'Space Voyage' doesn't quite have the same ring to it!

[mergatroid]

Being off work for Christmas I've had time to waste looking up stuff on Space Mountain and found this video about it. Originally planned for Disney Land and was going to be called 'Space Voyage'. A few interesting shots of it being built too for those interested.

 

[afar28]

Glad they went with Space Mountain Instead. Sounds better IMO

 

[FettFan]

'Space Voyage' doesn't quite have the same ring to it!

Though to be fair, neither does "Space Mountain" without the bombastic TTA announcer voice.

 

[Tim Lohr]

I've never heard of the name "Space Voyage" before, but I thought the name "Space Port" was considered early on, and they also used to refer to the load area in Orlando as a space port until a few years ago when they referbed and renamed it "Star Port 75"

 

[Megalodumb]

Space Mountain is certainly a more catchy & exciting name. Though it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever if you really think about it.

 

[rt06]

To be honest, it feels more voyage than mountain.

 

[ImagineerDude]

The only reason Space "Mountain" works is because of the MK mountain range IMO...

 

[James122]

'Space Mountain' certainly sounds a lot more epic, although I think I could get used to 'Space Voyage'.

Space Mountain is certainly a more catchy & exciting name. Though it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever if you really think about it.

I remember when me and my folks were at the MK when I was really young and my dad suggested we go on Space Mountain. The first thing that popped into my head was an image of a huge mountain floating around in the vacuum of space.

Needless to say I was scared out of my pants because somewhow I thought that inside the dome was an airless vacuum!

 

[George]

Ric Flair would've spent most of his career unable to cut a promo if it was called Space Voyage.

 

[mergatroid]

Something that confuses me (amongst many other things in life) is that on that video there's a shot at the 2:40 minute mark from above where the track seems to have been completed before the roof has been fitted. Howver on other shots of the roof parts beng added, the track itself doesn't look completed inside? So was the whole track completed before the roof went on or just parts completed and then finished off once the roof was added?

 

[marni1971]

Something that confuses me (amongst many other things in life) is that on that video there's a shot at the 2:40 minute mark from above where the track seems to have been completed before the roof has been fitted. Howver on other shots of the roof parts beng added, the track itself doesn't look completed inside? So was the whole track completed before the roof went on or just parts completed and then finished off once the roof was added?

Its a fan made video and isn't entirely accurate. That shot is one of the later mountains.... I'd hazard HKDL. So far as I'm aware that's the only one out of all five that was built like this.

Edit... I was right

http://micechat.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=21597&d=1341279958

 

[mergatroid]

Its a fan made video and isn't entirely accurate. That shot is one of the later mountains.... I'd hazard HKDL. So far as I'm aware that's the only one out of all five that was built like this.

Edit... I was right

http://micechat.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=21597&d=1341279958

Thanks Martin, so was the track built after the roof then?

 

[marni1971]

Thanks Martin, so was the track built after the roof then?

In Florida yes. The roof was installed and then the track substructure installed whilst the lower walls were missing for access. The track went in as the walls were mostly installed.

Remember, the Orlando building is a monster. A triumph of engineering like they used to build. A massive enclosed space. Two roller coasters. The interweaved queue and exit lines, load and unload, offices, workshops, plus the upper level WEDway track complete with storage siding and maintainence bays. They needed a roof to protect from the climate before all that was installed, not to mention the safety of having huge overhead precast concrete panels fixed safely in place first.

 

[James122]

Wow, those are great pictures. Thanks for posting Martin! I had always wondered whether they built the building first and then the twin tracks or whether the tracks were constructed first.

Do you happen to know if the Space Mountains in the various other parks were constructed in the same fashion?

 

[marni1971]

Wow, those are great pictures. Thanks for posting Martin! I had always wondered whether they built the building first and then the twin tracks or whether the tracks were constructed first.

Do you happen to know if the Space Mountains in the various other parks were constructed in the same fashion?

HKDL we know wasn't. Anaheim was, so at a guess so was TDL.

Paris had the large lower track sections added first (building a coaster had developed a lot in 15years), then the roof, then the smaller upper sections

 

[mergatroid]

In Florida yes. The roof was installed and then the track substructure installed whilst the lower walls were missing for access. The track went in as the walls were mostly installed.

Remember, the Orlando building is a monster. A triumph of engineering like they used to build. A massive enclosed space. Two roller coasters. The interweaved queue and exit lines, load and unload, offices, workshops, plus the upper level WEDway track complete with storage siding and maintainence bays. They needed a roof to protect from the climate before all that was installed, not to mention the safety of having huge overhead precast concrete panels fixed safely in place first.

View attachment 41672 View attachment 41673 View attachment 41674

That's incredible, thanks Martin.

 

[Hakunamatata]

Ric Flair would've spent most of his career unable to cut a promo if it was called Space Voyage.

That's funny right there......

 

[marni1971]

I've got to say too, I've checked and double checked and find no reference to the name "Space Voyage" for either DL or WDW.

 

[Glasgow]

Thanks for the pics Martin .. It's great seeing what goes into the actual construction of these attractions.

Another one of the reasons SM is such a triumphant display of forward thinking and innovation, particularly in the mid 70s. Engineering, design, music, theming and execution all in harmony. Doesn't happen very often.

 

[mergatroid]

In Florida yes. The roof was installed and then the track substructure installed whilst the lower walls were missing for access. The track went in as the walls were mostly installed.

Remember, the Orlando building is a monster. A triumph of engineering like they used to build. A massive enclosed space. Two roller coasters. The interweaved queue and exit lines, load and unload, offices, workshops, plus the upper level WEDway track complete with storage siding and maintainence bays. They needed a roof to protect from the climate before all that was installed, not to mention the safety of having huge overhead precast concrete panels fixed safely in place first.

View attachment 41672 View attachment 41673 View attachment 41674

Sorry with all the questions, but is that 'tunnel' bottom centre in the 1st pic and also featured in the 2nd the tunnel for the people mover? I know it sort of enters through the centre of SM and then follows the curve to the exit.

Love pics like this