When you think of the words “Disneyland Paris”, you always think of “Space Mountain”. For all the advancements made at Pirates of the Caribbean, Phantom Manor and Big Thunder Mountain, it’s the updated version of Disney’s 1975 thrill which really put Disneyland Resort Paris on the map back in 1995.
Launching a new generation of Disney thrills
A unique launch cannon, a first-of-its-kind synchronised on-board sountrack, three inversions and a theme based upon one of the most legendary works of an historic French visionary. Space Mountain: De La Terre à la Lune had it all, and soon became known as “the best Space Mountain” and even one of the best thrill rides in the entire world. Roller coaster fans would visit the resort for Space Mountain and Space Mountain alone. Tim Delaney was crowned a modern master of Imagineering, Steve Bramson was applauded for his grand, heart-pounding musical score.
But alas, after 140 years of inspiring the world, it apparently took only 10 years for Verne’s “De la Terre a la Lune” to lose its “relevance” to the guests at Disneyland Resort Paris. On 9th April 2005, Space Mountain: Mission 2 was officially launched. New special effects, a longer launch, a cannon with fully functioning effects and a repainted mountain — not to mention a brand new musical score by none other than Michael Giacchino. Fans may have been sad to lose the grandeur of Jules Verne, but Space Mountain again had a sense of life and excitement.
Columbiad’s “boom” is luckily still intact.
Visit Disneyland Park today, and that tension before launch is still there. As you head quickly into Discoveryland, see the smoke and flashing lights of the Columbiad in the distance and watch a train be shot into space, your heart might make a little flutter. Pass through the turnstiles, hurry along the dark walkways inside the mountain and reach the Baltimore Gun Club loading area, and the tension really begins…
These days, however, the tension isn’t for the extended launch or thrills of space. Because, as you step slowly down onto the loading platform, the real gamble of a modern journey into Space Mountain begins.
No.2 - There’s no sound in Space
The smiling Cast Member assigns you to a gate, and your rocket train suddenly appears from inside the mountain. There’s silence. The pounding baseline of Giacchino’s finale is missing, and it’s another “bad luck” ride on Space Mountain: Mission 2. The Imagineers have certainly inspired guests to re-ride the new 2005 version of their masterpiece, because now — after six or seven attempts — you might still not have met that elusive single train with the fully-functioning soundtrack.
Shouldn’t ‘Mission 2′ be a step forward, rather than back?
If you’re used to regular, unthemed rollercoasters or don’t quite have the stomach to experience Space Mountain: Mission 2, you might not understand the continual fuss about the state of this attraction. But imagine, for a second, that you hopped on-board Pirates of the Caribbean only to find the entire ride completely silent. No fireflies, no “Yo Ho”, no drunk pirates on lamposts — dead men with, apparently, no tales to tell.
Now don’t worry, don’t worry — this has practically never happened. Because yes, it would be awful, they’d never in a million years let something like that happen. They’d probably stop the ride and ask everyone to leave before possibly letting guests see Pirates of the Caribbean with no sound. So why is Space Mountain: Mission 2 any different? Why do the Cast Members just shrug if you inform them the music didn’t work in your train?
In 1995, Steve Bramson’s score wowed riders.
Let’s be honest, though — the on-board soundtrack of Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune was a little hit-and-miss too, occasionally silent, sometimes not quite loud enough. So, when they announced the refurbished trains for Mission 2 would feature a whole new soundsystem identical to that of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith with more than 200 speakers in each train, fans were thrilled.
And, for its first year of operation, Space Mountain: Mission 2 was loud, noisy and thrilling.
“So, you’re absolutely sure this soundsystem will last more than a year?”
Unfortunately, just two years on, the “occasional” sound problems of the first mission are now ruining almost every ride. We can learn to live with a less fantastical, storybook vision of space travel than De la Terre a la Lune, but should the realism stretch to absolute silence in space? Isn’t it a little bit embarassing that something which worked perfectly in 1995 is causing such problems today?
The “SOBAT” (Synchronised On-Board Audio Track) isn’t the only issue many fans would like to see corrected. From 1995 to 2005, the area around the attraction was filled with a glorious Area Loop of classic sci-fi film soundtracks. Their titles (”Rocketeer”, “Krull”, “Columbus”) might be unknown, but the sweeping trumpets and strings of this beautiful music gave this corner of Discoveryland an epic, cinematic feel like nowhere else.
From the 2005 launch of Space Mountain: Mission 2, the area loop was cut. And never replaced. Not only is there “no sound in Space”, but there’s no sound outside of Space either. Giving the attraction a fresh start with Mission 2 is fine, but would this fantastic area loop really not fit with the new attraction? Is complete silence better than popular music from the old attraction?
All that effort, all that money… and silence in Space.
When you look at Tim Delaney’s visions for Discovery Mountain, the amazing photos of construction, the incredible technical feats achieved with this attraction… isn’t it just a little embarassing that the music doesn’t work? Our wish for this week: fix the on-board soundtrack and flip the switch on the old Space Mountain area loop. We’re not asking for miracles, just a little bit of pixie dust.
At a time when our CEO Karl L. Holz talks about “immersive experiences only Disney can create”, shouldn’t the silence on the entire soundtrack of their most popular thrill ride be a top priority?
Disneyland Resort Paris need to act quickly. For all the excitement of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, for all the hard work put into Frontierland refurbishments, for all the shiny new-ness of Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast — the silence of a star like Space Mountain could deafen it all.
‘Fate is kind’ - Could the Wish ever come true?
We thought the wish for a better on-board audio system had come true with Space Mountain: Mission 2, but unfortunately not. Returning the area loop and fixing the on-board soundtrack once for all isn’t asking a great deal, it just depends how long Disneyland Resort Paris will let their biggest star fade away for this time around…
Makes no difference who you are…
What do you think? Should fixing the on-ride audio and area loop of Space Mountain: Mission 2 be a priority for Disneyland Resort Paris, or can you live with the more realistic “silence” of space? All comments, suggestions and ideas are welcome!
Photos by DLRP Magic!/DLRP Today and © Disney.
Apologies this entry is a couple of days late, Wish List will return on Wednesday as advertised next week.
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Walt Disney was a firm believer in “educating whilst entertaining”, and so it’s a proud moment when we realise the most popular thrill ride at Disneyland Resort Paris has been doing this for over a year — without us perhaps even realising it. What we know as sound is actually vibrations in the air, and, with no molecules to vibrate, there really is no sound in space. Don’t believe us? Just ride 
