Space Mountain Now Slower

[mikedoyleblogger]

That's a really odd statement ... you don't have to ride SM more than a couple of times to realize that the 2 sides are different, and not just in the direction they turn.

On the left side there are 3 drops near the end. The first two drops are scary but they end quickly before you fall far. This lulls your brain into thinking when the 3rd drop begins, "ok this is just another little dip". But it's like the bottom falls out and the coaster drops a lot farther and picks up a lot more speed. I think it was the thrill of that drop the first time I ever visited WDW which more than any other one thing made me a fan of WDW for life.

I couldn't describe to you the contours of the right side, but it doesn't have that "3 drop whoaaaa!" effect of the left side. I've never asked to go on one side or the other, but I've always *hoped* to get shunted to the left side and I'm a bit disappointed when it doesn't happen.

If the thrill is gone from the left side thanks to the new braking system, then there's always the backwards drop on Expedition Everest. It's a similar "lull" then "whoa!" effect ... at first the coaster is rolling gently backwards in the dark and you can feel the first-timers on the train start to relax thinking, "this ain't so bad" ... and then ...

The two sides are mirror-image layouts of each other and exactly the same except for a small additional piece of track at the end of one of the sides (I don't remember which.) I agree they don't feel the same because the track on each side has aged differently, but the track profiles--turns, drops, number of drops, etc.--except for being mirror images of each other, do not differ at all.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

If you have only ridden with the Ghost Galaxy overlay, you haven't really ridden the DL version at all. That overlay absolutely destroys the ride.

Of course, I thought they ruined it when they got rid of the Dick Dale music...

I agree. My partner likes the Ghost Galaxy overlay better, but it's far too bright (you can see the tracks) and the Halloween soundtrack doesn't sync up with the ride as perfectly or as thrillingly as the regular Michael Giacchino soundtrack. DL's regular Space Mountain is my favorite ride in the universe, but I'd take MK's Space Mountain over the DL Ghost Galaxy overlay any day.

 

[bumbershoot]

This is interesting to hear. I have only ridden the Ghost Galaxy version at DL and was also not impressed. I felt that the projections were hard to see and that overall the ride was just dark. Granted, the coaster is faster and smoother, but for theming I give it to WDW version all day. I do love the idea of the Ghost Galaxy, but the implementation was lackluster.

I will be getting the chance to ride the DL version next month without the overlay. Maybe my opinion will change

GG is awful. Takes away everything cool from the ride. Definitely ride it next month.

 

[DisLee]

my oldest son thinks it's slower too

 

[Teagan Alexander]

Disney World's version has never had music. It has a few minor side effect but no music.

I rode it during our late June trip and I can tell you it was just as fast as ever. It really depends on what capacity they are running it at. This wasn't the fastest we had ever rode it but it surely wasn't the slowest either. It was definitely more towards top capacity though.

Disney World's version does have music, you just can't hear it when you're on the actual ride. You can hear it when you go on the Peoplemover though, if you listen closely. The reason you can't hear it on the Disney World version is because they don't have actual audio speakers on the coaster trains themselves, the music just plays through speakers in the dome itself. Here's the music:

 

[Louie7080]

Disney World's version does have music, you just can't hear it when you're on the actual ride. You can hear it when you go on the Peoplemover though, if you listen closely. The reason you can't hear it on the Disney World version is because they don't have actual audio speakers on the coaster trains themselves, the music just plays through speakers in the dome itself. Here's the music:

I like it - fun and retro! Thanks for posting!

 

[CAS239]

First post is in a thread almost 4 years old lol

 

[DOOM1001]

I like Space Mountain overall,its a fun ride.I've always felt that on the track on the right the biggest drop feels less intense,for years I've noticed this.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

To avoid confusion, closing this 4 year old thread.