Space Mountain: Mission 2 - Discovery Mountain - Original Concept and Design

Original Concept and Design

Originally, Disneyland Paris wanted to make a replica of Space Mountain from Tokyo Disneyland. However, after the Parisian site had been chosen and work began on Discoveryland, a showcase attraction was planned. Discovery Mountain was initially designed to feature not only Space Mountain, but a variety of other attractions, exhibits, and restaurants. The building was going to be 100 meters in diameter, rather than 61 meters, the diameter of the Space Mountain dome.

Inside, the following items were to feature:

• A large version of the Nautilus (which ended up outside of the attraction and as a walk-through attraction)
• An underwater restaurant with a Nautilus theme alongside a café
• A copy of the Horizons attraction of Epcot
• A Disneyland Railroad stop
• Free-fall ride concept, themed to Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth
• Space Mountain based upon From the Earth to the Moon
• Walkway tubes linking to CinéMagique and the Videopolis dining and stage complex (which still features two huge windows in that place)

Discovery Mountain's budget became so huge that cuts were inevitable. In addition, the resort had encountered a loss of millions of French francs in its first three years of operations. This was due to low hotel occupancy, low guest spending and lower attendance than projected, partly due to the colder winter weather—in sharp contrast to Tokyo Disneyland, which sees crowds year-round regardless of the weather. The Victorian-inspired design of Space Mountain (initially named Discovery Mountain before its name change), with its huge Columbiad cannon, and containing only the indoor roller coaster, was decided upon as the best choice for the financially unstable resort, as well as a nearby walkthrough recreation of the Nautilus, entitled Les Mystères du Nautilus.

However, in 2001, Tokyo DisneySea opened, featuring Mysterious Island, a recreation of Vulcania Island from the movie 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. This island features some elements from Discovery Mountain (for example the ride Journey to the Center of the Earth or the Nautilus ride).