April 30, 2003 Disneyland Resort News & Information

[Michael]

Space Mountain CLOSED for 2 years

Our April 30, 2003 Disneyland Resort News & Information is now available with over 20 pages of photos including Tower of Terror construction, the newly expanded Pooh Corner Gift Shop, Space Mountain, the Sub Lagoon changes, and so much more...

[Stinkler26]

Thanks, Michael. Those pics look great.

[Santa Monica]

Hooray! The bridge is back!

[MagicWDI]

ToT is looking real good. The work is moving real fast and that tarp should come of in a mounth or two. How exciting.

Disneyland is looking nice and clean. It also looked like a very nice day. How was it for you, Michael?

[ExClub]

I know there was a model of Tom Sawyer's Island at Cast Blast. Can anyone who saw it tell us what it looked like? What was new and/or different?

[Less Than Jake]

Great Update Michael and Jen.....

[TP2000]

Fantastic pictures yet again Michael. Thank you!

The one thing that struck me as odd was the Space Mountain pictures. Here it is well over two weeks after the attraction was very suddenly closed without warning so that it can be "re-launched" for the 50th Anniversary, and they still haven't got any type of permanent wall up!

I saw this same basic scene as is shown in this update's pictures this past weekend: a lone sign that simply says "This Attractions Is Closed Today" and the entrance closed off with yards of tacky yellow rope with unthemed plastic flags hanging off them. And not a CM in sight to field questions from the many people who wandered up to the rope and sign scratching their heads, peering up the entry ramp to Space Mountain and trying to figure out why it was closed.

Where is the semi-permanent wall with a specific "Space Mountain" closure sign? Where is the big, splashy billboard type sign stating that it is closed for at least two full years so that it can be "Imagineered" into an "exciting new space adventure" before it is "re-launched for Disneyland's 50th Anniversary in 2005!"??? Why is there nothing more permanent in place in front of Space Mountain? Why does it look so tacky and slapped together? Where is the big WDI "artists rendering" of what the new Space Mountain will look like?

This kind of proves to me that this Space Mountain closure was entirely unplanned for, and came out of nowhere for pretty much everyone involved. I have to wonder if they have even begun demolition on the ride itself inside the dome, or if they haven't even found a contractor for that yet? And are the official plans and schematics for the new ride even completed? Have they even contracted out the construction work? It would be kind of hard to do if the design details aren't done yet.

Unless someone can prove to me otherwise, I will take the lack of any permanent or thoughtfully designed construction walls in front of the attraction as proof that TDA had no plans to be doing this in April, 2003. I am left to assume that none of this was to happen until September, 2003 at the earliest. A picture is worth a thousand words, and there's a great Space Mountain picture in this update that tells us what is, and is NOT, going on both inside Space Mountain and inside TDA.

[disneyfreak62]

Thanks, Michael! Isn't the TOT looking cool! When we were there this past weekend, we were impressed with all the details taking shape. Oh, and even though the show isn't our thing, we thought the Playhouse Disney building looked great. They kept the integrity of the building's original feel.

[Plucka-Plucka!]

The park looks great an I can not wait till I get to go the Tom's island! Hhowever, I think the picture with the sign in front of SMt. saying it's closed brought a tear to my eye... Oh well, 2005 will be here before we know it!

[Disneygurl1214]

Hey-
You know how that one bridge that "has been closed for years"? Exactly how long was in closed?? I don't remember if I've been on it or not, since I don't go to the island very much.