let’s go swimming…
let’s go swimming…, uploaded via camera phone by s_sevener
let’s go swimming…, uploaded via camera phone by s_sevener
This is a test!, uploaded via camera phone by s_sevener
So Downtown Disney’s latest attraction has finally taken to the skies and while the photo shown here is merely one that I took earlier this month while the balloon was still safely grounded, Jack Spence recently posted some very cool photos over at AllEars.Net that do a much better job of showing off the spectacular view to be found in soaring some 400-feet above Walt Disney World!
This is one ride that I’m looking forward to challenging my fear of heights with, that’s for sure!

a view of Space Mountain with the lights on from the TTA
Well, if you didn’t get a chance to ride Space Mountain before midnight last night, be prepared to wait until this fall to get your next fix of intergalactic rollercoaster fun!
The details of what exactly is being done during this time still haven’t been revealed, so we’ll just have to see if this is simply a mechanical upgrade or if the Imagineers will be adding a soundtrack to the famed coaster like Space Mountain at Disneyland saw back in 2005. There’s certainly lots of room for updates with this one … it’ll be interesting to see if any changes that get made are subject to the same scrutiny that It’s a Small World is seeing…
In the meantime, for a great look at the Mountain’s history over the years, do check out this blog post by DisneyShawn - he’s got lots of great photos from every stage of the ride, and I’m sure it’ll be a great source for comparison this fall when the attraction re-opens!
Side Note: I, myself, cannot believe that the photo above is one of the only pictures of Space Mountain that yours truly has actually taken over the years! Definitely need to make a note to take some better photos this fall…

Photo courtesy Disney, via the Orlando Sentinel
Here’s an interesting article from Thursday’s Orlando Sentinel that talks about a new technological advance recently introduced at Disney World to help visually-impaired guests enjoy the parks…
Called “audio description,” the service provides visually impaired vacationers with a narrative depiction of the scenes that unfold as they move through rides such as the Magic Kingdom’s Haunted Mansion or Pirates of the Caribbean.
It is the latest feature added to a proprietary, wireless system that Disney World initially developed to help disabled guests. The system also includes features for deaf and hard-of-hearing guests, such as amplified sound and hand-held captions.
Read the Full Article Here: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-bizdizdevice16041609apr16,0,2498532.story