Space Mountain Closed Now Until November, 2005
Disneyland: A Disney source reveals that the company's internal schedule now has Space Mountain slated to reopen four months *after* Disneyland's 50th anniversary in July, 2005.
Over at MouseInfo, Driftwood (who is a CM that has access to the internal TDA master scheduling computer) has just posted the latest update....
http://www.mouseinfo.com/mousetalk/showthread.php?t=9468
Some things are no surprise, the "bookmark" dates for the Sleeping Beauty's Castle (10/2/2005) and Superstar Limo (10/2/2004) were once again pushed back another year (interesting to note that the "opening" date on both rides matches the start of Disney's fiscal year). I wouldn't plan to see these two attraction open ever again.
But the bigger news... Space Mountain is now slated to reopen November 5th, 2005. Talk about having an effect on the 50th anniversary.
And it is interesting to see them remove the Mark Twain from the refurb schedule, looks like the funding was cut for that....
Michael Eisner & his crew aren't exactly winning any popularity votes in California due to the continuance decay of Disneyland. Main Street stores closing early, understaffed & overworked maintenance workers which has led to serious lack of decor maintenance, TL w/ Space Mountain closed until now Nov. 2005, the denial of the addition of new monrails & Buzz Lightyear, & even the closure of Innoventions (like I care). You notice I didn't mention the constant failures of California Adventure. These mentioned issues that has to do w/ the decay of the Disneyland Resort makes me quite ill to my stomach. These issues have allowed me like others like others to ponder whether Disneyland will ever be improved to the greatness that it once had. Judging by the looks of it now, there is a strong possiblity that it won't & Disneyland will be viewed the same way that we view Six Flags.
It is interesting to note that there is a lot going on at WDW, with new E tickets going into the parks, but poor old Disneyland can't even get funding to fix up the monorails....
True, there are new E-Tickets going into the Florida parks, but God only knows what could go wrong during their development. Remember, Test Track got more than a YEAR behind schedule, it's been having major mechanical issues as of late, and my sources at EPCOT say it may soon see the wrecking ball. Mission Space missed its opening by a year as well. Expedition Everest could take forever to construct, as the engineering for the ride is substantially different from anything the company has done before...meaning new problems.
As for D-Land...well, all I can say is I'm not surprised.
Are we too critical?
This is my question today. Yes it is not a perfect world. The Disneyland opening day was considered as black Sunday. Everything went wrong. They were out of food, drinks,...
Why are we so critical today? Is the Disney experience so bad or are we trying to establish what they could do better?
What are the real needs not fulfilled by the Disney administration? The need for new rides constantly? Is this the real need? Why do we constantly need new rides? Are the actual rides not fulfilling enough? Is it realistic to constantly add new rides? Is the concept only built on rides? Does it mean that no new rides = not interest, no value? Do we only value the ride experience?
I'm wondering what is the real meaning of a theme park. If the heart is the ride, then why invest so much on theming? If the hearth is theming why complain about not enough new rides? What is the breakeven? To what degree?
Could someone help me?
MA Routhier
Montréal Canada
Disney is too slow to develop and construct new rides and attractions, and spend too much money in the process. I think we have a responsibility to be critical of Disney, because it is our money that supports their ventures, and 90% of the time Disney wastes money by overshooting target dates and budgets in developing something that always seems to be underwhealming. Theme park visitors are deveopling shorter and shorter attention spans, and theme parks need to keep up. Most other theme parks are doing a good job keeping up, but Disney is falling behind. Many of their attractions are very magical, but families are looking more for a yearly entertainment destination, and not just a place to entertain the kids once every 10 years.
Disney's constant delays in project completion and overbudget projects are going to cause them to rethink the way they develop attractions.
It is a bit of keeping up with the Jones.....
Here in California, in 2004 we will have three major attractions open, ToT at DCA, Mummy: The Ride at USH, and Journey to Atlantis at SeaWorld San Diego. It is interesting to note that the turnaround time on Mummy is about a year construction time. (Planning and design started earlier). ANd that is gutting out an old attraction (E.T.), retrofitting the building to accept the track, installation of the track, and then the special effects and show scenes. SeaWorld's ride is also taking about a year to build (from scratch).
New rides bring back guests who have been at the park recently, and keeps the park fresh. Disneyland got a big attendance boost when Indiana Jones opened.
Alas, Disneyland seems to keep closing attractions, without replacement.
Circle Vision Theater, People Mover/Rocket Rods, Submarine Voyage, Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough, Festival of Fools, Fantasyland Theater. Now, Space Mountain will be closed for at least 2 and 1/2 years, in a part of the park that needs a big draw. There has to be a way to speed up the project, and I think it would require additional funds, which is why we are going to get the slow poke schedule.
Do we need a new E-ticket every year, no... but on the other hand, when the competition is building them every year (or every other year), then folks notice....
The heart and soul of any park should be the total experience that you receive for the ENTIRE family(Even the infants)
Too many parks go for the teen crowds or the young adults. This needs to change in the industry. I hope I have a positive effect on that one day with my company.
From Anonymous
Posted August 2, 2003 at 1:05 PM
Walt would never approve of this lack of upkeep to our beloved Disneyland.
Send Eisner packing...NOW!
From Jet Nitro
Posted August 3, 2003 at 7:58 AM
I certainly hope between now and 2005 that disneyland is cleaned up,refurbed and made to be the shining jewel that it once was. One way this'll happen is by taking off the head of eisner. Removing him from his position in the company and replacing him with someone who actually can make excellent business decisions on their own is only the first step in getting this company back into the game.
From Anonymous
Posted August 4, 2003 at 5:21 AM
Space mountain needs to be updated. It's pretty tame to todays standards.
Why is all this Disney bashing going on? The company has zero responsibility to maintain perfect little (or big) theme parks for the critical masses longing for yesteryear....True, Disney created a culture that has a special place in all our hearts - it reaches in us and brings joy to the child inside yearning for innocent, pure happiness. BUT, Disney is not a religion to be held accountable for its parishoners, nor is it a government responsible for preserving historic sites or nature reserves. It is what I called it before: A COMPANY, that is dedicated to one ideal...making itself money. And all that mushy stuff about pure joy is what makes Disney so unique...it is a company that provides a product that makes us feel like it is something more. That, unfortunately, does NOT make it responsible to uphold the dreamy conjurings of Walt Disney's mind. That costs them money...Disneyland started out "perfect" in our eyes because it was new, and Walt needed to attract guests to a whole new experience. It is a fact that it is not as hard to create a good service as it is to maintain that same level of service. Why do we think Disney has all the resources in the world available to please the child-like desires of people with too much time on their hands? Go spend one day in Michael Eisner's office and watch what it takes to run a company that owns and operates (on a global scale) umpteen hotels, retail stores, theme parks, television shows, at least 5 cable networks, internet websites, a travel company, and much more!
From Anonymous
Posted August 7, 2003 at 2:20 PM
why would you want to closeit?
also you chose a bad time to do it because it is summer and space mountain is one of the best rides! you should've done this during the year when everyone is in school!
From Anonymous
Posted October 1, 2003 at 10:58 AM
I just got back from Disneyland and have to admit that I was a bit bummed that so many of the "E Tickets" were closed. Splash Mountain-refurbishment, Haunted Mansion-decorating, Space Mountain-total redo and of course Big Thunder-they weren't expecting that one. But I am going to have to say this, Disneyland is wonderful. I go about once a year and have never been dissapointed. Walt wanted it built to be a place that the entire family could go to and enjoy. Which means you need to keep the pretty flowers and trees and such and keep that "happy go lucky" feel alive. If it is such a terrible place to go then why do so many people keep coming? Why is it one of the top destinations in the USA? Frankly there just isn't enough space to expand and build and such in California, that is why he had Disneyworld. Keep Disneyland the Classic, original and it will make so many people happy. I recommend taking the tour, A Walk in Walts Footsteps, it explains so much on his vision and on what he wanted. Everything that is there and done the way it is is because of how he saw it and visioned it. Look at all of the historical aspects of it being there too. The first steel tubular coaster, the forced perspectives on Main Street, the hidden Mickey's, the history behind the trains and steam boat, the hidden places he had built for his family to stay at. So much more to Disneyland than the rides, they just enrich the place, they don't make it. Thanks.
From Anonymous
Posted October 2, 2003 at 8:51 PM
A person wrote "Disney is not a religion to be held accountable for its parishoners, nor is it a government responsible for preserving historic sites or nature reserves. It is what I called it before: A COMPANY, that is dedicated to one ideal...making itself money."
So Disney is NOT accountable???
So if the guests chose to not go, then its the guests fault and not the company's?
Face it. Disney isn't doing very well in the money department. It is cashing in on its goodwill of times gone by. BYE BYE!!!
From Anonymous
Posted October 18, 2003 at 10:20 PM
Great just Great more b****** workers first rocket rods now space mountain its bulls*** 4 rides closed till 2004-2005 and what about rocket rods it will now be a damn buzzlightyear ride if you ask me disneyland is in a slump
I agree. I think that Eisner should resign or retire. The last time I went to DCA, I was on GRR and noticed that California Screamin' had broken down. Then, half an hour later, they closed it for the day. Disney needs more money and a new CEO.
I was at Disneyland for a weeks time when they shut Space Mountain down. I got to ride on it for the first four days I was there, and on the fifth day, it was closed. I was informed by the head person of Space Mountain, that it was closing so suddenly without notice was because the funding they have been waiting for, came in early and unexpected. He told me that they were going to be destroying the whole inside(including the track and everything) and will be rebuilding a different track design and updating everything. I was very disappointed that I didn't get to ride on it again, but yet I am very excited to know that when it does open, my experience will be all new and different. Also, about them having a delay in the re-opening date, SH*T happens. The workers are only human. i rather them take there time and do it right and safe, then rush through it and make a mistake. I feel that people are being sooo critical about it maybe is because Disney has always been this PERFECT place to us growing up, so they continue to expect the same now. As a child, they don't know what's going on, so they are still going to the most magical place on earth. I wish people would stop being so negative all the time, and just learn to enjoy themselves.
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