Since were booked Nov. 29th this year and Space Mountain is closed does anyone know if the people mover that goes through SM will stay open? I love that slow long ride as it give's me a change to just sit and chill even if just for a few minutes. Thanks

I've gone on it before when the lights have been on on Space Mountain (probably a temporary 101 situation) and I think I've gone on when the window was covered with black plastic (longer shutdown)- so if it's not listed as shut down, having Space Mt down isn't a reason it would automatically be down as well.

Thats good to hear. I hope it is open when were there. Im still bumming about SM though. I doubt it will be up and running by the time we get there.

The offical notice says that TTA will be operating most of the time. However, there will be stimes it will be closed due to safety concerns when there is construction work inside SM and close to the TTA tracks.

Are we still on for SM to be back open by years end 2009? Anyone know? Were there Nov. 29 for 7 days and Im so crossing my fingers that SM is back open by then. Any current news on it or a refurb. delay?

When did they start the refurb. on SM? I'm going there in about 9 days and it's such a bummer that SM isn't running :( It's my favorite... :crying:

When did they start the refurb. on SM? I'm going there in about 9 days and it's such a bummer that SM isn't running :( It's my favorite... :crying:

If your going in 9 days, it will be open. I think the date for it closing is April 14, someone post if I'm wrong. But don't worry, it will be open when your there.

I think I read somewhere that it will be closed starting April 19, 2009. This is the Sunday after Easter. So all the Spring Break crowds will get to enjoy SM one last time before the refurb!

it will close 4/19 with Space Mountain but is currently set to re-open either August 20 or 25 depending on the source.

oK, wow that is good to hear that the people mover ride will be open when were there Nov.29th. Does your source say a possible date when SM will re-open by chance? What is the technical name of the people mover ride? I dont remember is being called that before. Thanks

Tomorrowland Transit Authority I think is the current name of the People Mover. Though that name (People Mover) may be the name from DL (I think one was called the WEDWay People Mover at one point or another - WED=Walter Elias Disney)

Gosh...I love the TTA so much!!! And I'm also happy that we got to take one last spin on SM before refurbishment!!! (and that our youngest DD rode SM for the first time too! She loved it!)

Thats right Drince88. the TTA. Now it rings a bell. Im keeping my fingers it's open when we get there.

SM is currently set to re-open 11/22.

Ya hooooo, we will be there on the 29th. Oh I hope they dont run into a delay on the re-opening. I cancelled our June vacation to the end of November just for SM. We are die hard SM fans. Thanks for the update Im putting it on my calendar....lol

Ya hooooo, we will be there on the 29th. Oh I hope they dont run into a delay on the re-opening. I cancelled our June vacation to the end of November just for SM. We are die hard SM fans. Thanks for the update Im putting it on my calendar....lol

Can't remember if you said whether or not you've been to DL and tried their version of SM -- what a great ride. Different, but great. I'll miss SM this time around, but it'll give me another reason (yeah, like I need one) to visit again soon. I'm sad that it won't be down longer; it means that the renovation isn't going to be extreme, and hence, no soundtrack :(. Ah well, hopefully it'll at least be smoother. And I want a better exit queue -- I really miss the old one. I wish they would have just updated the old version instead of changing it completely. Remember the girl watching videos, and the big screen tv with the football game on? Great memories.

I have been to DL once but it must of been around 15 years ago and cant remember SM. All I can remember is WDW since I have been there at least 6 times with June of 2007 being the last time. And cant wait until November this year to go back to try out the new SM...

I'm sad that it won't be down longer; it means that the renovation isn't going to be extreme, and hence, no soundtrack :(. Ah well, hopefully it'll at least be smoother.
Why do you think the soundtrack is out but the smoother track is in? The only reasons DL has a smoother track is because it's a different technology - and plus they replaced ALL the track. Obviously, replacing all the track isn't happening at WDW this time around, so I don't see how they can do anything to make it smoother. (Remember, WDW Space Mountain = DL Matterhorn in technology)

I'd think the soundtrack would be an easier add.

BUT, I'm not a ride engineer, so I'm not sure how hard it would be to achieve either.

Has it been mentioned somewhere what the new SM will be like? Will it go upside down? I imagine it will be much smoother...any inputs?

7 months, they aren't changing the layout (no loops) and personally I doubt if they'll be able to do anything to make it smoother. If someone could explain how they could make it smoother in that time frame, I'd be a very happy camper, though (I rarely ride it anymore because it's so rough and I always end up bruised from it).

Even people at the park itself don't know exactly what the rehab schedule is gonna be because in truth they have not made any official announcements yet on a re-opening date. Personally, the longer the better I say. The longer it stays closed the better it'll be when it opens. SM in DL was down over two years and what an amazing job was done. And before that rehab, it already beat the pants off the Florida one. Actually, every SM beats the pants off of the Florida one! If they only do one thing please for the love of god cover up the load areas so the light can no longer permeate up into the coaster completely destroying the notion that you are in fact in space. There's a reason every other Space Mountain has their load area in a completely self contained room as to not impair the ride. Maybe after this rehab we can stop being the laughing stock of the Space Mountain Range.

actually, Nov 22 is an official opening date directly from Disney. doesn't mean it won't change, but that date is coming from them. As is the re-opening date for TTA, although one Disney source originally indicated 8/20 while a more updated resource indicates 8/25.

The 11/22 date is actually published on the web site's calendar (the old style anyway) and has been since the day after it was widely announced that the refurb was happening.

But none of that means anything until the actual re-opening anyway.

they've already explicitly stated the queue is being covered and there will be some track replaced, but layout not changed

I loved the old SM so Im sure Im going to totally love the new SM. In November I hope when were there.

Why do you think the soundtrack is out but the smoother track is in? The only reasons DL has a smoother track is because it's a different technology - and plus they replaced ALL the track. Obviously, replacing all the track isn't happening at WDW this time around, so I don't see how they can do anything to make it smoother. (Remember, WDW Space Mountain = DL Matterhorn in technology)

I'd think the soundtrack would be an easier add.

BUT, I'm not a ride engineer, so I'm not sure how hard it would be to achieve either.

I had heard that in order to add a soundtrack, and thus speakers in the cars, the overall additional weight would require new footings (?) or more structural support which would have meant a longer down-time. I'm only assuming, of course, that this tid-bit of info is true. I'm hoping the experience will be like DL but with the drops of WDW's version.

As for the smoothness of the ride, again, I had heard that the track was being replaced, but not the support structure.

Any additional info by those who know would be greatly appreciated.:)

Thanks, Pete - that actually makes sense to my sleep-deprived mind!
(For me, in my current state, it's harder for the logic synapses to work, so that means this would make even more sense if I wasn't quite so tired!)