Disneyland Paris has confirmed plans to upgrade its Hyperspace Mountain attraction with new color-changing lighting effects, effectively ending speculation that the park might return the ride to its original Jules Verne-inspired theme.
The Star Wars-branded roller coaster, located in the park’s Discoveryland area, closed for refurbishment from June 2-6 while Disney installed lighting packages designed to shift colors with each train launch. Unlike other versions of Space Mountain at Disney parks worldwide, the Paris location’s launch sequence is visible from outside the attraction, making it uniquely suited for external visual effects.
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The upgrade represents Disney’s continued commitment to the Hyperspace Mountain overlay, which replaced the original “Space Mountain: De la terre à la lune (1995–2005)” and “Space Mountain: Mission 2 (2005–2017)”. The original version paid homage to Jules Verne’s “From the Earth to the Moon” and featured a distinctive copper cannon façade that was popular with fans.
Technical Issues Fuel Speculation
The decision to enhance rather than replace the current theme comes despite persistent operational problems that have plagued Hyperspace Mountain since its debut. These technical difficulties had led some fans to speculate that Disney might revert to the original storyline, particularly after the attraction’s recent closure for maintenance.
The ride has required multiple refurbishments this year alone, with previous maintenance work conducted in March. However, Disney appears to be addressing these issues while maintaining the Star Wars branding rather than pursuing a complete thematic overhaul.
Anniversary Merchandise in Development
In addition to the lighting upgrades, Disneyland Paris is reportedly developing 30th anniversary merchandise that plays heavily on nostalgia by focusing on the visual identity of “Space Mountain: De la terre à la lune”.
The lighting enhancement aligns with modern theme park design trends that extend visual storytelling beyond ride entrances. During evening hours, guests in Discoveryland’s retro-futurist environment will be able to observe the synchronized light show accompanying each coaster launch.
Global Space Mountain Variations
Space Mountain remains one of Disney’s most iconic attractions, with versions operating at most Disney resort locations worldwide. Each iteration has evolved differently over time, with Tokyo Disney Resort going as far as permanently closing its version in 2024 to construct an entirely new experience scheduled to open in 2027.
Both Hong Kong Disneyland and Disneyland Paris currently operate Star Wars-themed versions, while other locations maintain variations closer to the original space exploration concept.
Disney has not announced a specific timeline for when guests will be able to experience the new lighting effects at Disneyland Paris. The company also has not indicated whether additional updates to Hyperspace Mountain are planned for later this year. Subscribe to AirMagique for more news and updates.
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