Mission:Space : Flop?

[yankspy]

The "Horizons" cult will always hate M:S. Even to the point of faking motion sickness (I have proof). Personally, I never miss it as I think it is by far one of the most innovative and immersive environments Walt Disney Imagineering has ever completed. And to all the sad and weak minded out there who can't help but cower to the power of suggestion generated by the M:S haters, I want to thank you for helping keep my wait times for the ride so reasonable.

I am one of the "Horizons Cult" and I still enjoy M:S. As far as the power of suggestion, everyone, including you and I, is susceptible to it to some degree.

 

[Ralphlaw]

We like it

When my son was in 2nd grade, it was by far his favorite ride (green version). One problem is that it doesn't seem to hold it's interest after riding it over and over again like, say, Buzz Lightyear. And indeed people, even rational people, are afraid of getting sick on it. My wife has ridden the green version at least a dozen times, but she has yet to ride the orange version. Of course, she has yet to ride the teacups, but that's another story about spinning.

Overall, I think disney is a bit disappointed that it wasn't the groundbreaking recordbreaking attraction that was hyped. But the success of the compartively simple and inexpensive Soarin' (which we all love) is an example of something less sophisticated and pioneering being an extreme hit, and makes up for it. In business, sometimes the big pushes are less than ideally successful, and the smaller efforts yield the bigger results. Not that Soarin' was a small effort, but it certainly was not hyped nearly as much as Mission Space, and I doubt that Soarin's cost of development approached anything close to Mission Space's. It's certainly not a flop, but perhaps an upgrade or two will make it truly spectacular, and something that you want to ride over and aver again.

Of course, maybe I'm wrong about all of this.

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

Is Mission: Space a flop? No, not in that drastic a sense. I agree with saying that it has "underperformed." The wait times do occassionally equal or exceed that of Test Track and Soarin'. I have seen wait times for Orange reach 50 minutes and Green at 30 minutes, and i know many have reported that during peak times, the wait has been even greater.

But by its very nature, M:S probably will never reach the same popularity of TT and Soarin'. Both of those are much more family oriented, as even the young-uns can ride those without fear of...death. But M:S is much, much more intense than either TT and Soarin'. Really, its not meant to be a family ride; its geared to adults and teens. Many families will bypass the ride simply because they feel it is too intense for the younger members, which is really moot issue because of the availability of the Orange/Green option, which eliminates the intensity of the ride.

Just a little OT here, but I think Disney is shooting themselves in the foot when it comes to promoting M:S. They initially had a huge ad campaign when the ride opened, which brought people in. Then came the deaths and negative press, which killed a lot of the enthusiasm about the ride. In response, Disney has introduced the Orange/Green option. The only problem is that Disney hasn't had nearly as strong a public campaign to make people aware of this change. Subsequently, many people who have been influenced by the negative press, and are therefore worried about the ride's intensity and decide they aren't going to ride it, do not know that there is now a calmer version. Disney needs to get the word out about the calmer version. I think this would soften the negative views of the attraction, which would lead to an increase in attendance.

 

[markjohns1]

I'd say it's pretty harsh to say it's a flop. It may have underperformed from initial expectations. I would definitely say that UoE or Imagination run with more empty seats than M:S ever does.

Also, it may be questionable to base its success solely on wait times. I would say the wait times for Soarin' are inflated because it is probably the top fastpass target that most guests have, which causes those standby waits to increase. Test Track and its ride system has the tendency to be quite sensitive, and often sees delays which increase its ride times. With the exception of guest deposits hurl, M:S typically does not have many major issues on a day-to-day basis.

 

[Lucky]

Not really related, but I still like this article from this LA entertainment industry blog, regarding Mission:Space, right after the last death:

Disney World's "Mission: SPACE" ride, otherwise known by its unofficial nickname, "Mickey's Spinning Vortex of Death," has claimed yet another victim:

A 49-year-old German woman died after riding a rocket simulator at Walt Disney World's Epcot theme park in Florida, the second person to die in less than a year after riding on Mission: SPACE, state officials said on Thursday. [...] The attraction uses spinning centrifugal force to create the sensation of a rocket launch.
Mission: SPACE reopened to the public on Thursday morning, Disney said in a statement.
In June 2005, 4-year-old Daudi Bamuwamye of Pennsylvania died after riding Mission: SPACE with his mother and losing consciousness.
​

We must caution anyone who plans on visiting the park to avoid the ride at any cost, though we can't guarantee safety at the comparatively lower-risk attractions, either: Two clog-wearing youths were recently gunned down in a tram-by shooting outside the food court in the World Showcase's English ghetto.

Actually its popularity would likely increase if they changed the name to "Mickey's Vortex of Death."

I never heard about 2 people being gunned down at the UK pavilion: did this really happen? (and what do they mean by "food court"?)

 

[donniedisney]

It sucks. Horizons was a million times better and it wasnt a thrill ride.

MS is the ride that you ride when it opens and never go back to because it isnt memorable.....

 

[Fade_to_Blah]

I'd say it's pretty harsh to say it's a flop. It may have underperformed from initial expectations. I would definitely say that UoE or Imagination run with more empty seats than M:S ever does.

Also, it may be questionable to base its success solely on wait times. I would say the wait times for Soarin' are inflated because it is probably the top fastpass target that most guests have, which causes those standby waits to increase. Test Track and its ride system has the tendency to be quite sensitive, and often sees delays which increase its ride times. With the exception of guest deposits hurl, M:S typically does not have many major issues on a day-to-day basis.

Well to be fair, UoE and Imagination have alot more seats to fill!

I really think that it all stems to the intensity of the ride. Now why would someone not ride the Green version? Thats completely tame.....

 

[Kamikaze]

Actually its popularity would likely increase if they changed the name to "Mickey's Vortex of Death."

I never heard about 2 people being gunned down at the UK pavilion: did this really happen? (and what do they mean by "food court"?)

I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you. Really great deal!

 

[Lucky]

I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you. Really great deal!

OK, but you have to toss in the Brooklyn Bridge food court for no extra charge.

 

[1DisneyDad]

I love it! It's the best thrill ride at EPCOT. Test Track and Soarin' are overrated.

I'll love the ride! It's my favorite. I think TT, Soarin' & MS makes a great combo. They're very different and it's fun to do all 3 in a day. But if you don't MS you still have the others to ride.

 

[Glasgow]

I love how some people think their opinion is just fact .. ha

I think you have to look at it from two different angles. From a strictly technological aspect, the ride is/was a breakthrough. Lots of cool stuff in there and you will likely have an experience here like no other attraction can duplicate (insert jokes here).

However, from a strictly guest perspective, M:S probably isn't the success that Disney would have liked it to be, even though it does probably meet with their expectations as far as design does. The attraction wasn't designed for everyone although a lot of people don't take that into account. It's not a clone of the attraction it replaces, people. It's something different .. that's right *gasp*. Different! lol

Sure, many folks prefer a more enveloping, dark-ride style attraction but that's not what this is and not what it was meant to be.

 

[pcarathers]

ok. I LOVE this ride!! It is one of the most intense rides I've ever been on. I am a roller coaster junkie, so I love thrill rides. This does everything for me. People just don't realize how intense it is. I would never have allowed a 4 year old to ride this. 10 might even be too young. Kids that young don't usually experience the forces that this ride puts you through. Their bodies can't handle the pressure put on them.

We each have our opinions of different things at DW. So regarding M:S, I love it! Way to go Disney!!

 

[captainkidd]

I was there 2 weeks ago. Test Track was at 60 minutes, Soarin' was at 90 minutes, and M:S was at 5 minutes.

 

[MKCP 1985]

Is comparing its standby time to Test Track a fair comparison? Seems to me Test Track's queue time is longer than it should be due to several issues, capacity being one, and breakdowns at Test Track being another.

For me, Mission:Space is a can't miss attraction at Epcot, but I totally see why some fans of the predecessor attraction take every opportunity to get their digs in. What Disney did there would be like converting Spaceship Earth to a roller coaster - while there are some who would enjoy both, there are many who would only do one or the other. Die hard Horizons dark ride - omnimover fans (all ten of them (just kidding)) feel like the new attraction offers them nothing comparable to what they lost.

I don't think Disney expected the number of deaths and illnesses its new intense attraction generated, so to that extent questioning whether it is considered a "flop" may or may not have some basis internally at WDW, even though I would never think of it in that fashion.

Whenever I've gone to experience it, there's been a healthy line, so I think it is doing fine. I'm glad it is there.

 

[MousDad]

We interrupt this thread to bring you the following public service announcement:

If you have never been to Epcot, have never ridden Mission:Space, or are otherwise uninitiated, uninformed or uninspiring, please note the following: ANY REFERENCE TO EXTREME THRILLS, DIZZYNESS, WHAT TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT, WILL YOU DIE OR NOT, ETC., REFERS ONLY TO MISSION:SPACE ORANGE. I REPEAT, THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT ORANGE ONLY.

So, do not suggest to your worst enemy that they ride Mission:Space Green 5 times straight because it is so cool, and then cackle with glee when he or she takes the bait. It is tame-city. Your grandma's grandma could ride it. Do not be alarmed.

We now return you to your regularly-scheduled blatherfest.

 

[Master Yoda]

Is comparing its standby time to Test Track a fair comparison? Seems to me Test Track's queue time is longer than it should be due to several issues, capacity being one.

For me, Mission:Space is a can't miss attraction at Epcot, but I totally see why some fans of the predecessor attraction take every opportunity to get their digs in. What Disney did there would be like converting Spaceship Earth to a roller coaster - while there are some who would enjoy both, there are many who would only do one or the other. Horizons dark ride - omnimover fans (all ten of them (just kidding)) feel like the new attraction offers them nothing comparable to what they lost.

I don't think Disney expected the number of deaths and illnesses its new intense attraction generated, so to that extent questioning whether it is considered a "flop" may or may not have some basis internally at WDW, even though I would never think of it in that fashion.

Whenever I've gone to experience it, there's been a healthy line, so I think it is doing fine. I'm glad it is there.

IMHO it is not a fair or accurate comparison for any attraction. The only way wait time should be looked at is if it is routinely zero.

 

[maggiegrace1]

It sucks. Horizons was a million times better and it wasnt a thrill ride.

MS is the ride that you ride when it opens and never go back to because it isnt memorable.....

:sohappy::sohappy::sohappy:

 

[TubaGeek]

I love M:S! I don't think it's THAT extreme, either (though I am a 20-year-old guy). My only qualm is that stupid "push the button now, commander!" crap. It taints an otherwise awesome ride.

 

[KingStefan]

I love M:S! I don't think it's THAT extreme, either (though I am a 20-year-old guy). My only qualm is that stupid "push the button now, commander!" crap. It taints an otherwise awesome ride.

Although I see your point, kids 9 and under get a big kick out of that part of it.

It was really funny on my last trip to sit down and start flipping all the switches and making up fake commands and resonses and stuff, like "Roger, hyperdrive engage on my mark - 3..2..1.." and see my then 9yo yell at me and say "stop, daddy, you're going to ruin the mission!" and stuff.

I know - I'm mean.

 

[Master Yoda]

Although I see your point, kids 9 and under get a big kick out of that part of it.

It was really funny on my last trip to sit down and start flipping all the switches and making up fake commands and resonses and stuff, like "Roger, hyperdrive engage on my mark - 3..2..1.." and see my then 9yo yell at me and say "stop, daddy, you're going to ruin the mission!" and stuff.
I know - I'm mean.

Good to know that I am not the only one. Do you also feel the urge to impersonate Scotty from Star Trek when you are on M:S?