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[Magic M]

I first went to Disneyland Paris a year or so after Space Mountain opened (the year HoneyISTA opened) so I have never seen Discoveryland sans Space Mountain?

What was in its place?  Just a big open courtyard?  A lake?  Some elaborate sculpture?

If anyone can post pictures then that would be great!!

Magic M

[-breeno-]

When i first went Space Mountain was opened for two years, so i as well missed the pre-space mountain discoveyland.  I don't think i've actually seen any photos of Discoveryland before SM but i'd love to.  I think it was just a field and from what i heard people didn't think it would fit in Discoveryland

[Willow]

The only pictures I have seen are from my first visit in 1992, obviously I couldn't remember anything as I was 2 at the time. The pictures I saw a few months ago were taken from Central Plaza towards Discoveryland, the skyline is very empty.

[Riebi]

Hm I remember a bit. It wasn´t "empty" in any way at this time. There was a bigger flower-thing and the center piece was a great hyperion over all and the orbitron. But the hyperion was the main eye-catcher if you ask me. You ´ve looked more to the left. Today you look more to the center of the land but cause this clever flowerthing and the wonderful hyperion they get your view to the right place. You never could thing about something like space moutain in this place in this times  :mrgreen:
I looked some old pictures not long ago were you could clearly see the land but I must first search again!

[marni1971]

Long time lurker, but I just joined to post this photo; as you can see the Space Mountain site was surrounded by trees and landscaping, and was nothing more than rough ground.

[davewasbaloo]

Indeed it was quite dull, the landscape was like the flowers you see near autopia and some larger expanses of concrete.  But what was cool was they used to have Chewbacca, Ewok and C3PO meet and greets.

[Parkfisch]

If someone is able to get the German version of the "Euro Disney Grand Opening" you can see Thomas Gotschalk riding the (Euro) Disneyland Railroad. There is also a great view of the trees and the green ground.
BTW: The current walkways around Space Mountain weren't there too. There was only one way: To Star Tours and Captain EO (now HISTA), then you had to go back.

[Timbo]

As I remember it pre Space Mountain ,I thought that they could never fit such a large building into the area,and was amazed when it was built as there just didn't seem to be room for it before !

[Riebi]

Yes that´s the real interesting thing. You never expected such a building there. It was absolute fitting without space mountain and after space mountain you ask yourself how the land could excist before it :lol: Disney magic!

[ST_212]

If you got the books below then there's a photo of Discoveryland before Space Mountain was constructed.

Walt Disney Imagineering - Page 181 - looks so empty without the vast structure

Disneyland Paris, From Sketch to Reality - Page 273 - again no structure, and looking very empty.

(I've got a collection of books on the place as I'm training to be a architect specialising in theme park design)

I'll see if I can uploads some photos for you soon.

ST

[CafeFantasia]

Check out these photos on ThemeParkReview.com, during Space Mountain's construction:

http://www.themeparkreview.com/europe20 ... paris1.htm

[CentralPlazaPerson]

marni71's pic
the land looks just like the shape of space mountain    it's as if it was always ment to be there.

[CentralPlazaPerson]

What?  :?  :lol:

[Agent Lex]

Just spam. Been reported, nothing to see here.

[CentralPlazaPerson]

more here !!! //http://www.photosmagiques.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=5785