Space Mountain

The concept

Attraction is a Russian Montagne in interior what allows the addition of light effects. Thus, certain portions of the rails are invisible. This principle, imagined by Disney, makes it possible to increase the effect of surprised for the visitors and compensates for the absence of some other typical elements of the other Russian mountains. At the time of its opening in 1975, the budget which had been allocated with attraction exceeded that of Disneyland, inflation included/understood.

The first concept dates from the years 1960 and was to be integrated into the project SpacePort of Disneyland. In June 1966, the name of Space Mountain was given to attraction, a few months before the death of Walt Disney. The project SpacePort , which was to allow the rise of the mountain by outside, reappeared only with the French version in 1995.

Currently one can count for Disney six different concepts:

Space Mountain
Space Station 77
Space Mountain: Earth with the Moon
Space Mountain: Mission 2
Space Mountain 2 (in Disneyland, but this name is not official)
Rock it mountain

But they have all joint to be Russian mountains in interior plunged in the darkness.

Various attractions

Currently one counts five buildings accommodating a baptized attraction Space Mountain . Two of them, those of Disneyland and Disneyland Paris, knew two versions of attraction.

The park Europa Park presents since 1989 a clone of named attraction Eurosat in a counterpart of Spaceship Earth (symoble of EPCOT).

Magic Kingdom

The Space Mountain of Magic Kingdom to Walt Disney World Resort is the original version of this famous attraction. It is largest of all and contains two twin courses intermingling. During several years RCA was the sponsor of attraction. In 1995, Fedex replaced RCA until in 2004. Since any sponsor was not announced.

The loading is done on one of the two circuits symmetrically identical except three meters in more for one. On the left the way Alpha , on the right the Omega .

For the continuation to see the description of Space Station 77.

During the years of partnership with RCA , a baptized exposure the House of the habitat of the future ( Home off Future Living room ) was located at the exit of attraction. It included/understood video screen for children, of the disk players laser and other products high-tech sold after RCA at the time. Later with the partnership of Fedex , it included/understood two astronauts floating with a luggage in space, an anthropomorphic robot and a dog robot also with a package, screens diffusing SMTV (see with above). A vessel similar to that of Disneyland baptized FX-2000 is visible from the exit. It was called before the partnership with EDF-Ex XL-2000 .
But after 2004 space was emptied leaving a hole in the topic of attraction. It is possible to hear two songs of Juan Garcia Esquivel: “ Music Makers ” and “ Sentimental Journey ”.

Opening: January 15th 1974
Design: WED Enterprises
Height of the building: 56 Mr.
Diameter of the building: 100 Mr.
maximum Height of the course: 27 Mr.
Angle of most important: 39°
Length of the course:

Alpha : 974 Mr.
Omega : 971 Mr.

Maximum speed: 43,5 km/h.
minimal Size: 1,12 Mr.
Lasted of the course: 2 min. 35 dryness.
Standard of attraction: Russian mountain

Disneyland

The attraction of Disneyland was built after that of Magic Kingdom. It includes/understands only one way instead of both of its elder. The main reason of this reduction is the lack of place available to Disneyland. The height of the building is also reduced. In 1986 the esplanade located at the foot of the “ montagne ” was filled in order to build a cinema 3D, initially for Captain EO, then Chérie, I narrowed the public. Between 1998 and 2005 for the concept of New Tomorrowland , the white of the external walls was replaced by a copper oxydé.
Attraction closed in 2003 for an intense restoration which was completed in 2005. Its topic was re-examined for the occasion with a night version different from the diurnal one.

Opening: May 27th 1977
Closing: April 9th, 2003
Reopening: July 15th, 2005
Design: Walt Disney Imagineering, Vekoma
Many vehicles/rocket: 12
Diameter of the building: 66 m
maximum Drop height: 4,6 m
Height of the building: 36 Mr.
Length of the course: 1052 Mr.
Volume: 51,000 Mr.
Maximum speed: 51,5 km/h.
minimal Size: 1,02 Mr.
Lasted of the course: 2 min. 45 dryness.

Standard of attraction: Russian mountain
Musique

Aquarium of Saint-Saëns' interpreted by Dick Paves (1996-2003)
Space Mountain composed by Michael Giacchino (2005 - present)

Partenaire:

Federal Express train 1993 to 2003

Space Station 77

This version is the variation of that of Magic Kingdom but with only one circuit. The concept is that the visitor comes to embark for a voyage in space. It is to some extent another Star Turns without the universe of Star Wars nor simulator of vol.

Attraction is in the complete black apart from some elements of the decoration.

During the years of partnership with Fedex, the visitors of Space Mountain were diverted in the queue by a futuristic and funny televisual program called SMTV with information. A spot publictaire of the dealer of spaceship Crazy Larry and the video clip Ghost Riders in the Sky of Dick Dale was visible. But SMTV disappeared after the withdrawal from Fedex in 2003 as sponsor from attraction.

Space Mountain 2/Rock It Mountain

In April 2003, Space Mountain closed its doors with Disneyland in order to be renovated and to reopen for the 50 {{E}} birthday of the park. The circuit of the Russian mountain was completely rebuilt with identical by Vekoma and attraction reopened its doors on July 15th, 2005, two days before the beginning of the ceremony of birthday. But the public could rub with attraction as of on July 1st. The topic of attraction was re-examined and the foundations were reinforced by reducing them more in-depth one meter, making attraction surer.

But it is not the only innovation of the attraction which goes already more quickly and less brutally than front. Space Mountain was to be transformed with fallen the night into Rock It Mountain . This version was not to take up duty that in 2006 simultaneously with the new sequence of fall of the Twilight Zone Tower off Terror . The band its usually “ calme ” of Dick Dale by a version much more rock'n'roll including was to be replaced Van Halen and various special effects. These updates were pushed back with a still unknown latter date.

Tokyo Disneyland

Attraction is a clone of the version Space Station 77 of Disneyland. The file of entry is however slightly different because no building, a cinema in 3 dimensions, was built in front. An imposing staircase makes it possible to go up in the “ montagne ”. Attraction closed on October 30th, 2006 and reopened on April 27th, 2007 with a new environment inspired of the “ mission 2 ” French.

Opening: April 15th 1983

Restoration: April 27th, 2007

Design: WED Enterprises
Many vehicles/rocket: 12
Capacity: 6 people
Diameter of the building: 66 Mr.
maximum Drop height: 4,6 Mr.
Height of the building: 36 Mr.
Length of the course: 1052 Mr.
Volume: 51,000 Mr.
Maximum speed: 49 km/h.
minimal Size: 1,02 Mr.
Lasted of the course: 2 min. 45 dryness.
Standard of attraction: Russian mountain

Disneyland Paris

At the beginning of the design of Disneyland Paris, Space Mountain was to be built. But because of the new topic developed in Discoveryland, the version of Disneyland or Magic Kingdom could not be appropriate. Thus the concept of Discovery Mountain was born based on the history from Jules Verne: Of the Earth to the Moon. Attraction could not be built for the opening of the park because of its cost. It was deferred for later. Since 1993, the financial problems of the park compromised the future of attraction. The project was reduced and construction launched in order to attract visitors. The name of attraction was changed at the last minute into Space Mountain: Earth with the Moon .

But for reasons described hereafter the concept was changed into Space Mountain: Mission 2 in 2005.

The concept

The basic concept is a voyage in space but Disney included a system of propulsion to attraction, a gun. It is located on the outside of the mountain and lance the trains of passengers until the top to go down then in the complete black. This idea is not recent and had been evoked since 1966 for first Space Mountain.

In order to like the European, famous customers very demanding, Disney included inversions (loop, corkscrew (gimlet) and horseshoe) in the course. For that it should be added that the thematisation external of attraction is single in its kind (gun + mountain), whereas all other Space Mountain have a white and purified rectilinear thematisation.

Technical informations

Opening: ceremony May 18th, 1995, with the public June 1st, 1995
Reopening: April 9th, 2005
Closing of the topic: 2005
Design: Walt Disney Imagineering, Standard Vekoma
of attraction: Russian mountain with inversion, horseshoe and gimlet

Space Mountain: Earth with the Moon

It is the version of origin of Space Mountain Frenchwoman. Attraction was originally baptized Discovery Mountain , but its name was changed into Space Mountain little before the opening. It is still possible to see the logo DM on rambardes close to the entry or on the stations of “ dispatch ” on the quays of unloadings. the principle of attraction is that the visitor embarks in the epopee of Jules Verne.

In 2004, attraction Visionarium which was partly the source of inspiration of the concept of Discoveryland closed its doors. The decision was made of Re-thématiser Space Mountain. The references to Jules Verne and Georges Méliès were thus withdrawn, that gave rise to Space Mountain: Mission 2 .

Space Mountain: Mission 2

Attraction Space Mountain: Mission 2 is the open version in 2005 of old Space Mountain without references to Jules Verne and Georges Méliès. The decoration thus approaches that of the Space Mountain 2 of Disneyland. The Moon of Méliès was replaced by a supernova exploding. Many visual effects were added, such as the projection of meteors in fusion, of a frozen comet, or the appearance of a “ hypergate ” luminous whirling. A star constellation moving also appeared in the dome of attraction.

The new music of attraction is composed by Michael Giacchino, author, inter alia, of the musics of the Alias series and cartoon film Disney: Indestructibles

The circuit did not change compared to the original of 1995.

The renewal of attraction belongs to the plan of renewal that set up André Lacroix when it was with the head of Euro Disney SCA. To increase the frequentation of the spring in stagnation for several years has been the main motivation to regild the blazon of attraction.

The transformations brought to attraction were also justified by the fact of making attraction more maintainable and more popular than Space Mountain - Earth with the Moon was to it the version.

Nevertheless, almost a year after reopening, the frequentation did not move in spite of an important advertizing marketing, the reliability of attraction does not seem to be improved. Probably, the customers were not mistaken when one promised “ to him; a news attraction ” whereas only the decorations of the queue and the course were changed (the circuit remains indeed the same one).

HongKong Disneyland

Attraction opened at the same time as the park. It is slightly different from the American versions and Japanese woman, because it respectae the topic of Chinese Tomorrowland.

Opening: September 12th, 2005
Design: Walt Disney Imagineering, Vekoma
Many places by vehicles/rocket: 12
Diameter of the building: 66 Mr.
maximum Drop height: 4,6 Mr.
Height of the building: 36 Mr.
Length of the course: 1052 Mr.
Volume: 51,000 Mr.
Maximum speed: 49 km/h.
minimal Size: 1,02 Mr.
Lasted of the course: 2 min. 45 dryness.
Standard of attraction: Russian mountain

Various information

Rock'n'roll “Roller Coaster

Attraction Rock “Roller Coaster is based it also on the concept of mountain Russian in interior and in the black only Space Mountain of Disneyland Paris, also synchronized with music. The circuit is however different there. The departure is also different there since the trains are propelled to horizontal and by linear induction motors (LSM).

For more detail to see the page Rock'n'roll “Roller Coaster, devoted to attraction.

Cyberspace Mountain

In order to pack its offer of feelings, DisneyQuest proposes a version numerical in a flight simulator of Space Mountain it is the Cyberspace Mountain. The Walt Disney Studios proposed also Cyber Space Mountain at the exit of Disney Channel (from now on definitively closed).

External bonds

FeLIX' Space Mountain Fan Pages a site of fan on the French version.
Space Mountain mission 2 the official site on Space Mountain 2.
Space Mountain mission 2 Fan Site the site of reference for the fans of Space Mountain (Site of a Fan, Androland).

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