Space Mountain

RSoxNo1

Well-Known Member
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?
 

djkidkaz

Well-Known Member
Space Mountain will be great when its done. Don't worry about the timeframe. Look at how great of a job they did with Haunted Mansion in the little bit of time it took. They added new scenes, new speakers and spruced up all the good stuff and made it better. 6 months is alot of time to fix up any track issues, and remodel the inside. The new cars with audio are probably being dealt with right now as to have it done and they can do the gift shop after the refurb. It will be fine. The cup is half full people. Disney knows what its doing and everything will be fine.
 

imagineer boy

Well-Known Member
Space Mountain will be great when its done. Don't worry about the timeframe. Look at how great of a job they did with Haunted Mansion in the little bit of time it took. They added new scenes, new speakers and spruced up all the good stuff and made it better. 6 months is alot of time to fix up any track issues, and remodel the inside. The new cars with audio are probably being dealt with right now as to have it done and they can do the gift shop after the refurb. It will be fine. The cup is half full people. Disney knows what its doing and everything will be fine.

That's because the HM refurb didn't need that much time. SM does. Heck, it took them 2 years to refurb DL's SM!
 

Austin1

New Member
ahh!

I just wish we could all go down to Phil's office and knock some sense into him. Space Mountain needs MORE than a 6th month dusting and duck tape job. Please!

I actually just got back from taking a family to Disney. It was their first trip and they absolutely loved it. However, when we got to Tomorrowland, their attitudes changed slightly. Although they loved space mountain, they thought the whole land was "ghetto" and made a few jokes about how everything looked like VERY old and dated. O, and they HATED stitch.

Keep in mind, they loved their trip so much that they will probably join the DVC. IMHO, this just shows how much work needs done in Tomorrowland.
 

RSoxNo1

Well-Known Member
That's because the HM refurb didn't need that much time. SM does. Heck, it took them 2 years to refurb DL's SM!

The scenario for that was a bit different. It was an emergency rehab, whereas they have been prepping for the Magic Kingdom's Space Mountain rehab for years it seems. Rumor has it that tracks are already on property or at least ordered (of course with a shortened refurb we may not get any track replaced, thus negating that portion).

A lot can be done in 6 months, but the consensus is that it would take longer if we are to get a major track replacement with on-board audio. Roller coasters have been built in less than 6 months, but those coasters are typically themeless, and didn't require removing an existing coaster as well as working in a pre-built structure.
 

itasman

New Member
My expectations regarding MK have sunk to rock bottom hearing that SM will only have an abbreviated refurb. After the wonderful HM refurb, and rumors of long SM refurb plus LM ride plus maybe even New Fantasyland, I was feeling that perhaps the long decline since 1994 was over. But now sounds like SM is getting only a partial refurb, LM is pushed back and will likely only be an abridged version of what is being built at DCA, and other plans are in limbo. Of course I would love nothing better if these gloomy predicitons did not come true.
 

TP2000

Well-Known Member
That's because the HM refurb didn't need that much time. SM does. Heck, it took them 2 years to refurb DL's SM!

Disneyland's Space Mountain was closed for two years and three months. April, 2003 to July, 2005.

And the last few months were a race against the clock to make the 50th anniversary deadline of July 17th, with up to three shifts per day working on it. They paid a fortune in overtime on that one.
 

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
Space Mountain will be great when its done. Don't worry about the timeframe. Look at how great of a job they did with Haunted Mansion in the little bit of time it took. They added new scenes, new speakers and spruced up all the good stuff and made it better. 6 months is alot of time to fix up any track issues, and remodel the inside. The new cars with audio are probably being dealt with right now as to have it done and they can do the gift shop after the refurb. It will be fine. The cup is half full people. Disney knows what its doing and everything will be fine.
I love the faith you have. The originally planned SM rehab would have been comparable to an HM, POTC or iasw makeover. This one will be a quick fix to attempt to partly limit the embarrassment of a 1975 E Ticket. It`ll be nice, but it won`t be `fine`. There`s a big difference between an easily accessible Omnimover and a twin track interweaved rollercoaster. The original idea was comparable to removing everything inside the Mansion show building - ride system included - and starting again from scratch - something that would have required a lot more than 6 months.

Don`t forget the HM also opened too early :wave:
 

captainkidd

Well-Known Member
I think what a lot of people are forgetting is that 98% of Disney's guests aren't fanatics like some of us and can't point out every minor flaw to an attraction like Space Mountain. If you're not a regular, which most people aren't, the ride looks and feels just fine.

Even as a regular, I've never had a problem with how it felt. It's not the smoothest ride in the world, but that's part of it's charm.

Refurbs that take place at WDW must be handled much differently to rehabs that take place in DL. For the majority of people, DL is a park for locals. WDW is a resort destination for vacationers. It's 2 totally different animals. Disney can get away with closing an attraction in DL for an extended period of time a lot easier than they can at WDW. DL may be the first park, but WDW and the Magic Kingdom specifically, is their bread and butter.
 

DisneyMusician2

Well-Known Member
I think what a lot of people are forgetting is that 98% of Disney's guests aren't fanatics like some of us and can't point out every minor flaw to an attraction like Space Mountain. If you're not a regular, which most people aren't, the ride looks and feels just fine.

Even as a regular, I've never had a problem with how it felt. It's not the smoothest ride in the world, but that's part of it's charm.

Refurbs that take place at WDW must be handled much differently to rehabs that take place in DL. For the majority of people, DL is a park for locals. WDW is a resort destination for vacationers. It's 2 totally different animals. Disney can get away with closing an attraction in DL for an extended period of time a lot easier than they can at WDW. DL may be the first park, but WDW and the Magic Kingdom specifically, is their bread and butter.

Not that I don't want SM to have its glorious track refurb, but this is dead-on. I am not sure than SM can afford to be closed down for over two years. Especially now that the "off-season" is shrinking every year. For the regulars at DLR, they can go back again and again. For the international destination WDW is, a two-year refurb is an almost insurmountable amount of time.

Heck, at that point, you might be better off building a completely new attraction.

Not that I want to see that, just making a point.
 

Brian Noble

Well-Known Member
Disneyland's timeline isn't necessarily a fair comparison. As was pointed out, it was closed quite, ahem, unexpectedly. So, during a good chunk of its downtime, nothing much happened. Also, the logistics of working with the Anaheim Mountain are different---it's wedged in between several other buildings. Orlando's Mountain is a lot more accessible.

Still, Those Who Know are pretty clear that the shorter time frame wouldn't be Getting It Done.
 

Buried20KLeague

Well-Known Member
I'm holding out hope that maybe the reason the down time has been shortened is because they're going to add extra shifts to the project to get it done faster.

The best of both worlds is that management understands what NEEDS to be done to SM, and wants it done as quickly as humanly possible... So add man hours.

:shrug:

And yes, before anyone asks... I know better. But I'm still holding out hope.

6 months with maybe 2 or even three shifts working almost around the clock? That could get you some track replacement, a new lift scene that's enclosed, new effects, some basic load area work (gates, etc), and a spit and polish overall.

There would be more on my wish list... But if they get that much done, I'd be happy I think. Assuming it was done well.
 

raven

Well-Known Member
Don`t forget the HM also opened too early :wave:

Timed it just right for me as I was in the 2nd group through the door when it reopened! I know all of the effects weren't ready but it was still very cool. The cobwebs were fresh and huge!

6 months with maybe 2 or even three shifts working almost around the clock? That could get you some track replacement, a new lift scene that's enclosed, new effects, some basic load area work (gates, etc), and a spit and polish overall.

If the time frame is true then I can't see them replacing the entire track as well. Just the lift hill, new effects possibly on the re-entry and other places, enclosing the boarding area and maybe new vehicles with a soundtrack. To redo the entire track would typically take longer but anything is possible. Not keeping my fingers crossed though.
 

Slowjack

Well-Known Member
I think what a lot of people are forgetting is that 98% of Disney's guests aren't fanatics like some of us and can't point out every minor flaw to an attraction like Space Mountain. If you're not a regular, which most people aren't, the ride looks and feels just fine.
If the ride "looks and feels just fine" to 98% of guests, though, there would be no reason to refurbish it at all, so I have to assume that Disney thinks it is not looking good to a sizable number of guests. The question then is, if it's going to be down for an extended refurb anyway, should it be a "just enough to get by" refurb or something really satisfying?

I guess my problem with your sentiments is that WDW, to me, is about exceeding guest expectations, not trying to barely meet them. WDW has always been filled with details most guests would not consciously notice, but which collectively make WDW into something extraordinary.

Let's also keep in mind that while WDW may see a lot of non-fanatic first-time guests, it's Disney's hope to make them all into fanatics. Casual fans who think WDW is okay aren't going to plunk down money for DVC ownership, for example.:)

Refurbs that take place at WDW must be handled much differently to rehabs that take place in DL. For the majority of people, DL is a park for locals. WDW is a resort destination for vacationers. It's 2 totally different animals. Disney can get away with closing an attraction in DL for an extended period of time a lot easier than they can at WDW. DL may be the first park, but WDW and the Magic Kingdom specifically, is their bread and butter.
I agree that DL has it much easier in this regard, but I don't think that's a good enough reason to not do the refurb. Given the number of great attractions throughout WDW, it's getting to the point where it's almost inevitable that something is down during a trip, regardless of when one goes.

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.
 

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
6 months with maybe 2 or even three shifts working almost around the clock? That could get you some track replacement, a new lift scene that's enclosed, new effects, some basic load area work (gates, etc), and a spit and polish overall.
No it wont. Scrap the track replacement. There will be some lift hill changes, but don`t plan on a roof.
Bwahahahahaha. You must be joking
Nope - I`d agree. Rough as hell but the most immersive and visually/audiably stimulating coaster I`ve seen.
The space mountains are in no way similar except in name
Err... yes they are. Hong Kong and DLC are identical. Tokyo is almost the same but minus onboard audio (strangely for the OLC) and some different visual effects. WDW and DLP can be considered unique.
 

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