Space Mountain, Improved?

Last trip, a few weeks ago, I never did make it to the new and improved Space Mountain. We didn't get there until they had already closed down the fast pass and the line was very long. Of course it was on a capacity day when they close the park because it is too full. Anyway we went back after the parade and fireworks, when usually the waits are shorter -- only to discover the ride was broke and they didn't know when, or if it would be fixed before closing.

This trip we went there first thing and got a fast pass. We came back at the designated time, all set to see the new and improved Space Mountain. It had been closed for quite some time to do all the upgrades. That fast pass is great -- we walked all the way in to the "inner chamber" before we hit the line. It only took 15 minutes or less to make it on the actual ride. After all is said and done, I'm a little disappointed.

The only "improvement" I could find are these cool looking gates to keep back people waiting their turn. They are pretty, but did it really need to be closed 6 months (or more) for that? Sure, there are more blinky lights inside, but what was cool about Space Mountain was zooming through the dark and not knowing where you were going to go -- even though you kind of had it memorized after a while. The last improvement brought in synchronized music, which was pretty cool -- but now in the latest improvement that cool music is gone and I think there was some lame elevator music of some kind instead.

Greatly improved? I think not. Mildly improved? Um, overall counting plusses and minuses, I think not. It's still a fun ride, but I miss the cool music.