Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune

[luke7059]

I've just re-watched the BBC documentary 'Shoot for the Moon' on YouTube, and its really made me pine for the classic version of our Space Mountain!

I never got to ride the attraction myself, as when I first visited the park in 2004 I went with my college, we were performing at the Fantasy Festival Stage, we were only at the resort for 3 days so time was tight. When I went back in 2005, I got to ride SM for the first time, however it was already Mission 2.

I've always enjoyed riding Mission 2, but every time I see this documentary, or read what people have written on forums such as this one, I can't help but feeling that this classic attraction should be brought back. The music is so superior, its rich orchestration gives me goosebumps every time i hear it, so I can't imagine how it must have felt combined with the ride itself!

I'm not naïve however, and am aware that this is unlikely to happen

[Disney_Dad]

I agree. Bring back the old soundtrack, but keep the improved cannon launch and some of the new visual effects. And if they could just do something about the roughness of the track all would be perfect.

[luke7059]

yeah i feel a bit battered after i've been on it!

[TDLFAN]

I will never forgive the management at DLP for refurbishing SM with this lame Mission 2 version of the ride. The original version was much better thematically and musically as well.

[davewasbaloo]

To me, the original SM (before it started beating you up), was the best Disney coaster on the planet, and a true piece of art. Once I had the pleasure of 20 rides on it back to back and wanted more, but the park had closed.

But now, since Mission2, I am more likely to skip it than not. One of the biggest miss steps in DLP's history.

[luke7059]

Originally Posted by davewasbaloo

To me, the original SM (before it started beating you up), was the best Disney coaster on the planet, and a true piece of art.

It makes me sad when I read quotes like this, as it just adds to the fact that there's going to be a whole new generation of people that won't ever get to experience De la Terre à la Lune, including myself. What's worse is that many people will never even know it existed, and will assume that Mission 2 is the standard it's always been at.

Would it actually be that difficult for DLP to restore SM back to its former self? Surely the only major changes would be the soundtrack and some of the effects inside? I know the queue was altered too, but were any aspects of the ride itself altered?

[jacoaster]

De la Terre à la Lune was absolutely superb - my favourite attraction at Disneyland Park. It actually felt like you were plunged into the world of Jules Verne; on a spectacular voyage to the moon. Not once did you think you were riding a roller coaster.

Mission 2 to me is just a roller coaster in a building. I often skip it.

I would like to see all these things return:

- The area music
- The onboard soundtrack
- the open queue line
- Blue Moon Mining Co.
- the moon on the lift hill
- The original colour scheme of the trains

Doubt that'll happen though. In a few years times we'll probably see Space Mountain Mission 3: WALL-E's Adventure.

[Zarniwoop]

Retro cars make good money so why not retro attraction? For 20th anniversary DLRP could bring back the good old times - good as new.

[denice25]

i totally agree with that! i love the old soudtrack too..

[davewasbaloo]

The soundtrack and the moon were the two very parts of the original.

[luke7059]

Originally Posted by jacoaster

I would like to see all these things return:

- The area music
- The onboard soundtrack
- the open queue line
- Blue Moon Mining Co.
- the moon on the lift hill
- The original colour scheme of the trains

This is what I want to experience! I'd love to hear music around the attracion, I bet it just adds so much more to the atmosphere!

Here's hoping that for the 20th, DLP decides to do something absolutely amazing, and gives the fans what they actually want from SM. fingers crossed

[pussnboots]

If this were Disneyland, it might have returned by now. The LA Times would have done a nice little story about it and the locals would have cared. (Too much.) But this being Disneyland Paris, they would never do something that drastic without the payoff of a year-long marketing campaign. Same reason they never bother to improve Phantom Manor beyond the absolutely, ridiculously necessary.

It's stating the obvious, but I agree with everyone. Not that I'm a big coaster nut, but the music of the original Space Mountain is still playing somewhere in the back of my mind — it was that good.

Does anyone remember the old preview area (which is now the FastPass entrance)?

[SpaceMTFan]

At this point, the only way to fix Space Mountain roughness is to pull a Disneyland and to replace ALL the track. The main problem if you do that is that due to the nature of the beast (and the track manufacturer), the ride will quickly become unrideable again. One solution would be to go for the new Vekoma "soft harness", which are rubber over the shoulder restraints. This brings up another problem: clearence. Lifting your arms completely exiting the B lift would smash them against an employee walkway...

If money was no object, I'd close the ride down and keeping the same design, would redesign it to allow the soft restraints to be used, making sure clearance is ok everywhere.

[Disney_Dad]

If only they'd stumped up the extra money and gone with the Intamin bid.

[Knossh]

http://micechat.com/forums/members/k...e-mountain.jpg