The rededication, or relaunch, in Disney speak, of one
of the most popular attractions at Disneyland took place yesterday on
the "space deck" of Space Mountain.
As hundreds of Disneyland guests began lining up at the gates of the
newly "re-Imagineered" Space Mountain Disneyland Resort,
President Matt Ouimet welcomedlegendary U.S. Astronaut Commander
Neil Armstrong, the first man to step on the lunar surface of the moon
(July 20, 1969), to Disneyland for the relaunch of everyone's favorite
high-speed dark ride.
The ceremony was held in front of Space Mountain, above Tomorrowland's
walkways on the "space deck," a balcony used as a queuing
area for the ride. This meant that only a small group of media and invited
guests were able to see the ceremony and Armstrong's remarks.
In preparation for Sunday's 10 a.m. rededication of Disneyland, large
screen monitors were set up around Disneyland and Disney's California
Adventure; however, they were not used to share this rare public appearance
by the first man to ever set foot on the moon with park guests. Many
Disneyland guests complained openly about the inconvenience caused by
the event and at not being able to even catch a glimpse of this truly
great American hero.
There is an online video sampler of the Space Mountain relaunch event
with Armstrong's complete remarks at the end of this column. To view
it, you should have a broadband connection, and you will need QuickTime
for either Mac or Windows.
Prior to the relaunch, guests
were entertained by a Disneyland jazz combo.
Image copyright obe-mediaone.
Vice President Creative for Walt Disney Imagineering
(WDI) Eric Jacobson, production designer for the "re-Imagineered"
Space Mountain.
Image copyright obe-mediaone.
Disneyland Resort President Matt Ouimet dons a flight
jacket as part of festivities surrounding the "relaunch" of
Disneyland's most popular attraction Space
Mountain.
Image copyright obe-mediaone.
Renaissance man and Disney composer
Michael Giacchino composed the new musical score for Space
Mountain, he also wrote the scores for The
Incredibles, ABC TV's Alias,
Desperate Housewives, and LOST.
Image copyright obe-mediaone.
Space Mountain
"relaunch" ceremonies with dedication remarks by Astronaut Neil
Armstrong.
Video copyright obe-mediaone.
The line to ride everyone's favorite Disneyland
"E" ticket attraction, Space
Mountain.
Image copyright obe-mediaone.
Space Mountain
after dark from the "space deck."
Image copyright obe-mediaone.
