During the Disney Parks showcase at the D23 Expo, the presentation touched on different Space Mountains around the world. After talking about Tokyo Disneyland’s brand new version of the ride, attention turned to Disneyland Paris. It was announced that the park’s iconic Space Mountain will be ending the Hyperspace edition and going back to the original theme. In this post, we’ll share the news and offer our commentary. Here’s some of the attraction’s history and news from France!

In 1995, Space Mountain – De la Terre à la Lune, paved a new way for the guest experience at Disneyland Paris, with its unique blending of thrills, world-first innovations, retro-futuristic aesthetics, and engaging storyline based on Jules Verne’s classic “From the Earth to the Moon” novel. Over the years, this attraction has continued to evolve, discovering new destinations, and galaxies along the way, as well as new dreams for daring guests willing to be catapulted among the stars from the 22-meter-long Columbiad Cannon.

For the past ten years, guests blasted off into a galaxy far, far away with Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain, on a secret mission for the Rebel Alliance. And now, a whole new generation of guests will be able to discover the original theme of the attraction, as the upcoming refurbishment will “bring back the Moon” to the heart of this iconic attraction! Walt Disney Imagineering Paris is currently hard at work on designing the refreshed attraction’s aesthetics, as Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain is preparing to close at the end of 2027 for a refurbishment over several months.

Beyond extensive technical work and some maintenance upgrades, the attraction’s indoor sets and props, the enhanced queue and new effects will bring back the beloved mountain to its original vision with a shift of the 1995 story, now transporting guests to an idealized period of the very first travels to the Moon, in the steampunk style of Discoveryland. Nostalgic fans can expect special effects to enhance the iconic blast sequence!

For Imagineers, the project is about more than restoring the attraction’s original version. It is an opportunity to celebrate the beloved classic while enhancing it for a new generation. Fans will rejoice to learn that the iconic score from composer Steve Bramson will come back fully remastered to accompany guests on their journey to the Moon!

Beginning in the redesigned queue, guests will once again be able to watch the trains in motion, drawing them deeper into the story. Along the way, beloved elements will return alongside new scenic details and enhancements. Combined with more than 30 years of technological advancements, including state-of-the-art exterior dome lighting installed in 2025, Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune will continue to be a fan-favorite.

 “When Space Mountain first opened in 1995, it set a new standard as one of the most groundbreaking and immersive roller coasters across all Disney Parks. Today, as Imagineers, it is both an honor and an exciting challenge to reimagine this iconic attraction for a new generation. While staying true to the spirit and legacy of the original voyage, this new version will make use of all the innovations and cutting-edge technology introduced over the years in the attraction, to deliver an even more exciting experience for our guests,” said Keith Rector, Senior Manager, Creative Art Direction at Walt Disney Imagineering Paris.

Space Mountain – De la Terre à la Lune will mark a definitive milestone in a new phase of the ‘New Magic’ initiative recently launched at Disneyland Paris. This ambitious program aims at improving the guest experience and refreshing its classic attractions to surprise and delight all generations of guests. Most recently, enhanced scenery has been added to the banks of Rivers of the Far West in Frontierland, based on Disney Legend and Imagineer Marc Davis’ original designs, with several other projects at different stages of development that will be unveiled in phases. Driven by the Walt Disney Imagineering Paris team, whose remarkable passion fuels every concept, design, and build, these projects are just the beginning of many more exceptional moments ahead for Disneyland Paris.

Commentary

What a dreamy year for Tomorrowlands across the globe! Magic Kingdom’s Buzz was significantly improved, Tokyo Disneyland’s new Tomorrowland looks extremely promising, Disneyland got a surprise announcement and we received this news about Disneyland Paris. Technically, this is Discoveryland so please don’t rip me in the comments. Referring to them as Tomorrowlands seemed easier than saying “what a year for the lands on the right side of the castle parks.”

Restoring this attraction to its original glory should make the beautiful Discoveryland all the better. Having only been to Disneyland Paris in recent years, Hyperspace Mountain is the lone version of the ride I’ve experienced. The facade is gorgeous and largely unchanged, taking cues from Jules Verne and steampunk design, but fitting Star Wars inside of it felt shoehorned. Don’t get me wrong, the ride is a thrill and very fun on its own but the theme didn’t flow with the design.

That issue should be completely resolved by restoring Space Mountain – De la Terre à la Lune. Seeing Disney go back and revitalize original stories in theme parks around the globe makes me very happy. Carousel of Progress, Everest, Spaceship Earth and Space Mountains are all getting work done on them. I genuinely thought those days were done.

Small victories like Space Mountain – De la Terre à la Lune getting restored are starting to add up. I think that’s why many people, including me, are in high spirits after this latest D23 Expo. Yes, the announcements were largely update related and the brand new stuff was extremely blue sky and years out but what they’re choosing to work on was neglected for so long. Hyperspace Mountain was in Disneyland Paris for a decade! But it feels like the tide has turned. Natural, or should I say original, order is restored.

If there’s a bone to pick with this news, it’s that work won’t begin until late 2027. That’s a long ways away and I can’t really put my finger on why they’re waiting. Maybe it’s to spread around construction costs with the ongoing Lion King attraction construction going on in Disney Adventure World. Selfishly, I’d love for this to be done when we go to Paris next spring but I’ll be patient. I have to book another trip to Paris? Oh darn, tough life.

Waiting a year is nothing in the grand scheme of things. Restoring this Space Mountain is a massive win for Disney Parks fans and Disneyland Paris. It will make Discoveryland more coherent and offer a marquee, original attraction for all who ride. I can’t wait to go on it!

Are you excited to see Space Mountain – De la Terre à la Lune restored? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! Planning a Disney trip? Check out our Travel Guides to help get you there! Here’s a link to discount tickets at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. If you enjoy what you’re reading here on Wandering in Disney please subscribe to the blog via email or WordPress and like our social media pages. You can find all of those things on the right side of this page. Thank you very much for reading, we appreciate it!