What if the ride you loved as a kid vanished for over a decade, then suddenly came back? That is exactly what is happening at Disneyland Paris right now. The park has confirmed that Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune, the original 1995 version of its most iconic coaster, is officially returning.
For longtime Disneyland Paris fans, this is not just another ride refurbishment. It marks the return of a piece of theme park history that many fans thought was gone forever. Disney made the announcement during the 2026 D23 Expo. While it did not generate the same viral buzz as Star Wars or Marvel news, it may be one of the most meaningful park announcements of the year for a passionate group of fans.
Here is everything we know about the Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune restoration, why it matters, and what guests can expect when the mountain reopens.
Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune Explained
Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune debuted at Disneyland Paris in 1995. The name translates to “From the Earth to the Moon.” Imagineers based the attraction on Jules Verne’s classic novel and combined thrilling coaster action with retro-futuristic storytelling and world-first ride innovations.
A 22-meter-long cannon called the Columbiad Cannon launched riders into the story. In the original lore, the fictional Baltimore Gun Club built the cannon to send moontrains from Earth to the Moon. The theming, the score, and the launch sequence made this coaster an instant classic among fans who grew up visiting the park, then known as Euro Disneyland.
The ride changed over the years. It became Space Mountain: Mission 2 for a period. Then, for the past decade, it has operated as Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain, sending guests on a secret mission for the Rebel Alliance. Along the way, the original moon-themed story faded, and the cannon itself broke down. It has sat stuck in a stationary position since 2009.
Now, that is finally about to change.
The Official Space Mountain Restoration Announcement
Disneyland Paris confirmed that Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain will close at the end of 2027 for a multi-month refurbishment. The goal is to bring back the original 1995 theme while updating it for a new generation of guests.
The refurbishment will include extensive technical work, updated sets and props, a redesigned queue, and new special effects. Guests will once again travel to an idealized version of the first journeys to the Moon, presented in the steampunk aesthetic tied to Discoveryland.
One especially exciting detail: composer Steve Bramson’s original score will return, fully remastered for the reopening. Additionally, the redesigned queue will let guests watch the trains in motion again, building anticipation before the ride even begins.
Perhaps the biggest news for hardcore fans involves the Columbiad Cannon. Disney will finally restore it after years of sitting broken. Once fixed, it will launch riders from 0 to 44 mph in under two seconds, complete with the dramatic effects Imagineers originally designed for it.
Why the Space Mountain De la Terre à la Lune Return Matters
To understand why this news is such a big deal, you need to understand what this attraction represents to Disneyland Paris diehards. Fans often compare it to what Figment and Dream finder mean to old-school EPCOT Center purists, or what a nostalgic “wondrous worlds” Tomorrowland means to longtime Disneyland fans.
In other words, this is not a mass-market announcement. It is a deeply personal moment for a specific fan community that has waited nearly a decade to see the original vision return.
Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain has stayed popular, and that popularity actually explains part of the delay. Reportedly, Disney discussed and shelved this restoration project multiple times over the years because Hyperspace Mountain was simply too marketable to replace. Star Wars draws in casual park guests who may not know or care about the ride’s original 1995 story. So, from a business standpoint, keeping the Star Wars overlay made sense for a long time.
However, this project signals something different happening at Disneyland Paris now. Leadership appears to be shifting decisions away from pure marketability and toward what genuinely matters to fans who have supported these parks for decades.
A “New Magic” Initiative Brings Space Mountain Back
This restoration belongs to a broader program at Disneyland Paris called the “New Magic” initiative. The program aims to improve the overall guest experience and refresh classic attractions across the resort.
Other recent projects under this initiative include enhanced scenery along the banks of Rivers of the Far West in Frontierland, based on original designs from Disney Legend Marc Davis. Disneyland Paris also has several other projects at different stages of development, and the park plans to reveal them in phases.
Therefore, the Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune restoration is not an isolated project. It represents a larger commitment to honoring the park’s history while still investing in its future.
The Imagineers Leading the Space Mountain Restoration
During the D23 Expo, two Imagineers took the stage to discuss the project in detail: Michel den Dulk and Tim Delaney. Their combined history with Disneyland Paris makes them uniquely qualified to lead this restoration.
Tim Delaney began his Disney career in 1976. He worked alongside legendary Imagineers such as Herb Ryman, X Atencio, and Marc Davis. Delaney played an instrumental role in creating EPCOT Center and later led the design of Discovery land at Euro Disneyland. He also served as Lead Designer and Producer for the original Space Mountain at Disneyland Paris, which makes him one of the few people who can speak firsthand about the attraction’s original creation. He has since returned to Imagineering to work on Tomorrowland and Discovery land projects.
Michel den Dulk represents a newer generation of Imagineering talent. He began his career at Efteling in the Netherlands before working at Europa Park in Germany. Since joining Imagineering in 2010, he has worked on major projects including Fantasy Faire at Disneyland, Frozen Ever After at EPCOT, and World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland. He currently serves as Vice President Portfolio Executive for Disneyland Paris. By all accounts, he played a central role in finally getting this long-discussed restoration greenlit.
Together, they hosted a presentation called “Two Imagineers, One Mountain: The Evolution of Space Mountain at Disneyland Paris.” The session gave fans a detailed look at the attraction’s history and the thinking behind the restoration.
What to Expect From the New Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune
Walt Disney Imagineering Paris is still finalizing the design details. However, several key elements have already been confirmed. Guests can expect:
- A redesigned queue that reveals the moontrains in motion before boarding
- Updated indoor sets and props reflecting the original 1995 vision
- New special effects enhancing the iconic blast sequence
- Steve Bramson’s original score, fully remastered
- A restored and fully functional Columbiad Cannon
- State-of-the-art exterior dome lighting, already installed in 2025
Importantly, Imagineers do not plan to simply recreate the 1995 attraction exactly as it was. Instead, they are combining the original storytelling with more than 30 years of technological advancements. As a result, longtime fans should experience a version of the ride that feels both familiar and noticeably improved.
When Will Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune Reopen?
Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain will close at the end of 2027, and the refurbishment should take several months. Disneyland Paris has not yet announced an exact reopening date. Still, fans planning future trips may want to keep this timeline in mind, especially if they hope to ride Hyperspace Mountain one last time before it closes, or if they want to be among the first to experience the restored attraction.
Why Disney Leadership Chose to Bring Back Space Mountain
Disney is framing this restoration as more than just a nostalgic nod. It also serves as evidence of a broader shift in how Disney Parks leadership approaches decision-making.
For years, ambitious but niche projects like this one struggled to get approved because they lacked a clear, mass-market return on investment. Restoring a 30-year-old ride theme for a relatively small, dedicated fan base does not typically pencil out financially the way a Star Wars or Marvel expansion does.
However, this project finally received the green light, and that suggests current leadership, including Disney Parks CEO Josh D’Amaro, values these kinds of fan-focused investments. Similar to other symbolic restoration projects across Disney Parks, this move shows that leadership will invest time and money into projects simply because they matter to longtime supporters.
Final Thoughts
The return of Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune is a rare kind of theme park news. It will not dominate headlines the way a new land or IP-based attraction might. Yet for fans who have waited since the ride’s transformation years ago, this announcement means far more than marketability ever could. It feels like validation.
The restoration honors Tim Delaney’s original creative vision while giving a new generation of Imagineers, led by voices like Michel den Dulk, the chance to enhance it with decades of technological progress. Between the remastered score, the restored cannon, and the redesigned queue, Disneyland Paris looks set to deliver a genuinely special experience once the mountain reopens.
For now, guests still have time to experience Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain before it closes at the end of 2027. After that, the countdown begins for the return of one of Disneyland Paris’s most beloved classics.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune?
It is the original 1995 version of Space Mountain at Disneyland Paris, based on Jules Verne’s novel “From the Earth to the Moon.” It features a steampunk aesthetic and a launch sequence from the Columbiad Cannon.
2. When will Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain close?
Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain will close at the end of 2027 so Disney can begin the refurbishment back into Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune.
3. Will Disney fix the Columbiad Cannon?
Yes. Disney will restore the cannon, which has been stuck in a stationary position since 2009, as part of the project. Once repaired, it will launch riders from 0 to 44 mph in under two seconds.
4. Who is leading the Space Mountain restoration project?
Imagineers Michel den Dulk, Vice President Portfolio Executive for Disneyland Paris, and Tim Delaney, the original Lead Designer and Producer of the 1995 attraction, are both closely involved in the restoration.
5. Is the Space Mountain restoration part of a larger project at Disneyland Paris?
Yes. It belongs to the “New Magic” initiative, a broader program aimed at refreshing classic attractions and improving the guest experience across the resort.
