Space Mountain

[yensidtlaw1969]

Timed it just right for me as I was in the 2nd group through the door when it reopened!

Really? That's so funny, we must've been standing within arms reach of each other at the rope. I was the Third person in the Mansion and the first in a Doombuggy (my small claim to fame, lol). By the way, what effects, other than the portraits in the attic, weren't ready? I know they updated the projections on the Singing Busts, but I don't know if that was intended to premiere with the attraction, that might've just been a touch-up that they did later on.

Otherwise everything looked and continues to look fantastic (Although, I do wish the graveyard ghosts were more blue and less green, but that's just my own tastes ).

-Yensidtlaw1969

 

[JWG]

Really? That's so funny, we must've been standing within arms reach of each other at the rope. I was the Third person in the Mansion and the first in a Doombuggy (my small claim to fame, lol). By the way, what effects, other than the portraits in the attic, weren't ready? I know they updated the projections on the Singing Busts, but I don't know if that was intended to premiere with the attraction, that might've just been a touch-up that they did later on.

Otherwise everything looked and continues to look fantastic (Although, I do wish the graveyard ghosts were more blue and less green, but that's just my own tastes ).

-Yensidtlaw1969

Haven't been on this attraction since 2001 as it was closed for its rehab last visit. Can't wait to check it out this coming Feb. Everyone's reviews have been great. It is this exact reason that I don't understand why people here (not the general guest who is a once in a lifetime or infrequent visitor) gets so upset about closures and refurbs that may be going on. I severely missed SSE and HM during our last visit. But I looked at the half torn down "wand" with glee knowing SSE was going to be the better for it in the end.

 

[mcjaco]

Nope - I`d agree. Rough as hell but the most immersive and visually/audiably stimulating coaster I`ve seen.

To each his own. :animwink: If my head is banging, I typically lose interest in any "extras" that might be added. I'll take a couple of shuffles on WDW's, over a headache. :lol:

 

[Jaytrod]

Now let me say for the record that I still enjoy Space Mountain fine in its current form. But if it's going to go down a long refurb anway, then they should keep it down long enough to really make it into something special again.

I totally agree.

 

[raven]

By the way, what effects, other than the portraits in the attic, weren't ready?

In the attic, the heads of the husbands didn't disappear on the first day. But I didn't know what to expect anyway so it didn't make a difference to me.

 

[jt04]

Haven't been on this attraction since 2001 as it was closed for its rehab last visit. Can't wait to check it out this coming Feb. Everyone's reviews have been great. It is this exact reason that I don't understand why people here (not the general guest who is a once in a lifetime or infrequent visitor) gets so upset about closures and refurbs that may be going on. I severely missed SSE and HM during our last visit. But I looked at the half torn down "wand" with glee knowing SSE was going to be the better for it in the end.

Hopefully everyone's praise for the HM refurb has not set your expectations too high so you are not disappointed. But you will need to ride more than once to catch everything. It's basically the same ride at first glance and it seems much faster to me so you have to go through more than once.

 

[Skyway]

Martin---

I get the sense the SM refurb details are finally nailed down. Anything you can share? Oh please just tell us if it's going to finally get an on-ride soundtrack!

(Even if nothing else is done to the mountain theme-wise, a soundtrack will create an entirely new experience. When DL first added the D.Dale soundtrack in 1996---with no other visual enhancements--- it was as if they had built a completely different -and improved- attraction.)

 

[dmagickingdom]

Space Mountain probably is not starting it's refurb until April. The rumor has it that it will go for 6 months. Even though I will likely be there in early December 09, I would like to see the refurb go longer, right up to the time they normally refurb Splash Mountain in January. They already know that 2009 is gonna be a rough year for the parks. The effect of those extra 3-4 months of refurbishment time for Space Mountain would likely benefit the park more in 2010 than it would hurt in 2009.

Do any of our insiders have any insight into the management structure in Florida? I know Phil Holmes is in charge of park ops for every park but Animal Kingdom. Is there any hope that there will be a changing of the guard any time soon? One of the biggest complaints on these boards has been the attention and quality management at Disneyland vs. Disney World. How realistic is a shakeup that would streamline things in Disney World as well?

that also has to do with how much money Disney Corporate gives Phil Holmes to work with...Florida will continue to make big money because it's the tourist capital of the world thanks to Walt's great idea plus the beaches...California has to work harder because although it's the original, it does not draw as much of a crowd.

 

[Brian Noble]

Oh please just tell us if it's going to finally get an on-ride soundtrack!

My guess: Unless they are doing the entire track and/or support structure, the answer to this will be no. Adding audio hardware significantly changes the forces the trains put on the track---unless they manage to remove weight somewhere else. As the folks in Anaheim will tell you, it's a bad idea to put new forces on a track structure that wasn't designed for it.

 

[RSoxNo1]

My guess: Unless they are doing the entire track and/or support structure, the answer to this will be no. Adding audio hardware significantly changes the forces the trains put on the track---unless they manage to remove weight somewhere else. As the folks in Anaheim will tell you, it's a bad idea to put new forces on a track structure that wasn't designed for it.

Along that same vein, I would imagine they are planning more reinforcement for the track anyway as body sizes have increased since 1971.

 

[larryl9797]

My guess: Unless they are doing the entire track and/or support structure, the answer to this will be no. Adding audio hardware significantly changes the forces the trains put on the track---unless they manage to remove weight somewhere else. As the folks in Anaheim will tell you, it's a bad idea to put new forces on a track structure that wasn't designed for it.

Just talk to a car owner that puts in a new souped up turbo charger in an older car. Things are good at first, but the increased pressure causes all sorts of heck in the engine compartment ( blown gaskets , hoses, belts) Same deal.
Also I dont think that the track was specd. so close to actual forces that increased body mass (chubbiness) would have a huge affect.
Usually steel systems are built to handle at least 1.5x max force applied ( verify plz.) . Unless there is a design flaw. ( but after 40 ears of constant running ) Those would have been spotted by now.

ya think? :veryconfu

 

[Buried20KLeague]

Just talk to a car owner that puts in a new souped up turbo charger in an older car. Things are good at first, but the increased pressure causes all sorts of heck in the engine compartment ( blown gaskets , hoses, belts) Same deal.
Also I dont think that the track was specd. so close to actual forces that increased body mass (chubbiness) would have a huge affect.
Usually steel systems are built to handle at least 1.5x max force applied ( verify plz.) . Unless there is a design flaw. ( but after 40 ears of constant running ) Those would have been spotted by now.

ya think? :veryconfu

Probably. :shrug: Good points.

I would just wonder if 40 years of constant running wouldn't stress the steel in ways that would create necessary down time and replacement at least in sections. See DL's SM for an example. And they've changed the entire track over time at the Matterhorn, too. WDW's space is, I believe, the oldest remaining coaster in the Disney fold that has had very little (if any) track work done to it in darn near 4 decades.

I'm no rocket scientist (ha), but to me, that's very literally asking for trouble.

 

[larryl9797]

I left my TI81 at home.. its next to my slide rule
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TI-81

Would agree... Nobody really knows whats going on up in there except the building / track inspectors.

 

[Brian Noble]

Along that same vein, I would imagine they are planning more reinforcement for the track anyway as body sizes have increased since 1971.

Ah yes, the "iasw effect".

Then again, I think the rockets used to seat four per car, as the Matterhorn at DL does now. The extra seat added to the rocket probably weighs less than a person.

 

[Rob562]

Ah yes, the "iasw effect".

Then again, I think the rockets used to seat four per car, as the Matterhorn at DL does now. The extra seat added to the rocket probably weighs less than a person.

Yes, each car sat a max of 4, for a total of 8 per train. But when they reconfigured the seating, they also added lapbars (originally it was just seatbelts like the Matterhorn has now), which probably increased the overall vehicle weight a chunk.

-Rob

 

[marni1971]

Orlandos SM is now using its 2nd set of cars. In 1978 the original 4 guests to each car fleet was modified to use lap bars instead of belts, keeping 4 to a car. In 1989 the attraction got a new fleet of cars with U shaped lap bars and each guest had their own seat - 3 per car. In 1998 the cars were modified to have a T bar instead of a U bar.

As things stand now new cars should be introduced again.

 

[Disneyson 1]

So either a)They're getting rockets with new audio or b) They're just plain old rockets. I'm guessing they voted for b.

 

[larryl9797]

I am voting for "B" as well... Although we all are hpoing for full magillia

 

[WDW1974]

So ... the latest cut (and there have been many ... millions you might say ... over the past few years) has Stale And About to Collapse Mountain closing for six months instead of 18 ... and you folks believe this is going to somehow result in anything but emergency repair and some basic cleaning/TLC (what used to be done regularly)?

Boy, the stench of pixie dust is strong in these parts.

 

[tirian]

So ... the latest cut (and there have been many ... millions you might say ... over the past few years) has Stale And About to Collapse Mountain closing for six months instead of 18 ... and you folks believe this is going to somehow result in anything but emergency repair and some basic cleaning/TLC (what used to be done regularly)?

Boy, the stench of pixie dust is strong in these parts.

Yeah, I recently discussed that "pixie dust" with Marni. Talk about a joke. The MK needs execs who care about the full experience, and not just silly meet-and-greets and events.