ride no longer in tomorrowland

[xostarrynights]

About three years ago, I went to Disneyland with my cousins- there was a great car ride there- it was pretty high up and it went fast- a lot of fun. It was in Tomorrowland. Last year I went back with my cousins, and that ride was gone-the track was still there though. It was such a great ride- anyone know what happened to it?

 

[daannzzz]

That was the Rocket Rods which was a replacement for the Poeplemover. It seems that it was not a good fit for the Peoplemover track with the way it was installed. Apparently it needed to have the track done differently (banked curves) so all the ware and tear was causing the cement supports to weaken along with all the slowing down and speeding up being tough on the vehicals. They had a very hard time keeping everything running and decided to close it and not to put more money into it.

 

[xostarrynights]

aw- and it was such a fun ride.

 

[daannzzz]

I actually thought it was just an okay ride except when riding in the front seat where it was more thrilling. It is to bad they couldn't have made many single passenger cars.

 

[Hopkins]

It was a very fun ride the one time I rode it. The next time we went to Disneyland a few years later, it was gone. It will be missed. It defimitely must have had a short life.

Does anyone know how long it was around? Did it make a year?

 

[doombuggy]

When I went to DL for the first time in early October 1998, it was open. We rode it and liked it a lot. We went back exactly a year later and they were testing it, but I don't think it ever reopened, so it may have been operating for a year. I seem to remember it had just opened (late I think) when I went in 1998.

 

[justmestace]

We just got back last night from Disneyland, and the word was that they are working on a replacement ride that will be similar. Thay are also making a new attraction where Mission: Space once was, which I think is a good idea....I wasn't too impressed with that. I'm also glad that they are re-doing Space Mountain to make it more like the one in Florida....I liked Florida's "cars" better.
It was a great trip...weather was good...rained a little Saturday, and really cleared out the crowds!!

 

[LeftCoaster]

Originally posted by justmestace
We just got back last night from Disneyland, and the word was that they are working on a replacement ride that will be similar. Thay are also making a new attraction where Mission: Space once was, which I think is a good idea....I wasn't too impressed with that. I'm also glad that they are re-doing Space Mountain to make it more like the one in Florida....I liked Florida's "cars" better.
It was a great trip...weather was good...rained a little Saturday, and really cleared out the crowds!!

The new attraction that is being built is Buzz Lightyear and that is going in the old Circlevision building. There's no Mission:Space at Disneyland. You must be thinking of Mission To Mars. That location is now Redd Rockett's Pizza Port.
Lastly, the track layout for Space Mountain will not change at all. They're replacing the old track with a new, identical track. They're supposed to be updating the special effects and queue. Those are really the only "changes" to it.

 

[justmestace]

Yep, sorry, I meant Mission to Mars. When you get old, the mind starts slipping!
I didn't say that they were changing Space Mountain's track, just that they wouldn't be using the same type of vehicle. It was 2 to a seat, with a bar across the lap....WDW has more of a rocket-type, where you sit down into it, one person in front of the other, and shoulder harnesses. That's what I'd heard they were doing (part of it anyway)...but, you know how rumors can be!
There were still boards and signs all around the building where Mission to Mars was saying that they were working on a new attraction. Is the Pizza Port where they do the Buzz Lightyear show, or did I miss a pizza opportunity??

 

[CalGal]

Ahhh Rocket Rods -- My son and I were big fans of Rocket Rods. I believe it was intended to be the signature ride for the "New" Tomorrowland that opened in 1998. The first commercials spotlighted it. But sadly, the ride hardly ran at all the first year or so. Even after that, it was on a resticted schedule and would break down frequently. We visited twice in 98 and both times the ride was down, but in 99 and 2000 we were able to ride it several times. The wait was seldom less than 90 minutes or even 2 hours. We would ride it by getting "back-stage passes" (sorta like a Fast Pass) through one of the Disney Hotels or by watching for when the ride would open up after a delayed opening or a reopening. By the time California Adventure opened in Feb. 2001 it was gone for good. At that time, a cast member told me that they were looking at a shooting ride to replace it (Buzz Lightyear style I guess, but the Circlevision location makes more sense for that). Strangely enough, I actually miss the humming noise Rocket Rods made. The sound created a Tommorland "atmosphere". Wouldn't it be great to have a functional Rocket Rods and a Buzz Lightyear!

 

[LeftCoaster]

Originally posted by justmestace
Yep, sorry, I meant Mission to Mars. When you get old, the mind starts slipping!
I didn't say that they were changing Space Mountain's track, just that they wouldn't be using the same type of vehicle. It was 2 to a seat, with a bar across the lap....WDW has more of a rocket-type, where you sit down into it, one person in front of the other, and shoulder harnesses. That's what I'd heard they were doing (part of it anyway)...but, you know how rumors can be!
There were still boards and signs all around the building where Mission to Mars was saying that they were working on a new attraction. Is the Pizza Port where they do the Buzz Lightyear show, or did I miss a pizza opportunity??

They'll be using the same Disneyland "type" of rocket as before. There was a picture of one on the net a few months back. Where the construction walls were up is where the Buzz Lightyear ride will be going in. That's the old Circlevision Building.
Next to the Space Mountian entrance is the Redd Rockett's Pizza Port. Bad Pizza, great pasta. The Buzz Lightyear show is located at "Club Buzz" which will always be known to oldtimers as Tomorrowland Terrace.