Misson Space ?

[wannabeBelle]

But if we can add another precaution, that can't be a bad thing. The guy standing was not very smart, not the ride's fault, so somewhat different. And just because a few people don't enjoy Off Kilter, should we not allow them to perform?
Kidding of course... :lookaroun

Of course not!!!! We should tar and feather them!!!!! Just teasing there guys!!! Seriously though Rockk & Roll bagpipes arent everyone's thing either, just ask my poor Mom!!! She sits through as much of the videos I bring home to show Dad for as long as she can stand which is about 5 minutes!!! At that point she usually just gets up and goes into another room or goes outside while Dad and I enjoy!!! I think the same basic principle applies to the ride as well, If you dont think that the ride is for you for whatever reason, please go and experience another one of the great attractions of Disney that is more to your liking!! No need to push a bad situation and end up with a potential for tragedy!! Belle

 

[IWorkWTeeth]

I am one who will not ride Mission Space because of anxiety issues (that's all I need is an anxiety attack on MS!!!), but since it tested fine, it should definatelty stay open for all who enjoy it. Personally, I feel that the height requirement should be raised. We'll see..........

 

[TOTGuy]

Then again, it could be no one's fault. My mother (being a nurse) believes it was something to the tune of a cerebral anurysm (sp?). It presents no symptoms and basically when it "pops" it causes a hemhorrage in the brain. Which could also cause a seizure (the mom's description of his body being tensed) and there is nothing to be done after the hemhorrage. It is really a tragedy that could not have been stopped and could have occurred on any other coaster. Also 2 G's is less than the forces imposed on the body by some other coasters. That's my two cents, but really it is sad.

 

[patricia27]

My feelings go to the family ,and they also go to the cast members faced with an unconscious child.
I have to admit I was surprised to learn that a 4 year old had been taken on such an intense ride ,surely you need to be psychologically mature and aware to take on board the experience of the ride .

 

[CaliSurfer182]

I think there is a difference between the risks of necessities in life versus amusement park rides. I think that may be the point of some posters. I need to ride in a car/bus/train/plane to get to work to make a living to afford a home for family, etc. I don't NEED to ride M:S and many people would rather not take ANY risk on an amusement park ride if there is one.

And nobody is forcing you to take that or any other risk, so by the same token why should you try to force others not to take a risk that they might enjoy?

Scooter, you are excersizing your parental rights. You are looking at a situation, evaluating the effects it may have on your children and are making an informed opinion as to if they should ride or not!!! Good for you!!! this is what ALL parents should be doing regularly!!!!

It is very good to exercise parental judgement and rights, but it shouldn't take an accident/death to make this occur. This should be executed before hand to prevent things like this. Only an individual knows theirs or their loved ones limitations.

If I were a parent and noticed that there were a bunch of warnings about a ride, I would ride it myself first and then make the judgement on whether or not I believed my child could handle the attraction.

All it takes is a little common sense on the part of parents. Just step back and look at things before you decide that something is ok for your child. And Scooter, while I respect your decision to not let your children ride this ride, I do not believe that the ride should be shut down. As stated earlier, riding or not riding is your choice, but you shouldn't dictate MY ability to ride this ride, should I so choose.

Interesting that this advice comes from a non-parent, some how nibblesandbits has grasped some key points that a lot of people should follow. Decisions need to be made by each person, and not adopted from others.

To sum up MY opinion.
So maybe the ride should not be shut down during the investigation, but it should be watched very closely until the investigation has conclusive results that say the ride played absolutely no role. Until cause of death is determined, I don't see how we can claim the ride innocent. This is an isolated incident and at best, we could possibly further restrict those few who may be at serious risk, regardless if it's 1 in a million. 1 in 8.6 million is not enough to close the ride forever, but, 1 child is enough to investigate and hope that if there is potential for preventing this from happening again, we should do that.

Now this is a well thought out and perfectly cohesive post. This is something that makes an extraordinarily large amount of sense. But the people that should watch the ride are the parents when they get to said ride. I believe that Disney (or any other park) should post information pertaining to the ride or inform guests what it might be like, but that is as far as it goes. They shouldn't have to explain everything that every person might suffer from on the ride. That should be left up to the accountable individual as to if the ride is safe for their situation or circumstances.

But I whole-heartedly agree that even one death in a billion or any other number is to great a loss. So the parents should take action on assessing risks for their families not Disney.

This did not weaken anything. You go on ride purposely for the thrill knowing that someone may throw up.

Yes some one may throw up on a thrill ride, but that sure doesn't mean that I want them to throw up on me. Likewise I go into a restroom knowing that some one might be relieving themselves, but by no means does that mean I expect them to do it on me.

 

[angelofitaly69]

Yes some one may throw up on a thrill ride, but that sure doesn't mean that I want them to throw up on me. Likewise I go into a restroom knowing that some one might be relieving themselves, but by no means does that mean I expect them to do it on me.[/QUOTE]

I have to agree with you there.

 

[joviacdan]

I know I'm gonna get flamed for this but I think this ride should be closed until they determine how and why this child died.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was only opened after they fixed the problem.
They KNEW why that ride broke down and fixed the problem.

In this case, they don't know anything except that a child died after riding this attraction.

Generally speaking,4 year olds don't just pass out and die for no reason...and until they determine what caused this to happen, Disney is gambling that it won't happen again. Imagine the lawsuits and grief if another child died and THEN they found out what caused it.

I ,for one, won't allow MY children to experiance this attraction until I know it's 100% safe to ride.

I know all the facts,and that 8 million people have ridden this attraction and not had a problem...but once a child dies, these numbers don't mean anything to me except this...my child could die on this ride.

Just my opinions people..don't go off on me now. :lookaroun

I agree with you. I don't care what the statistics say. Expect to get flamed. There's another website where if you said what you just said, forget it. People can be very mean when you don't share their opinion.

 

[sum41914]

I have a feeling that when the reason for this tradegy comes forth there are going to be some not so magical feelings, even after this thread.

 

[RoninHood]

I know I'm gonna get flamed for this but I think this ride should be closed until they determine how and why this child died.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was only opened after they fixed the problem.
They KNEW why that ride broke down and fixed the problem.

In this case, they don't know anything except that a child died after riding this attraction.

Generally speaking,4 year olds don't just pass out and die for no reason...and until they determine what caused this to happen, Disney is gambling that it won't happen again. Imagine the lawsuits and grief if another child died and THEN they found out what caused it.

I ,for one, won't allow MY children to experiance this attraction until I know it's 100% safe to ride.

I know all the facts,and that 8 million people have ridden this attraction and not had a problem...but once a child dies, these numbers don't mean anything to me except this...my child could die on this ride.

Just my opinions people..don't go off on me now. :lookaroun

Maybe there was something wrong with the child,not the ride.

 

[angelofitaly69]

I think WDW should just close completely. With the death of the woman on POTC, the deaths at DL on BTMR, the death of CMs, and now the death of a 4 year old innocent boy, it's time for TWDC to close the parks once and for all.

With over 15 Million people visiting WDW last year alone, and with 8.6 million people riding Mission:Space, these few deaths certainly means that Disney is more concerned about making money and bottom line than the safety of its guests.

To further add, you basically eat at your own risk when you eat a Disney meal. Remember that approximately 50 people were sent to the hospital with food poisoning last year from eating on Disney property, there is just too much likelyhood of a complete disaster!

Close the parks NOW!

I hope thats sarcasm. Everything in life is at your own risk.

 

[peter11435]

I have a feeling that when the reason for this tradegy comes forth there are going to be some not so magical feelings, even after this thread.

What exactly do you mean by that. The ride itself is perfectly safe and nothing went wrong with the attraction. So what would lead to these "not so magical feelings."

 

[angelofitaly69]

Maybe there was something wrong with the child,not the ride.

So far I heard there was no trauma. I doubt it was the ride itself. When I first heard what happened I immediatly thought pre-exsisting medical problem.

 

[nibblesandbits]

I don't think it's a question of a malfunction though. I for one am not saying it's the ride's "fault". Nor am I saying it is not the rides fault. I am saying we still don't know. So if the ride didn't malfunction and the ride (hypothetically) is partially responsible, then just maybe they need to tweek it down a tad? Maybe their current ride settings may be a bit strong for all 4 year olds so it wouldn't really mean that the ride would have to "malfunction" now, would it?

I just have to say that a four year old should not be riding Mission Space! THe ride should not be tweaked down because that is entirely too young to be riding such an intense ride. I don't care if the kid was a giant, if he was four years old and I was his parents, I would take a good look at the ride and not allow him to ride it. Especially with all the warnings posted!

 

[HMGhost13]

ok...amassing what has been said and what not...

disney won't close this ride. bottom line.

I agree, it had to be something pre-existing, though i'm not sure being pre-mature is the case. I was pre-mature, though i am older, and i rode it fine, considering the fact i have a prosthetic leg, missing right kidney and pupils that don't constrict all birth defects. though i digress.

Disney ahs shown there was no mechanical problem with the ride.

My dad was also saying how the kid's legs were sticking up rigid. I'm sorry but in that space, your legs can't be sticking up/out rigid unless you're very small and if that WAS the case, then the child should NOT have been on the ride due to his size.

to the one who said they won't take their child on the ride nor let themselves on. i see where you're coming from but personally, there's nothing to fear. I'm more afraid of the people driving around my city then i am of a simulator. i'm more afraid fo the road conditions than i am of a simulator. disney's done all they could do and shown what they assessed, what more could you ask for?

 

[Scooter]

My final thoughts on this thread:

First of all I would like to thank all of you who were polite and non critical of my thoughts and opinions in this thread. That's what makes it work so well.

Secondly, I want to apologize to anyone I might have upset with my comments. Sometimes I tend to type first and think later.

When I first heard that a four year old child had died after riding Mission Space I was deeply saddened.
Being a father of 3 beautiful children, I can't imagine a more tragic event that could have happened to anyone. Losing a child while on Holiday in Walt Disney World would be horrible.

There's one less bright eyed smiling little boy in this world today.
There's one less family that thinks Disney is "The Happiest Place on Earth"

I guess I thought that if shutting down the ride for 3 or 4 days until we found the cause of this childs dying might help someone else to not get hurt or die...well, I guess I thought it would be worth it.

As I sit here thinking about my 3 children, and I think that to me, they are worth more than ANY theme park ride in the world, I guess I was just thinking like a parent.

I just don't want any more babies to die at Walt Disney World, that's all.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Scott aka Scooter

 

[CaliSurfer182]

My final thoughts on this thread:

First of all I would like to thank all of you who were polite and non critical of my thoughts and opinions in this thread. That's what makes it work so well.

Secondly, I want to apologize to anyone I might have upset with my comments. Sometimes I tend to type first and think later.

When I first heard that a four year old child had died after riding Mission Space I was deeply saddened.
Being a father of 3 beautiful children, I can't imagine a more tragic event that could have happened to anyone. Losing a child while on Holiday in Walt Disney World would be horrible.

There's one less bright eyed smiling little boy in this world today.
There's one less family that thinks Disney is "The Happiest Place on Earth"

I guess I thought that if shutting down the ride for 3 or 4 days until we found the cause of this childs dying might help someone else to not get hurt or die...well, I guess I thought it would be worth it.

As I sit here thinking about my 3 children, and I think that to me, they are worth more than ANY theme park ride in the world, I guess I was just thinking like a parent.

I just don't want any more babies to die at Walt Disney World, that's all.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Scott aka Scooter

Excellent post and an excellent point. I to feel very bad about the loss of a human life. I am also a father and I know that I couldn't handle a loss of any of my children or even that of my friend's children. However I disagree on one point, that being the restrictions of an individual's freedoms (riding an attraction might seem a small freedom, but it accumulates from there). When other people start stepping in and deciding things for people it is wrong, and shouldn't be tolerated. Freedom is as important as life or else what is the point? If you had to do everything some one told you when they told you and how they told you, because it was best for you then what is the point of experiencing life.
I am sorry if my opinion disagrees with any one, but I "obligated" to "relinquish" most of my god given rights to ensure others maintained theirs, and it really annoys me when people negate that work and hand them away.

 

[M:SpilotISTC12]

Would we see you out front picketing if they did close it?

I would.

 

[DisneyMedic]

Ok gang,

I feel bad that a child..any child is no longer with us but after reading all the post here I had to throw my two sence in. This is an attraction and ment for fun and thrills!! Andf that is was it brings. It is in my opinion one of if not the BEST attractions to come out of the minds of Disney in a long time. They have all the Safety stuff in place in fact there is so many I think there create more anxity and stress looking at the warnings then riding the ride it self. In this case we can NOT blame the Attraction. It has checked out and is working properly!!! Weather or not the child had a condition is another matter!!

lets get back to the core. A child has died. We are all sorry and feel really bad. Was it the ride?? It dosnt look like it. If it was then the ride agravated some type of condition that caused the death. It could happen to any of us!!

Look at some of the really narley looking roller costers in the country and tell me they are not safe. This is a first class attraction and should be left open. Disney has done what they always do in the case of a accident. they close it down. get everybody out and notify the proper people for an investigation. then when they are given the ok they run there tests on the attratcion and reopen...

Look at it this way..a child could pass away on Its a Small World or Space mountain just as easily as Mission Space.

Our thoughts and pryers should be with the the child and his folks but hey...Do you really beleave this attraction is un safe???

I DO NOT...and i will let my children ride it over and over again as long as they are tall enough and meet the restrictions.

Ok I am done...

 

[Connor002]

it would have been a good idea to close the ride.

i'm thinking beyond my age here, but a statistic is NOTHING. it dosen't mattter how many others have ridden the ride. everything is a 50/50 chance. you'l either win the lottery, or you won't. you'l either live through the day, or you won't. LIFE IS NOT PREDICTABLE. untill they know things are as safe as possible, the ride should NOT be reopened

 

[Captain Hank]

An investigation concluded that there were no mechanical problems with the ride, and that it was operating normally at the time of the incident. Therefore, the ride is no more or less safe than it was on the day before the ride, or the day it opened in 2003. This rules out a mechanical failure.

The only other possible problem with the ride would be an intrinsic issue based on the nature of the ride, namely the g-forces encountered. Years of research, testing and daily operation, coupled with the 8.6 million that have experienced it sucessfully have more or less eliminated an intrinsic problem. Therefore, from a mechanical standpoint, I see no reason to close the ride in the wake of this tradgedy.

Actually, though, I would have liked to see the ride closed for just a little longer out of deference to the deceased. For me, it just seemed somehow wrong for a child to die on an attraction, then have the attraction open normally the next day, regardless of whether or not the attraciton actually played a part in the death.

And Scooter, even though I personally disagree with your position on M:S, thank you for exercising parental judgement. After dealing with multiple temper tantrums, out of control kids and irresponsible parents tonight while working, I wish more parents took a more active and informed role in raising their children.