At Disney, Mission: Space spurs most complaints

[speck76]

Timmay and everybody else here that doesn't think anything of this.

When is it just NOT ok to overlook this and call it just another "unfortunate circumstance?"

2 people have died in 10 months. Countless numbers of people get sick (whether a formal complaint is filed or not) and many others have had chest pains.

How many have to die?

I'm really shocked that more people aren't actually a little concerned.

9 million people have ridden the attraction since opening, with 2 deaths

The first death was proven through autopsy to be related to a pre-existing condition.

Even if we consider the first death, the odds of death on Misson Space are 1:4,500,000

The odds of dying from legal execution are 1:4,297,630 (so you have a greater chance of being legally executed in the electric chair, or by lethal injection, than you do on mission space)

The odds that you will commit suicide are 1:9,096, which means that there is a great chance you will kill yourself, than die on Mission Space

The odds that you will be hit by lightning are 1:4,362,746, so you still have a greater chance of being hit by lightning than dying on Mission Space

You have a 1:780,329 that you will die by choking on your own vomit.....still, much greater than dying on Mission Space

 

[MrNonacho]

9 million people have ridden the attraction since opening, with 2 deaths

At least one news report is now saying that total ridership is nearing 12 million. I believe it was 9 million back when the first incident happened.

 

[Timmay]

You have a 1:780,329 that you will die by choking on your own vomit.....still, much greater than dying on Mission Space

This is why I always try to :hurl: in the "face down" position.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

This is why I always try to :hurl: in the "face down" position.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Speck, I know the stats...but my question is...when do we stop looking at stats and saying "You're more likely to die in a car" blah blah and start looking at trying to resolve the issue?

 

[Shaman]

9 million people have ridden the attraction since opening, with 2 deaths

The first death was proven through autopsy to be related to a pre-existing condition.

Even if we consider the first death, the odds of death on Misson Space are 1:4,500,000

The odds of dying from legal execution are 1:4,297,630 (so you have a greater chance of being legally executed in the electric chair, or by lethal injection, than you do on mission space)

The odds that you will commit suicide are 1:9,096, which means that there is a great chance you will kill yourself, than die on Mission Space

The odds that you will be hit by lightning are 1:4,362,746, so you still have a greater chance of being hit by lightning than dying on Mission Space

You have a 1:780,329 that you will die by choking on your own vomit.....still, much greater than dying on Mission Space

Nevertheless...the media coverage this is getting is bad for Disney and bad for the attraction. And of course sadly, two guests are dead.

Disney has to improve the way it presents the warnings to the guests for this attraction. The ride shouldn't be touched...certain people should be kept off...the current system doesn't work because people have become desensitize by the various warnings at other attractions. And since they can't see what M:S is...they really can't make a solid judgement call.

Of course, stubborn people will always risk it and ride M:S (no matter what Disney does)...but I think a new system or way of presenting the warnings is just what M:S needs...

I just hope this isn't the beginning of the end for the current version of M:S...

 

[Monty]

Those two deaths, as far as I can tell, were the result of guest stupidity. The kid was 4 years old- he shouldn't have been on the ride in the first place. And it was reported that the woman had high blood pressure. THEY WARN NOT TO RIDE IF YOU HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE!

Two more examples of guest stupidity...:brick:

I wouldn't reach the same conclusion.

The boy was tall enough to ride, had no known pre-existing conditions and his parents were aware of the warnings. His age is not a determining factor, all Disney ride restrictions are based on height, not age. How does that qualify as "Guest Stupidity"?

There are "reports" that the woman had high blood pressure, but those appear to be second- or third-hand information "attributed" to Disney [I haven't seen any direct quotes from Disney or the family]. Until there is an autopsy, we don't know what caused her death or if she did suffer from high blood pressure. Assuming that she did have high blood pressure is premature at this point. If she did, then perhaps that was a factor, but we don't know that. If she didn't, how does that qualify as "Guest Stupidity"?

My sympathy goes out to both families, the idea of such a tragedy occurring during a vacation at WDW compounds the grief they must feel. I prefer to to apportion blame at all.

 

[dxwwf3]

They give you warnings and stuff, but all the rides have warnings," Borne said.

Which is exactly what I said in another thread about this. People don't take Disney warnings seriously because they have warnings for just about everything.

But at the same time you have this....

"This thing, they gotta close it down."

No Mr. Borne, you have got to do more research about your vacation. If you had looked at a Disney site or read a Disney planning book, you would have known this wasn't your typical Space Mountain attraction. I agree that sometimes Disney warnings can be overkill and you can become desensitized to them, but in the end, it's your fault you didn't know what you were getting into when you rode "this thing".

 

[Timmay]

How many have to die?

I'm really shocked that more people aren't actually a little concerned.

Well, I do have concerns, but my concerns are not nearly as great or as many as yours because I believe Disney has done their due dilligence regarding M:S.

 

[Monty]

The odds of dying from legal execution are 1:4,297,630 (so you have a greater chance of being legally executed in the electric chair, or by lethal injection, than you do on mission space)

So, speck, what exactly are the odds of being "legally executed" on M:S?


I knew Florida was tough on crime, but... :lookaroun



:lol:



[sorry :lookaroun]

 

[WDWFREAK53]

Nevertheless...the media coverage this is getting is bad for Disney and bad for the attraction. And of course sadly, two guests are dead.

Disney has to improve the way it presents the warnings to the guests for this attraction. The ride shouldn't be touched...certain people should be kept off...the current system doesn't work because people have become desensitize by the various warnings at other attractions. And since they can't see what M:S is...they really can't make a solid judgement call.

Of course, stubborn people will always risk it and ride M:S (no matter what Disney does)...but I think a new system or way of presenting the warnings is just what M:S needs...

I just hope this isn't the beginning of the end for the current version of M:S...

I agree...something that would help (not fix) the situation would be to show the attraction. I know they sorta show it in a CG way...but right when they show it, they toss up all the warnings and you really can't see it unless you're specifically looking at it. No more CG...Just have a camera installed from inside the ride bays so people can see exactly what they're getting themselves into. It won't ruin the theming because it's theming is that it is a simulator. If more people can see that they're strapping you into a contraption that's similar to a dryer on spin cycle, they may "opt out" more than they do now.

 

[SpongeScott]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Speck, I know the stats...but my question is...when do we stop looking at stats and saying "You're more likely to die in a car" blah blah and start looking at trying to resolve the issue?

What do we resolve, Brian? The ride? It functions properly. The guests? If they don't heed the warnings, how can they be stopped? You can't legislate stupidity. I personally know my limitations. There are rides I choose not to ride because I know they will make me sick. Therefore, I don't ride them. Period.

 

[Miss Bell]

I'm not commenting on the deaths--only the illnesses: I think people think because it is a big enclosed ride that all the warnings are hype. If it is a roller coaster or something you can see what is going on, people who have neck injuries or high blood pressure, I think, are more likely to make an informed decision.

For years, I didn't ride Test Track, because I thought it was going to be too high in the air, based on what the building looks like with the track on the outside. When I finally rode it, I wondered why hadn't ridden it in the first place.

I think people think Mission Space will be no worse than something like Star Tours. I also think that the majority of people who get sick close their eyes or look around--I know my husband did when he got sick on it.

As for the people that died, or even the guy in the news article whose doctor blamed his reaction to the ride. People have all kinds of conditions they don't know about. I had a student a few years ago, who at the age of 15, died of a heart complication--just went to bed and didn't wake up. These things happen. I see more and more reports of teen-age athletes, even marching band members that have died from conditions they didn't know they had.

Is it possible a ride like Mission Space could aggravate the problem? Sure, but just as likely walking around in the hot Florida sun and not drinking enough water can do it, too.

 

[rainfully]

Nevertheless...the media coverage this is getting is bad for Disney and bad for the attraction. And of course sadly, two guests are dead.

Disney has to improve the way it presents the warnings to the guests for this attraction. The ride shouldn't be touched...certain people should be kept off...the current system doesn't work because people have become desensitize by the various warnings at other attractions. And since they can't see what M:S is...they really can't make a solid judgement call.

Of course, stubborn people will always risk it and ride M:S (no matter what Disney does)...but I think a new system or way of presenting the warnings is just what M:S needs...

I just hope this isn't the beginning of the end for the current version of M:S...

Personally, I think they way they present the warnings is pretty good as is. I can ride pretty much anything... but the warnings STILL scare the crap out of me. How many rides do you go on, where they say "are you SURE you wanna do this?! if you don't, GET OUT NOW!!! LOOK AT THE SPINNING AND DARK PLACES!!! OOOOOOHHH" (ok, not quite those words... but Lt. Dan is very forboding)

I think they do a good job of getting the point accross that this thing is INTENSE.

Although perhaps it'd be good to make literature more readibly available for the non-english speaking...

 

[Shaman]

Think about this way...

You walk on M:S thinking you're in perfect health; you read the warning signs, but feel great and the doctors agree, after all you just visited the doc last week he gave you a clean bill of health. So, you ride M:S, and as soon as you get out, start to feel terribly ill. You are rushed to the hospital where they find that a difficult to detect, pre-existing condition has been aggravated by the attraction. And then you die....

You see, M:S is perhaps the only attraction on property with the ability to aggravate a hard to detect, pre-existing conditions--to the point of killing riders. Should Disney not look into this a little more? If not to save a life, at least to save the park and attraction from another PR nightmare?

In the end, like I've said, better warnings will help...but if you go in thinking you're healthy and this ride has the ability to aggravate certain conditions you don't know about (more so than any other ride on property) ..then the warnings are useless....

Disney has to decide whether they want to leave it to chance...or take control and dumb down the ride, or do away with it.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

What do we resolve, Brian? The ride? It functions properly. The guests? If they don't heed the warnings, how can they be stopped? You can't legislate stupidity. I personally know my limitations. There are rides I choose not to ride because I know they will make me sick. Therefore, I don't ride them. Period.

Scott...

If you weren't a Disney aficianado...and knew nothing about Mission:Space, would you know what your body was about to go through?

Aside from that little CG video loop, there is nowhere that tells you what the ride system is like. Most people know if they can handle a rollercoaster...if they can't...they can see that it's a rollercoaster and steer clear. Tower of Terror has the opening doors and you can physically see the car drop. Soarin' isn't an issue because it doesn't put any stress or forces on the body.

Maybe if the guests were actually aware and could see what they were about to strap their bodies into...they'd be able to make a more educated decision on whether they should ride it or not.

Also...videos and images break down the language barrier.

 

[Timmay]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Speck, I know the stats...but my question is...when do we stop looking at stats and saying "You're more likely to die in a car" blah blah and start looking at trying to resolve the issue?

See, you and I have a difference of opinion. No ill will or malice, but a difference of opinion.

I believe that M:S is a very intense ride... one of the most intense, pushes your body to the limit ride I have ever been on. It is supposed to be that way. There are signs everywhere that tell you that. The pre show is pretty much scare tactic (again, this is an intense, body limit pushing experience, please leave if this is not for you, one last chance...btw, does somebody have the pre show script, I am curious to see how much of that I remember right).

It is what the ride is supposed to do, and I believe there is no doubt about it before you get on the thing.

Okay, I have never said that the two deaths are the fault of the people that lost their lives...how can they be if they did not know about their condition...however, people that get sick on the ride that do know about a serious medical condition, or people that fail to follow directions...well, that very well could be their fault.

I am just not the type of person that thinks "Even if it were to save only one life, wouldn't it be worth it?"...my answer to that is always "It depends"...may seem cold to some, and practical to others. There has been no evidence that this ride is "directly" responsible for these deaths...indirectly, a good possibility but directly, no! If it were directly responsible...bye bye M:S. I just think a lot of the people that have complaints about the ride (Like the guy that passed out on the plane) either are not healthy enough to be on the ride and not know it (or be out in the hot sun all day, not hydrating themselves, walking, walking, climbing steps, walking, eating, walking)...or, they just ignore everything they should be listening to.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

See, you and I have a difference of opinion. No ill will or malice, but a difference of opinion.

Yep, just a difference of opinion...and nobody's is wrong either way.

I see your point and I'm sure you can see mine.

 

[Disneyman88]

A funny reminasence, years ago on Space Mountain they had lots of orange flashing signs that read Warning. Although since removed it was remarkable how many kids would not ride because of the signs!!

 

[Epcot82Guy]

This is a very interesting topic (one I'm actually about to be published on next year). I really think that there are faults in warning systems, but the fix needs to be greater than at an individual theme park. There is a need for education about how these attractions work with your body. If people don't have a concept about G-Forces, inversions, etc., we run into this exact problem of "every ride has a warning posted." However, Space Mountain gives a very different experience than Mission:Space. Granted, for once, M:S does have a more expansive warning system, but the average guest has been trained that the warnings are just overlawyered scare tactics that don't really apply to any normal person. We don't need to close or control the design of these attractions, but there needs to be some form of information system that works more effectively than what we have now. The statistics are not huge, but this is a different form of "informed rider" standard necessary because we aren't dealing with the linear, brief G-force periods (and shouldn't since the entire thrill of this ride comes from other sources).

 

[brertigger]

...btw, does somebody have the pre show script, I am curious to see how much of that I remember right...

Here's the script:
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showpost.php?p=384867&postcount=1