Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I heard that Sat. was a rough day for WDW with downtime on many attractions and then the monorail power failure.>> I was there Saturday and didn't really notice that ... but I left at lunchtime and didn't come back until 9 p.m. Space Mtn was having problems throughout the week though. Thursday it went down for much of the day (while BTMRR did as well -- felt bad for those sitting on it in the pouring rain). Oh, and now that I've ridden it, I'll say it: it is cleaner and darker than before. Has a fresher queue. But it still sucks. More on it later, if I decide to write an observations thread.
Originally Posted By leobloom ^^How magical! Not only was I in MK the same day as Spirit, but I must have also been in his presence in Tomorrowland that Saturday morning. I fully agree with his estimation of SM, too. Darker, but that's about it.
Originally Posted By CDF1 I can understand those that feel the refurbishment of Space Mountain to it's prior track design with lack of music was a lost opportunity for (a) a new inverted track or (b) a much better ride experience similar to the one found in Anaheim. Perhaps it's just another case of accountants overruling the creative types to just keep the cash cow alive as opposed to really upgrading the breed. I wonder if there is still some resistance to building inverted coasters at the MK or DL parks given their success without such rides? Certainly Disney is not adverse to such rides (CS in DCA, RnRC at Studios and SM at DLP) - but the first two mentioned are at "2nd gate" types of parks while SM at DLP is really the only mainstream DL/MK type of park where there is an inverted coaster (actually there are two including the Indy ride). The most recent E-ticket addition to AK, Everest, does not have an inversion (and really does not have any theming that would support it). Who knows what thinking really governs those kinds of decisions? I wonder if Walt would have felt that upside-down coasters would fit in his idea of a park where kids and their parents could enjoy the same attractions? He certainly would have been amazed at Star Tours, Thunder Mountain, Indy, Splash Mountain and Space Mountain - and given the stories I've seen about the develpment of the Matterhorn he probably would have ridden all of those rides. But not so sure about RnR Coaster or Screamin' with their launching process and inversions. As I get older, I guess I like the idea that Space Mountain at WDW is still pretty much the same ride I've enjoyed over the years and that I can continue to enjoy. In particular, since WDW is really a destination resort, I wonder if catering to the older crowd is really an important factor in that park since it is the older adults with the money that are paying for vacations there and not the kids who are making those investments.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^It's about money at WDW. Pure and simple. It could have ... should have ... and would have been so much more IF Disney had vision beyond the short-term bottom line. But you can now rest assured that the same Space Mountain will still be running in 2021!
Originally Posted By mousermerf <<<Perhaps it's just another case of accountants overruling the creative types to just keep the cash cow alive as opposed to really upgrading the breed.>>> Please stop perpetuating that lie. If you can't be creative within a budget then you're not any good at your job.
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys >I wonder if catering to the older crowd is really an important factor in that park since it is the older adults with the money that are paying for vacations there and not the kids who are making those investments.< If Disney wanted to cater to the older crowd paying the bills, then perhaps they should read and react to some of the observations that are made here by that older crowd. I don't think that there would be any objections to leaving SM basically the same ride, but it would have been nice to have a smoother track and two seater vehicles. I'll reserve my final judgment until I ride it in April, but from what I can see there are no significant improvements to the attraction.
Originally Posted By standor If Disney cared about the older crowd they would create more attractions like carousel of progress, horizons and less thrill attractions.
Originally Posted By TMICHAEL Well, you know standor, you have to speak for yourself. I'm approaching 50 and still love extreme thrill rides. Everest was quite good if not a bit disappointing as the Yeti was a no show. And RnRC is a blast, well, at least the beginning 1/3. Plus Krakken, Manta, Dragons and Hulk are always a must do when in OTown. And while i liked WOM the best, and love the scope of attractions like SSE, Horizons and COP they are/were not must do attractions for me.... yawn The Magic Kingdom has no major thrill rides so I wasn't expecting the SM re-do to add one. But wow, what a waste to not re-work the ride to the quality of Disneyland's newer version. And the biggest waste....keeping the 6 passenger bobsled rockets as opposed to the 12 passenger side by side rockets.
Originally Posted By leobloom >>keeping the 6 passenger bobsled rockets as opposed to the 12 passenger side by side rockets.>> I'm glad they didn't change this. Gives the ride more of a Matterhorn-feel.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> MPierce likes it when they show a little leg(;0)) << Only if it's attached to a woman.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> ^^It's about money at WDW. << It's always, and only about money at WDW.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Please stop perpetuating that lie. If you can't be creative within a budget then you're not any good at your job. << I would surly think that depends on what your are being asked to create, and the extinit of your budget. Could you imagine Expedition Everest on a 60 million dollar budget?
