Space Mountian will be closed soon!?

[NeverBeen2DW]

I was told by the CM's at space mountain they were closing it soon for refurb. They will be changing the roller coaster adding an upside down loop and making it more like Rock N Roll roller coaster. Plus adding more space like elements that glow in the dark. Did anyone else hear this? They told us to ride it while we can because it will be the last time it will be like this.

[Piglets Mommy]

I heard about the refurb, but not about the loop...anybody else have info on this? My DD really wants to try SM, as she is a roller Coaster Junkie, but she's way to young for something with a loop. She will be so sad. (I on the other hand am a rollercoaster fanatic, so.....)

[Zippa D Doodah]

There has been lots and lots of chatter about a coming rehab, but most recent rumors lean toward a modest spiffing up of the ride. I would be surprised to see any radical changes to Space Mountain.

[mjones73]

There's a number of posts of things overheard from CM's about SM's future yet still no official word from Disney. Rumors of SM closing have been around awhile, most are pointing to it being down a good chunk of 09. Been hearing anything from minor refurbs to bringing it inline with SM in DL, the rumor of a loop I believe is a first.

[finallygoingtoWDW]

Oh I hope not! This will be our first trip to WDW (in April) and both of my boys will love this ride. My younger son is just starting to get into roller coasters too. We will be very disappointed if it's closed. :sad1:

[bradk]

historically, refurbs aren't announced through CMs...

[Zippa D Doodah]

Oh I hope not! This will be our first trip to WDW (in April) and both of my boys will love this ride. My younger son is just starting to get into roller coasters too. We will be very disappointed if it's closed. :sad1:

Welcome to the DIS! I hope you and your family have a fantastic trip.

As for the possibility of Space Mt being closed in April... well, we just won't dwell on unpleasant things. :goodvibes

[JohnMouse]

Can you imagine Stacey:lovestruc having to do a "double mountain whammy" if SM does go into rehab? She may have to say 'wham' only 2 times!

[Zippa D Doodah]

Can you imagine Stacey:lovestruc having to do a "double mountain whammy" if SM does go into rehab? She may have to say 'wham' only 2 times!

:rotfl2:

[rentayenta]

:faint: I lived without Space for years at Disneyland. I am not sure I can handle another refurb. ;)

[Zippa D Doodah]

:faint: I lived without Space for years at Disneyland. I am not sure I can handle another refurb. ;)

I hear the DL version was worth the down time. Hopefully that will be the case for us too.

[DOOM1001]

I've known for a while that a major refurb for SM was coming,but I would seriously doubt a loop is in the works!

[marsrunner]

The rumors about Space Mountain have been flying fast and fierce lately it seems. I've seen posts here and other sites saying that people had heard from CMs and other higher ups in the company that Space Mountain would be either:

1. Closed for a few months for a minor clean up
2. Closed for most of '09 with a track replacement (but no change to the layout), new loading area, and new cars with a sound system
3. Closed for a loop (I don't believe this for a minute)
4. Not closed at all, the refurb has been scrapped due to the economy.

There are few things less reliable than rumors from a CM. Until you hear it in a press release from Disney, its just a rumor.

[DisneyDork712]

Hmm... Anyone else wondering about the TTA while this would be going on??? :goodvibes What an interesting ride that would be if they were to keep it open during a refurb like this! :goodvibes

[dburg30]

Hmm... Anyone else wondering about the TTA while this would be going on??? :goodvibes What an interesting ride that would be if they were to keep it open during a refurb like this! :goodvibes

No, I think they will close it down and add a loop to it also. :lmao:

[Disney Spaz]

I wasn't giving the rumor too much credit until I watched my 2009 planning video where they talked about MK's 2 mountains Big Thunder and Splash. No reference to Space. Even the little maps that come with the video do not show Space Mountian as an open attraction. I think it will be year long rehab but no loop. but thats just my .02$

[mattsdragon]

It's been due for a rehab. DL went through one, and it's time for MK. I don't expect a loop. The engineering involved with that would make the rest of the ride impossible to fit in. If you've ever seen what it looks like in that building with the lights on, you'll get a better picture of how cramped it is. The ride is a wild mouse due to the space limits (no pun intended). Besides, Disney isn't big on having multiple rides that are so similiar at WDW (with the exception of the spinny/Dumbo-esque and other rides for the kiddies). RNR is an "extreme" coaster, SM is a wild mouse.

[Renee1061]

No, I think they will close it down and add a loop to it also. :lmao:

They'd better speed that sucker up a lot! :rotfl:

[Bouncing4Tigger]

It will be worth it if the end result is like Disneylands! I love space mountain in Disneyland, it is soo cool.

[notsogoofy]

Hopefully, they do something about the accessibility. I tried numerous times, to no avail , to ride SM in June..just never happened..

[ahecht]

I hear that they're testing the loop in the Superstar Limo building... (sorry, inside joke from the Disneyland forums).

They are not adding a loop. Those same rumors surrounded the refurb of the Disneyland SM as well, and had absolutely no basis whatsoever in reality. We'll be lucky to get a full retrack and the full theming package from Disneyland, never mind a new layout with inversions.

[Robo]

I heard that they were closing the CM Water Cooler
to refurb all the wild rumors and misinformation
that is "leaked" by employees
who know nothing at all about anything.

:goodvibes

[notsogoofy]

I heard that they were closing the CM Water Cooler
to refurb all the wild rumors and misinformation
that is "leaked" by employees
who know nothing at all about anything.

:goodvibes

WINNER!!:thumbsup2

[Tiffany]

I was told by the CM's at space mountain they were closing it soon for refurb. They will be changing the roller coaster adding an upside down loop and making it more like Rock N Roll roller coaster. Plus adding more space like elements that glow in the dark. Did anyone else hear this? They told us to ride it while we can because it will be the last time it will be like this.

I can honestly say that I would welcome a remodel of Space Mountain at WDW. I recently got a chance to ride SM at DL in CA and I enjoyed the that experiance much better. The ride vehicles in DL are much easier on the back, to us anyway, and I enjoyed the experiance. We have not ridden SM at WDW in years.

[CharacterFan]

The referb will my guess happen in the next year or two. It WILL NOT get a loop. They wouldn't put that in the MK. It's a family park, they want to keep it that way. It's too hard to add a loop to an already inclosed building anyway.

[bigbabyblues]

My DS8 showed me the other day where his 2009 Birbaum's for Kids (WDW for kids? something like that) says that SM will be closed in 2009 for a refurb. He was glad he rode it so many times over Thanksgiving.

Don't know if there's credit to it, but it's printed in the book.

[TDC Nala]

Space Mountain at Disneyland Paris does have an inversion.

[griz_fan]

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/calendar/refurbishmentslisting/index?id=CalendarRefurbishmentsListingPage - wouldn't any downtime show up here?

[tinkgurl]

The referb will my guess happen in the next year or two. It WILL NOT get a loop. They wouldn't put that in the MK. It's a family park, they want to keep it that way. It's too hard to add a loop to an already inclosed building anyway.

That's what I was thinking!

[TIGGERGUY]

I think that Space Mountain missing from the 2009 vacation planning video and map is the most telling sign that the ride will be down for most of 2009. The number I have been hearing is 9 months. I for one am glad it is happening. It needs the work. I still don't know what specific changes are being made, but I have heard many times that one major change will be the ride cars going to two riders wide. That should dramatically increase ride capacity.

Universal Studios and Sea World both have MAJOR roller coasters coming online in the next few months. A majorly refurbished Space Mountain would be the perfect way to match those moves. WDW's big problem will come when The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens at Islands of Adventure in 2010. That will get many of the WDW only crowd to take a day at the Universal Studios parks. Look for more companies to start offering round trip service from the Disney resorts and surrounding hotels to US when Harry Potter opens.

[AliceinHalloweentown]

The only Space Mountain with a loop is DLRP's Space Mountain Mission 2... and that has a totally different theme then US's. So so far I doubt that but I believe a refurb is coming eventually and I hope it's similar to DLR's!

[Robo]

Disney does not have a history of stopping mentioning the existence of attractions that will be closed for refurb.

[TIGGERGUY]

Disney does not have a history of stopping mentioning the existence of attractions that will be closed for refurb.

There are a couple of big differences this time. The first is we are talking a major signature ride. I don't think Disney wants to make a big deal of it not being available to guests. That leads to the second, and much bigger, point. Disney is in a serious downturn. Look at the offers they are making on resort stays just to try to keep from losing too much business. The last thing they need is to publicize a major ride being down for the year. It is going to make a lot of people unhappy. Every day they wait to announce it is a day more people book reservations for 2009 trips that they are unlikely to cancel.

[NeverBeen2DW]

I am just passing on info I heard. No need to kill the messanger. I was also told they are loosing business to Universal. It seems Universal is always changing and offering new things. DW seem to not change much from year to year. The new Toy Story ride was fun but to be honest I would not wait in line for more than 20 mins to do it agian. I took my son 6 and my niece 17 this past trip and to be honest she was kind bored. This was also her first trip. She thought the rides were all for little kids with the exception of Tower of Terror and Rock N Roll rollercoaster. I was told the Universal Halloween Party blows DW's out of the water. My next trip to DW will be combined with a trip to Universal and Sea World.

[NMW]

Disney does not have a history of stopping mentioning the existence of attractions that will be closed for refurb.


They may not have a history of it, but that's exactly what they did in the 09 planning DVD-not mention it. The DVD refers several times to MK's "double" mountains. Even when it covers Tommorwland, there is no mention of Space Mountain, no shots of it, nothing. They cover Monsters inc, Buzz, Stitch, and show a shot of astro. The 09 DVD comes with a fold out map thing and Space Mountain is missing from the list of atractions.

I thought it was odd. Unless of course they plan to have Space Mountain closed for most or all of 09.

[Luv2Roam]

I was told the Universal Halloween Party blows DW's out of the water.
We have been to MNSSHP multiple times, HHN multiple times, and this year Howl O Scream as first timers.
I think whichever one people prefer just depends on what type of party they prefer. (Basically just personal preferences and tastes.)

As for rumors, only believe those the WDW bus drivers tell you. ;) :lmao:

[khertz]

I was told the Universal Halloween Party blows DW's out of the water. My next trip to DW will be combined with a trip to Universal and Sea World.

It depends on your version of "blows out of the water." We did our honeymoon in WDW/US last October, and did not attend MNSSHP, so I can't exactly compare. But we did do Halloween Horror Nights in US one night, and I HATED it. Luckily we got the tickets free because I definitely wouldn't have gotten my money's worth. I went in one haunted house and that was enough for me. My DH did the rest by himself while I waited in well lit shops or restaurants! I hate being scared, so to me, MNSSHP would be the obvious choice. Yes, HHN is a great party if you love Halloween and being scared. I would say MNSSHP blows HHN out of the water simply for the fact that you get all of the Halloween fun without being scared out of your wits! It leaves an option for us scaredy cats!

[CanadianGuy]

Despite being told this by a CM, this still qualifies very much as a rumor.. and as such I'll be moving this over to the Rumors & News Board.

Knox

[NeverBeen2DW]

I did not know there was a rumor board. Sorry i would have posted it there had I know. :confused3

[MaryKatesMom]

There is a fine line between nostalgic and looking dated and worn out. I wouldn't like a major refurb like changing the theming and making a "Buzz lightyear" ride but it is looking a little dowdy.

I don't believe the loop for a second. Like the commericial where one little kid who would be too short to ride says to another who would also be too short "You were afraid to ride". That is their audience. IMHO MK has a younger target audience.

[POB14]

There are a couple of big differences this time. The first is we are talking a major signature ride. I don't think Disney wants to make a big deal of it not being available to guests.

Didn't they announce the Haunted Mansion refurb well in advance? (On our first trip, I got to ride it the day before it went down, so I remember knowing about it in advance.)

ETA: Just checked on Doombuggies.com; the 2007 HM refurb was announced in March, and began in June. I would think there'd be at least as much lead time for Space Mountain.

[ujpest_doza]

Space Mountain at Disneyland Paris does have an inversion.
It does indeed and it is very very rough!!!!

[Metro West]

It depends on your version of "blows out of the water." We did our honeymoon in WDW/US last October, and did not attend MNSSHP, so I can't exactly compare. But we did do Halloween Horror Nights in US one night, and I HATED it. Luckily we got the tickets free because I definitely wouldn't have gotten my money's worth. I went in one haunted house and that was enough for me. My DH did the rest by himself while I waited in well lit shops or restaurants! I hate being scared, so to me, MNSSHP would be the obvious choice. Yes, HHN is a great party if you love Halloween and being scared. I would say MNSSHP blows HHN out of the water simply for the fact that you get all of the Halloween fun without being scared out of your wits! It leaves an option for us scaredy cats!The bottom line is you can't compare MNSSHP to HHN or HOS...they are completely different events catering to completely different crowds.

[tzuhouse]

I think that Space Mountain missing from the 2009 vacation planning video and map is the most telling sign that the ride will be down for most of 2009. The number I have been hearing is 9 months. I for one am glad it is happening. It needs the work. I still don't know what specific changes are being made, but I have heard many times that one major change will be the ride cars going to two riders wide. That should dramatically increase ride capacity.

Universal Studios and Sea World both have MAJOR roller coasters coming online in the next few months. A majorly refurbished Space Mountain would be the perfect way to match those moves. WDW's big problem will come when The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens at Islands of Adventure in 2010. That will get many of the WDW only crowd to take a day at the Universal Studios parks. Look for more companies to start offering round trip service from the Disney resorts and surrounding hotels to US when Harry Potter opens.

You are right. We've never had any desire to go to Universal, but we've already planned a trip in November 2010, figuring that it would definitely be opened by that time and we will do Harry Potter. I'm anxious to see if their idea of butterbeer is the same as mine! HOPE SO!

Anyway, we leave in a month for DL and am anxious to try to DL version of SM. My DH, DS9 and I love the WDW one but DS7 refuses to ride it. Since it's side by side at DL, he has agreed to go on it with me. It would be great if he loved it and when we go back as a family in 10, he'd ride it with no problem. : )

The boys and I will be there in fall/winter 09. Kind of hoping if they are going to refurb it for 9 months, they start now so that it's done by the time we get there.

Mary

[JenM]

I hear the DL version was worth the down time. Hopefully that will be the case for us too.

It was - DL's Space Mountain blows the WDW version out of the water. I can't wait for this rehab to start.