Space Mountain Music

[Wizzard419]

Here, Paris, and I think the Asian parks all only have a single track system. The WDW is like the matterhorn in that there are two tracks to choose from.

[Jacca5660]

Here, Paris, and I think the Asian parks all only have a single track system. The WDW is like the matterhorn in that there are two tracks to choose from.

Wizzard419 are you some kind of world traveling engineer?

[Wizzard419]

World travel yes, engineer no.

[Amy]

World travel yes, engineer no.

special effects lighting guru ~ most definitely

[BayLakeTowers]

When we went last year in August, SM was shut down for rennovations. I guess this was what they were doing. We'll be riding it in a couple of weeks, so we'll find out how it sounds (and looks).

[MadEye]

When we went last year in August, SM was shut down for rennovations. I guess this was what they were doing. We'll be riding it in a couple of weeks, so we'll find out how it sounds (and looks).

Nope. They really didn't do much with the music in the refurb last year. It took them almost a year after the refurb to debut the music a few weeks ago. But yes, you will get to find out how it sounds and looks (darker) when you get there.

[Lion Sleeps Tonight]

Got to go on once tonight. Even though I knew that there was no on-board audio, I was expecting more. The new sound effects seem sparse and hardly noticeable because you're going so fast. Towards the end, you could hear the music coming from certain speakers around you, which was all right. I would describe the music as a space-dance-party. I think for me it's going to take a few times to get used to the change.

[Wizzard419]

So it's more like a dark ride (well any other darkride than Indiana Jones/Dino) where the sound is looped rather than perfectly timed to your car's movement?

[davea61]

We'll be sure and experience this on our trip next year! My kids are finally old enough to ride with us. Thanks for the update!!

[MadEye]

So it's more like a dark ride (well any other darkride than Indiana Jones/Dino) where the sound is looped rather than perfectly timed to your car's movement?

I only heard the sound effects when the rocket went by so they are likely triggered by the rocket hitting a certain spot on the track. Like while going up the lift hill there is one for the track/rocket that goes by as you are going up and that was the only other time I heard the effect.

[DIAC1987]

Went on it. It honestly wasn't that good and doesn't really enhance the experience like Rockin' Roller Coaster. I was told that they planned on adding the music during the refurbishment but it wasn't ready in time....but in that case why not update the vehicles to include at least small speakers to play the music?

[MadEye]

Went on it. It honestly wasn't that good and doesn't really enhance the experience like Rockin' Roller Coaster. I was told that they planned on adding the music during the refurbishment but it wasn't ready in time....but in that case why not update the vehicles to include at least small speakers to play the music?

The track is old and crappy (not the ride itself...), the added weight of the speakers/electronics would need the whole thing to be rebuilt.

[Mousekedude]

The track is old and crappy (not the ride itself...), the added weight of the speakers/electronics would need the whole thing to be rebuilt.

Really? How much extra weight could it add? A couple speakers per car at 1 pound apiece... and maybe a receiver of some kind per pod at 3 pounds apiece... I don't see the big deal. Especially if you consider that they have to engineer for worst-case scenarios (i.e. a 300 pound person in each car), plus figuring in what engineering gurus call "the redundancy principal"..... which means that they always over-engineer everything in order to account for structural failures of some kind... so in other words, how can an extra 10 to 15 pounds per pod really be a deal breaker here? Isn't it more likely that the cost of all these potential electronic upgrades is the real determining factor in this case?

[Wizzard419]

I think it would be more than that since they would need to redesign the seats/cars so you could hear them (the seatbacks don't go all the way up), plus onboard power, etc.

My guess as to why they don't add it, the money.

[Mousekedude]

I think it would be more than that since they would need to redesign the seats/cars so you could hear them (the seatbacks don't go all the way up), plus onboard power, etc.

My guess as to why they don't add it, the money.

Honestly, it wouldn't take much of a redesign. The cars have plenty of places where speakers could be added without having to do a major redesign.
But the bottom line is, as I said, and as you agree.... money.