Walt Disney World Epcot Discussion Thread

[haiderodes]

Again, you have to remember that even with the 'short' lines that Mission: Space has, it still puts through SOOOOO many people that it's more likely to have an accident than some random roundup.

 

I don't think it pulls anymore G's than most rides, if anything, I think it's Gary Sinise's fault. He hypes up the ride so much and scares people so that their heart is racing, then you ride the ride and it's really not that bad! Come on, even I can ride it multiple times!

 

In a way, I think Elissa could be right. I think the suspense of not knowing exactly how its going to feel may play a factor in it. I also think the theming and everything that makes the experience so exciting, adds to the perceived forces.

 

Like someone else mentioned, I have never EVER seen a ride that has that many warnings about whats going to happen. They not only mention spinning, they show it...OVER AND OVER AGAIN! Maybe people just think Disney rides are calm and ignore the warnings (already mentioned)? I mean if people are ignoring them, that can't really be Disney's fault...in theory of course.

 

Yes Mission:Space is unique, its has its intense aspects, but there are much more intense attractions out there.

[Wes]

Yes Mission:Space is unique, its has its intense aspects, but there are much more intense attractions out there.

 

But not at Disney. M:S is probably the most intense Disney ride ever, in terms of forces. People expect Disney rides to be exciting, but maybe not as crazy as something from Six Flags. Disney has set a standard that their attractions are geared towards families. They obviously have EVERY RIGHT to build whatever kind of ride they want, but the public perception is always going to be that Disney builds tame rides. I can guarantee you there's been thousands and thousands of people who were completely caught off guard by M:S's intensity, despite the numerous warnings.

 

Another problem/issue is that you obviously can't see the ride before you board. Even with the safety videos and all that, people are going to think "Hey, it's just spinning, big deal!", whereas the same person would see an out in the open roller coaster like Hulk and decide they probably shouldn't ride it.

[SharkTums]

^I disagree on one of your points. I feel that for the General Public Rock n Roller Coaster and even EE are more intense than mission space. Let's use my mom as typical GP (which she is, trust me!) She was more willing to go on a spinning ride than a ride that Launches, goes upside down, or a ride that goes backwards.

 

You can't see Rock n Roller coaster, it launches and goes upsidedown several times. (And depending on where and what train you ride it, bashes your skull!)

 

Yes Mission Space probably sustains more G-Forces, but I dont' feel it's anymore intense than some of the other Disney rides. People have heart attacks at Disney every day, you just don't hear about them when they happen as the person is eating, or walking through world showcase!

 

Haven't at least 2 or 3 people died on Hulk? 2 on Kumba? You don't hear people calling for those rides to be changed.

[Wes]

^ I think what I was trying to say and what you were trying to say is similar, my wording was probably poor. Your mom would probably choose to go (heh) on M:S over RnRC because RnRC is perceived as being more intense, since it's a roller coaster that goes upside down. People think they can handle a ride that "just spins" versus one that launched and goes through loops. The woman who died might have opted out of riding RnRC.

I bet the ride ops on M:S probably get "Is this a roller coaster?" quite a bit, and when they say no, the people who wouldn't normally ride Everest or RnRC think it's okay to go on. Roller coasters obviously carry a perceived notion, whereas since Mission: Space is hard to explain in terms of the ride and the sensations, more people get on it not knowing what its going to be like.

 

I still feel that the overall experience on Mission: Space is far more intense that Rock N Roller Coaster. Space made me light headed and a little dizzy, RnRC made me just hate Steven Tyler.

[SharkTums]

^Wait a minute, I love that idea!

[robbalvey]

I also just want to point out that there are statistically more injuries on the parking lot tram at Disney's on both coasts, yet you don't see a big deal being made over that.

 

--Robb

[live2tell75]

I love Mission Space. I have been on it a gazillion times. But everytime I go, with all the warnings during the line I still wonder in the back of my mind, could this be the time that MS is going to cause a medical condtion to surface in me that I had no idea about. I get over it and I always love the ride. But I could see how people could get stressed out about the whole expeience. The build up in the preshows can make your heart race. Ok, I agree it's Gary Sinese's fault!

 

-Eric J

[haiderodes]

I also just want to point out that there are statistically more injuries on the parking lot tram at Disney's on both coasts, yet you don't see a big deal being made over that.

 

--Robb

 

Right on Robb!

 

As a past Disney parking host...let me tell you people got hurt all the time. Granted 99.9% of the time it was thier fault for not paying attention and not following directions but it happened. There was no news coverage.

 

IMO, I think the Mission:Space hoopla has to deal with how they marketed the ride as well. They said it was the most intense attraction ever, reguardless of the physical reality of g-forces. People will take most intense and turn it into something thats on the edge of being safe/unsafe. We were talking about this very sort of mental game in my Media and Society class yesterday.

 

There are a lot of attractions people get hurt on. Hell, I was at the movies last night and someone fell UP the stairs.

[Erik Johnson]

I do not know what more WDW has to do to warn people about the intensity of the ride. They certainly do have the most extensive warning sign in front of this attraction I have ever seen. Also our friend Gary warns everyone about the ride at least 3 or 4 times in the pre-show. Several times, via a computer generated model, they show park guests how the ride works before you actually board. Once while you are waiting for the pre-show, and another time in the 2nd section on the pre-show.

There are plenty of these screens before you board

Yes, this is quite extensive IMO.

[waterviper]

Maybe now Mission:Space will get the Alien Encounter treatment.

Instead of Mission:Space it will be called Mission:Stitch.

There wont be any more centrifuge. It would just be like a regular simulator like Star Tours where you go on some sort of mission with Stitch being the pilot as all hell breaks loose just like Star Tours.

I can totally see that happening!

[Astat]

If the ride was really dangerous and the killing machine that the media is trying to make it out to be, don't you think that the deaths would consist of more than one boy who DIDN'T MEET THE HEIGHT REQUIREMENT and had a PRE-EXISTING CONDITION, and one woman who presumably had a pre-existing condition as well?

 

Confuscius say Mission Space no do anything bad to you if you healthy!

[Wes]

^ The boy met the height requirements. The family asked Disney to raise the limit to 51" after the death, to potentially prevent young kids from riding. Disney denied the request.

 

The media loves dogging on Disney, this is a known fact. Anything to make a headline right?

[BeemerBoy]

Okay, here's my two cents. First of all, everyone is always so quick to jump on the "pre-existing condition" bandwagon, and try to pass it off as the rider's or guardian's fault for dying because of it. I believe someone else in here stated that these conditions are not always known...which is very true. Did someone not die on SFMM's Goliath once from a brain anuerism (sp?)or something of the like? I can't remember the last time I woke up and said, gee, maybe I should get my brain scanned today before I head out to the park.....just in case something may trigger sudden death, you know?

 

I hate to sound like that idiot senator who tried to propose lowering g-forces, but I'm starting to feel that this is Disney's fault. I agree with Elissa that people fall into a "safe" feeling on what is essentially a vacation time. Of course the general public doesn't read signs, but should they need to be warned, or worse, even scared about potential death because they haven't had an extensive physical lately? I remember being a bit apprehensive while listening to Gary last year, and I was in good health.

 

Disney knew full well what they were building. It took, what, half a decade or more to build this thing? Not to mention the brilliant minds of NASA along with many former astronauts. It's hard to believe that not one person said, "wait, don't you think we might be subjecting the general public to forces only professionals should feel?"

 

Sure, on the surface it's a spinning ride, right? Well, sort of. Yes, most carnival type flat rides are based on the element of centrifugal force (Gravitron, for instance)....but M:S is not your normal Gravitron. In my completely unscientific opinion, the problem with this ride is that it tricks the mind into thinking the body is doing something it's not. When you're riding, your mind is tricked into feeling a forward motion, when in reality you're body is undoubtedly spinning. Does that make any sense?

 

I'm no expert on the inner workings of this machine, but I do remember reading somewhere about how this essential centrifuge was altered to achieve these forward motion feelings. I mean, let's be realistic here. On certain centrifugal type carnival rides, yes you spin like crazy, but your body is able adapt to the direction in which you're heading. And if M:S was as simple as this premise, then why did it cost $100 million (insert Dr. Evil impression), and why are people dying? Surely you never had this many people dying on the Gravitron at your local fair. And if I'm wrong, I apologize, but remember who we're dealing with here....Disney...they can't afford continuing bad publicity like this.

 

The simple fact is that Disney bowed to the critics who said they couldn't build more intense rides, and now they're paying for it. I don't care whether Disney welcomes 1 or 100,000,000 guests a year, 1 death on a ride that was too intense to begin with is one death too many. And when you can't blame rider error for an idiot standing up on a ride, or undoing a restraint, then it becomes solely the park's responsiblity for building it in the first place, IMHO. Disney knew they were pushing the limits. I shudder to think what this thing was like when it had it's cast member preview. My brother told me half the riders puked at one point. And it's been no secret that it's been toned down.

 

All in all, this is very sad, and my prayers go out to the family affected. I just really feel that this ride never needed to be there in the first place. A death at Disney should never happen.....especially twice in such a short time.

 

So I ask, what's next? A new Russian pavillion with Russian Roulette:The Ride?

 

 

Sorry for the long-winded rant.

[Slessie]

When I rode A year ago I did think it was that intense it wasn't nothing but it wasn't horrible. Anyways I think its the rider's fault because there's more warning signs than anything

[BeemerBoy]

I also just want to point out that there are statistically more injuries on the parking lot tram at Disney's on both coasts, yet you don't see a big deal being made over that.

 

--Robb

 

Robb, that may be true, but death is quite a bit different than a moron falling off the tram.

[coasterdude5]

I'm kinda split on this one, and since most of the stuff on my mind has already been posted, I'll just show a picture of all of Mission:Space's warnings.

[JT3000]

I don't think it is Disney's fault because the four year old and the 49 year old chose to go on it, knowing they had a condition and might be risking their life. No one can sue or take out a ride for two deaths caused by themselves and by their families. I say they should not get mad at Disney, but get mad at themselves for making stupid desicions. Throughout the line, Disney gives proper warnings to people with certain conditions and things. They chose to go on it, so they shouldn't be able to do anything about it. I mean, if I had some wierd condition like they had, and knowing that this ride would hurt me, and still went on it anyway, I would call myself extremely foolish.

---Brent

 

OH MY GOD.

 

This is so utterly stupid I don't even know how to reply to it. You're blaming the 4-year-old!? You're actually blaming him for being taken on this ride with a condition that his parents didn't even know about, much less himself!?!?

 

We don't even know if the woman had a special condition. And she was German, so there's a good chance she didn't even understand the warnings. Even if she knew there was something wrong with her, it wouldn't have done her any good.

 

Congratulations on making the most ignorant post, pretty much ever.

[BeemerBoy]

^I second the motion.

[WildStangAlex]

I would have to say it is NOT Disney's or Intamin's fault, and certainly not the 4-year old's fault. I believe it is due to his parent's lack of awareness, that's all. All I can say is I love the ride and it beats Horizons for SURE and I hope they don't change it because of this incident!

[Wes]

Congratulations on making the most ignorant post, pretty much ever.

 

Congratulations on making the meanest post, pretty much ever.

 

First off, why don't you go look at socalman's age. He's 12. Brent is a very cool kid, very smart for his age, but still....he's 12. He may not have known all the facts surrounding the 4 year old's death. Big deal.

 

Second, there's absolutely no reason to be a jerk about it. If you disagreed with his post, THERE ARE MUCH BETTER WAYS TO GO ABOUT IT. Basically calling someone stupid is not constructive, nor does it move the thread along. Correct his errors, add in your opinion, move along. Name calling is not cool around here, nor is that level of negativity.

[JT3000]

If he didn't know the facts, he shouldn't have said anything. And I don't care how old someone is. If you can use a computer, you're old enough to be held accountable.

[ParkTrips]

Well, Mr. JT3000, I do believe the woman DID have a pre-existing condition - hypertension.

 

Nice follow-up post, ass.

[Erik Johnson]

So how many pictures of the warning sign do we need in this thread?

[coasterdude5]

^Oops, missed yours! Oh well, the more the better!

[TheMan]

So, why do sooo many people die at disneyland and disneyworld each year? They dont have that many intense rides, is it maintnence?( but this one seems to be caused by health)