Space Mountain Refurbishment Details Emerge
As reported by the Orlando Sentinel:
Walt Disney World is now more than a month into the seven-month rehab of Space Mountain, and details are trickling out about the changes in store for the venerable roller coaster.
The resort last week filed a construction notice thought to be tied to the Magic Kingdom’s indoor coaster; it calls for the installation of an “interactive queue” and audio-visual upgrades. The notice has touched off speculation that Space Mountain could be in line for an electronic-game-filled queue similar to the one Disney installed at Epcot’s Soarin’ in 2007.
Disney officials, who have been relatively tight-lipped about the Space Mountain changes, previously had said only that the 34-year-old attraction would get a new queue enclosure. They also have said the renovations will include new track — though the layout will remain the same — and a new ceiling.
The Reedy Creek Improvement District puts the rehab’s value at $12.3 million. The ride is scheduled to reopen Nov. 21.
While the interactive exhibits in the queue come as a bit of a surprise, it is has been rumored for sometime that the end of the queue where the attraction loads will be enclosed to make the overall on-ride experience much darker. While the Orlando Sentinel article doesn’t have many details, inside sources have suggested that there will be few other special “surprises” in the queue, ride, and even the exit portion when the attraction returns this winter. Stay tuned to WDW News Today as we get more information on the ongoing refurbishment of Space Mountain.
UPDATE: D23 just posted the following:
New track, a new ceiling and audio-visual upgrades will be in store when Space Mountain re-opens on November 21 after a planned refurbishment.