11/24: Economy Class

[Al Lutz]

Disney World's Space Mt reopens, discuss it here...

DIRECT ARTICLE LINK: MiceAge.com - A different look at Disney...

[sir clinksalot]

Re: 11/24: Economy Class

Thanks for the review Kevin.

A question: Have you not ridden DL's space mountain in awhile? I certainly wouldn't call it smooth by any means. It's in DESPERATE need of a rehab.

I've always preferred MK's Space Mountain anyway, so I'm excited for the changes. I just find DL's ride boring to be honest. Even with the added audio effects.

As for the queue in Disneyland, IMO it wasn't much more than cosmetic despite it's MUCH longer closure and it is now pretty torn up. I do wish they would have replaced the entire track in FL, but not if that meant getting DL's layout. Perhaps it was determined it didn't need the full track replacement like DL's did? If you can make the ride smooth without replacing everything, why wouldn't you?

Can't wait to get to FL and ride one of my favorite Disney coasters.

[Big Dipper 80]

Re: 11/24: Economy Class

I believe that the new portion of the queue located behind that wall used to be stairs that led directly to the postshow while the ride was still sponsored by RCA. Those who did not want to ride the coaster but still wanted to experience the rest of the exhibit could skip the ride and visit the Home of the Future.

[RLS Legacy]

Re: 11/24: Economy Class

Kevin: since you didn't mention it, is it safe to assume any modifications that would allow a "Ghost Galaxy" overlay were not part of the rehab?

[KevinYee]

Re: 11/24: Economy Class

I would love to address the topic of Ghost Galaxy, but in this case, Disney PR is refusing to answer questions (even emailed) and is not making any Imagineers available for interviews. So I'm forced to simply say I don't know.

[KevinYee]

Re: 11/24: Economy Class

I believe that the new portion of the queue located behind that wall used to be stairs that led directly to the postshow while the ride was still sponsored by RCA. Those who did not want to ride the coaster but still wanted to experience the rest of the exhibit could skip the ride and visit the Home of the Future.

I value the input that there used to be a way to see Home of the Future without the ride (I didn't know that), but would this be it? Stairs wouldn't make sense here, as it's all flat right now (were there stairs up and then down? or was the stairs-shortcut in a different location entirely?)

[BC_DisneyGeek]

Re: 11/24: Economy Class

Thanks for the review, a seemingly fair judgement of the good and the bad.

I do find the WDW SM a little more intense, but the atmosphere that the music etc. of the DL ride provides can't be beat.

Glad it got a nice upgrade, but if only they had added a little something more...

[KevinYee]

Re: 11/24: Economy Class

I was not a fan of the DL music when it was new, and preferred the silence (well, whoosh and screaming) of the ride before music. So in that respect, I'm glad WDW doesn't have music yet.

That said, the newer DL music does justice to the ride, so I'm no longer as one-sided about disliking it.

[HighLeveller]

Re: 11/24: Economy Class

FastPass riders went to the right side (Omega) and Standby to the left (Alpha).

Is this always the case? Track-layout diagrams seem to suggest they're mirror images of each other, but I've also heard the left side is a bit more intense. (I've only been on the left side.) It sounds like if someone has a preference for one side they could be stuck with the opposite depending on if they went FP or standby.

[sir clinksalot]

Re: 11/24: Economy Class

I know on my trips to WDW and when using Stand-by or FP we were able to ask to go to one side or the other if we wanted to ride either Alpha or Omega. Which worked out so we could get both credits.

[flynnibus]

Re: 11/24: Economy Class

Is this always the case? Track-layout diagrams seem to suggest they're mirror images of each other, but I've also heard the left side is a bit more intense. (I've only been on the left side.)

They are the same but one is slightly longer (like 10ft I think I remember) just due to the platform locations, etc.

[KevinYee]

Re: 11/24: Economy Class

Alpha and Omega are mirror images of each other. One side has an extra 10 meters (yards? feet?) for the purpose of a 'crossover' track to get to the other side, but otherwise they are the same.

[Timekeeper]

Re: 11/24: Economy Class

Hmmmm, did You ever miss Space Mountain's Loading area not being enclosed?


Timekeeper

[crankypage]

Re: 11/24: Economy Class

Mr. Yee is talking about how long to wait in line for a 35-year-old roller coaster at an amusement park. "Sophie's Choice" is a story where a woman who is forced to decide which of her children to send to die at a Holocaust concentration camp.

Not a big "gosh I'm offended" deal but wow, talk about an out-of-proportion analogy. Did Mr. Yee know what "Sophie's Choice" was when he wrote that sentence, or did he just pick a random pop culture phrase?

[Dustysage]

Re: 11/24: Economy Class

Mr. Yee is talking about how long to wait in line for a 35-year-old roller coaster at an amusement park. "Sophie's Choice" is a story where a woman who is forced to decide which of her children to send to die at a Holocaust concentration camp.

Not a big "gosh I'm offended" deal but wow, talk about an out-of-proportion analogy. Did Mr. Yee know what "Sophie's Choice" was when he wrote that sentence, or did he just pick a random pop culture phrase?

That was hardly the point of his review. And knowing Kevin, I'm certain that he was not trying to be offensive.

Back on track, thank you for the excellent review Kevin. Can't wait to ride it for myself next month.

-Dusty

[Big Dipper 80]

Re: 11/24: Economy Class

Stairs wouldn't make sense here, as it's all flat right now (were there stairs up and then down? or was the stairs-shortcut in a different location entirely?)

If there were stairs there, they would have gone directly down to Unload (which is almost directly below Load. The rockets are sent up another lift to get back to Load) and to the speedramp. It's possible that they were located somewhere else, but that spot seems fairly logical because the guest would have seen the entire RCA preshow and queue, and that spot could lead directly to the speedramp.

[wedway64]

Re: 11/24: Economy Class

There was never stairs behind those partition walls. There are ramps behind them that decend downward to unload. I would imagine they are still there and were not altered during the rehab.

This allowed guests in the early days to visit RCA's post-show without having to ride on the attraction; later still acting as a "chicken exit". It also accomodated some ADA situations between Load/Unload. Also, if a guest was to be given a "re-ride" they would be instructed to head up the ramp back up to Load.

What I haven't seen mentioned that I noticed right away, was the new emergency exit in the queue about right under the railroad tracks. Probably only bugs a few folks, but I would be one of them. I think it looks tacky, and I question why it is needed after 24 years of not being necessary. Kind of breaks up the illusion if you ask me.

[Big Dipper 80]

Re: 11/24: Economy Class

So it was a ramp... sorry! I recalled some way of getting downstairs, and I assumed that they were stairs. So, this ramp would have been located behind the current hallway?

[Chernabog]

Re: 11/24: Economy Class

That was hardly the point of his review. And knowing Kevin, I'm certain that he was not trying to be offensive.

Haha I know, I read that and was like, jeez, that's a little overdramatic. Not offensive, just funny.

Great review though!! Now I don't feel *quite* as bad about missing it during my trip to WDW last month when it was closed.

[kcnole]

Re: 11/24: Economy Class

The cars were unchanged, though perhaps cleaned up.

Not exactly true. While they're still the same cars, they were modified. They apparently received a new wheelbase, and the seats are brand new and can easily have the covers removed and replaced if they're damaged.