hello, i was just wondering. Why is paris space mountain so unique and diffrent to other disney parks around the world and much more of a thrill ride than the other versions (aka: the launch and loops) ?
(//http://www.mousepal.com/ParkPics/Space%20Mountain.jpg)
Florida Space Mountain
(//http://www.familygruber.net/gallery/200608_paris/pics/2006-08-17-013-Disneyland-P.jpg)
Paris Space Mountain
(//http://www.coastergallery.com/2000/SpaceMountain1.jpg)
Floridas Trains (I think)
(//http://www.coasterforce.com/plugins/p17_image_gallery/images/4567.jpg)
Disneyland Paris Train
Its not that i wish we had the more common space mountain, to be honest ours is much more better and thrilling.
I hate to self-promote, but you might find this page interesting:
http://www.dlrpmagic.com/guides/disneyl ... eering.htm (http://www.dlrpmagic.com/guides/disneylandpark/discoveryland/spacemountainmission2/imagineering.htm)
QuoteDisneyland Park in Paris opened on 12th April 1992 with state-of-the-art versions of many classic Disney attractions. The park took Imagineering to a new level with its sumptuous design and intricate details, and attempted to connect the stories and dreams of Disney with European heritage. This was evident more so than anywhere else in Discoveryland, a new twist on the classic Tomorrowland theme. The Imagineers working on the project knew that, in developing the new park, they had to address the problems caused by the Tomorrowland theme at other magic kingdom parks. Every ten or so years, the attractions, themeing and visions of the future would become wildly out of date as technology advanced faster than they could renew the attractions. They were also aware that the ultra-clean-cut American optimism and loud, bold white designs of Tomorrowland might not wash too well with European tastes. And so, the 'Discoveryland' concept was born. A land that would present visions of the future from throughout the ages, with the classical European visionaries such as Jules Verne and Leonardo Da Vinci taking centre stage.
The Space Mountain story is looooong... Basically, it looks different because the land has a different theme (the future as seen from the past), and it's much more thrilling because WDI knew guests (and particularly Europeans for some reason) expect higher thrills these days.
Above all, ours was built 1995 - Florida's was the first, back in 1975.
Does anybody no if the florida version is bigger and is it any good?
And thanks for explaining the topic Ballo :)
The Florida version is 'bigger' in that the mountain is wider and taller, because there are two tracks inside the building. Space Mountain in Orlando is considered the worst(though still good), as it goes the slowest and lacks an onboard soundtrack like all the others do.
Baloo makes the valid point that time plays an important part in quality, but Space Mountain Mission 2 was created ten years after Space Mountain: De La Terre A La Lune and it's nowhere near as good.
In my opinion i found the Florida Space Mountain very boring. Its just a rollercoaster in the dark, no music, no lights or planets etc. And i felt like i was gonna bang my head on the bits of track overhead everything felt so low :S
The only two rides i preferred at DLRP than FLorida was Space Mountain and POTC.
Quote from: "Lordofthemightybeasts"Baloo makes the valid point that time plays an important part in quality, but Space Mountain Mission 2 was created ten years after Space Mountain: De La Terre A La Lune and it's nowhere near as good.
Mission2 is not really any different to de la terre a la lune, apart from projections and the altered storyline, everything else is the same such as track etc :wink: . So not really created, more of a kind of rethink of the creation suppose you could say :wink: .
One of the reasons why our Space Mountain is more thrilling is that thrill rides are quite popular here in Europe. Ofcourse they are aswell in the US, but back in the 70s Space Mountain was thrilling in its own right. Nowadays its a popular classic so they wont change it too much.
In the 80s and 90s Disney investigated what people in Europe were looking for in a themepark. The result was that a combination of thrill and a strong storyline are the perfect mix for most Europeans. Think about it; Indiana Jones, Space Mountain, Rock 'n RollerCoaster, Crush's Coaster, Tower of Terror etc. We have the most thrill-oriented Disney Resort of all.
So, thats my version of the story. Maybe I'm wrong on this, but as far as I know it's no coincedence that we have such a thrilling Space Mountain.
Quote from: "PATMAGIC"Mission2 is not really any different to de la terre a la lune, apart from projections and the altered storyline, everything else is the same such as track etc :wink: . So not really created, more of a kind of rethink of the creation suppose you could say :wink: .
The track may be the same, but the experience is really different. Mission 2 is completely emotionless and has absolutely no atmosphere(pun not intended :wink: ). The vital difference is that while Mission 2 is thrilling, De La Terre A La Lune was exciting- the emotionally detached Mission 2 could never take us to the heights of the original. Space Mountain Mission 2 also attempted to removed the whole Jules Verne theme of the ride, leaving a mix and match of Victorian(mountain, Columbiad, Electro De Velocitor) and modern(sattelite photos, radios) with even a few retro 70s elements(disco ball stars, projections in the mountain). This creates a completely nonsensical view of the future-
Why are you being loaded into a Victorian cannon while a modern radio system plays a countdown?The genius of the original lay in the idea that you weren't going into space itself, but a stylised Victorian vision of space. By giving the ride a destination to reach, it allowed a rollercoaster to have a three act structure(the launch, trip to the moon, journey back to earth), and it made you feel all the more triumphant when you made it back to the station. Space Mountain De La Terre A La Lune may be gone, but I'll never forget the short ten years when Disneyland Paris had the Greatest Ride In The Universe. :(
Oh yeah, and Mission 2 has rubbish music...
Quote from: "PATMAGIC"Quote from: "Lordofthemightybeasts"Baloo makes the valid point that time plays an important part in quality, but Space Mountain Mission 2 was created ten years after Space Mountain: De La Terre A La Lune and it's nowhere near as good.
Mission2 is not really any different to de la terre a la lune, apart from projections and the altered storyline, everything else is the same such as track etc :wink: . So not really created, more of a kind of rethink of the creation suppose you could say :wink: .
I never went on Space Mountain: De La Terre A La Lune, but have they changed the music on Space Mountain: Mission 2 or is it the same as the old ride?
I love the Music to Space Mountain: Mission 2, its amazing how it fits the ride. I dont no what id think of Space Mountain: Mission 2 without the music.
The music for Space Mountain De La Terre A La Lune is really quite different from Mission 2. It's performed by a full orchestra and on a much more grand, epic scale. You can download it from The Sound Of Magic here:
//http://www.soundofmagic.com/sounds/dlp/discoveryland/SpaceMountainTheme.mp3
Some reference points:
00:00- The trains leave the station. Unlike Mission 2, the original has music before launching.
00:18- The trains reach the first parking point in the cannon and wait there.
00:28- The trains move up the cannon to the launching point and wait there.
00:49- The trains are launched into the mountain.
00:56- The trains enter into the first helix around the edge of the mountain.
01:04- The trains go down the large swooping curve into the loop.
01:07- The trains enter the sidewinder loop
01:09- The trains exit the sidewinder and go through the Blue Moon Mining Company machine.
01:15- The trains enter the first brake run and go through the Mother Of Meteors.
01:19- The trains drop down from the MOM and gain speed.
01:24- The trains drop down and into the corkscrew.
01:28- The trains exit the corkscrew, making a sharp upward turn to the right.
01:33- The trains start on the lift hill, going up to see a projection of a moon with a smiling face.
01:42- The moon's smile turns to a frown as the trains leave the lift hill and gravity begins to take hold of them again.
01:51- The trains enter the tongue loop.
01:53- Leaving the tongue loop, the trains enter the final helix.
02:03- The trains hit the Electro De Velocitor brakes then make their way back to the station.
02:15- The trains arrive back at the station.
I personally prefer the original, as it brought so much more emotion to the ride, and made it feel more epic and adventurous.
i think space mountain in WDW is better (no offence DLP lol) coz not every 1 likes high action thrill rides and plus theres the historical background with it but i love the theme of DLP and the outside design is out of this world :)
Quote from: "Lordofthemightybeasts"Some reference points:
00:00- The trains leave the station. Unlike Mission 2, the original has music before launching.
00:18- The trains reach the first parking point in the cannon and wait there.
00:28- The trains move up the cannon to the launching point and wait there.
00:49- The trains are launched into the mountain.
00:56- The trains enter into the first helix around the edge of the mountain.
01:04- The trains go down the large swooping curve into the loop.
01:07- The trains enter the sidewinder loop
01:09- The trains exit the sidewinder and go through the Blue Moon Mining Company machine.
01:15- The trains enter the first brake run and go through the Mother Of Meteors.
01:19- The trains drop down from the MOM and gain speed.
01:24- The trains drop down and into the corkscrew.
01:28- The trains exit the corkscrew, making a sharp upward turn to the right.
01:33- The trains start on the lift hill, going up to see a projection of a moon with a smiling face.
01:42- The moon's smile turns to a frown as the trains leave the lift hill and gravity begins to take hold of them again.
01:51- The trains enter the tongue loop.
01:53- Leaving the tongue loop, the trains enter the final helix.
02:03- The trains hit the Electro De Velocitor brakes then make their way back to the station.
02:15- The trains arrive back at the station.
I personally prefer the original, as it brought so much more emotion to the ride, and made it feel more epic and adventurous.
you forgot to mention that the two stops in the launch are there so you can actually be loaded in the columbiad..
and ever since it opened I never saw the moon turn in a frowny face, just the friendly smile that rotated slowly as you got closer.
either way you're right that the original is better in a way that it actually had a story, instead of an excuse to go really fast in outer space...
though I like both versions just as much, the changing of the story from "de la terre a la lune" to "this time we recalibrated the canon to shoot you past the moon to the reaches of outer space" did not work for me... M2 is just a great thrill ride what makes it good, but the original was a lot more "emotional" due to the original story and epic soundtrack...
and lets not forget the queue that used to look into the ride, with the track going over it, under it and around it... sensational thrillbuilder, which was replaced by the, too dark to be comfortable, emotionless, closed up, covered with sat pics, dull queue...
Anyway... back to topic... The original Space Mountain in WDW is actualy nothing more than an exact copy of the matterhorn over at Disneyland, when this was a succes, they made a smaller SM in Disneyland as well, which has been updated recently by a similar soundtrack as Disneyland Paris' version and the same lighting effects (they wanted a same experience as DLRP), but without the projections and props, making this an enjoyable ride (its really fast and the music helps to fool your brain it's even faster), but just kind of a pathetic version of the paris missed chance Mission 2 update.
[sarcasm]The new space themes are SOOOOO cool in disneyland[/sarcasm], that the Rockin' version of space mountain is actually better fitting to it, than the star field design.
so all that being said, Tim Delaney did a great job designing DLRP's eleborate beauty, but the new imagineering crew messed up a great opportunity to redo the new classic that opened up a whole new level of coasters around the world.
I was just wondering, on space mountain when it launches you. You go fast then when you get to the top of the mountain you slow right down, why is this ?
Quote from: "Owain"I was just wondering, on space mountain when it launches you. You go fast then when you get to the top of the mountain you slow right down, why is this ?
If the trains continued travelling at the speed they were launched at, the following ride inside the mountain would be uncomfortably as well as unsafely fast. When you enter the mountain you have plenty of potential energy to gain high speeds. In fact, most of the ride takes place below the dome section of the mountain to keep it going fast.
Originally you weren't to be slowed down as much at the top, but soon before the ride opened in 1995 the French government deemed it unsafe, so it had to be slowed down.
Quote from: "Lordofthemightybeasts"Quote from: "Owain"I was just wondering, on space mountain when it launches you. You go fast then when you get to the top of the mountain you slow right down, why is this ?
If the trains continued travelling at the speed they were launched at, the following ride inside the mountain would be uncomfortably as well as unsafely fast. When you enter the mountain you have plenty of potential energy to gain high speeds. In fact, most of the ride takes place below the dome section of the mountain to keep it going fast.
Originally you weren't to be slowed down as much at the top, but soon before the ride opened in 1995 the French government deemed it unsafe, so it had to be slowed down.
Also it is known as a trim break, if you wanted to know that slows a rollercoaster train down like happpens at the top of the cannon.
Thank you, i had a feeling it was that the roller coaster would enter the dome to fast. But my mate said it was so you felt as if you were going through the Earth's atmosphere. And we didnt no who was right :shock:
My last time on Space Mountain: Mission 2 scared the pants off me. We were coming up the hill where the video of the explosion is and (we were in the very last 2 seats) just as the front seats went over the edge into the drop - it broke down.
We were stuck there in the dark for about 5 mins with the video on a loop and the damn song playing. Every time it comes on my iTunes I shudder to think how scared I was for those 5 minutes!
For some reason Space Mountain: Mission 2 has a problem for breaking down alot, me and my friends queued up a couple of times and it broke down.
Quote from: "Owain"For some reason Space Mountain: Mission 2 has a problem for breaking down alot, me and my friends queued up a couple of times and it broke down.
It's a vekoma coaster, reason explained :wink: :lol: .
Quote from: "Owain"I love the Music to Space Mountain: Mission 2, its amazing how it fits the ride. I dont no what id think of Space Mountain: Mission 2 without the music.
The thing is, it doesn't really fit the ride like the original soundtrack did. It's just a piece of music that has a start, an end and two intervals. De La Terre A La Lune's soundtrack was used exactly like a film score to underscore all of the sights and sensations you experience. Take the launch- the original's buildup on brass and strings represents the trains acceleration into outer space, emphasising the speed you are travelling at. Mission 2's music simply fades in from nothing.
Then Lift B- the original soundtrack swelled into a grand, romantic version of the main theme on strings when you reached the smiling moon. The beauty of the music tells the rider that this is in fact the most wonderful thing they've ever seen and they can't help but smile (trust me :D ). At this point Mission 2's soundtrack fades out to thematic silence, leaving the lacklustre special effects to do all the work for themselves.
Later, as you leave the tongue loop and enter into the final helix the original score bursts into an exciting, rousing rendition of the main theme, underscoring one of the most fun sections of the track perfectly. Here Mission 2's soundtrack begins building up to the Electro De Velocitor brake run. However, as it is doing that it is ignoring the thrill of that last helix in anticipation of the next climactic event.
Finally, as the trains make their way back to the station you are given a returning hero fanfare on the trumpets and drums, giving the rider a real sense of acheivement that they made it back from such an exciting journey. For Mission 2, the returning music is some synth filler, including 50s sci-fi theremones, all played in a minor key. Where the original went out in a blast of strings and drums, Mission 2 once again fades out on a synth note.
All the art-work of the never built Discovery mountain project for disneyland paris can be seen on Disney and more at:
http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2007/ ... oject.html (http://disneyandmore.blogspot.com/2007/04/disneyland-paris-discoveryland-project.html)
does space mountain in dlrp have inversions, my brother wants to ride but hates being upside down, so won't ride rock n roller coaster
Quote from: "mtt"does space mountain in dlrp have inversions, my brother wants to ride but hates being upside down, so won't ride rock n roller coaster
Indeed there are three, and I consider SM to be a little wilder than RNRC - RNRC is at least a smooth ride.
thanks for the quick answer, hes been on space mountain in wdw, and heard there was a lot of difference
Quote from: "mtt"thanks for the quick answer, hes been on space mountain in wdw, and heard there was a lot of difference
Yeah, the paris version is cool :)
In the Space Mountain Paris you seem to get thrown about a bit too much which makes it less enjoyable. I was on myself last year (my husband had to watch the kids) with this Spanish guy and he was screaming like a girl and we both felt our heads we rocking around a bit too much. We couldn't speak each others language but both had a good laugh about our brains rattling around our head!! I like Rock N Roller much better, loud music and a much smoother ride - it is fab. I have been on the Orlando Space Mountain and I find it pretty good too. :minnie:
When I was in wdw in 2005 we were on the tta, and as it went thru space mountain the ride wasn't working, the lights when on and you could see the full tracks, it looked quite compact
I'd love to be on SM when it broke down and for all the lights to be turned on, it'd be great to see all the track! :D
I'v been on the SM in Paris and the one in Florida and athough they're both great i prefare the Paris one, it's just so much more exciting and faster. :P
See now with all this talk of SM breaking down I'm scared it's going to break down while im upside down at the top of an inversion... Hahaa...
Quote from: "x-charlotte-x"I'd love to be on SM when it broke down and for all the lights to be turned on, it'd be great to see all the track! :D
I'v been on the SM in Paris and the one in Florida and athough they're both great i prefare the Paris one, it's just so much more exciting and faster. :P
i have actually just found a video of SM with the lights on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoEd8rGhKEM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoEd8rGhKEM)
Quote from: "Dlrpfan"Quote from: "x-charlotte-x"I'd love to be on SM when it broke down and for all the lights to be turned on, it'd be great to see all the track! :D
I'v been on the SM in Paris and the one in Florida and athough they're both great i prefare the Paris one, it's just so much more exciting and faster. :P
i have actually just found a video of SM with the lights on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoEd8rGhKEM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoEd8rGhKEM)
That looks cool, the drops feel a lot bigger than they actually look when you can't see them.
//http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78Yii9q41KQ
Here's a video of Space Mountain: De La Terre à La Lune with the lights on after the train stopped on Lift B. Notice that it is the only train inside the mountain, which suggests the breakdown occured in the cannon... or it was just quiet.
That first video isn't the DLRP Space Mountain though is it? It looks really tame compared to our version.
The first video is of Florida's much older version of Space Mountain, it is much more tame and includes no inversions or the victorian themeing space mountain in Paris has :wink: .
I think it'd be quite exciting to have to get out of the cars and walk out of SM, it'd certainly add to the magic and be a unique experience getting to have a look around with all the lights on. :ears:
I've only been to paris but Iwant to know how many loops are in the one at the other parks... please can any one help me?
Quote from: "disney_dudette"I've only been to paris but Iwant to know how many loops are in the one at the other parks... please can any one help me?
Do u mean how much loops the versions in the other parks have? if that is the case the answer is Paris is the only one with loops.
Hello, today may 3rd on disney and more, full report on the building of DLP space mountain with artwork and photos of the model !
:bump: Does anyone no if the Cannon is moving again when it launches the rockets ?
It wasn't past weekend and the weekend before, but the smoke was working.
Yeah. Those breaks in the cannon are for our own good
Does anyone know if the music during the ride and the cannon are working again, or if the plan to do something about it? at least for next summer season?
Our one doesn't seem to have as much known about it! :p
Warning: this is a video that contains our scarier ride with lights on (for 2:40)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78Yii9q4 ... re=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78Yii9q41KQ&feature=related)
Quote from: "Filip"Does anyone know if the music during the ride and the cannon are working again, or if the plan to do something about it? at least for next summer season?
The music works in some trains. I'm told that its fixed every night, but breaks down again during the day. (Although all trains had music past friday).
I haven't seen the recoil mechanism work for ages, but the smoke is still on, even inside the mountain at M.O.M. and the wormhole entrance.
Have any of the trains had new bearings recently , this ride seems to get rougher and rougher...
Quote from: "ightenhill"Have any of the trains had new bearings recently , this ride seems to get rougher and rougher...
The ride is a vekoma coaster, enough said, nothing can stop a rollercoaster made by vekoma getting rough :P . Plus it doesn't feel that rough lately, just depends where you sit :wink: .
I hate vekoma... :x :x But im sure it used to be smoother than this
Quote from: "ightenhill"I hate vekoma... :x :x But im sure it used to be smoother than this
Space Mountain is this rough because of the wheels they used at the time, now the day they use another technique for the wheels, al least i think it was that if it is Space Mountain just needs some new wheels and it will be more smooth than it is now. :D But not every Vekoma is rough, there are a lot of smooth Vekoma coasters like Rock 'n' Rollercoaster. :wink:
Quote from: "ightenhill"Have any of the trains had new bearings recently , this ride seems to get rougher and rougher...
In fact I had a surprisingly smooth ride last time.
Quote from: "mehdi5"Quote from: "ightenhill"I hate vekoma... :x :x But im sure it used to be smoother than this
Space Mountain is this rough because of the wheels they used at the time, now the day they use another technique for the wheels, al least i think it was that if it is Space Mountain just needs some new wheels and it will be more smooth than it is now. :D But not every Vekoma is rough, there are a lot of smooth Vekoma coasters like Rock 'n' Rollercoaster. :wink:
Well - you should go to WalibiWorld in the Netherlands then. They have an exact copy of RNRC which is a bit older; I can assure you that if that is what RNRC will feel like in 3 years, you will not repeat that statement again.
It must be said that in WalibiWorld, the ride is out in the open and suffers from the weather influences, but still - NOT COMFORTABLE :o)
QuoteWell - you should go to WalibiWorld in the Netherlands then. They have an exact copy of RNRC which is a bit older; I can assure you that if that is what RNRC will feel like in 3 years, you will not repeat that statement again.
It must be said that in WalibiWorld, the ride is out in the open and suffers from the weather influences, but still - NOT COMFORTABLE :o)
I have been there, i live in the Netherlands. but you can't exactly judge it because they have the same layout, the version in Walibi has the original standard Vekoma trains but i think with the most rough Vekoma trains can easily be modified a bit to make the ride smoother. But the statement all Vekoma rides are rough is very untrue just look at Big Thunder Mountain that's also a vekoma, and you have Expedition Everest that's also a Vekoma. and the Python in the Efteling is not rough since it's new trains. But i think Space Mountain just needs some new wheels and they need some effects and the music system.
Sory if I ask now a stupid question, but what in fact is Vekoma ? :oops:
:offtopic: Vekoma is one of the biggest manufacturers of Rollercoasters and other types of attractions, it's a Dutch company that developed a lot of the coasters we know, such as BTM, RnRC, Space Mountain etc. though they have rides all over the world...
Now back to Space Mountain then? :wink:
Thank you ! And from where do you all now that SM is made by Vekoma ? Sorry for being so stupid, but I once saw a special like a making of for SM and Vekoma was not mentioned. So I'm just curious how so many of you knows it's a Vekoma ride. :oops:
So,
1. it has the typical Vekoma tracks (MK 1200)
2. The restraints are the Vekoma restraints
3. If you have not dealed with the manufacturers of amusement rides and roller coasters just look here: //http://www.rcdb.com and search for space mountain.
4. Vekoma (and Intamin) deliver many Rollercoasters for Disney Parks.
So you see it is clear that this one was build by Vekoma. For Vekoma Space Mountain was the perfect project to test launch systems and the one from SM was not perfect so they changed to LSM (Linear Induction Motor) for the new ones like Xpress (Walibi World) and RnR. Just the new Vekoma launch coaster Booster Bike at Toverland uses again another system.
Thank you very much ! Now I have learbed. :wink:
Hi
Is RnR a LIM coaster? I always thought it was until our last trip when it was pointed out you can see a " catapult trolley" moving back & forwards in the centre of the track at the countdown point.
Can anyone confirm if RnR is LIM or catapult
Thanks
No, not really. They use the LSM (Linear Synchron Motor) system and not the LIM (Linear Induction Motor) system.
Yeah you are right that they have a trolley. Mostly all other manufacturers launch the train directly, but here the train locks in the trolley and this one will be launched by LSM.
I don't know why, but perhaps it has something to do with the train. If they want to launch the train directly, they need to install the magnets or whatever under the train and this is propably not so easy, because of their track system concerning the brakes.
LOL I hope you can understand what i mean. (I'm from Germany) ;)
Actually thinking about it the rides comfort could be radically improved with a new harness design. The current ones seem to be just specially designed to sandpaper your ears.
Then again maybe I should try holding on :D
Quote from: "mehdi5"Space Mountain is this rough because of the wheels they used at the time, now the day they use another technique for the wheels, al least i think it was that if it is Space Mountain just needs some new wheels and it will be more smooth than it is now. :D But not every Vekoma is rough, there are a lot of smooth Vekoma coasters like Rock 'n' Rollercoaster. :wink:
No matter how smooth you make the wheels, the track is still a Vekoma. The reason Vekoma is one of the biggest roller-coaster manufacturers in the world is simply because they're cheap as chips. They're basically the rollercoaster equivalent of McDonalds - you pay for what you get. And the reason for the roughness is Vekoma's notorious track joins, where one section is welded to the other.
And RNRC isn't as rough because it's newer, better designed (less sharp turns and vicious inversions) and significantly slower. But it does seem to be showing its age: when I went on a few months ago I found it very uncomfortable at points.
Quote from: "raptor1982"In fact I had a surprisingly smooth ride last time.
Smooth? :shock: Or was it still rough but smoother than usual. :P I almost swore never to go on SMM2 again after my last visit - I really hurt my shoulders :oops:
when we went in September we found the back really bad but the front was ok
i think its fine :S compared to some rides i have been on it feels like its a small world :P
Quote from: "smurfy74"when we went in September we found the back really bad but the front was ok
I sat in the back so that might be why it was so painful :shock: I shall sit in the front next time :lol:
Always sit at the front if you can, you get a smoother ride and you get to see all of the effects really well :)
And if you don't sit there, try to sit at 3, 5, 7, 9 or 11.
Not at 2, 4, 6, 8 or 12. It's not only bad for you view, but also for you knees.