originally posted on 8/25/2023
Space Mountain at Tokyo Disneyland will undergo an extensive three-year overhaul beginning in 2024, but the park remains tight-lipped on what the changes will entail.
Photo: B. Derek Shaw. View full-sized image.
Space Mountain Enters a New World
Tokyo Disneyland (Urayasu, Japan) has broken ground on a reimagined Space Mountain. The $408 million project has begun construction, but the current Space Mountain will not close until 2024. What this project entails has not yet been fully explained, and fans will have to wait until 2027 for the entire Tomorrowland plaza to be completed.
The indoor coaster opened with the park in 1983. While it closely resembles the layout in California, the track was manufactured by TOGO.
Details are few, but Oriental Land Company has released phrases such as “immersive special effects” and “enhanced performance.” The Tomorrowland plaza is being redesigned to create a sense of hope for the future. At night, the area will be a “spectacular world of light and soundscapes.”
Six Flags Fiesta Texas continues its recent trend of improving existing rides with a new control system and new trains for Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Coaster.
Photo: Alex Rigsby. View full-sized image.
Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Coaster Will Close and Open and Close and Open
In early July following Independence Day, Six Flags Fiesta Texas (San Antonio) closed Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Coaster for the installation of a new control system. The coaster is expected to be more reliable in terms of the station, boarding and brake run. It is expected to reopen this fall.
The coaster will then go down in early 2024 temporarily for the introduction of three new trains. The second-generation vehicles are expected to be more comfortable than the prototype originals. Dates on the new trains are not confirmed.
Following a nearly 40-year journey from New Jersey to Illinois to New York’s Adirondack Mountains, Alpine Bobsled will give its last rides on September 4.
Photo: S. Madonna Horcher. View full-sized image.
Alpine Bobsled to Close for Good
A sign in front of Alpine Bobsled at Six Flags Great Escape (Queensbury, New York) has alerted guests that the coaster will give its final rides on September 4 after operating at the park for 25 years (although the coaster's operations have been notoriously spotty in recent seasons).
Alpine Bobsled has a nomadic history with Six Flags. It was built at Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, New Jersey) in 1984 as Sarajevo Bobsled. After five seasons at the park, it closed at the end of 1988 and was relocated to Six Flags Great America (Gurnee, Illinois) for the 1989 season. After seven seasons, it closed at the end of 1995. It eventually resurfaced at The Great Escape in 1998. After 40 years, the ride could be reaching the end of its lifespan.
Of the five Intamin bobsled coasters ever manufactured, the closure of this one will make La Vibora at Six Flags Over Texas (Arlington) the only remaining model.
What colors will Batman The Ride exhibit when it reopens following a repaint: black, black and yellow or something entirely different?
Photo: Tim Baldwin. View full-sized image.
Batman The Ride at Six Flags Over Texas Receives New Paint
And speaking of Six Flags Over Texas…
Visitors to the park in Arlington have noticed Batman The Ride is looking desperately faded. Long in the plans, the coaster is temporarily closing to receive a refreshed look. The closure began once the park ended its daily operation earlier in August.
Following unanticipated downtime due to a structural issue, Fury 325 has finally reopened.
Photo: Jill Ryan. View full-sized image.
Fury 325 Reopens
Following a highly publicized national news story, Fury 325 at Carowinds (Charlotte, North Carolina) has reopened to the public.
Shortly after Coaster Con 45, a crack in one of the supports was noticed and the ride was immediately shut down.
Much to the joy of coaster fans everywhere, the award-winning roller coaster returned to operation on August 10.
Universal Studios parks join others in requesting those requiring disability passes to follow new procedures.
Photo: Cheri Armstrong. View full-sized image.
Parks Make New Requirements to Use Disability Passes
Universal Studios is the latest chain to require guests requesting accommodations to follow a few procedures. Guests must obtain an Individual Accessibility Card from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Educations Standards (IBCCES) by registering online 48 hours before they visit the parks on both coasts.
Only IBCCES can issue the cards, not the resorts. Once received, the card is good for one year.
All Six Flags parks also acknowledge these cards, as do Knoebels (Elysburg, Pennsylvania) and Sesame Place (Hulmeville, Pennsylvania).
— Tim Baldwin, ACE News
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