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[15MagicalYears]

Does anyone know how long it would take (or if it is even likely) for Disney to change SM:M2 back to the original ride? Surely it would be pretty low-costing and they could easily market it as a "new" ride. Plus, it's a fan favourite.

[Maarten]

Does anyone know how long it would take (or if it is even likely) for Disney to change SM:M2 back to the original ride?

Space Mountain was closed for approximately 2,5 months to convert the ride from "De La Terre A La Lune" into "Mission 2". But perhaps it will take less time to convert it back?

Surely it would be pretty low-costing and they could easily market it as a "new" ride. Plus, it's a fan favourite.

This was the exact same reasoning of Andre Lacroix and his team behind the installation of Mission 2.

I don't think every change that has been made back in 2005 was a bad one: the new colors on the trains, the lower launch position in the Columbiad canon and even the safety video's in the queue area are improvements. The closure of the Stellar Way makes more sense aswell like Alan mentioned. However, the removal of Steve Branson's soundtrack, the beautiful attraction poster, queue area loop and props in the dome itself (Blue Moon Mining Company, the moon projection etc) ripped out the soul of this attraction. Although it wasn't perfect either, Space Mountain- De La Terre A La Lune felt like a historic, fantastical take on space travel instead of the more general space theme we got in return.

Lets hope we will see this beautiful poster once again in the future...



By the way, I recently discovered that there used to be a small painting of Jules Verne himself floating in space inside the dome aswell!

[Josh]

It would be great if they could keep the best of both.

It's a long-shot, but I'd like them to rename it to Discovery Mountain again, as well. There's no chance of that, though.

[Patrick89]

De la terre à la lune just fitted perfectly in the old Discoveryland. While passing SM with the railroad, there was this great music and the speaker talking about "Space Mountain - de la terre à la lune" gave me goose bumps every time.
If you just compare the two posters (new and old), I think it already tells you a lot about the difference of the two rides. The one is detailled, has a great layout and really catches your attention, while the other one seems to be painted really loveless and looks very boring.
It was the heart of the Jules Verne - Discoveryland, something unique, but today it's only another rollercoaster based on a space theme.
Jules Verne was just fascinating, as well as the whole former Discoveryland. The theme really absorbed you and I think I would not have read all of the famous books of Jules Verne if I weren't stimulated by Discoveryland. Bring him back to DLP! [-o<

[CafeFantasia]

I know this has been online for a while, but have you seen the Grand Opening of Space Mountain (1995) video on Disneyland Paris' YouTube channel? It's great.

I particularly like the part where they ask David Copperfield "David, what about Space Mountain?" to which he replies "we loved it. It's not a ride, it's a movie". Very true.

[youtube:4a0c4nz8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF70DggWCt4[/youtube:4a0c4nz8]

[CafeFantasia]

Disney And More is reporting that Space Mountain will get new Vekoma harnesses in Autumn 2012. This is great news for anyone that doesn't enjoy getting repeatedly smacked in the side of the head.

Here's a video of the new Vekoma harness design in action at Carowinds in the US, tested by an unhappy 6-year-old:

[youtube:1psqb6tc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrA7J1O1Vu8[/youtube:1psqb6tc]

[dagobert]

I would have prefered a replacement of the vehicles, maybe that would help to reduce the bumpy experience. But I guess the track also needs some work.

[ulak]

What is better seat right now? Changes are for end of this year. Any tips for none pain of the neck right now? Thank you!

[CafeFantasia]

I would say that the middle of the train (if you think of it from front to back) has to be the most comfortable place to sit. In the middle of the train you're travelling at the perfect speed; neither being pushed or pulled by the weight of the rest of the train.

[sven]

There is another "Mountain" in Europe with the new harnesses. It's "Magic Mountain" in Gardaland, Italy. //http://rcdb.com/m/962.htm

In Gardaland they got new trains as well, so you're sitting a little bit higher than before. This might add to the different feeling, but it is a great progress. So really looking forward to it.

In general MK-1200-Coasters depend heavily on maintenance for a smooth ride. If you get a train with new wheels and good settings the ride can be very smooth, while with old wheels the same coaster can be a quite bumpy ride. I don't think a new train can change much of that because of the design of track and chassis. It shows that the track design is from the 70s.

Python in Efetling, Netherlands just got new trains, too. //http://rcdb.com/m/897.htm
//http://rcdb.com/m/897.htm?p=37888 shows the chassis pretty good, there is not much magic involved.

[Martyn]

This is great, but yeah, I would hope its getting completely new trains (but then I guess the cost would ridiculous to replace 5/6 trains...)

[*TIMMIE*]

Python in Efetling, Netherlands just got new trains, too. //http://rcdb.com/m/897.htm
//http://rcdb.com/m/897.htm?p=37888 shows the chassis pretty good, there is not much magic involved.

Also Speed of Sound in Walibi Holland (Boomerang) got these new trains and shoulder restraints. I tried both, and they are a great leap forward. It made these rides much more smoother. Hopefully it won't be new restraints on SM only.

[Patrick89]

Sorry for digging out this old thread, but I really have to complain about the harnesses of Space Mountain and Rock'n Rollercoaster, in part also of Indiana Jones. Thank god it doesn't happen very often, but as I'm suffering from claustrophobia, it is really, really bad if one of the trains gets stuck and you are sitting inside, harness over your shoulders and "deep inside" the wagons, with no possibility to move. Indiana Jones isn't that hard as you are outside, but SM and RnRC have become a problem for me, especially because they are inside and there is the loud music playing directly besides your ears. I've just been to Europa Park, where nearly every rollercoaster has harnesses in front of you and the wagons themselves are more "open", also in the Blue Fire, where there is a loop:



I know this might sound odd, because you don't have the chance to get out in both varieties, but I'd prefer these front harnesses in DLP, too. It's already become so worse that I can't enjoy these rides anylonger, because I'm only hoping that I'll get out again soon...

[davewasbaloo]

I am sorry to hear about the claustrophobia, but I must confess as a larger rider, prefer the over the shoulder restraints. I can fit on spacemountain, RNRC and Indy. Sadly I am too big to ride silverstar or Blue Fire at Europapark.

[dagobert]

I can't wait for the new harnesses for SM, because the old ones can be painful sometime. I guess in the future we will not see the shoulder restarints anymore. It seems all new rollercoasters are equiped with harnesses in front of the rider.