I agree that the track system in
Disneyland is much smoother, but I disagree about the layout being more exciting. I really dislike the loading platform, too. They basically took theming elements from Disney World's and shoved it in the loading platform instead of having actual theming in the attraction itself.
I'm a Disneyland local and I would
kill for the theming of Disney World's Space Mountain. The queue and exit area are both spectacular, and Disneyland's is awfully plain.
I'm all for a refurbishment to update the track and make it a bit less painful, but I'll be so sad if those thematic elements are taken away too.