Why did they install "Starry-o-Phonic" sound on Space Mountain...

spacemt354

spacemt354

Chili's
To be honest I'm not a fan of the Starry-o-Phonic sound. It's just too upbeat and techno for me. If there has to be music on Space Mountain, I much prefer the music in Space Mountain's Disneyland.

But I actually didn't want music when they did the refurb in 2009. There was something about riding in darkness with the only audible sounds being the screams and click clack of the tracks. That was classic Space Mountain to me. And besides the queue already had great music and set the tone so well. I didn't feel like the ride needed music.

Now though? I still love the ride, however just not the on-ride music. Probably in the minority but that's just my two cents.
 
imagineer boy

imagineer boy

Well-Known Member
I think the only thing about it I like is the whirring sound during the helix. Other than that it doesn't work and it's just lame. Just a part of a botched refurb attempt.
 
Cosmic Commando

Cosmic Commando

Well-Known Member
Alektronic said:
If management did their job correctly then maybe, but what usually happens when a job or a project happens, especially when it is on equipment that you work on the time. They used to pay some CM's overtime and get the job done right the first time because you know the building, attraction, or ride and know has to be done because if you don't do it right YOU WILL be coming back to redo it, but most guys take pride in their work and do a good job because it their bldg or ride.

But outside contractors have never been in that bldg before and just have a set of prints, usually just one foreman and a bunch of helpers and they have to translate that into Spanish first then attempt to do the job. Then when it is done wrong, then does management make them come back and do it again? NO. They make the CM's who originally could have the job to go in and redo it and fix it or just leave it like it is. So it is Bad Management all the way around.
Click to expand...
That is a remarkably depressing post. :(
 
TestTrack99

TestTrack99

Well-Known Member
During the 2009 refurbishments, Space Mountain was to have a much more radical overhaul than it actually got.

First, all the original track was to be removed entirely. This ended up not being the case, as only select pieces were replaced, and the majority of the ride track is still the same. The spray paint that construction crews mark to guide the removal of track are still there today.
Second, silent lift hills were to be installed. This would make any music much easier to hear.
Third, new track meant new trains. With the new trains would have come an on ride musical score.

From what I've researched, the 09 refurb had a severe budget cut, and that's why SM is still practically the same, save for the covered loading areas, the trains looking different, and the updated tunnel effects.
 
Damon7777

Damon7777

Well-Known Member
Nemo14 said:
why are you bumping old threads? You might want to read the Terms and Rules for this forum here:
Click to expand...

Not so fast there with your tacit advisory.....

railfan added value to the topic by offering up an impressive nugget of information about the existing spray paint on track sections indicating that the project was cut short.
 
marni1971

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
Damon7777 said:
Not so fast there with your tacit advisory.....

railfan added value to the topic by offering up an impressive nugget of information about the existing spray paint on track sections indicating that the project was cut short.
Click to expand...
We’ve been talking about that since 2009. No offence to the OP but his research seems to be a copy and paste of what I’ve said.
 
NickMaio

NickMaio

Well-Known Member
Tom Morrow said:
...only to have the music so quiet that most people don't even know its there if they don't know to listen for it? The wooshing sound effects are a nice enhancement, at least, but this has bugged me ever since they installed the feature. Also, the return tunnel's sound effect has been out of sync ever since the refurbishment - its unfathomable that an error like that would go uncorrected for that long.

That kind of thing bothers me, and we see more and more of it - some sort of "enhancement" is made to a ride while the existing effects need attention, and then that "enhancement" isn't attempted to be properly tweaked or fixed. Another recent example would be the mermaids at POTC, which work intermittently and were not added seamlessly - meanwhile the animatronics themselves in the ride are operating with limited movement and need attention.

And also I guess this goes on to one of my bigger annoyances regarding WDW show quality in general - WDW attractions tend to have poorly balanced or too quiet of audio levels! If you go to Universal, everything sounds great. Sound quality and loudness is one of those things that really engrosses you in the experience. Now, a natural argument to that is "Universal isn't aiming for young children, so their rides will be louder and more aggressive." Well, I'd be inclined to agree with that, but DLR's sound levels are basically just as loud as UOR's.

When I ride a ride, I want to be fully engrossed in that ride. You don't pay to see a movie in a theater only to have the sound set at a quieter "comfortable" level... you pay so you can experience that movie in the most engrossing way possible. Rides should be the same way. Just the other day on Spaceship Earth I noticed how the whir of the ride motors and clanking of the vehicles was the most prevalent sound. I couldn't help but note how much more engrossing the experience would be if the sounds around you were loud enough to envelop you as well as block out the ride mechanical noises.

That's not to say that some rides don't sound great though - for instance, Test Track 2.0 has noticably louder sound effects and onboard audio than before and I feel that that enhances the experience. Star Tours sounds pretty great. It's a small world (ironically) sounds great currently. Dinosaur and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster would not be perceived as anywhere near as thrilling as they are without their loud audio.

Yet still, there are many attractions that are too quiet.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Please email Disney about your observations and feelings about this ...... And thanks for sharung😊
 
ShoalFox

ShoalFox

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
Yes
I've only been able to hear the music itself clearly a handful of times. The sound effects are always loud enough to hear.

I just wish Disney would actually commit the funds to do a PROPER refurbishment of the ride. Rebuild the two tracks, install new ride vehicles with onboard audio, maybe make it so peoplemover riders can see something again...
 
larryz

larryz

I'm Just A Tourist!
Premium Member
Damon7777 said:
No,
that would be such a squandered opportunity to do something bold and meaningful.
Build a single deluxe track instead of 2 unimpressive ones. If it were to be done then do it properly; otherwise don't bother.
Click to expand...
Sorry to disagree, but MK needs throughput. One "impressive" track in SM and you'd have lines all the way back to Splash Mountain.
 
Damon7777

Damon7777

Well-Known Member
Nope,
If looking for more throughput build a second attraction indeed ---- but a different one.

You should know by now that duplicates are boring. Variety is fun and entertaining
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom