Soft Opening for Space Mountain?

[Pokemom]

Heading to Disneyland July 10-15 and just wondering if there's any chance Space Mountain would be open before the 15th at all. I know at WDW when they are opening a new attraction, they often have a soft opening ahead of time to test out the ride. Won't be in Disneyland on the 15th and would really like to try out the new version.

 

[LeftCoaster]

rumor has it that Space Mountain will begin soft opening this weekend. I think it's VERY likely you'll get to ride Space Mountain.

 

[jel0511]

rumor has it that Space Mountain will begin soft opening this weekend. I think it's VERY likely you'll get to ride Space Mountain.

If it's true, that's AWESOME!! We head to DL on the 2nd, and if we could get to ride it would be GREAT!!!

 

[disneychrista]

There are strong rumors that it will soft open on Friday (7/1).

 

[Wishful Tinking]

What exactly does "soft opening" mean?

Joan

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Before the official opening (for SM it's 7-15), Disney opens the attraction without announcing it. Guests who happen to be there get to go on these attractions. It gives the imagineers an opportunity to tweak the attraction before the official opening date.

I'll be there on Friday, too, so I'm hoping we get to try it out (one less thing to do on the 17th)

 

[disneychrista]

Yep what Mary Jo said. It is unofficial opening of the ride. No guarentees to it being open, just luck of the draw. Sometimes it is open the entire day, sometimes just for a few hours.

 

[Wishful Tinking]

How cool would that be?! Those things just don't happen to us. We arrive Thursday afternoon. Plan to be either DL or DTD that day/evening. I wonder if we'll get lucky?!!

Joan

 

[geffric]

I'll be there on Friday, too, so I'm hoping we get to try it out (one less thing to do on the 17th)

Mary Jo.. sorry that we can't meet up on Saturday.. oh well just my luck to miss you by a day..

 

[2ndStar2TheRight]

We got on the soft opening of Tower of Terror at DCA and waited in line for about 10 mins total...We couldn't believe it. I think people were confused about whether it was opened or not so they opted to stay away thinking it was for some special event! I can't complain, we got to go on it several times! Very nice cherry on top of the sundae we were already having...

It doesn't hurt to make some friends when you get to the park to see if you could get some more info on Space - good luck!!

 

[Magix]

I know someone who already got to ride it (a CM) and they said it was terrific. The ride track is still the same route, but it's much, much smoother. They said there were new effects and lighting at the beginning and end of the ride that really made the whole experience feel new. Supposed to be really dark inside now, too, so you can't see the track like you could before. Sounded like the line was much the same, but everything had been updated and repainted to fit the new look of Tomorrowland. Sounds great!!

 

[Anewman]

The ride track is still the same route, but it's much, much smoother.

I really hope this is not true.

 

[disneychrista]

I really hope this is not true.

Which part the track being the same (which is confirmed about 1,000 times over) or it being smoother?

 

[Anewman]

Which part the track being the same (which is confirmed about 1,000 times over) or it being smoother?

Same track part, and you are so right.
I had not really given it any thought, but since you posted I did some searching. Same Track

I hope it feels diff enough to make you feel it is not the same ride as b4.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I think the main purpose of the refurbishment was to make it safer, so that is the most important to me -- the rest is icing on the cake.

side note -- I have relatives staying w/me from Texas right now, and their friends are with them -- they were telling me last night that their friends were on SM about 5/6 years ago when their car derailed. It was hit from behind by another car, and they were kind of hanging over the track for 8-9 hours because DL people didn't know how to get them down. They ended up w/whiplash, and the boy had a broken arm.

DL made them very happy afterwards, though.

 

[DisneyTart]

Last friday I talked to a CM who said that CMs have been on it (guinea pigs, so to speak) and they opened it up during one of the Grad Nights earlier that week. But he had no idea when or if they would have other soft openings. It figures that they would since most other rides have had them.

 

[gmi3804]

Apropos of nothing, perhaps, but we were at EPCOT during the "soft opening" days of Test Track. CMs were pretty forthcoming with info about when the soft openings would occur. We showed up about a half hour before and got on with no problems. Not sure if they're as informative at DL, but there you have it.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

It wasn't open yesterday. We'll be at the park today, so I'll be checking it out, as well as the kiddoes.