Space Mountain Disneyland Paris

[scottjenkins]

Recently visited DLP and rode Space Mountain for the first time. I have ridden the Floridian original numerous times and was completely amazed in the difference between them both. DLP's version was incredible, loved what they have done with it.

 

Does anyone know why this is the only Space Mountain in the world to feature inversions? Surely with all the competition from neighbouring parks nowadays it would be a great addition to Magic Kingdom to upgrade their versions to the standard of SM mission 2.

 

I personally think that MK parks dont offer enough thrills for the thrillseeker, the kind of thrills that Busch Gardens / Thorpe Park would offer, and maybe upgrading their version of SM would make a day in the park slightly more exciting for the hardcore enthusiast!

 

Your opinions on SM mission 2 guys, why is it just a one off?

[Xmeister]

Ok, as far as an opinion goes on DLP's Space Mountain I can only say that from the videos I've seen, the level of detail was even greater when the ride was De la Terre à la Lune.

 

I've also heard that from numerous enthusiasts as well.

 

Some even argue that Mission 2 was a downgrade.

 

The original Space Mountain in my opinion needs a serious upgrade. It needs it the most out of all of them. When I went on it for the first time this summer I was shocked at how rough it was and how outdated the effects are in the dome. It is also much too bright in there for my liking. You can see where you're going and having the station open to the main part of the ride really kinda ruins the whole flying through space feeling.

 

But rumors are that it will get an upgrade soon, I'm hoping for more of a difference than what Disneyland got when they refurbed their Space Mountain.

 

I'm sure to the GP it seems like the exact same ride.

[Nemesis Inferno]

It's probably that different because of the time it was built, and that it is the jewel in the Paris Disney crown...

Because it was built 10-15 years later than the America ones, the new technology was available, and since it was a brand-spanking new park (the ride opened the year after though), Disney probably thought it'd be good to add some new technology for it to make it an interesting and different place, hence the 'better' versions of BTM and POTC...

 

Also I would guess that it was due to the change in market, what with the other parks around adding looping coasters, (Port Aventura was no doubt in the planning stages) and the whole bigger coaster thing becoming the 'in' thing, Disney naturally re-did the band-wagon with the first launch on a coaster I think (correct me please if wrong), since it was before RnR...

 

Mission 2 I think was really and 'bring-into-the-modern' day upgrade, in that in normal terms, it wasn't neccessary for the ride, but was done in order to bring it back to it's former glory (see X2)...

Either way, the fact I only went on the original bout once or twice means I don't exactly remember it well...

[USCoaster]

From what I have heard, the reason DLP's Space Mountain is a looping coaster is because Disney decided that they needed some more thrills in the park to appeal to the Europeans the park was catering to. (The addition of alcohol sales after the park opened was a similar decision.) It was originally supposed to be part of a much larger mountain that would have included a bunch of different rides (possibly all of Discoveryland), but was scaled back to enclose just the coaster due to budget cuts.

 

As for using a similar system in Florida as a Space Mountain 2, I don't see it happening due to Disney's wanting to keep the Magic Kingdom as a family park. Space Mountain is still a coaster that most the family can ride together and because it doesn't loop, is a pretty good coaster for anyone who might be a bit scared. I could see them using the system over in one of the other parks due to their wider assortment of rides.