Disney Experiences has confirmed that a second Space Mountain attraction is headed for a major transformation, following earlier reports of an overhaul at Magic Kingdom’s version of the ride. This time, the announcement centers on Disneyland Paris, where Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain will close at the end of 2027 to bring back the resort’s original Jules Verne-inspired concept.
The news was shared as part of Disney’s Horizons showcase at D23 Expo 2026.
From De la Terre à la Lune to Hyperspace Mountain
When Space Mountain – De la Terre à la Lune opened in 1995, it introduced a version of the attraction unlike anything else in the Disney parks portfolio. Drawing on Jules Verne’s 1865 novel “From the Earth to the Moon,” the ride paired Victorian-era science fiction with a level of technical ambition that set it apart even among Disney’s other mountain coasters. Riders were cast not as passengers but as 19th-century explorers, launched skyward from the Columbiad Cannon and sent hurtling through an imagined lunar landscape.
That original version became one of the defining attractions at Disneyland Paris and helped establish the retro-futuristic aesthetic tied to the resort’s Discoveryland area. Over time, the ride evolved into Space Mountain: Mission 2 before adopting its current Star Wars theming as Hyperspace Mountain.
What’s Changing When the Refurbishment Begins
According to Disneyland Paris, the upcoming refurbishment will last several months and go well beyond a simple restoration. Imagineers plan to revisit the 1995 concept using more than three decades of technological advancement, refreshing sets and props, redesigning the queue, and introducing new effects. The storyline will once again focus on an idealized vision of humanity’s first voyages to the Moon, with the steampunk styling of Discoveryland returning alongside new scenic details.
Keith Rector, Senior Manager, Creative Art Direction at Walt Disney Imagineering Paris, addressed the project in comments shared via Disneyland Paris News.
“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,” he said. “Today, as Imagineers, it is both an honor and an exciting challenge to reimagine this iconic attraction for a new generation.”
Rector continued: “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.”
Steve Bramson’s original score is set to return in remastered form, and the redesigned queue will again let guests watch the trains race through the mountain ahead of the ride’s launch sequence, which is also receiving upgraded effects.
Part of a Larger Shift at Disneyland Paris
The Space Mountain announcement arrives during a period of significant change at Disneyland Paris. On March 29, 2026, Walt Disney Studios Park officially reopened as Disney Adventure World, debuting Adventure Way, the Adventure Bay lake, the Disney Cascade of Lights nighttime show, and attractions including Raiponce Tangled Spin. The reimagined park also introduced World of Frozen, giving guests a fully built-out version of Arendelle.
Taken together, the resort is pursuing new storytelling through Disney Adventure World while reaffirming the value of its own history through the return of De la Terre à la Lune.
How This Fits Into Space Mountain’s Global Future
Disneyland Paris is not alone in reworking its Space Mountain attraction. Tokyo Disneyland closed its original 1983 version of the ride in July 2024 for a complete rebuild rather than a refurbishment. That project, known as Space Mountain: Earthrise, is expected to open in 2027 and will introduce a new story centered on the relationship between Earth and the wider universe, paired with a redesigned Tomorrowland plaza built around themes of humanity, nature, and hope.
Space Mountain has also taken on seasonal and thematic variations elsewhere, with Hyperspace Mountain overlays previously running at both Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland.
Where Paris differs from Tokyo is in approach: rather than building an entirely new attraction, Disneyland Paris is restoring and modernizing the version most closely tied to its own identity. For longtime guests, the return of De la Terre à la Lune offers a wave of nostalgia, while younger visitors will have their first opportunity to experience the concept that helped shape the resort in its early years.
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