Euro Disney unveils new Space Mountain

For a Disney coaster, I hear very little about DLP's Space Mountain. Is it any good? I assume that the layout is nothing like Disney's other launched Vekoma design (Rock 'n' Roller Coaster)?

Space Mountain 1 with the title From the Earth to the Moon was themed around the novel from the same name and "Around the Moon" by french author Jules Verne.

Basically, story wise, you went in the gun depot (station) where you boarded one of the 6 trains (5 could run at a time). After dispatch, you went around in a tunnel to a sharp drop to be "loaded" into the Columbiad, which is the huge cannon. Originally, the pusher vehicle (which is connected to a cable going back to the top and then back down to the bottom, where its rolls and unrolls on a huge drum. 2 electrical motors provides the power to roll the drum really fast to launch the train.), grabbed the train, took it a bit fast to the 2/3 of the cannon... where the onboard music (like RnRC and California Screamin) would take a very dramatic turn. Without warning, the train would launch, gradually slowing over the top of the catapult. The train would do a counter clockwise revolution around the building, dipping and dropping slightly along the way. After completing the revolution... its dives sharply under the waiting line into the fast sidewinder. Out of the sidewinder, you go through the moon sweeper (set piece) and into a 3/4 clockwise helix into a block brake. The train is slightly trimmed as it goes through a melting asteroid called the MOM (mother of asteroids). This time we go into a 3/4 revolution clockwise, including a dive under another waiting line walkway with asteroids around into a B&M corkscrew (I'm serious! It snaps like a B&M corkscrew, unlike the Vekoma Corkscrew, which are dull and regular). A sharp righthand turn lead the train into the B lift. There, the train silently goes up a lift tire drive. The music takes a triumphant turn. At the top, you see the moon, smiling... but like in the novel, you never reach it and drop to the right, going over a hill into the spark trench, which is a smashed asteroid.

You then do the "Tongue Loop", which is Vekoma version of the Drachen Fire Cutback. Exiting it, you enter the final helix located in a trench at the bottom of the ride. Blacklight paint on the right provides an awesome acceleration effect. After a full clockwise revolution, the train enters the Electro de Velocitor, a themed!!! block brake, where a loud "bang" effect hides the sound of the brakes trimming the 44 mph (max speed of the ride in the first version) train. The music take a triumph theme as you do a S turn into either of the loading stations. The stations are arranged like Big Thunder Mountain in the states.

As far as the new effects.. I won't spoil them, unless I do it by e-mail to those who wants to know what changed there were. One I'll mention is that due to the launch sequence, 5 trains operation is not possible anymore. 4 trains is the maximum.

sees the decade-old roller coaster upgraded with new wagons and a faster launch catapult for an even more stomach-wrenching start...

...And also takes an idea from Disney, since copyrights and patents from here have no effect in Europe.

I like the the use of "wagons" instead of "cars", "rolling stock", or "chassis".

Rolo, talking about the DL or DLP Space Mountain? The DLP Space Mountain is only 10 years old!

O, sorry: I was talking about DLP.

Hey, I've never been to Europe.

Best. Space. Mountain. Evah!