Disney Ride Has Sent Six To Hospital In Eight Months

[Sean23]

This article is on the front page wftv.com channel 9 in Orlando


POSTED: 2:24 pm EDT May 5, 2004
UPDATED: 2:35 pm EDT May 5, 2004

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- One of the rides at Walt Disney World is apparently a little too much for some of the older people willing to get on board.


Six people over the age of 55 have been taken to a hospital for chest pain and nausea after going the ride called "Mission: Space."

It is the most hospital visits for a single ride since Florida's major theme parks agreed in 2001 to report any serious injuries to the state.

The only other ride that approaches that number was Universal Orlando's "Ripsaw Falls," which had three reported injuries in 2002.

Although the reports showed no major maladies from Mission: Space, the hospital visits may come up in discussions this summer with state officials who consult annually with park officials about safety.
Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed


http://www.wftv.com/news/3272343/detail.html

 

[Sean23]

I did not mean to reply to this I just was going to edit.

I was at Epcot last night and Test Track had a 45 minute wait stand-by and mission space had a 5 minute wait.

 

[WDWFREAK53]

Originally posted by Sean23

Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed

Well, so much for that...

:lol:

 

[pilka214]

my mom said when she went on she thought her heart was going to stop and then she thought she was going to pass out. but i found no problem with the ride i could ride it constantly for hours without a problem. but guest over 55 should be warned it is an intense ride. they need also more warnings about the g-forces just to be safe so there is also less chance of a lawsuit because they have been warned

 

[SirGoofy]

What is with people not reading signs these days?! I'm pretty sure they warn people about what this ride can do. I really hope we don't have another AE on our hands.

 

[cherrynegra]

To quote WDWFreak53........ok then

Well, I think this will only encourage the gawk factor and will only have people running for the park to ride M:S. Maybe they should start a whole new campaign directed at serious hard core X-Treme thrill seekers and make that thing go faster!!

 

[speck76]

Maybe they should put a sign out in front of the attraction like most theme parks do...

Not meant for those with heart, neck, or back problems
Not meant for those who suffer from heart problems
It is not suggested for those who are pregnant (that fetus must really be having fun)

 

[Sean23]

The link has been updated:

http://www.wftv.com/news/3272343/detail.html



LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Walt Disney World's "Mission: Space" thrill ride has left some older riders gulping, "Houston, we have a problem."



In the past eight months, six people over 55 have been taken to the hospital for chest pain and nausea after going on the $100 million ride, which is meant to simulate a rocket launch.

It is the most hospital visits for a single ride since Florida's major theme parks agreed in 2001 to report any serious injuries to the state.

The only other ride that approaches that number was Universal Orlando's "Ripsaw Falls," which had three reported injuries in 2002.

Last December, Disney began placing barf bags in the ride, which uses a multi-arm centrifuge to simulate twice the normal force of gravity.

Although Disney reported no major ailments from "Mission: Space," the hospital visits may come up in discussions this summer with state officials who consult annually with park officials about safety.

"We may look at signs to see if they have warnings for older folks, the kinds of warnings they have to let people know that this ride is a little intense," Michael Rinehart, an inspector with the Department of Agriculture, which collects the theme park safety statistics.

Disney spokesman Bill Warren said Wednesday that of the six riders who became ill, three had had heart surgery and a fourth was diabetic and had not been feeling well before going on the ride, which is posted with 13 warning signs.

"Clearly, we focus on size and pre-existing health conditions," Warren said. "We give them the information and our guests ultimately decide whether to go on the ride."

The state's major parks are not directly regulated by the agency; Florida law exempts large, permanent amusement parks that have their own safety inspectors. But the parks agreed to share safety information in 2001.

"Mission: Space" has quickly become one of Walt Disney World's most popular rides and is credited with helping the park boost attendance an estimated 15 percent in the first quarter of the year.

The warning signs advise pregnant women not to go on the ride, caution about motion sickness and ban children shorter than 44 inches, but none of the warnings is targeted specifically at older people. An audio recording and a video also warn riders of the risks.

"For safety you should be in good health, and free from high blood pressure, heart, back or neck problems, motion sickness or other conditions that can be aggravated by this adventure," reads one sign.

Another says: "Caution. You may experience motion sickness on this adventure. Mission: Space is a realistic and intensive simulation of spaceflight. It is unlike anything you have ever experienced."

 

[cherrynegra]

Originally posted by Sean23

The warning signs advise pregnant women not to go on the ride, caution about motion sickness and ban children shorter than 44 inches, but none of the warnings is targeted specifically at older people. An audio recording and a video also warn riders of the risks.

"For safety you should be in good health, and free from high blood pressure, heart, back or neck problems, motion sickness or other conditions that can be aggravated by this adventure," reads one sign.

Another says: "Caution. You may experience motion sickness on this adventure. Mission: Space is a realistic and intensive simulation of spaceflight. It is unlike anything you have ever experienced."

Um...hello?? That just about covers it. What more do they want? For Disney to add "This means you you old coot!!!"

 

[Disney2002]

I just posted this a few days ago in another forum, but as a 22 year old in excellent health (running 6 miles a days, etc), I actually have blacked out because of the g-forces on rides. It may end up that these rides really aren't that good for you.

 

[disnyfan89]

Originally posted by cherrynegra
Um...hello?? That just about covers it. What more do they want? For Disney to add "This means you you old coot!!!"

:lol: :hammer:

 

[Since1976]

Yikes...I guess that by the time I get to ride this thing it will be so watered down I don't feel a thing.

I think that's what happened with STAR TOURS. It seemed so much more intense when I rode it in 1990. In 2002, it felt rather tame. I couldn't tell if it was because they'd softened it up, or because I was older and bigger. I suspect it was a little of both.

 

[WDWFanatic]

"Hey honey do you think my heart surgery stitches will hold up on mission: space"?
"There were 13 warning signs back in the line but i think im ok, if there were 14 i would bypass".
"Speaking of bypass, Hey my arm feels numb." Must have been that pineapple ice cream at MK.

 

[aimster]

Originally posted by cherrynegra
Um...hello?? That just about covers it.
What more do they want? For Disney to add
"This means you you old coot!!!"

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Seriously though... a little thing called COMMON SENSE just doesn't seem to be used sometimes.
If I think I'm going to have a problem with a certain ride/attraction, I simply just won't go on it.
Some people seem to check their brain when they visit WDW.

Break out the airsick bags!

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Disney2002]

My guess is this will re-spark talks of g-force legislation.

 

[CTXRover]

I sympathize with those who have been sent to the hospital and others who experience adverse effects. It is a compeltely new use of technology and a completely new type of ride system and experience that it is somewhat difficult for people to determine what it really is all about and if they will be ok on it.

That said.....what more could Disney possibly do to warn people. You virtually can't be in any part of the indoor queue area or pre-shows without being hammered with warnings and videos of the ride system or numerous options to back out by CM's before and while loading into the pods. I think it comes down to the fact its a "Disney" ride and let's face it...no Disney ride has quite pushed the limits that MS does and I think most people figure.."I'll be fine". The only thing left is saying you WILL get sick if you have yadda, yadda, yadda or are an older person. But that would be just foolish.

 

[Testtrack321]

Those who are perfectly ok to ride will be scared by the signs, yet those who really shouldn't ride still do and have side effects. Talk about the Catch-22 from hell....

 

[Nineinchnailsmk]

realisitcally, how rough is this ride? I usually do well with these types, however i do not do well on the teacups, but i can handle rollercoasters....(except batman the ride at six flags...i almost passed out....)

Do i need dramamine (sp)?

lol

 

[DFD111]

Hello all,

First things first,

MISSION: Space is a very Intense ride by any theme park standards.

Second,

Disney tests these rides very hard, and wouldn't open it if they felt it was going to kill you.

Third,

There are signs everywhere about that ride, I counted 3 prior to even getting into the Q - Line for it. After that there are several throughout the inside of the building that state, People with Heart Problems, Pregnant, etc should not ride this.

Fourth,

COMMON SENSE PEOPLE. MISSION SPACE IS VERY EXTREME, USE COMMON SENSE WHEN RIDING IT. We went over a topic about people loosing their lunches on the ride a couple of weeks ago and it all goes back to using COMMON SENSE.

 

[xfkirsten]

Oy... America's lack of common sense strikes again.

-Kirsten