Originally Posted By arstogas Got it on pretty good authority yesterday, that WDW's Space Mtn is in line for a major rehab very soon. Don't have dates for you, but I'd guess that's forthcoming with other operations insiders at WDW soon enough. The rehab will almost certainly not involve a new track, but some new brakes and the like would be employed, some other new mechanisms for the ride system. And then the actual show elements, and likely the queue, would be changed up as well. This would be akin to DL's upgrade, although again, I'm not so sure that WDW would get a new track. Given that Florida's version is older, my gut tells me they'll spring for it. But that's just a guess. Regardless, it's something being invested back in the MK. This kind of coincides to rumblings I got at WDI about two months ago, to the effect that no new major attractions were going in any time soon, after Everest. But rehab money gives them some bang for their buck on existing attractions, and it keeps guys at WDI (at least, those who are still around) busy and challenged. That's all I know. Maybe some others can add to it.
Originally Posted By jmuboy Well, they did a nice job with IASW. Maybe Pirates and Space Mt will benefit from these new rehabs.
Originally Posted By woody WDW's Space Mountain needs new tracks. DL's Space Mountain feels like a true iron ride with the new tracks. It is very smooth and it feels great.
Originally Posted By Labuda Yeah, Space at WDW and the Matterhporn are both in desperate need of new tracks - horribly bumpy!
Originally Posted By brotherdave I know that no dates are available yet, but, any idea as to when? Would it be as soon as this spring, or possibly after next summer? I'm really hoping that it will still be open this coming June!!!
Originally Posted By DLFAN79 HA! Get in line. After 2 days of getting trained at PIRATES, ive heard an earfull. PIRATES is DEFINATLY going under the knife SOON. Like SOMETIME next year soon. Also Mansion and Pan are on 'big rehab' list too. So SPACE might have to wait a while.
Originally Posted By jkayjs Just got back yesterday. Don't know about inside rehab but they were working on the outside. As we went by on the monorail they were cleaning and painting. I was glad to see it as we have noted for a while that it was in need. If they do the inside I hope they add a sound system like the DL version(at least like DL used to have).
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I also think it would be nice to have osund. The one in DL still does, and with newly composed music. It will also start doing double duty sometime next spring/early summer, when they open Rockit Mountain, the night-time rock and roll version with different music and more effects and lighting.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN If they don't get a new track, then it's not worth refurbishing. WDW's Space needs *everything* new.
Originally Posted By brotherdave I'm not against them replacing the aging track (as long as there are no loops involved!), but, for selfish reasons, I'm hoping the work doesn't begin until after our trip in June! After that, they can renovate away, as long as they keep the same basic profile of the ride like they did in California. (I like the current two track ride in the MK!) I would hate to see it turned into a looping, launched attraction. WDW already has that with Rock n Roller Coaster. Upgrade what's there (especially the special effects), but leave the basic ride design alone. Adding music to the ride doesn't really phase me one way or the other. Personally, I liked it without, but, I might like it with it, too!
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I imagine Disney would wait until Everest is up and running... had some time to settle in... worked out any bugs in the sytem, etc., before they took Space Mountain offline for a major refurbishment.
Originally Posted By brotherdave That's what is 'scaring' me. If Everest is up by March, it may not be long afterwards for them to start on Space Mountain. I'm hoping that they'll wait until the busy summer season is over first before shutting it down for rehab.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 My next trip is also June--but for one trip I'll trade SM for Everest. I also do agree though, replace and improve what is there- but no re-design - and don;t duplicate RnRc inside SM -- As for music, if done right it could be very cool -- it shouldn't be overpowering, just add to the ambience
Originally Posted By BlazesOfFire When I was there the night of the 1st, my brother and I made it all the way up to the loading area before the ride broke down. Then because it couldnt be fixed 10 minutes later, they made everybody leave. I know this isn't the first time it has happened so yea, I think it needs some help!
Originally Posted By TDLFAN As far as I am concerned, they can shut it now since I can go to WDW anytime I want.
Originally Posted By Labuda "I can go to WDW anytime I want." Nuh uhhhhhhhhh! You can't go when you're in LA, Tokyo, Hong Kong, or Paris! THen you have to subsit on those OTHER parks!
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I think TDLFAN should be punished and only be allowed to visit WDW. "NO SOUP FOR YOU!"
Originally Posted By arstogas My guess, and it's only a guess, is that if new braking systems are going in, new track would be going in as well. But no indication at all that any loops or new track orientation/design would be in the offing. The Space Mtn thing has proven so successful in Disneyland, they must be looking at it as a model for WDW... so I'd think the smart money is on new track replacing the old.
Originally Posted By Brian Noble >>Space at WDW and the Matterhporn are both in desperate need of new tracks - horribly bumpy!<< As I understand it, steel rides getting rougher are usually due to worn springs/wheels in the wheel assemblies, rather than track. DL's space was a special case. When they added the sound system to the trains, the center of gravity changed enough to put unplanned stresses on the tracks, causing cracking that needed to be welded. Unless WDW's Space (and Matterhorn) are getting the same welding treatment, the track is not likely to be the problem. Some steel rides start out rough, because the transitions are too abrupt. That's more likely with older rides (like Matterhorn and Space) which predate the ability to draw spline curves in a CAD program and then manufacture the track to follow the constantly changing radius of such a curve. Finally, I'd say that WDW's space is one of the smoother "old" rides I've been on---it would appear that the trains track very well, and that's probably due to an agressive wheel assemply replacement program. Try your standard Vekoma suspended looping coaster (aka "Hang-n-Bang") if you want to know what rough feels like. Yeouch! arstogas: do you really think it's the track that's causing the good vibes, or is it the updated show?
