What makes Space Mountain so great? What can WDI learn from it?

[Model3 McQueen]

We all know it's a simple roller coaster in a dark warehouse, with turns and sporadic lights that make up stars..

But why is Space Mountain so amazing!? I love this ride, but it's such a simple attraction, outside of the brilliant engineering that is Bill Watkins brain child for the DL version. In my opinion, it takes a simple concept and creates a masterpiece. You feel like you're in the final frontier, a dream to most of us on earth. The music (by Michael Giacchino.. that's right. Fight me) is inspiring and can be heard perfectly (unlike Screamin'). Even something as simple as the cold temperature hitting the skin is perfection. The anticipation from the first 3 lifts is brilliant; you almost forget that it's there only to distract you while it takes your car to the very top. And.. it doesn't tie in with any IP! It's all imagination! The only thing I don't like is the photo op at the end.

What really makes it so special from an analytical point of view? The engineering? The blend of emotions? How perfectly everything ties in?
If you don't like this ride or think it's overrated, still answer this; what can / has WDI learned from it?

 

[shortstop]

It’s simple yet epic. There’s no unnecessary convoluted backstory or linear narrative. That’s what makes it so effective and repeatable. IMO it’s the most fun ride at the resort.

 

[mickEblu]

It’s simple yet epic. There’s no unnecessary convoluted backstory or linear narrative. That’s what makes it so effective and repeatable. IMO it’s the most fun ride at the resort.

I don’t think I can word it better than this. I’ll onnly add that I wish we were getting a new coaster with SWL. I’m 1000% sure neither attraction will be as fun and repeatable as Space Mountain.

 

[mickEblu]

It’s too bad that just simple (or even not so simple) themed coasters seem to have gone out of style and are never really in consideration for any new land or project.

 

[Rich T]

In addition to all the good qualities already mentioned, DL's Space Mountain has a wonderful feeling to it that's unique and hard to describe. It's the wonderful, out-of-control feeling of steadily hurtling forward. No big ups or downs, not of lot of acceleration and deceleration--Just this fantastic, steady rushing forward into the unknown with just enough g-force changes to give it a great floaty feeling. Since the rebuild, I'd call it one of the most perfect coaster experiences on Earth.

 

[Rich T]

It’s too bad that just simple (or even not so simple) themed coasters seem to have gone out of style and are never really in consideration for any new land or project.

There's Slinky--Oh, you meant a *good* themed coaster.

 

[Castle Cake Apologist]

I don’t think I can word it better than this. I’ll onnly add that I wish we were getting a new coaster with SWL. I’m 1000% sure neither attraction will be as fun and repeatable as Space Mountain.

I dunno, Alcatraz is shaping up to be pretty spectacular. The technology developed for Falcon seems pretty impressive as well.

But yes, Space Mountain is perfection. You guys should ride the WDW version sometime. The fear of whether the track will hold up long enough for you to complete your ride adds a nice layer of terror to the experience. #HoBEast

 

[Model3 McQueen]

There's Slinky--Oh, you meant a *good* themed coaster.

Slinky is an excuse of a "themed" roller coaster to make it feel like it's Disney, while spending as little amount of money as possible.

 

[mickEblu]

I dunno, Alcatraz is shaping up to be pretty spectacular. The technology developed for Falcon seems pretty impressive as well.

But yes, Space Mountain is perfection. You guys should ride the WDW version sometime. The fear of whether the track will hold up long enough for you to complete your ride adds a nice layer of terror to the experience. #HoBEast

Lol nothing like the fear of dying to make things more interesting. Pretty much Goofys Sky School.

Yeah, I’m sure Alcatraz will be great. But it can never be fun and repeatable like a coaster.

 

[mickEblu]

There's Slinky--Oh, you meant a *good* themed coaster.

Lol oh yea “Good.” That would be the key word.

 

[180º]

The music (by Michael Giacciono.. that's right. Fight me)

I’ll fight you...on the spelling! It’s Giacchino.

Seriously though, great topic. I’ll probably have some thoughts to share about this later. We often chide Space Mountain for just being a popular roller coaster, but there are about a billion little genius things about it that make it an icon.

 

[Model3 McQueen]

I’ll fight you...on the spelling! It’s Giacchino.

Seriously though, great topic. I’ll probably have some thoughts to share about this later. We often chide Space Mountain for just being a popular roller coaster, but there are about a billion little genius things about it that make it an icon.

Do'h Thanks for pointing that out!

 

[Castle Cake Apologist]

Do you guys like the 2005 version better than the original? I kinda felt like the rebuild wasn't anywhere near as fun as the original?

As scary as WDW's is sometimes, I do like that we still have the chaotic wild mouse style original build. And two tracks!

 

[mickEblu]

Do you guys like the 2005 version better than the original? I kinda felt like the rebuild wasn't anywhere near as fun as the original?

As scary as WDW's is sometimes, I do like that we still have the chaotic wild mouse style original build. And two tracks!

I don’t remember what pre 2005 was like except for the Dick Dale soundtrack. Did hey change the track layout?

 

[Castle Cake Apologist]

I don’t remember what pre 2005 was like except for the **** Dale soundtrack. Did hey change the track layout?

The layout is virtually the same, but I believe it was a different type of track used. More standard coaster, less wild mouse. It's definitely not as thrilling, in my opinion. It's also very smooth now... which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but a lot of the thrill of Space Mountain was how wild it felt.

WDW's used to be a lot better too before they added trim brakes everywhere to try to make the track stay together longer. Let's just hope it doesn't take another Disneyland-style incident for them to finally replace our track, though it's quickly getting there.

 

[Model3 McQueen]

I don’t remember what pre 2005 was like except for the **** Dale soundtrack. Did hey change the track layout?

The layout is virtually the same, but I believe it was a different type of track used. More standard coaster, less wild mouse. It's definitely not as thrilling, in my opinion. It's also very smooth now... which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but a lot of the thrill of Space Mountain was how wild it felt.

WDW's used to be a lot better too before they added trim brakes everywhere to try to make the track stay together longer.

I'm cracking up that WDW censored the word dick in dick Dale

Reminds me of that family guy episode. It's the *bleep* van *bleep* show, starring, *bleep* van *bleep*

I think now it's more friendly and adventurous to the older versions scary and uncharted territory feel complete with surfer music. It wasn't bad, I just like the newer version better.

 

[NeedMoreMickey]

The layout is virtually the same, but I believe it was a different type of track used. More standard coaster, less wild mouse. It's definitely not as thrilling, in my opinion. It's also very smooth now... which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but a lot of the thrill of Space Mountain was how wild it felt.

WDW's used to be a lot better too before they added trim brakes everywhere to try to make the track stay together longer. Let's just hope it doesn't take another Disneyland-style incident for them to finally replace our track, though it's quickly getting there.

After riding SM in Disneyland I can't ride the one in WDW now. WDW is so bumpy don't enjoy it all anymore.

 

[180º]

Do you guys like the 2005 version better than the original? I kinda felt like the rebuild wasn't anywhere near as fun as the original?

As scary as WDW's is sometimes, I do like that we still have the chaotic wild mouse style original build. And two tracks!

I like the aesthetics of the original better, but the refurbishment was so beautifully done that I’d hate to give it up. Maybe in twenty years we’ll have another refurb that gives us the best of both.

 

[Castle Cake Apologist]

After riding SM in Disneyland I can't ride the one in WDW now. WDW is so bumpy don't enjoy it all anymore.

Yeah, WDW's track is in very rough shape. It's needed a tear down and rebuild for over a decade now.

We were supposed to get a new track in 2008 when we had our "major" refurbishment, but the plans were cancelled very late in the game due to budget cuts to the project. There's even still spraypainted marks on the tracks where the welders were supposed to come in and tear it down, that's how close we came.

The hope is that once we get Tron (*shudder*), Space can finally go down for a proper retracking. But, TDO is still TDO... so, we'll see. Martin has hinted around that there's some internal talk that they may eventually just close our Space Mountain permanently, but he's thankfully also indicated that it's not anywhere near the top of the list of proposals.

 

[Model3 McQueen]

Yeah, WDW's track is in very rough shape. It's needed a tear down and rebuild for over a decade now.

We were supposed to get a new track in 2008 when we had our "major" refurbishment, but the plans were cancelled very late in the game due to budget cuts to the project. There's even still spraypainted marks on the tracks where the welders were supposed to come in and tear it down, that's how close we came.

The hope is that once we get Tron (*shudder*), Space can finally go down for a proper retracking. But, TDO is still TDO... so, we'll see. Martin has hinted around that there's some internal talk that they may eventually just close our Space Mountain permanently, but he's thankfully also indicated that it's not anywhere near the top of the list of proposals.

No kidding. When I hear budget I want to slap someone at Disney very hard in the face. They nickel and dime us pretty darn well they can't fork out the extra cash to keep Disney great?

Also are they seriously considering taking down WDW's Space Mountain? Isn't it the very first version of the ride?