Best Space Mountain Ride Version?

[xboxtravis7992]

So I got back recently from a trip to Disneyland where I got to ride Hyperspace Mountain; a Star Wars themed overlay of the Disneyland ride. And it got me thinking, which version of the ride is the best? I figured I would need to get the internet's opinion somehow, and since Eurobricks is a rather active community I thought, why not? I figure it belongs here in the culture and multimedia subforum since it is a cultural discussion. I don't know how many other people here are interested in the Disney parks, but I figure its worth asking.

So for those not in the know Space Mountain is the name of a ride based in five different Disney parks across the globe. All the rides are roller coasters in a dark room simulating space travel. The first to open was the Walt Disney World version, which remains unique in that it has two different roller coaster tracks inside the same building. Disneyland's Space Mountain in California was the second to open and has undergone the most revisions, being capable of supporting different projections and special effects to change the ride experience. The Tokyo Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland versions copy the track of the California ride. The Paris Disneyland version is the most unique ride wise, as it uses a linear induction based launch to recreate the Columbiad cannon from Jule's Verne's From the Earth to the Moon.

Below are videos of each ride version and variant:

Walt Disney World

Ride (note ride experience is rather similar in both the original and refurbished versions, the refurbished one adds new sounds):

Disneyland

Pre-2003 Ride:

Post 2005 "Normal" Ride Configuration:

Rockin' Space Mountain - Hoobstabank (no video was found)

Rockin' Space Mountain - Red Hot Chile Peppers:

Ghost Galaxy:

Hyperspace Mountain:

Tokyo Disneyland

Original Ride:

Refurbished Ride:

Paris Disneyland

Original Ride:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzkJ4oXPP0s

Mission 2 version:

Hong Kong Disneyland

Original Ride:

Ghost Galaxy (Nearly identical to California's so not included here)

So, your opinions for my fanboy philosophizing?

[Oky]

Interesting question! Nice to see another Disney Parks aficionado on here! I love going to Disneyland since I live only a 30 minute drive away from it and Space Mountain is one of my favorite rides. I nearly soiled my pants the first time I rode it when I was about 6 years old, but after going on it so many times, it has almost become boring to me, so I very much appreciate them keeping it fresh with the different theme overlays. I have experienced every iteration of the ride in California, except for the Rockin' ones which I wasn't even aware of until now. As much as I love Star Wars, I'd have to say that my favorite is the Ghost Galaxy version. I have only been on it once, but I was fairly impressed by it. It was scarier than I thought it was going to be, and I don't scare easily. Seeing ghosts pop up around you as you race through the dark is actually quite creepy. Hyperspace Mountain is a close second though.

[xboxtravis7992]

30 minutes away! Lucky! Quite a difference from my 10 hour long road trip last week. :)

Yeah I've been on every California version except Rockin'. Rockin' didn't last as long as some of the other versions did.

[GallardoLU]

I think you meant hoobastank (not hoobstabank) if so than here is the missing video you were looking for:

[rollermonkey]

Those videos are pretty bad. I typically like the Dick Dale/Carnival of the Animals version, but really couldn't hear it in any of those.

The replacement track installed during the 2003-2005 refurbishment was my 801st coaster, and I preferred that version until I rode the Hong Kong one with its standard soundtrack several years later.

[xboxtravis7992]

Yeah most videos are pretty bad for the ride. Something about darkness throws a camera off :) I just figured they'd be used for those who haven't been on any of them before.