There is a certain symmetry in watching a ride come full circle.
At Disneyland Paris, that is exactly what's about to happen, as Disney Experiences has confirmed plans to retheme Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain and restore the attraction's earlier identity as a Jules Verne-inspired journey to the Moon. The announcement was made during Disney's Horizons showcase at D23 Expo 2026, and it closes a decade-long chapter that began when the ride first ventured into a galaxy far, far away.
A Ride Rooted in Victorian Imagination
Long before lightsabers and hyperspace jumps became part of its identity, this attraction told a very different story. Space Mountain – De la Terre à la Lune opened in 1995, inspired by Jules Verne's 1865 novel “From the Earth to the Moon.” Guests didn't simply ride a coaster; they stepped into the role of 19th-century adventurers, launched from the towering Columbiad Cannon and sent racing through a stylized vision of the lunar surface.
The ride's blend of period science fiction and genuine engineering ambition made it a signature experience at Disneyland Paris, one closely tied to the retro-futuristic design language of Discoveryland. Its identity later shifted through a version called Space Mountain: Mission 2 before the attraction was rethemed around Star Wars as Hyperspace Mountain.
Closing Day Set for Late 2027
Disneyland Paris has now confirmed that Hyperspace Mountain will close at the end of 2027, beginning a refurbishment expected to last several months. Rather than simply recreating the ride as it existed in 1995, Imagineers are approaching the project as a chance to imagine how the original concept might have naturally evolved with three decades of added technology behind it.
That means refreshed sets and props, a redesigned queue, and new effects layered into a story that once again centers on humanity's earliest imagined voyages to the Moon. Guests can expect the return of Discoveryland's steampunk sensibility, familiar touches from the original ride, and additional scenic detail meant to deepen the experience beyond its 1995 form.
Voices From Walt Disney Imagineering
Keith Rector, Senior Manager, Creative Art Direction at Walt Disney Imagineering Paris, spoke about the project in remarks 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.”
He went on to add: “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.”
Composer Steve Bramson's original score will return in a fully remastered form, tying the new version musically to its predecessor. The reworked queue will once again give guests a view of trains racing through the mountain before launch, and the blast-off sequence itself is being enhanced with upgraded effects.
A Resort Balancing Its Past and Its Future
This project lands during one of the more transformative stretches in Disneyland Paris's history. In March 2026, Walt Disney Studios Park was reintroduced as Disney Adventure World, bringing with it Adventure Way, the sprawling Adventure Bay lake, the Disney Cascade of Lights nighttime spectacular, and new attractions such as Raiponce Tangled Spin. The revamped park also debuted World of Frozen, giving visitors a fully realized take on Arendelle.
Seen side by side, the two projects tell a complementary story. Disney Adventure World pushes the resort toward new IP and modern storytelling, while the return of De la Terre à la Lune signals an equal investment in the resort's own history and the attachment guests still feel toward its earliest attractions.
Space Mountain's Evolving Identity Around the World
Paris isn't the only Disney resort reworking its Space Mountain. In Tokyo, the original 1983 version of the ride closed in July 2024 for what amounts to a full rebuild rather than a refurbishment. That project, called Space Mountain: Earthrise, is set to debut in 2027 with a new narrative exploring the connection between Earth and the broader universe, alongside a reimagined Tomorrowland plaza built around themes of humanity, nature, and hope for the future.
Other parks have taken a lighter touch, with Hyperspace Mountain appearing as a seasonal overlay at both Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland over the years.
What sets the Paris project apart is its direction. While Tokyo is essentially creating a new attraction from the ground up, Disneyland Paris is choosing to restore and elevate the version most tied to its own history. For guests who rode it decades ago, that return offers a strong sense of nostalgia. For a newer generation of park visitors, it offers a first chance to experience the story that helped define Disneyland Paris in its earliest days, as the cannon prepares to fire toward the Moon once more.
What are your thoughts on these changes to Space Mountain across the globe? Let us know in the comments down below!
