I just saw a special on theme parks on the Travel Channel and it showed Space Mountain at Disneyland Paris. In the film it appeared that once the ride vehicles reached the top of the cannon that they slowed down before starting on the trip along the tracks inside the main building - was this just a visual oddity or is that how the ride actually works?

On the Rock n Roller Coaster, the launch propells the cars into the track course at full speed, a feature which is quite exhilerating ......

Anybody out there been on both riders?

I have recently been on both rides and they differ a great deal.

Yes Space Mountain does slow down before you start on the main track inside the mountain. Once inside you go through 3 inversions and have very little time running on 'flat' track sections. You also go up 2 more lift hills, giving more chance for high speed loops, etc.

On the other hand R 'n' R has a high speed launch into the loop, and then only has one more inversion in a corkscrew. More of the track is flat and seems to just circle the insideof the building. There is one lift hill inside just before the corkscrew.

The overall themeing Outside the buildings and in the queue areas are very different but equally as good. There is no shop at SM, but a very nice shop at R 'n' R.

Inside the ride the SM theme is far better, lots of 3D elements and lighing effects, where as R 'n' R only has flat scenery, mostly signs lit by UV lighting.

I personallly think the sound is better quality on R 'n' R, but the music is better on SM, it also fits the ride better.

Overall I would choose SM, but it's very close.

Both rides are well done and themed as only Disney can.
SM does slowly stop about two thirds of the way up the lift hill when a loud boom sounds and the ride is launched to the top and then into the ride, an excelent experiance.
Of the two SM has the best building and on ride effects but of the two coasters RnR is far better than SM.
I first rode RnR two years ago and found it quite rough and wanst over impressed.A month ago however I rode again and it seemed far smoother, I really enjoyed it this time.
SM however is in a bit of a state. Each time I go it just keeps getting rougher and really needs some attention to smooth it out. If a coaster club ever managed to get an ERS on this ride you could never do continuous repeat rides without risking injury(unlikey to happen I know.)