The many months of refurbishment for Space Mountain are almost over.  As any Disney World fan knows Space Mountain is the king of the fabled Disney Mountains and the Magic Kingdom hasn't been the same since it shut down for an extensive refurbishment.

The official Disney Blog shared some glimpes of what the "new" Space Mountain will look like inside and how things are changed.

The first picture is a look at how the line queue looks when you are in the final waiting stage, just before you board the roller coaster.  The lighting looks incredible.

One of the key changes is how you will wait in line.  They are adding interactive games to help you pass the time and get more out of the "Space Mountain Experience".

Here is what they said at the official Disney Blog:

Passengers will be able to immerse themselves in unique game play as they prepare for blast off, becoming part of the space station adventure. During a recent walkthrough, we deflected asteroids to keep runways clear as part of the story.


The interactive experiences are based on duties you’d find on board a long-traveling space craft, according to Walt Disney Imagineering Senior Show Designer Alex Wright. Each game lasts about 90 seconds with a 90-second interval and the games can accommodate 86 players at one time.

As you move along on your journey, there are “insider” touches typical in projects created by Imagineers. For example, if you’re up on your Disney trivia, you’ll recognize a sign bearing the logo “H-NCH 1975″ as a tribute to late Imagineer and Disney legend John Hench. There are also other “Disneyphile” references hidden throughout the attraction.

Space Mountain celebrates the Golden Age of Rocket Travel – inspired by the jet age of the early 1960s. The attraction highlights excitement around the endless possibilities regarding space travel. It did back when it opened in 1975 and I think you’ll agree it still does.

 
These improvements, along with a new track (same path just replaced the old track) are finishing up and Space Mountain is scheduled to fully re-open on November 21st.
 
Conclusion - Can't Wait!
I am really looking forward to being able to check out the new and improved Space Mountain during my next visit.  It sounds like the classic attraction is intact with additional features, like the interactive games in the queue, that should make the experience better than ever.