years later, I'm STILL noticing new details on those!) But M:S does have a lot more going for it than any of the 3D movies, Star Tours, and other film/sensory/simulator attractions.
