Yeah, it's a big task, too, because it's a confined area and the foundations for the building (and the ride) start two stories below ground.go_gumby wrote:Just to answer the question about space mountain..... they closed it because they are remodeling it!!! Building loops in it!!! yay!!!! Also making sure the music works.
The full story is this: early last year, Disneyland safety inspectors starting noticing cracks in the supports and tracks for Space Mountain. The ride was closed intermittantly until they determined the full extent of the problem. Evidently, the damage was caused by the adding of the soundsystem in each car around 1997 or so. The extra weight caused the cars center of gravity to change and the unevenness made the track wear out prematurely.
Deciding the ride was now a safety hazard, Disney closed down Space Mountain without so much as a farewell day. When Disney started looking into repairing/renovating the ride, they determined that the cost of it would be so extreme that they might as well redesign the whole ride.
I'm looking forward to the New Space Mountain... unfortunately, it won't be unveiled until Disneyland's 50th Anniversary... in 2005!