3/31: To the Moon and Beyond

[Al Lutz]

Guest columnist Alain Littaye takes a look at both the old and new versions of Space Mountain at Disneyland Paris. Talk about his article here!

[wem1985]

Great article!!!!
Thanks you guys!!!!
Only makes me want to go to DLP MORE!!!!!!

[Athlonacon]

Wow, this article is fascinating. You know for 13 years I never knew that DLP was a success from the start, it was only the hotels that brought it down. I always figured that no one ever visited the park in the beginning. Shows how powerful the Disney propaganda machine is, huh?

Anyway, it's so neat to see what might have been and how amazing it would have been. Those conception sketches are so amazing, it'll be interesting to see them come to life after Eisner is gone and the theme park budgets come back. DLP was the catalyst that provoked Eisner to never spend another dime on theme park development again. Before 1992 the money for theme parks flowed, but after that it was like pulling teeth to get funding for new projects. And all thanks to Eisner's obsession over building hotels, which I imagine came from his dismay in Florida when he found out how much money he was losing by only having 3 hotels and forcing people to stay in off-Disney property.

So first he finds that the hotels in Flordia is sorely inadequate, so he commissions tons of hotels to be built and makes lots more money. Then he sees the profits to be made in having guests stay on Disney property so he builds a complex of hotels in Paris then fails and blames it on the Imagineers. The trouble with Eisner is that he never *learns* from his mistakes. It's ALWAYS someone else's fault and never his. If he would just acknowledge that maybe the market wasn't ready for tons of hotels, he could've taken away a valuable lesson. But, obvisouly learning nothing, he's gone on and built 3 hotels from the beginning in a yet-to-be-proven Hong Kong park! I'm sure the Imagineers will be to blame for that too if the park does poorly, despite the fact that they did the best they could under such tight budgets. At this point, just about anyone is better suited to lead Disney than Eisner.

[desertdweller]

Wonderful article, Alain! I'm going to have to go back and read it again because the numerous concept paintings and photos kept distracting me.

[Thriller]

Wait, Disney actually contacted Intamin for this before deciding on Vekoma. Wow, I wish they'd proceded with that!

Great article, Space Mtn is my all time favorite ride. Well, up untill now. I'm not expecting any good from the new mission really...

[MasterGracey]

Fantastic article. It makes me want to visit DLP that much more...

[SilentBob66]

The level of creativity and emphasis on theming in this attraction are quite impressive and definitely show the many strengths of WDI. Unfortunately the corner-cutting aspects in the decision-making process reveal the weaknesses and lack of vision in upper management. But, we already knew that.

I couldn't believe the size of that Columbiad cannon. That thing is truly awesome.

I'm confused as to why, if it was so successful, it was closed so relatively soon after its opening run for a redesign?

I'd also like to know why Disneyland Paris and Tokyo Disneyland aren't advertised at all in the States? They should be advertised at least half as much as the US parks are.

[Jcsdrums]

OMG! Awesome pictures!!! J'aime le Space Mountain!

[Thriller]

I don't think the general public in the US would want to fly all the way to Tokyo or Paris for a Disney park. So advertising those wouldn't make sense.

Why they changed Space Mtn? My guess is to lure some guests in with advertising a "new" experience without actually spending the amount of money they'd need for a new ride. I personally still thinks it kills the creative reason of being for the ride, and area though...

[Evil Minion]

I had never seen some of those concept drawings before.

Very cool.

[Club 33]

Alain, thank you so much for another excelent article.The concept art and all of the photographs were truly stunning. I impatiently await your next article on MiceAge.

[innerSpaceman]

I can't wait to read about the new Mission. (I have my doubts; the original Paris Space Mountain was one of the best rides in the history of the world).

Great concept art, and a fine history of the attraction. Thanks.

[sir clinksalot]

Loved the Article. Can't wait for the next one talking about the differences between "Mission One" and Two.

[Ride Warrior]

To the Moon and Beyond While Eating A Mars Bar

Meteor-ific! You rock, Alain! The descriptive writing and awe-inspiring concept art, combined, is a jounalistic overture for the senses.

The tracks in Space Mountain One (or should one say 1 1/2) appear to be seamlessly invisible. What a remarkable visual effect - makes it seem like the trains are indeed floating in vacuous space. It definitely makes me want to discover and experience DLP's delightful flight of reckless abandon.

The Blue Moon Mining Company looked beyond cool, as did the trains that hurled about while dodging helacious firey meteorites and - like WOW - actualy encircling them (for the most part). It causes me to wonder if crash test dummies were used when the ride was first tested. Poor things. :lol:

Keep up the good work, Alain. I'm looking forward to launching into Mission 2, "Riding the Comet" next time!

[PATMAGIC]

What a brilliant article Alain, can't wait to read about Mission 2 now. Now to wait a whole 5 months before I can ride.

[PumpkinKing!]

WOW awesome article, love the concept art too!

[CyberCoyote]

Great article! I've started printing these historical articles and adding them to my Disney library.

In the "Nothing Imagineered Ever Goes to Waste or Gets Forgotten Department": The concept art for Nemo's Restaurant dates back to the 60s, when there was a planned expansion of Anaheim Disneyland to create a "Discoveryland" that was to themed after late 19th Century San Francisco, complete with a Nautilus in the lagoon. Way back when, there was a Preview Gallery on Main Street that showcased upcoming projects (the idea for a Pinocchio ride was first publicly displayed there, complete with a full-sized marquette of Pinnochio's head, 20 years before it became a reality). Other significant features I remember about the concept art for Discoveryland were the Hyperion (also transported to DLP, although the original idea was of course for an "Island at the Top of the World" ride of some sort) and another facility called "The Fireworks Factory." I can't remember whether it was a shooting gallery or a restaurant, but interestingly enough when Pleasure Island first appeared in WDW one of the original restaurants at the Island was ... The Fireworks Factory.

[ah schucks]

This is everything I imagined our California remake would be. It would have gone along with the 1998 retro feel, its too bad they 1998 remake was so half assed and poorly thought out and executed else we might be looking at the reopening of Disneyland's Dicoveryland or retro Tommorrowland.

I know have a defintive reason to plan a trip to Paris, Thanks Mice Chat staff for giving me a reason to burn my wallet! Love ya guys.

[stitcharielsinbad]

Disneyland's Discoveryland was going to be called Discovery Bay...

Great article, I hope you write about the other attractions that got shafted from DLP's phase 2. Geyser Mountain? That Jeep version of the Jungle Cruise? The Little Mermaid Dark Ride? The Beauty and the Beast AA Show?

[Evil Minion]

Don't forget the restaurant Vulcania.
I think ToonTown was also going to be part of a future expansion phase.
Hopefully some of those attractions will finally become a reality.