Space Mountain

[IcicleM]

Just to post my opinion and get it out there,

Walt Disney World's Space Mountain NEEEEEEEEEDS a refurbishment completely.

You go to Paris and you have a great and different design for Space Mountain

You go to Disneyland and you ALSO see something different

Whether it's the first trip or the last when comparing Space Mountains, Walt Disney World's is a sincere disappointment. It's rickety and loud (again, space doesn't sound like its falling apart...), the music can barely be heard, the visuals are corny and out dated, and the walk from the entrance to the ride itself doesn't make me think of space, it makes me dizzy and it makes me think I'm going through a long, dark underground tunnel with black balls in a pit to a ride that isn't worth the 2 hours I've waited.

 

[tirian]

Good grief....the madness is spreading. Even Steve has been assimilated.:brick:

Folks, it has been scientifically proven that Disneyland's Space Mountain is 93.2% better than Magic Kingdom's in every respect from ride quality and music to themeing and exterior lighting.
True fact.

Except that WDW's track configuration is MUCH better than DL's.

 

[iellis14]

Ok, so if SM was to be refurb, what would you want to see different? "That my friend is the question that lies before us." (Don't KnoW where I got that from)

 

[IcicleM]

It really doesn't matter what WE want to see different, we have Imagineers who make up what they want all the time, we're never the ones who create the rides. And they have enough good ideas between them, they can make something incredible, but the fact that Disney has chosen not to do anything about it is what irks me. This has been the same Space Mountain since the 80's, and it's time to make some drastic changes.

Improve what needs improving, and leave alone what doesn't. We don't need a celebration every single year to promote Disney World. Instead, they should have been using last year's Year of A Million Dreams as their final promotion for a while, while they "quietly" began reimagining some rides so they could promote them throughout this coming year.

 

[imagineer boy]

Improve what needs improving, and leave alone what doesn't. We don't need a celebration every single year to promote Disney World. Instead, they should have been using last year's Year of A Million Dreams as their final promotion for a while, while they "quietly" began reimagining some rides so they could promote them throughout this coming year.

:sohappy::sohappy::sohappy::sohappy:

 

[DonaldDoleWhip]

Ok, so if SM was to be refurb, what would you want to see different? "That my friend is the question that lies before us." (Don't KnoW where I got that from)

Not a very difficult question. Just look to Disneyland's Space Mountain!

1. An entirely new track with quieter lifts and a smoother experience in general, although it can keep the same layout like DL's did
2. An in-ride musical score (it would be cool if Michael Giacchino composed it, he also did DL's and DLP's SM soundtracks)
3. Upgraded space special effects on the ride, and a darker interior
4. An upgraded queue area with more modern effects, again DL has an awesome queue
5. An exterior lights show on the building like DL has (it would look beautiful from both in the park and from CR/BLT)

I honestly feel like #1-4 are necessities, that's why I'm shocked that this renovation has seemingly been cut so much.

 

[Lee]

Except that WDW's track configuration is MUCH better than DL's.

Granted.
That's the other 6.8%.

So much potential....

It's really a good example (along with closing PI) of how the current crop of suits have completely forgotten (or learned to ignore) the Keys to the Kingdom.
Show trumps efficiency. Should be as simple as that.

 

[culturenthrills]

I agree with everyone who says that that Disney doesn't want to make any major improvements at the Magic Kingdom until attendance decreases.

From a business perceptive this makes sense, but only half way. Right now they are using the Magic Kingdom as a "cash cow". People come and attendance records continue to increase so they see no need updated or make any extensive improvements.

However, many of these people, especially first time guests, leave disappointed and less likely to return. I've had many guests tell me that the Magic Kingdom was not near as good as they expected it to be and thought that it needed improved. Many simply find it outdated. Of course everyone comes because it's the flagship park that is used in all of the ads and marketing campaigns, but its image can only last so long before the word gets spread that the park needs some major refreshment.

If the company holds out on the restoration and upgrade process of the park too long they are looking at a seriously costly issue later on. Everything will have to be upgraded simultaneously, the word will already be out that the park is in need of repair and they will have to spend extra money communicating to people that they have made the needed changes.

In the end, I think it would be much wiser to make solid improvements and upgrades over a longer period of time, than to let the park fall by the wayside and have to fix everything at once and try to restore a tarnished image.

That is a great post. No other park in the world rests on its laurels the way MK does. The thing is it is reaching that point in age, much like DL did, where things are just starting to fall apart and the half assed maintenence is going to start to show. Unfortunately, until management changes I don't see it getting any better. I know many people who have gone to WDW for the first time and they were disappointed with the MK. There are things I love about it but seeing the way many other attractions haven't really been updated since the park opened it is just sad.

 

[Keyda]

No other park in the world rests on its laurels the way MK does.

Why is everyone always trying to rest on me?

Sorry bad joke!

 

[Expo_Seeker40]

We have the moog music. Disneyland does not. We win by default. :lol:

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

We have the moog music. Disneyland does not. We win by default. :lol:

And it better stay that way.:fork::lookaroun:lol:

 

[joel_maxwell]

That's why it needs a rehab so badly. Its technology is just so primitive by today's standards.

I had the privilege to ride DL's SM, and its so much smaller than WDW's SM but it completely blows it out of the water which is really sad. And these rumors that SM will only get a half-@$$ed refurb are extremely disturbing. Ugh, if these end up being true I will be very upset...

i think we will all be pretty P.O'd

Good grief....the madness is spreading. Even Steve has been assimilated.:brick:

Folks, it has been scientifically proven that Disneyland's Space Mountain is 93.2% better than Magic Kingdom's in every respect from ride quality and music to themeing and exterior lighting.
True fact.

However, MK's Mountain has shown some gains. It's level of craptacular-ness has decreased from 81% to a mere 79.4%. Not to mention it's wonderful upkeep as seen here:
http://photoalbums.wdwmagic.com/showphoto.php?photo=34203&size=big&cat=&ppuser=3193

:lol: come on Lee, that is a sexy photo

 

[jt04]

Granted.
That's the other 6.8%.

So much potential....

It's really a good example (along with closing PI) of how the current crop of suits have completely forgotten (or learned to ignore) the Keys to the Kingdom.
Show trumps efficiency. Should be as simple as that.

I think they are ignoring the long term damage to WDW that will result from letting the park become even more "average". The MK's attractions really have lost much of their magic (at least the ones that still exist). I say they are ignoring the problems because surely they are not ignorant enough to have let themselves "forget" the "Keys to the Kingdom". I still can't believe they have done to the MK what they have done.

Of course there is an exception to every rule, "The Haunted Mansion" Refurb should be the example management follows in every decision.

 

[ToTBellHop]

unfortunately attendance keeps increasing at the MK, so it's very easy for the suits to ignore the parks while continuing to celebrate their success at filling up the parks. We'll see if the bottom really drops out on attendance numbers this Fall...and maybe the new coasters at Sea World and Universal next year will hurt Disney a little. If not, I would expect more of the same in the parks.

 

[No.13]

Hi guys so far what I heard from cm and maintenance:

- Airgates, making the load area more safe;
- Space scenes getting new paint;
- Few parts of the tracks been replaced, specially on curves making it more smooth;
- New wheels on the cars, a system closer to what EE-DAK have.

 

[MousDad]

Hi guys so far what I heard from cm and maintenance:

- Airgates, making the load area more safe;
- Space scenes getting new paint;
- Few parts of the tracks been replaced, specially on curves making it more smooth;
- New wheels on the cars, a system closer to what EE-DAK have.

That would explain the 6 months versus 18 months.

 

[SeanC]

What happened to "the track is ordered" and all the pics of the scoring work down on the supports. A couple months ago the insiders were insistant this was a done deal and past the point of no return...all bad info?

 

[djkidkaz]

What happened to "the track is ordered" and all the pics of the scoring work down on the supports. A couple months ago the insiders were insistant this was a done deal and past the point of no return...all bad info?

LOL! Thanks for pointing that out. :ROFLOL:

 

[Pete C]

Bah!!! This is so disappointing, yet predictable. I'm sorry, but people saying WDW's version is better than DLs are in Fantasyland, so to speak. DL's space mountain is AWESOME. A complete, modern E-ticket experience from start to finish. What is WDWs? The queue is nice, but once the ride starts there is barely anything E-ticket about this thing. It is bumpy and jerky...it is bright enough to see all the supports and even the ground as you approach it...there is no audio..the exit scene is a joke. The only redeeming quality about this ride is the layout, and even there I am not sure ours is so far superior. It has one drop that is much larger than DLs. At least at DL you can't see your hand in front of your face much less what is coming up ahead.

Either way, it is clear this refurb is not going to alter the ride experience much, if at all. Sounds like the maintenance is just going to beef up the supports to make the current ride up to safety spec and call it a day. Are they even going to make it darker? UGH!!!

 

[Testtrack321]

Space is easy to cascade - if load or unload takes too long the cars begin to back up until the system goes 101 for an auto E Stop. It takes cycling and maybe evac, manual resetting on the track, and cycling again to get it going again.

:fork:

Happened to a fat lady during one of my previous trips....