Space Mountain Audio

[Mansion Butler]

The Haunted Mansion doesn't NEED a holiday. If everyone loves Nightmare so much, it needs to get it's own ride. Honestly, if the Mansion had a Nightmare theme for my trip, i'd cancel the entire thing. The other Holiday themes are great, just not this one.



Back to SM. :lol:

Yup. When I'm there and I get to go every day, it would be pretty cool to see the HMH just because it's something different. But back when I was a guest who only got to go once every few years, if perhaps the most important ride for me to do was hugely different (and inferior, I think), or, worse, closed to make the change, I would have been ridiculously upset. I understand regulars wanting the Holiday, but I just don't think it makes sense at all for Orlando's Mansion.

You do bring up an angle no one has addressed before, though. If a Nightmare ride is so fun, maybe there should be a Nightmare Before Christmas ride, not just an overlay.

That said, if there was a way to do Ghost Galaxy so it could be Space Mountain during the day (even with an early closure) and then Ghost Galaxy during the MNSSHPs, that would be nice. I'm not sure if that's possible, or, if it was, if it would be a quality-enough effect to even be worth it, but it would be a way to have a special, holiday-themed overlay without messing up vacations.

They could even leave it up all day Halloween maybe for the non-party guests.

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

Yup. When I'm there and I get to go every day, it would be pretty cool to see the HMH just because it's something different. But back when I was a guest who only got to go once every few years, if perhaps the most important ride for me to do was hugely different (and inferior, I think), or, worse, closed to make the change, I would have been ridiculously upset. I understand regulars wanting the Holiday, but I just don't think it makes sense at all for Orlando's Mansion.

You do bring up an angle no one has addressed before, though. If a Nightmare ride is so fun, maybe there should be a Nightmare Before Christmas ride, not just an overlay.

That said, if there was a way to do Ghost Galaxy so it could be Space Mountain during the day (even with an early closure) and then Ghost Galaxy during the MNSSHPs, that would be nice. I'm not sure if that's possible, or, if it was, if it would be a quality-enough effect to even be worth it, but it would be a way to have a special, holiday-themed overlay without messing up vacations.

They could even leave it up all day Halloween maybe for the non-party guests.

This is a great idea. Really, you could even try to do this with a HMH style overlay as well. The biggest problem I can see with doing something like this is that it would probably require significant audio programming updates to facilitate the quick change in music/dailogue, not to mention the programming required for all the other effects. It could probably be done, but it'd have significant upfront costs I imagine.

EDIT: Also for HM, it depends how much is done to the physical sets themselves. For a Florida version, I think a lot could be done with projections and lighting effects to give the Mansion a different look/feel without the need of having to bring in physical sets. These projections could literally be turned on with the flick of a switch so that would help keep the down time for transition minimal. That said, a certain number of set pieces would be required for a Holiday overlay so a decent sized support staff would have to come in and quickly get everything changed over (2-3 hours ish I'm thinking).

 

[thelookingglass]

As long as they're still plussing Space Mountain, I really wish they would give it a better exterior lighting package than just plain white floodlights.

Oh, and paint the building so its not two tones of white.

 

[Horizonstta]

The audio links just aren't doing much for me, thanks in part to my crappy notebook speakers. I guess I'll just have to schedule a trip to go down there and hear this for myself.

Try this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i2mvaWbRJM

 

[Mansion Butler]

This is a great idea. Really, you could even try to do this with a HMH style overlay as well. The biggest problem I can see with doing something like this is that it would probably require significant audio programming updates to facilitate the quick change in music/dailogue, not to mention the programming required for all the other effects. It could probably be done, but it'd have significant upfront costs I imagine.

I would imagine even if it was a scaled-down version, the ride would have to close, y'know, two-three hours before the party began to be able to do some test and adjusting. I don't think that would be a big issue, though. You just put up a Kilimanjaro-style sign explaining how the last shuttle will be departing at 4 or 5 PM or whatever.

EDIT: Also for HM, it depends how much is done to the physical sets themselves. For a Florida version, I think a lot could be done with projections and lighting effects to give the Mansion a different look/feel without the need of having to bring in physical sets. These projections could literally be turned on with the flick of a switch so that would help keep the down time for transition minimal. That said, a certain number of set pieces would be required for a Holiday overlay so a decent sized support staff would have to come in and quickly get everything changed over (2-3 hours ish I'm thinking).

This seems like a much more difficult idea to pull off than a SM overlay to me, but as long as we're pipe dreaming, this would be nifty since it could be used for both the Christmas and Halloween parties. :sohappy:

 

[jt04]

I rode it yesterday morning and had no clue this was happening. What a great surprise!

I think the audio is just great and the whole mountain rocks! The areas like dips and bottom helix are synced up quite well. The overall music reminded me of DL's version quite a bit.

:sohappy::sohappy::sohappy:

Great news. I have high hopes for the sound effects and hope they are willing to tweak them if necessary until they are perfect.

 

[ptaylor]

I got to ride last night and experience the new audio. It's OK, but could have been a lot better. There is a reason that Disney invented the onboard audio system for coasters, and MK's Space Mountain illustrates it perfectly. Audio in a large building is not effective. Heard 'Friday night party zone' at a local bowling alley or skate rink? Well that's what SM sounds like. It's kind of setup I feel like I could do myself. It's not the work of a top notch theme park company that strives for the best of everything.

I think it will be accepted by the masses as being more fun. Probably be looked at by the hard core fans as another example of of a half-baked refurb. It's becoming a bit of a pattern. Spaceship Earth, Space Mountain, Tower of Terror Summer Nightastic profile.

It's almost seems that some of these projects are being handed out to parts of Imagineering that have really no clue what they are doing, some of the recent work is plain embarrassing.

 

[mightynine]

It almost seems that some of these projects are being handed out to parts of Imagineering that have really no clue what they are doing, some of the recent work is plain embarrassing.

Or they are doing the best with the money they've got. I wouldn't disparage them like that.

 

[ptaylor]

Or they are doing the best with the money they've got. I wouldn't disparage them like that.

Yep there is always the money issue. However, it's been shown plenty of times in the past that it is possible to do great things without a lot of money.

You just look at two recent projects, Nightastic ToT and SM audio, and they really are nothing that a tech-interested hobbiest couldn't do. ToT was a couple of projectors and camera, and Space Mountain is some speakers attached to the structure and multi-channel audio. Imagineering should be doing things that are above and beyond that. The kind of stuff that the we look at and are amazed at. A lot of recent projects are using very much off-the-shelf hardware that is available to anyone, and it's not going to amaze many people, and not for very long.

 

[Enchantâmes]

Yep there is always the money issue. However, it's been shown plenty of times in the past that it is possible to do great things without a lot of money.

You just look at two recent projects, Nightastic ToT and SM audio, and they really are nothing that a tech-interested hobbiest couldn't do. ToT was a couple of projectors and camera, and Space Mountain is some speakers attached to the structure and multi-channel audio. Imagineering should be doing things that are above and beyond that. The kind of stuff that the we look at and are amazed at. A lot of recent projects are using very much off-the-shelf hardware that is available to anyone, and it's not going to amaze many people, and not for very long.

Its not meant amaze anyone its just a fun feature they added that improves the ride experience. It isn't that big of deal seriously.

 

[ptaylor]

Its not meant amaze anyone its just a fun feature they added that improves the ride experience. It isn't that big of deal seriously.

Walt Disney was all about amazing people. You lose that, you've lost everything. Doesn't matter how small the project.

It's the "it will do" attitude that is a big problem these days.

 

[the-reason14]

Its not meant amaze anyone its just a fun feature they added that improves the ride experience. It isn't that big of deal seriously.

IMO they could have given space mt. the whole 9. On board audio, loopety loops, and people would still find something to complain about. It's human nature , but at the same time be happy they did something to it.

 

[Enchantâmes]

Walt Disney was all about amazing people. You lose that, you've lost everything. Doesn't matter how small the project.

It's the "it will do" attitude that is a big problem these days.

Sweety, not everything Walt did was to amaze people, he added small things to rides and shows all the time to keep people coming back (ie the jungle cruise) this is a similar case, and at least they added something instead of doing nothing. You are making this out to be a lot more dramatic than it actually is, so get over it and move on with your life, it may do you some good. :wave:

 

[NX2I85]

Try this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i2mvaWbRJM

Yes! Thanks for the ear candy!

 

[ToTBellHop]

Walt Disney was all about amazing people. You lose that, you've lost everything. Doesn't matter how small the project.

It's the "it will do" attitude that is a big problem these days.

He was? Do you know how the Matterhorn was in the 60s? It had almost no theming on the inside and was basically a coaster in a mountain-shaped warehouse. It wasn't until after Walt died that it got the snow caves.

Not everything Walt did was perfect...as much as we like to pretend it was.

 

[nbodyhome]

The audio is ours that we have on YouTube - personally I was unimpressed with it, but I can't stand techno music either. Considering that Disney has the technology for on board music, that is what I'd have expected.

It didn't ruin my ride but it didn't enhance it either.

Denise

 

[imagineer boy]

Try this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i2mvaWbRJM

Hm... I think over all its just okay. I personally think DL's is much better sounding.

I think the main problem is that its just a simple techno beat. There's nothing really space or sci-fi sounding about it.

But still, its not bad. It'll add something to the ride.

 

[SeaCastle]

It's almost seems that some of these projects are being handed out to parts of Imagineering that have really no clue what they are doing, some of the recent work is plain embarrassing.

I'm sure Imagineering would just love to have installed onboard audio with new visual effects, and the works, but they weren't given a budget big enough to do that. For what they were given with the off-board ride audio, it seems like they did an okay job. At this point I'd rather have off-board audio than none at all. :shrug:

 

[mightynine]

Yep there is always the money issue. However, it's been shown plenty of times in the past that it is possible to do great things without a lot of money.

You just look at two recent projects, Nightastic ToT and SM audio, and they really are nothing that a tech-interested hobbiest couldn't do. ToT was a couple of projectors and camera, and Space Mountain is some speakers attached to the structure and multi-channel audio. Imagineering should be doing things that are above and beyond that. The kind of stuff that the we look at and are amazed at. A lot of recent projects are using very much off-the-shelf hardware that is available to anyone, and it's not going to amaze many people, and not for very long.

So to make your argument, you pick out two things that are NOT the major selling point of either attraction, merely the garnish on the steak.

I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of stuff for the Imagineers - even in Walt's time - came off the shelf. If it was something to look at and be amazed with - that's one thing. This isn't something we're looking at. It's audio. And speakers that aren't meant to be seen, but experienced. And yes, you can do that with off the rack equipment, and yes I could set up a multi-channel audio experience in my house. But what I do with it is a different story - the one they are telling in that mountain in Orlando.

Once again, I'm not apologizing for anyone - I would've rathered WDW's SM go down for a real refurb. However, knowing what I know they had to work with, I think they did a fine job, because the Imagineers don't get to set the budget - they work within it. Is that an attitude that should change? Probably. But this is - and always has been - a business, and we're not the ones calling the shots. Now, if only we could stop TDO from cutting those damned budgets all the time....

 

[ptaylor]

He was? Do you know how the Matterhorn was in the 60s? It had almost no theming on the inside and was basically a coaster in a mountain-shaped warehouse. It wasn't until after Walt died that it got the snow caves.

Not everything Walt did was perfect...as much as we like to pretend it was.

The worlds first steel coaster - I think that in itself was enough to amaze people who had never seen such a thing. I'd imagine they had their hands full pulling that off - a world changing innovation for theme parks.