Space mountain refurb

[wilde_oscar]

April 19th space mt will close for the massive year long re design

 

[mandymommy4]

yay! I am so glad they are going to improve it!

 

[CAJUNWDWFAN]

I was just about to post about it, you beat me too it. Well i'm happy and sad.

I'm sad because I'm arriving at WDW on April 26th so the rehab will have just started. I'm happy for the update and then it gives me a great reason to come back after the refurb is complete. Not that I have to have a reason to return to WDW

 

[exwdwcm]

so this will be the major overhaul to make it like DL? I know it has different ride vehicles- what else will they change? ......besides getting rid of the 70s mannequins or animontronic figures.

We are going Dec 11-20, 2009, maybe it will have soft openings by then. I can hope, right?

 

[cathie1327]

I really hope it's like the DL one....

I went to Disneyland in 2006 and 2007, then this last year finally, for the first time I went to Disneyworld. I was SO excited to go on Space Mountain because it was my fave ride at DL. Imagine my shock and disappointment when I found out it was almost a completely different ride.

I like the DL one much much much better. It's a much smoother ride. I must say from a woman's perspective, and one who has um....lots to bounce around, the WDW Space Mountain hurt lol. Too much jolting and jerking lol.

 

[Jennygt]

i love sm but it does geta little jerky at times, I would love to know more about sm in dL and what changes I can expect.

 

[hannah's dad]

I'm happy for the timing, as we go again the second week in March. I had assumed SM would have been closed for our trip, but this is a happy surprise.

 

[Sk8Leigh]

The DL SM has great music and light effects. It's a really great ride! I don't even ride it at WDW anymore, because it just doesn't measure up! If they make the WDW ride anywhere close to the DL ride, it'll be a great improvement, well worth the closure time.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

After listening to the conversations they had on the podcast, I am inclined to think it's in the same vein, but not the same style. I just can't see them doing a gut of the entire structure in that short of time. I can see them replacing the track, but keeping the same style of vehicle. (not broke, don't fix it budgeting). It would be a massive budget to take the 2 track system out and they would lose a lot of their ride capacity if they cut down to a single track. The side-by-side seating vehicles are too long to put enough of them on the track at the same time (definitely a safety concern).

When we were down for 18 months, they came in an did multiple things. They did NOT change the layout or basic design of the ride.

They DID:

• Replace the rickety track with new smoother tubular steel. This is what gave it it's newfound zest.
• Replaced and enhanced some of the special effects.
• Did a major remodel/rehab on the structure of the dome ceiling. They coated the entire surface to included sealing up any sources of light leaks and cracks that allowed additional light to brighten the massive room. This was a major undertaking.
• They did a slight revamp to repair and recondition the failing audio system on the ride. It got to the point where the audio system that was installed in the last upgrade would no longer work due to the rattling and shaking of the cars on the poor track.

If all that took 18 months, can you imagine how long a complete gut and new design addition would take?

 

[safetymom]

The ride is only closed until late 2009. I don't know how much time they need to create the new version. Does anyone know?

 

[Sk8Leigh]

I don't think they need to change the track or ride vehicle design. To me that isn't what's made DL better. Just changing the track out to make it smoother and changing the lighting and music effects will be plent, IMO.

 

[FireDancer]

Any work on how the referb will effect TTA? I'm hoping they just cover up the Space Mountain portion and don't close the whole ride. In a perfect world they would allow the riders to see the construction as it happens, but I'm quite sure they won't do that.

 

[Button]

Well I love it how it is and wish the only 2 things they would change is the wait time and the dreadful long walk out at the end.

In DL Paris they have a fab ride called Mission Space 2. It's a coaster that launches you (like Rock N Rollercoaster)

Here's a site with some pics and stats.

http://www.rcdb.com/ig959.htm

 

[firemanx]

awsome news.

 

[crazytp93]

This is great!

We're going to be in WDW from April 14-18th, so this is perfect!

 

[cchev]

Yeah ditto...it seemed like on the rumors that it would be closed before than and I'll be there in March so this is really good

 

[auroralark]

I'm glad to hear this, too. SM has always been my least favorite "mountain", and I'm looking forward to the changes!

 

[BeamsofLight]

After listening to the conversations they had on the podcast, I am inclined to think it's in the same vein, but not the same style. I just can't see them doing a gut of the entire structure in that short of time. *snip*
When we were down for 18 months, they came in an did multiple things. They did NOT change the layout or basic design of the ride.

This is the first thing I thought when I heard the timing. If they're only planning to be down 8-ish months (max, since it says 'late 09' for the finish - unless this becomes like Test Track and the perpetual 'opening soon') I can't see them doing a total overhaul on the ride.

I'm kind of glad about that, really. I would like the ride to be less jerky, and it'd be cool if they could incorporate the sound system, but I like the basic layout of the ride as it is. Looking forward to seeing what they do.

 

[sanapunk]

Kim Does Not Like Change!

 

[quietgirll]

im glad they are finally doing it....now im trying to convince dgf we should go before april to get "one last ride"...lol...of course, when we went in sept, AND dec, we went thinking- this could be our last ride before the refurb!