Does anyone miss the old space mountain

[Belle1997]

When I was younger I loved to go to space Mountain mostly to see the displays before you went on the ride. I love animotonics and the speace centre. i know it was probably out dated but now all you get to see is Stars as you wait in line. I found it a little disappointing. I wonder why they changed it.

 

[chrisd596]

We miss the robots when you leave space mountain that say
"In the future, packages will be sent........."

 

[crystalgirl58]

I miss the old Space Mountain too. It seemed so much more scarier because it was so much darker and you really couldn't see when the next turn was. I also miss all the displays.

 

[PIPER618]

I know its been a long time since I was at WDW. I didn't know they changed the entrance and exit views. What do you see know. Space mountain was alway dark inside has that changed?

 

[Keith]

I've been on Space Mountain twice. when I was 18 in 1982, and when I was 37 in 2001. In 1982, it was pretty much pitch black and I remember ducking my head because I was afraid of hitting my head on something. In 2001, I enjoyed the ride more because I could see better. It's still dark, but not extreme darkness.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I don't have a specific memory of the entry and exit displays, but I remember the seats being completely different. The last time I was at WDW was probably 1989 when I was 18. We went last week, and that ride feels a lot differnt than it used to. Is it because I am 34 and have a bad back now, or is it rougher than it was?

 

[Immelman]

I may be wrong, but I think the post ride "in the future" script was shelved after FEDEX pulled out their sponsorship. and it did used to be a lot darker.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

I've ridden it many, many times over the years and I haven't noticed any change in the darkness of the ride. I do know that the changes to the cars were made to make it much easier for guests with disabilities or guests who need more time to board.

 

[eeyore0062]

It seems lighter to me, too! I know they have changed the cars. You used to sit one in front of the other, but I don't remember there being anything to separate you from the person sitting in back of you. Kind of like you were sitting between someone elses legs.

 

[iluvwesties]

I Miss Walter Cronkite doing the commentary!!

It didn't feel the same without his voice narrating.

iluvwesties(AKA Carol)

 

[mhingher]

We miss the robots when you leave space mountain that say
"In the future, packages will be sent........."

"by a beam of light",,, no more robot? It was there in June, what happened? What I don't miss is how the seats were, you had to pretty much sit is someone's lap. I remember going on that as a child with my evil older sister. I couldn't reach my handles and she wouldn't share hers..grrrr...

 

[Meredith'sMom]

Yes, you definitely used to "sit between someone's legs." I have distinct memories of visiting with my Girl Scout Troup over 20 years ago. I was sitting in front of the meanest girl scout ever; she kept yelling at me "don't you lean back on me!!!!" as we went up the first hill. Um, gravity is kinda getting in my way here, kid!!!

When I went last year for my honeymoon I felt I could see A LOT more of the track etc. I much prefer total darkness.

 

[DisneyWisher]

Its funny when you try to explain to your kids how it used to be(My kids can do that with Stitch when they have kids, I remember when this used to be Alien Encounter) LOL. The "in the future" was at the end of the ride when you are on the escalator (not sure the correct word). Also to me it was alot scarier because on the first drop, it dropped. I remember coming off the seat. Back then you had seat belts not lap bars. But I have to say the end of it is what I miss most.

I know its not practical but sometimes I wish they could do a retro-Disney and bring back some of the rides they have changed. I miss "If you had Wings" by Eastern. It always made me want to go to the Orient.

Shirley

 

[Jamesbyr]

That was Spaceship Earth in EPCOT.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Here's some Space Mountain fact for your consideration:
The Official opening date is January 15, 1975

Former sponsors - RCA (remember the RCA dog at the entrance?) & Fed Ex, There is no current sponsor

The top speed - 27 miles an hour [TOP speed, the average speed is less]

Biggest drop - 18 feet

The Main Lift is 150 feet long [not high].

There are 2 tracks, identical in a mirrored way, like your hands, A side is 3186 Ft, and B side is 3196 Ft [in order to pass by the other, one must be slightly longer]

You can see the Main Lift [both sides], Departure B side, and most of the B side track [much easier with lights on] from the Tomorrowland Transit Authority

A few of those spires up top are radio antenna

Each side has 15 trains, 13 maximum at a time, numbered 1-16 A side, 17-31 B side, there is no train 13

When the trains are cold, they get cycled at 29 second intervals, as they warm up, that interval goes down to 21 seconds

When cold, the length of the trip is about 2:40, when warm it's about 2:23 [times variable on the total weight of the passengers]

The heavier the load, the faster it goes

Empty seats are adjusted for, 1 - no different, 2 - 4 zones between trains, 3 - 6 or 8 zones between trains, 4 or more - 8 zones between trains

Theoretically, the hourly number of guests through would be 2,057 at 21 second intervals. The goal is around 1775 [this number changes pretty often], so for anyone doing the math, if we were to say that on average the park is open 12 hours [busy times more, slow times less, give or take], that's over 7.5 million people a year

To run Space Mountain at full capacity, right now, it takes 13 cast members, not including those present to handle breaks

 

[PratersloveDW]

I remember how you used to have to sit in between someone's legs. Ugg, I am so glad taht they changed that. I hadn't really thought about it until now! lol... I also feel that it is much easier to see now. I used to always want to sit in the front when I was younger and 'drive' the rockets. But now I don't like to simply because I can see where I am going. I thought maybe it was just me getting older and not being as scared.

 

[lauran cameron]

Oh! In Space Mountain while you waited going through the swirls of lines you could look up and see these TV screens that would play an "Intergalactic News Channel" or something like that...I miss those.

 

[DizBelle]

I miss the old Space Mountain too. It seemed so much more scarier because it was so much darker and you really couldn't see when the next turn was. I also miss all the displays.

Space Mountain isn't as dark anymore?

 

[DisneyChristmas]

On my first ride in 1979, I sat in front of DDad tobaggan style. By the end of the ride, I was almost flat out on my back on top of him. His weight pushed me forward on each downhill dip, and on the uphill I'd fall back and lower into the car. My DBIL described the experience as "being mugged in a dark closet". It was pitch black throughout the ride. The seating made it very rough. In 1993 I finally agreed to ride again. The new dim lighting and secure seating make the ride so much better! I love it now.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

Space Mountain isn't as dark anymore?

I think that many of the posters childhood memories of a pitch black ride are incorrect. Many of them rode SM as a small child, or teenager, and then after many years, as an adult. Childhood perception is very different. I haven't been able find one CM or one site that says that WDW has turned the lights up on the ride. I grew up in FL and my parents were Disney junkies. I honestly went to WDW 3-4 times a year from the time I was a baby all through my college graduation, and years after. I have never noticed that the darkness was different or lightened up. Why would they would have to?