Space Mountain/Tommorowland Transit Authority Refurb Start Date & Tentative End Dates

[SpecJoe Magic]

I also hope they do a good refurb. I'm about 6'5" and rode it for the first time in about 5 years during our trip last week. My legs don't fit all the way under the bar and about 1/3 of the way in I knew I made a mistake. The bar kept pounding into my thighs, so I hope this is corrected. And before anyone assumes anything else, I weigh only 205 so for my size I'm not heavy. I just don't fit and would love to ride it without having pain. Mark

You, as well as anyone else that is tall, better hope that they don't put the same type of rockets that they use in Disneyland's Space Mountain into WDW's Space Mountain. Granted, the current WDW rockets are a tight fit, but at least it's possible for tall people to ride in them. I'm 6'9'' while wearing my shoes, and I can ride Space Mountain at WDW in its current state. It's not extremely comfortable, but I have discovered a way to sit that makes it not painful (I slide forward in the seat as much as possible, so that the bar doesn't pinch my thighs). I couldn't fit into the rockets at Disneyland's Space Mountain at all. The lap bars are narrow, and there isn't much leg room either. The Cast Members working the attraction were nice enough to give my wife and me Fastpasses for any attraction in the the park (even though she got to ride it). I saw another tall guy not be able to ride it either. I am very disappointed in the design of Disneyland's Space Mountain rockets. People in general are bigger and taller than they used to be, and Disney should have taken that into consideration when they did the refurbishment for Disneyland's Space Mountain. If they decide to add rockets to WDW's Space Mountain that have side-by-side seating, let's hope they they provide plenty of leg room (much like Expedition Everest) for us tall people.

Just FYI, the 2 and 3 and 4 and 5 seats have ALOT more leg room then the front. I am 6'2 (and former Space CM) and I fit just fine. The lap bar is still tight but not nearly as bad as the front.

You are mistaken. In Space Mountain, there are two individual rockets that are exactly the same design that are hooked together, which makes for 6 riders per vehicle. Therefore, seats 1 and 4 have the same amount of leg room. The same goes for seats 2 and 5. Seats 3 and 6 are the ones with the most leg room. There is one positive thing that seats 1 and 4 have going for them in regards to leg room. There is no seat in front of them, which means that they provide ample knee room. I like seats 3 and 6 the best, but I can manage reasonably well in seats 1 and 4. The only seats I completely avoid are 2 and 5, as they are the middle seats on each individual rocket. They do have more leg room than seats 1 and 4, but it's not enough to make up for the loss of knee room.

[JPL]

I have also heard from several sources that the refurb will most likely take alot longer than the scheduled time frame and to add at least 2 more months to end of the down time.

[Mickey Loves Golf]

I know this topic has been discussed at length already (and I couldn't find the original post - sorry) but I just heard it from a VERY reliable source that they are not touching the track at all during the refurb. This refurb is going to address the queue in the load area. I was told the "suits" just aren't happy with the look AND they want to address the issue of FP and SB lines...the merge. I think they want to get guests back inside to wait rather that standing outside. I was also told they may be putting gates at the load area. How many times have you seen a younger guest trying to step in the rocket while it was still moving??? So that issue needs to be addressed as well I was told. ONE MORE THING...I was told that WALL-E may be added to the exit speed ramp.

So from what I've been told, this sounds more of a spruce up and safety issue rather than a major overhaul.

Take it all with a grain of salt BUT this source hasn't failed me yet LOL.

[scoot241]

I know this topic has been discussed at length already (and I couldn't find the original post - sorry) but I just heard it from a VERY reliable source that they are not touching the track at all during the refurb. This refurb is going to address the queue in the load area. I was told the "suits" just aren't happy with the look AND they want to address the issue of FP and SB lines...the merge. I think they want to get guests back inside to wait rather that standing outside. I was also told they may be putting gates at the load area. How many times have you seen a younger guest trying to step in the rocket while it was still moving??? So that issue needs to be addressed as well I was told. ONE MORE THING...I was told that WALL-E may be added to the exit speed ramp.

So from what I've been told, this sounds more of a spruce up and safety issue rather than a major overhaul.

Take it all with a grain of salt BUT this source hasn't failed me yet LOL.

Link to the thread: http://www.intercot.com/discussion/s...d.php?t=147953

From the first post, quoted from the AP newsletter:

In 1975, we were lucky enough to become home to the original Space Mountain® attraction. And now we’re returning the favor—by
returning the attraction to its “opening day” splendor. Beginning in
April 2009, Imagineers will perform a “space-lift” to make this classic
even better.

Don’t worry. The original elements—from the serpentine track to
the exterior silhouette—will remain unchanged when it reopens later
this year.

Not saying your source is wrong, but in my opinion the AP newsletter saying the original elements "will remain unchanged" and your source saying the suits are "unhappy with the look" are contradictory. Of course, who really knows what's going to happen.

[Imagineer1981]

From working there I know that it needs a face lift, many of the effects are dated and the inside queue really needs some freshening. Hopefully the few cosmetic changes will help!

[Luv Eeyore]

Still wish they would bring the changes from the DL SM to WDW.

[PrettyMinnie]

Glad they are putting in some updates!

[Ian]

Still wish they would bring the changes from the DL SM to WDW.

[Stu29573]

I , for one, am glad that the ride isn't being changed much. Still, it doesn't seem to me like the changes you mentioned would take that long...of course it could be more involved than what I'm picturing...

[brer frog]

Are they changing the exit queue any?

be neat if they added new holograms to the entrance queue.

[DisneyNut2005]

Still wish they would bring the changes from the DL SM to WDW.

Personally, I think that they're going to.

[CleveRocks]

Link to the thread: http://www.intercot.com/discussion/s...d.php?t=147953

From the first post, quoted from the AP newsletter:


Not saying your source is wrong, but in my opinion the AP newsletter saying the original elements "will remain unchanged" and your source saying the suits are "unhappy with the look" are contradictory. Of course, who really knows what's going to happen.

I disagree with your conclusion. I think they are saying EXACTLY the same thing!

The "original elements" that will remain unchanged are the original elements of the ride itself ... you know, the track. "Unhappy with the look" means unhappy with the areas that people walk through ... you know, the 1970s version of what the future would look like. In the 70s it looked very modern and cool, but now it looks "quaint," like looking into a time capsule.

Those two quotes are saying exactly the same thing to me.