Space Mountain Refurbishment for Walt Disney World?

[HauntedPirate]

Any track replacement has to maintain capacity, at a minimum. End of story. That’s why I would prefer a like-for-like track replacement instead of Disney trying to “reimagine” SM, because their recent track (pardon the pun) record says are going to **** it up.

 

[celluloid]

Any track replacement has to maintain capacity, at a minimum. End of story. That’s why I would prefer a like-for-like track replacement instead of Disney trying to “reimagine” SM, because their recent track (pardon the pun) record says are going to **** it up.

No incentive to maintain capacity when you charge for supposedly reduced waits.

 

[HauntedPirate]

No incentive that.maintain capacity when you charge for supposedly reduced waits.

If by some miracle they do re-track SM and also manage to reduce hourly capacity by “reimagining” it… well, it wouldn’t reflect well on management and would invite a ton of questions from those returning guests who visited in the last 10-15 years. But since Disney loves the first time consumers, they won’t bat an eyelash and will never know that anything changes and will proclaim a “reimagined” SM as the greatest thing ever.

 

[celluloid]

Exactly. Money down the toilet and atmosphere destroyers.

And the arrogance of bad design is seen also at HM extended queue with out of tone and now broken effects guests are close to and question what purpose they have.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Any track replacement has to maintain capacity, at a minimum. End of story. That’s why I would prefer a like-for-like track replacement instead of Disney trying to “reimagine” SM, because their recent track (pardon the pun) record says are going to **** it up.

I would insist on nearly the same layout but figure out two across seating. You’d be looking at nearly doubling capacity.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I would insist on nearly the same layout but figure out two across seating. You’d be looking at nearly doubling capacity.

I kind of like the bobsled seating as is and I'd imagine you'd have to rip out and replace the tunnels and some show elements to accommodate the width and height of something like the Disneyland trains, where you sit upright instead of low to the ground.

On a somewhat related note, my brain thinks the trains used to sit 8 each instead of 6, but I could be confusing this with the Matterhorn.

 

[marni1971]

On a somewhat related note, my brain thinks the trains used to sit 8 each instead of 6, but I could be confusing this with the Matterhorn.

Indeed they did. Just like the Matterhorn.

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

Indeed they did. Just like the Matterhorn.

Slightly off topic, but have you heard anything about the shape the Matterhorn is currently in? It seems to be getting multi-month refurbs semiannually these past few years . . . the mountain itself could collect Social Security, and that incident with part of the rockface crumbling in 2019 was alarming. Not to mention the complaints of how uncomfortable the ride has become. It just seems like something's gonna have to give one of these days?

 

[marni1971]

Slightly off topic, but have you heard anything about the shape the Matterhorn is currently in? It seems to be getting multi-month refurbs semiannually these past few years . . . the mountain itself could collect Social Security, and that incident with part of the rockface crumbling in 2019 was alarming. Not to mention the complaints of how uncomfortable the ride has become. It just seems like something's gonna have to give one of these days?

I haven’t, but in our huge experience in riding it (twice) it was no worse in 2019 than it was in 2010. It’s no Gwazi, but it’s also not Hagrids.

 

[hsisthebest]

Slightly off topic, but have you heard anything about the shape the Matterhorn is currently in? It seems to be getting multi-month refurbs semiannually these past few years . . . the mountain itself could collect Social Security, and that incident with part of the rockface crumbling in 2019 was alarming. Not to mention the complaints of how uncomfortable the ride has become. It just seems like something's gonna have to give one of these days?

I rode it for the first time ever this past June. Like many rides in DL, it was often offline, but we did manage to get on with Genie+. It was rough and hard to get in and out of the cars (I am 43 and in pretty good shape). The ride was fun as anything though- full of nostalgia and lots of action. DL Space Mountian was smooth nd the onboard music/effects (Hyperspace Mountian version) was excellent.

 

[hsisthebest]

Reason #584 - why I'm not reutrning to WDW for the forseeable future: Space Mountian. The fact that SM has not been refurbished with new tracks and cars (that would most likely load and unload faster) is further evidence that WDW is not a quailty product for the price. I agree with the above posts on ride quality, queue, sound, etc. Compare that to the Incredible Hulk ride at UNI- it got a full refurb after just 15 years- it made one of the top roller coasters in the country in 1999 stay relevant and a must-do in Orlando. When Epic Uni opens in 2025 I'm going to drop some major $$ on a vacay to Orlando, and hopefully talk the rest of my family from going to WDW.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I kind of like the bobsled seating as is and I'd imagine you'd have to rip out and replace the tunnels and some show elements to accommodate the width and height of something like the Disneyland trains, where you sit upright instead of low to the ground.

On a somewhat related note, my brain thinks the trains used to sit 8 each instead of 6, but I could be confusing this with the Matterhorn.

Given the tight clearances in those tunnels, they’re almost certainly not surviving a track replacement. Other show set elements also might be easier to rebuild than try to work around, so I figure they’re all being replaced with the track.

Refreshing the ride and proving a big boost to capacity would be meaningful for the park. Yes, you lose a seating arrangement that was becoming less common elsewhere (although has been somewhat reintroduced by Rocky Mountain Construction), I think the gains would be worth the trade. The key would be to properly redesign the track so you’re not tossing people around a weird axis of rotation relative to how they are now seated.

 

[HauntedPirate]

Given the tight clearances in those tunnels, they’re almost certainly not surviving a track replacement. Other show set elements also might be easier to rebuild than try to work around, so I figure they’re all being replaced with the track.

Refreshing the ride and proving a big boost to capacity would be meaningful for the park. Yes, you lose a seating arrangement that was becoming less common elsewhere (although has been somewhat reintroduced by Rocky Mountain Construction), I think the gains would be worth the trade. The key would be to properly redesign the track so you’re not tossing people around a weird axis of rotation relative to how they are now seated.

My slightly-oversimplified story about what I see as the Disney approach, using Space Mountain as an example -

20 years ago: Track replaced. Ride vehicles replaced and upgraded. Attraction experience improved throughout. Attraction closed for 18 months. Cost: $50 million. (Yes, I know this didn't happen, but track replacement was scheduled for 2008 until someone (cough cough) canceled it)

Today: Track re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-welded. Ride vehicles refreshed. Queue and post-show experience reduced. Attraction closed for 2-3 years. Cost: $200-300 million.

Future: Track replaced. Ride vehicles refreshed. Ride time shortened by 1/2, hourly capacity cut by 2/3, but touted as "an all-new ride featuring a MAGICAL reimagining!!!". Attraction closed for 6 years. Cost: $800 million.

A sad tale about a company that has lost its way.

 

[larryz]

I would insist on nearly the same layout but figure out two across seating. You’d be looking at nearly doubling capacity.

I preferred the original seating, where your SO, best friend, or the occasional attractive stranger could be cuddled in your lap...

 

[celluloid]

It would be sad to lose the ability to touch the re-entry tunnel I was finally brave enough to put my finger tips on.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Sadly the damage inflicted in the 2008 "refurb" and subsequent removal of the exit speedramp will most likely never be corrected. In addition to the rough ride and arguably dangerous track conditions here's a (partial?) list of self-inflicted wounds:

1) Annoying safety spiels playing repeatedly through the entire queue.

2) Lack of an entertaining preshow in the main queue switchbacks (with apologies to anyone who disagrees, the FedEx "SMTV" video loop was totally awesome and tied in perfectly to ethos of the 1994 Tomorrowland-- including advertisements for XS Tech!)

3) No longer being able to choose which side to ride.

4) Being forced against your will to endure the claustrophobic, unthemed, trashy, brightly lit and stuffy back hallway because the powers that be couldn't figure out a way to route everyone through a queue they just spent millions to refurbish.

5) Closing in the queue ceiling. Destroys the anticipation of seeing the ride vehicles from the queue and obliterates a large part of the Peoplemover experience as well. Pro tip: We used to ride the Peoplemover to check out how full the indoor SM queue was before deciding to get in line (good times, sigh).

6) Lame attempt to incorporate music into the ride with cheap DJ speakers instead on an actual on-board audio system.

7) Installation of speed brakes before the final drop.

8) Removal of the exit speedramp. Inexcusable.

The SM experience was SO much better back in the day. I feel sorry for those who never got the chance to see it for themselves. The lack of respect WDW has shown for what was once the undisputed hallmark attraction for the entire resort is another prime example of what decades of penny pinching, mismanagement and lack of knowledge of your own product can achieve.

Good point about #4 the hallway. Clearly the original switch back queue hasn’t been long enough for a while now.
In my opinion, they cannot close space mountain until Tiana’s mountain is open and taking guests.

 

[DHSfanatic]

The problem is the location. Night blinding riders as the ride begins is at best ignorant, at worse foolish.

An example of an installation without understanding the requirements (also see ToT)

Don't follow the ToT referermce here.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I’m still guessing that space mountain completely closes after Tron opens - they can reuse the building for special events.

I’m only partially joking…. There’s no reason to have 2 coasters next to each other and the actual ride is wayyyyy past it’s time.

I could totally see them gutting it and putting in a “play pavilion” type thing.

 

[HauntedPirate]

I’m still guessing that space mountain completely closes after Tron opens - they can reuse the building for special events.

I’m only partially joking…. There’s no reason to have 2 coasters next to each other and the actual ride is wayyyyy past it’s time.

I could totally see them gutting it and putting in a “play pavilion” type thing.

 

[thomas998]

Having just ridden it recently, it needs more than a refurbishment. A complete demolition and rebuild from the ground up is in order.

It has needed that for quite some time. Frankly I'm shocked the lawyers haven't forced them to shut it down. I know my neck is sometimes sore for a day or longer after riding it because of the jerky movements in the dark. I can't imagine they don't have other guest that don't suffer the same or worse from it.