Space Mountain doesn't belong to DLP - they rent it from WDI.
Walt Disney Co. owns WDI, but DLP is operated by Euro Disney SCA - not a fully owned Disney company.
The ride is not a Vekoma ride. The ride is a Walt Disney Imagineering ride. Vekoma were only employed as a structural engineering contractor to produce the steel track and supports. All of the design work, ride integration, control system, show building and show elements are all WDI. This relationship is exactly the same as Phantom manor and Big Thunder - all WDI attractions, but many contractors provide elements, such as Vekoma for the track.
Currently, Vekoma also provide a warranty on the track and supports.
When SM was constructed, DLP were not in a position to purchase a ride of this expense. However, it was determined that a major ride was one of the only ways of saving DLP future. So a package was negotiated where WDI would produce the new ride and lease its use to DLP. There was a similar practise at WDW with the new Rock n RollerCoaster. This ride belonged to WDI for about a year during its construction, and was not owned by WDW even though it was being built on their land. WDI signed RnR over to WDW late June 99.
Space Mountain - Construction
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Sections
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Documentary "Shoot for the Moon"
Have a look at this extra page for a lot of information around the documentary "Shoot for the Moon" about the conception and construction of Space Mountain!
Impressions
We first went to dlp in March 1993 - just before its first birthday. Discoveryland appeared to have hardly anything at that time and wasn't very crowded either. The shell of space mountain was already there, looking much as it does now but without the landing stage area, or much of the finer decoration. I thought it was a restaurant and walked inside!! It was fairly dark and a number of workmen were arc welding, but not much else. I turned round a walked out again, little knowing that it would become one of the best rides at DLP.
Reported by John McCabe, 13 Sep 1999
My family and I also went in 1993 and I think I remember a construction sign in Discoveryland mentioning that at this place (where now Space Mountain is) they would build a new restaurant...
Reported by Tobias Schulz, 14 Sep 1999
Restaurant in the Mountain?
At the very beginning it was intended to have a restaurant with view into the mountain at the back (to Star Tours) built to Space Mountain. That would have been great! But it's been cancelled ...
Well, the restaurant should have been at that place where in the meantime the exit of the walk-through is located, the exit towards Cinemagique. Furthermore there should have been a walkthrough bridge between Space Mountain and Videopolis. (can be seen in the pictures smconcept.jpg and smdlpmap.jpg). On-site you can see the planned connection at Videopolis: These round Tubes which look like turbines, located behind the "DLP Broadcasting Room" upstairs in Videopolis.
Reported by Miro Gronau, 18 Jun 1999
Pictures
Desert-like building site
provided by Nicolas
Details of construction
Look at the tracks inside the building!
Hoarding around the building site
with "Discovery Mountain" sign
At the Space Mountain Homepage
walls still open and roof unhatched
At the Space Mountain Homepage
provided by Alan Taff
Assembly of the cannon
Pictures provided by Alan Taff
Welding of the track tubes
Tim Delaney checking the details ...
"The cannon looks too clean!"
Disappointed Tim Delaney after seeing the real cannon for the first time
Putting the last finishing touch on the cannon
Tim Delaney and other Imagineers
standing on top of Space Mountain, overviewing their masterpiece
provided by Alan Taff
cannon and roof under construction
pictures (c) by André Willey
Construction Completed
Space Mountain in autumn 1994. The banner on the Announcement "Opening Summer 1995"
Photo by Marcel de Neidels
Facts & Figures
Space Mountain doesn't belong to DLP!REPORTED: Steve Frearson, 5 Aug 1999
Construction started January 1993 Construction completed September 1994 Grand Opening June 1st, 1995 Designed by Walt Disney Imagineering Ride Fabrication Vekoma (the Netherlands) Total costs 600 Mio. FF = 90 Mio. US$
VEKOMAVisit the offical Vekoma site atwww.vekoma.com. It's strange in the ride overview no Disney attraction is listed, although there are some (Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Phantom Manor)
VEKOMA's address: Vekoma Rides and Manufacturing B.V., Schaapweg 18, 6063 BA Vlodrop, The Netherlands
VEKOMA FactsRead more