Originally Posted By Brer Rabbit I have unfortunately been MIA for a long time, both from this site and the parks. Recently, a friend who naively assumed that I still know a lot about what goes on at Disneyland asked me what the changes on Space Mountain for the 50th are, i.e. what it is like now. I didn't have the heart to tell him that I haven't actually been to the park in well over a year and that I have really no clue. Help me! What is the ride like these days? Is there a report here on the site that I could read to find out about the updated changes (I assume there is but didn't find it)? Are the differences very striking, or is it mostly just a new soundtrack..? Thanks for the help. -nico
Originally Posted By FerretAfros The track was completely rebuilt, so the ride is much smoother. There are new vehicles with back rests that aren't as tall as the originals. The first lift now has mirrors and red neon around it, making it look a little like the inside of a toaster. The hallway after that now has the blue running lights and mirrors that have been in the WDW Space Mountain since it opened. The second lift has the most obvious changes, where you are surrounded by TV screens with stars on them. Then red stripes come down from the end, and begin to spin, like the barrel in a funhouse. At the end of the lift there is a projection of some galaxy. The third lift is pretty much the same, but the FedEx satellite is no longer there. The queue was redone, and the windows are gone, making the ride much darker than before. The queue now has silver metal walls with neat lighting. I don't have any pictures, but if you search around the boards from last summer, I'm sure you can find plenty.
Originally Posted By Brer Rabbit Oh I didn't realize that the site is set up now so that you can go back and look at such old posts on the discussion boards. I found one from last summer just like you said (in fact it is one in which you asked for someone to post a link, which is perfect!). Anyway, thanks a lot. -nico
Originally Posted By Skellington88 The new queue sucks...its very unimaginative. Just a bunch of Silver Walls and then you go into the Main room and they have this cheap small flatpanel edtv in the back that they probably got for $800 from best buy showing Mission: Space footage. They got rid of the cool little robot too . The Ride itself is pretty good now but some of the effects like the Giant Asteroid arent even working and rockit mountain was a bust I guess.
Originally Posted By DyGDisney I didn't really notice a lot of changes. The track itself seemed the same. It had been 3 years since we'd been on it though. The inside part of the queue seemed the same (the part where you can actually see the rockets).
Originally Posted By Brer Rabbit Awww man I loved that robot dude! So is FedEx no longer a sponsor? -nico
Originally Posted By Liberty Belle I enjoyed the ride a lot more on my last trip (I always loved it, but this was just spectacular!) Unfortunately, I hadn't been on the original since 1999 so I couldn't quite put my finger on what a lot of the differences were. I know it seemed a LOT darker so you were more aware of the sensation just flying through the stars. Still, it seems like you've got a pretty good explanation already here. If you get the chance to go experience it for yourself, you definitely should - it was amazing! And Rockit Mountain is still happening, isn't it? I thought it was just postponed, not cancelled.
Originally Posted By DisneyFreak96 Rock-it Mountain will occur during Grad night only, I've heard. From the video I've seen this is a good thing. I was looking forward to it, but due to some budget cuts during the rebuild, quite a bit was taken away from the original plans. As for the new SM, I loved the old one, but I must say it is simply awesome now. <<The hallway after that now has the blue running lights and mirrors that have been in the WDW Space Mountain since it opened. >> Is that so? That would explain why it seemed so familiar. The last time I was at WDW was the year Epcot opened.
Originally Posted By ChiMike I loved the new Space Mountain, it was by far the biggest highlight of my last trip out West. I didn't think I would like the new soundtrack, but after my first ride I was saying "Dick Dale who?". As mentioned above, my only complaint is that I think they dropped the ball BIG TIME on the queue leading up to the load area. Very, very bland; it does not suprise me in the least that folks in the M:S team worked on it. Very uninspiring. I would say WDW's queue in it's worst shape is far better. They had SO much downtime to really hit a home run with that little stretch of queue. To help set-up the experience. To me the new Space Mountain is a 9 out of 10 with only that queue and the post-show/stairway holding it back. No way should a 1975 Florida pre and post show inspire more then a brand new version.
Originally Posted By Mr Snappy I was out there last month....here is my take. 1. New que SUCKS 2. They went away from the "Black Hole" theming and went with something more bland. 3. Sountrack was not as good as the Dick Dale one and needs to be MUCH lounder. 4. The ride is definately much darker and smoother....Except for the soundtrack, the ride itself is better. 5. Exit sucks. I know the ramps did not work most of the time, but they gave it a "space port" feel...the new stairs are lame.
Originally Posted By BrigmanMT 2 I agree with the above. The ride has never been one of my favorites, but after visiting WDW I felt that the queue improvements would be the greatest part. I like the new queue, but 3 years for what was produced is pretty pathetic. I dont care for the new music either. The wheelchair loading vehicle is pretty awesome though, I also like the inital room, I call it the crimson cathedral. There isn't much to it, but it is the only part I was impressed with, it looks pretty neato (probably just crome and red lights, but it works).
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>The wheelchair loading vehicle is pretty awesome though<< I agree, I shouldn't have been wow'd by such a simple coaster maneuver, but the first time seeing it caused me to get Cartman-happy. I think I was just impressed that Disney was back to doing something efficiently. I can understand not everyone liking the score. I didn't think I would like it better than Dick Dale, even being a fan of Michael Giacchino's work. Well, he didn't let me down. I was very impressed with the whole ride package. It's just that darn queue and exit. I would love to see some Disney inspiration and eccentricity in those two areas. That's the problem with Tommorowland at any park. Some people just write off the flaws as being conceptual issues with the future or science fiction. I always considered it to be more about general tones like inspiration and whimsical optimism. From the pictures it looks like HKDL's TL appearance tries to bring some of those fun feelings back. It will go only so far without good attractions.
