Space Mountain Rehab Done

[Cheshire Figment]

I had the opportunity to go to a soft opening of Space Mountain.

They have done nothing at all to improve accessibility.

And even with very few Gusests, the cast seemed unhappy with me taking so long to get into and out of the rocket.

 

[SueM in MN]

Wow!
That is disappointing. What did they change?
There were rumors that they were going to change the boarding area somehow, which would have triggered accessibility changes. Apparently, they did not do that.

 

[BillSears]

Darn that's a real shame. It's been years since I've been on Space Mountain due to the accessibility issues. When I visited DL in the spring I really enjoyed the way they had it set up and I rode it twice.

Even putting in one of those removable sliding transfer board type of things would help a huge amount. Of course they'd have to somehow allow just a little extra time for getting in and out.

 

[disneyfan19712006]

Darn that's a real shame. It's been years since I've been on Space Mountain due to the accessibility issues. When I visited DL in the spring I really enjoyed the way they had it set up and I rode it twice.

Even putting in one of those removable sliding transfer board type of things would help a huge amount. Of course they'd have to somehow allow just a little extra time for getting in and out.

They have the slide out one a Disneyland. It gives the person as much time as they need and they they are slid back into the line up for take off. They should have put one in at WDW also. Kind of disappointing.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

That's very disappointing. All right, it doesn't really affect me, because I'm not big on the rollercoasters, but it's bad that Disney didn't address these issues at all .

CF, did you have a chance to feedback your opinions on the soft opening? I know they won't delay opening to rip the track up now, but at least it might help them remember these issues on future refurbs.

 

[Momelie]

Awwwww!!!!!!!

I had really high hopes of being able to ride this again! Dagnabbit!

After the last time it took a major effort for DH and DD1 to get me in and back out again I just said never again, and made it a very fond memory. My knees and hips are just too far gone, I guess. Maybe a spring loaded seat, LOL!

 

[SnowandMittens]

I find it kind of disturbing that Dinsey World didn't install the same slide off track that Disneyland did... it works well and takes the pressure off of trying to get into the rocket in a timley manner. They put one in for Toy Story Mania, why not Space Mountain?

 

[SueM in MN]

Darn that's a real shame. It's been years since I've been on Space Mountain due to the accessibility issues. When I visited DL in the spring I really enjoyed the way they had it set up and I rode it twice.

Even putting in one of those removable sliding transfer board type of things would help a huge amount. Of course they'd have to somehow allow just a little extra time for getting in and out.

I would encourage people to write WDW with suggestions after doing the renovated ride.
It is possible that they will have a car like that, but it was not ready yet. I do remember that the Spaceship Earth car with a wider opening arrived after the ride was open for a while.

 

[Schmeck]

Did they make any changes to the tracks at all? With the speed of this rehab (compared the the Disneyland one) it sounds like they only made cosmetic changes.

 

[Absimilliard]

Here's what I heard... Originally, Space Mountain in Florida was supposed to get a full track replacement, which would have given a 1 year+ closure. Unfortunately, that track replacement got changed to "let's sand the rough track pieces and change a few of the really bad track" so they could have it open for the Holidays.

They added airgates to the stations, covered the stations, changed the waiting line and changed the postshow. Without replacing all the track and changing a station, it was impossible to add the transfer track like in California. Dissapointing! I hope this is just the first step of a larger rehab down the line where finally the track will get replaced and they will be able to add that transfer track.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks for the explanation, Absimilliard.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Awwwww!!!!!!!

I had really high hopes of being able to ride this again! Dagnabbit!

After the last time it took a major effort for DH and DD1 to get me in and back out again I just said never again, and made it a very fond memory. My knees and hips are just too far gone, I guess. Maybe a spring loaded seat, LOL!

Check out Islands of Adventure. Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls has a log with a, not spring-loaded, but pneumatic seat!!!! The staffer can raise it to 'seatable' level, then lower it to the bottom of the log once you're seated. They reverse the procedure at the end of the ride. You'd probably still need help stepping in and out of the log - but you wouldn't need to haul yourself up from the seat!

 

[LisaBi]

How is the wheelchair entrance now? Is it still the FP entrance, then breaking off to a separate boarding area? Is there still that horrible incline (I never even noticed it until I was pushing a wheelchair up it!) If the incline is still there, are these new games in that area? Once we hit that spot I have to make a running start to make it up. There is no way we could stop for games, or stop for people in front of us playing.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

There are no changes in any manner regarding accessibility. A wheelchair will still use the FP line as the standby line has stairs. There is no special boarding area as they have in Disneyland; you have to load and unload with everyone else.

 

[SueM in MN]

There are no changes in any manner regarding accessibility. A wheelchair will still use the FP line as the standby line has stairs. There is no special boarding area as they have in Disneyland; you have to load and unload with everyone else.

This was information I got from a CM a few years ago when someone had posted that she was directed to the right when she was one of the first riders on Space Mountain. She was upset and refused to get in line because she thought only the Fastpass Line was accessible. Is it no longer true?

There are several configurations of the Space Mountain line. The most direct route doesn't have any stairs and if that is the line 'configuration' being used, then the line is accessible. That is a line that they use when it's not busy. As it gets busier and they need more 'space' in the waiting line, they change the configuration to one which includes stairs. At that point, the regular line is not wheelchair accessible.
The Fastpass Line is accessible, but that is not the only way that is accessible.

The Guidebook for Guests with Disabilities says this about Space Mountain:
Access: Obtain a Disney's FASTPASS ticket OR see a host or hostess for additional options. If FASTPASS is not available, enter thru the queue on RIGHT.