Space Mountain updates!!?!?!?

[ImSweetPea]

As I set here and read some of the posts... I think to myself.. some of you are ALWAYS looking for bigger and better.. and newer and faster.... Yes... don't get me wrong these rides are fun..and exciting.... but its Disney.... Why changes things.. I for one would hate to go back.. after being there so many time..and walk on HM and it be different... or go onto the POTC.. and See different AA's.... if the put the same AA's just fixed them up fine... I don't maybe its just me.. But I think we should just leave it alone... lets just add stuff.. and leave the classics alone!!
Have a good day everyone!

 

[Dr Albert Falls]

Back to the original question--- why does only DISNEYLAND get attraction updates?

Three reasons:

Size. WDW gets new ATTRACTIONS. Even new THEME PARKS. Disneyland does not have the space to expand like in Florida. So to bring people back, they've got to enhance what they've already got.

Audience. Disneyland caters to mostly a local crowd who must be encouraged to make repeat visits. (They've all been on Space Mountain before. But Space Mountain with a soundtrack? That's a new reason to visit!) A typical out-of-state WDW guest doesn't visit as often (so they don't usually care that its the same Space Mountain they rode in the 70's. They're just thrilled to be riding it again while checking out the new Mickey's Philharmagic show.)

Money. Disneyland simply does not generate the revenue to build new attractions with the frequency WDW does. It's cheaper to install speakers on Space Mountain (or Christmas lights on the Haunted Mansion) and promote it as an all-new experience. And they usually get a HUGE return on that minor investment. While these same upgrades may be relatively inexpensive for WDW, they are also unnecessary in Florida (who's going to drive across the country JUST to hear music on Space Mountain)

With all that said--- I think WDW *is* starting to upgrade its attractions, on a smaller scale.

After 9/11, WDW began depending more on the local market (just as DL has always done). The Tower of Terror upgrade is certainly catered to a local "repeat" audience.

Eventually, WDW will be REQUIRED to upgrade the classics, if only because they are beginning to age (the purpose of the
Disneyland Space Mountain replacement was not for guest satisfaction, but guest safety. The track was falling apart!)

Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion are in DESPARATE need of an overhaul. Audio is bad and out of sync. Animatronics don't work. Lighting is weak. At Disneyland, both of these attractions were recently restored to OPENING DAY show quality.

 

[Sir Hiss527]

Why would you ever want to change HM, POTC, for? Now SM is a different story I understand it's a classic, and all but it's just so dang sloppy, and jerky. I don't know about you, but when I go on a coaster I'd like to feel safe. I don't wanna think that my head is gonna chopped off (i'm 5'11). I think we should be seeing a rehab on SM, pretty soon in the future. Just my opinion.

 

[TimeTrip]

Originally posted by BwanaBob
A CM told me once that the clearance inside SM was "plenty". It just happens to be that due to virtually no light inside, and the disco-ball light effects near the bottom, it just seems like there's not enough clearance for taller people. Thats why many feel they need to duck, and definately keep the hands down, during the ride.

Is any of this true, or am I being fed a load of crap again?

I'm just about 6 foot, and there are two parts where my hands hit the structure if they're straight up on the right track. That doesn't count the opening tunnel and ending tunnel (which i'm sure many people can touch). There is certainly no need to duck tho...

 

[PeterAlt]

Originally posted by andre85
What change was there to Test Track?

I think the que area and the exit exhibits were updated.

 

[PeterAlt]

Originally posted by ImSweetPea
As I set here and read some of the posts... I think to myself.. some of you are ALWAYS looking for bigger and better.. and newer and faster.... Yes... don't get me wrong these rides are fun..and exciting.... but its Disney.... Why changes things.. I for one would hate to go back.. after being there so many time..and walk on HM and it be different... or go onto the POTC.. and See different AA's.... if the put the same AA's just fixed them up fine... I don't maybe its just me.. But I think we should just leave it alone... lets just add stuff.. and leave the classics alone!!
Have a good day everyone!

Let me stress that I was not talking about changing the classics, but simply putting in newer technology. More life-like AA's of the same exact characters, for example. A camera system and smoother tracks on Space Mountain. Fiber optic visual effects and a new sound system for Haunted Mansion. Etc.

 

[PeterAlt]

So why does WDW keep updating NEW attractions?

No one so far has answered the question of why Disney World upgrades its brand new attractions. Why are so many of the rides built since 1994 getting upgrades or are getting completely replaced? These attractions hadn't even seen its 10th birthday and they are getting major attention, while rides built in the 1970's are being ignored. Why has Towere of Tower been upgraded FOUR times? Why was Buzz Light Year recently upgraded, and that's one of the newest rides? Alien Encounter and Food Rocks both opened in 1994 and are now being totally replaced. Yet Space Mountain still has no video system. Yet Pirates of teh Caribbean's AA figures seem so UN-life-like.

 

[barnum42]

Having been on SM in Paris and Florida I have to say I prefer the Florida one. It could do with a little tweaking – maybe a sound system and some effects to augment it, but part of the charm is that it IS a clunky non-smooth coaster.

I agree that some new AA’s may help other rides – though the new bride in the attic is a step back and they could do with fixing the many AA figures in Splash Mountain that are either totally broken or heading that way.

 

[NemoRocks78]

Well PeterAlt, the reason being for AE's closure was because of the too many complaints Guest Relations recieved about its scare factor and too many little kids were getting scared. I see that as a good explanation, though I feel the height requirement could have been raised a bit and more issuings of the scare factor. Usually there's a CM up front at the entrance, if they could just tell every person with a small child to beware of the scares, I think X-S Tech would still be at the Magic Kingdom today. Food Rocks is being closed to make room for Soarin's queue. I see that as a reason, though the entrance could have been made outside into the Soarin' building. Buzz Lightyear only got a new photo-op, which I don't think it needed but Disney did. These newer attractions just need to be closed or revamped when they need to be.

 

[PeterAlt]

Originally posted by NemoRocks78
Well PeterAlt, the reason being for AE's closure was because of the too many complaints Guest Relations recieved about its scare factor and too many little kids were getting scared. I see that as a good explanation, though I feel the height requirement could have been raised a bit and more issuings of the scare factor. Usually there's a CM up front at the entrance, if they could just tell every person with a small child to beware of the scares, I think X-S Tech would still be at the Magic Kingdom today. Food Rocks is being closed to make room for Soarin's queue. I see that as a reason, though the entrance could have been made outside into the Soarin' building. Buzz Lightyear only got a new photo-op, which I don't think it needed but Disney did. These newer attractions just need to be closed or revamped when they need to be.

Yes, I knew those were the reasons, and I do agree with them. I was just bringing those up as examples of what I am talking about. A better explanation, I think, newer attractions get more attention than the older ones is that the Imagineers are still tweaking their work. Maybe they wanted some features that they couldn't get because of budget limitations. So, when the next year's budget has additional funds, they use it to add features they originally wanted. Or they feel they have to make adjustments, based on guest reactions, and lessons learned from experience of running the attractions. As for the older attractions, maybe they are not touching them because Imagineers "got it right" to begin with. Also, most of the Imagineers that worked on these older attractions have retired by now, and that the younger Imagineers don't really care about them, because they have not been involved in the development of those attractions, but care about the newer attractions because they were involved in developing them. It's like how George Lucas keeps enhancing his Star Wars trilogies.

 

[BwanaBob]

ToT's upgrades consisted of someone typing in a new program for the drop sequences. Nothing structural was done.

Not a lot of money compared to the other examples.

In terms of usual up-grades, anyways...

Plus look at it this way...How long do you think it will take for the photo addition at Buzz to pay for itself? Nothing highly technical, just some drywall, steel studs, cash registers.

I would venture to say the cost of the programming to ToT would equal the cost of 1-2 new AA's for PoC.
And both are probably equal to (or slightly more than) the structural addition to Buzz.

Not a whole lot of money, "Disney-speaking" of course.

 

[CaptChris]

Rehabs

Given the popularity of some WDW attractions, I fully expect that in the coming years we will see upgrades for POTC, and other popular attractions. Especially with the recent success of the movie. Ditto for Haunted Mansion. I just hope we don't see Jennifer Tilly in the ball playing Madame Leota or Johnny Depp on the bridge of the ship in POTC.

If Disney let WDW go to the dogs, no one would go, and they would lose lots of money. BTMRR is just wrapping up a rehab, and from what i have read was in drastic need of it both from a safety and cosmetic point of view. The recent upgrades to TOT, and Buzz are relatively easy to do, and cost virtually nothing.

Alien Encounter was a horrible attraction, not really keeping with the Disney "happiest place on earth" theme, and was worthy of a short stay in Tommorowland. It is great the STitch Encounter will be able to fit right in with the current theming without too much change.

Everytime I go to WDW I am pleased because I am there. Each time there is something new, and each time something is improved in some way.

 

[PeterAlt]

Originally posted by BwanaBob
ToT's upgrades consisted of someone typing in a new program for the drop sequences. Nothing structural was done.

Not a lot of money compared to the other examples.

In terms of usual up-grades, anyways...

Plus look at it this way...How long do you think it will take for the photo addition at Buzz to pay for itself? Nothing highly technical, just some drywall, steel studs, cash registers.

I would venture to say the cost of the programming to ToT would equal the cost of 1-2 new AA's for PoC.
And both are probably equal to (or slightly more than) the structural addition to Buzz.

Not a whole lot of money, "Disney-speaking" of course.

No, the ToT upgrades also added new special effects as well.

So, if the Buzz photo upgrade will pay for itself, my biggest question is why haven't they done this to Space Mountain yet. Such an upgrade at Space Mountain would pay for itself more than the Buzz Light Year photo upgrade because Space Mountain is a thrill ride. All the other thrill rides have such a system.

 

[CaptChris]

Originally posted by PeterAlt

[BSo, if the Buzz photo upgrade will pay for itself, my biggest question is why haven't they done this to Space Mountain yet. Such an upgrade at Space Mountain would pay for itself more than the Buzz Light Year photo upgrade because Space Mountain is a thrill ride. All the other thrill rides have such a system. [/B]

These on ride photos are popping up all over the place, from six flags to every little amusement park across the country. Perhaps there is a long term plan for a complete rehab of Space Mountain at which time they will install these. At $10-12 a pop, is an easy way to make $$$$$$$$$.

I believe that once the DL Space Mountain rehab is complete, WDW's SM will get a similar upgrade shortly thereafter, but lets face it, we can't have 2 SM's on the continent shut down for a long term rehab! We need to get our fix.

 

[Abercrombie Kid]

The recent additons to Buzz and TOT are generally cheaper to add (on a Disney scale.) The Buzz photo allows an oppurtinty for the ride to get a cool little added effect with the flash that no one was expecting (believe me i forgot about it.) I'm sure that the Buzz has already payed for itself judging from the popularity and a picture with this ride is an easy way for children to show their friends that they were on that ride. The gift shop at the end is actually posistive because it provides a place for the transition from thec cartoony animated theme of the ride to slowly become the humorous but more serious tone of the area outside. The TOT upgrade is great because it adds another aspect of an already flagship attraction and has an element of suprise, which increases ride reability. As for SM i expect to see this classic attraction to undergo a huge rehab where the effects will be greatly updates, a new track installed (with a diff. layout,) on-board audio, and an update of themes to better fit the Buch Rodgers/ Jules Verne style of Tommorowland.

 

[PeterAlt]

Originally posted by Abercrombie Kid
As for SM i expect to see this classic attraction to undergo a huge rehab where the effects will be greatly updates, a new track installed (with a diff. layout,) on-board audio, and an update of themes to better fit the Buch Rodgers/ Jules Verne style of Tommorowland.

So you think that WDW's SM rehab will be different than DL's? DL is replacing the tracks, but not giving it a new layout. I kinda want WDW to keep its current layout. I was reading a webpage that compared DL's layout with WDW's (sorry, I lost the link). It said WDW's version, though slighly shorter, has a drop that is about double that of DL's biggest drop. So, for that alone, I say keep the layout the same.

But it would be cool if they built a second mountain peek in Tomorrowland, using an entirely different track layout and different special effects!

 

[Lee]

I rode Space Mtn. this weekend ....
...hated it.

I've always been sort of fond of the ride, but lately...I guess I'm getting spoiled.
The ride was awful! It was by far the roughest, jerkyest, most painful trip I've taken on the Mtn. It was easily as rough as Matterhorn, a ride that is 44 years old.

Bottom line...Space needs help.
Gut it.
Put in a whole new experience, yes similar to Paris'.

 

[ogryn]

Originally posted by Lee
I rode Space Mtn. this weekend ....
...hated it.

I've always been sort of fond of the ride, but lately...I guess I'm getting spoiled.
The ride was awful! It was by far the roughest, jerkyest, most painful trip I've taken on the Mtn. It was easily as rough as Matterhorn, a ride that is 44 years old.

Bottom line...Space needs help.
Gut it.
Put in a whole new experience, yes similar to Paris'.

Similar to Paris.... maybe (not all coasters have to have inversions to be good)
Track by Vekoma.... hell no. Note to Disney, Vekoma's are cheaper for a reason, the ride quality goes pear shape after about 5 years. Dish out the extra money, and get some track that will last for 20+, in a good condition.

 

[Marijil]

Lots of u folks seem to know alot about coasters...so hopefully u know...what is the real story with clearance at space mt...i am 6" 2" and i always feel as though my hands would be chopped off if i raised them....however i cant imagine that it would be designed this way...anyone know?

 

[TimeTrip]

Your hands will be "chopped off" at least twice (excluding the tunnels) on the right side if you keep them straight up.