Another Accident on Mission Space

[crazy4wdw]

Woman falls, hits head after Mission: Space

Amy C. Rippel | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted July 11, 2006

A 35-year-old woman fell and lost consciousness after getting off Mission: Space at Epcot on Monday night, authorities said.

The woman, who was described only as a "local," was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center about 8:30 p.m. by the hospital's helicopter in "serious, improving condition" authorities said.

By 11:30 p.m., Disney World officials said the woman was being "treated and released."

The woman had been getting off Epcot's 3-year-old spaceflight-simulator ride and talking to bystanders when she "fell from a standing position," hit her head and was briefly unconscious, said Deputy Chief Bo Jones of the Reedy Creek Fire Department. It's unclear why she fell, Jones said.

When rescue crews arrived, she had regained consciousness but was not completely alert and had tingling in her arms and hands, Jones said.

An ORMC helicopter landed on a pad behind The Land Pavilion at Epcot. Jones said rescue workers reported that she was becoming more alert and regaining sensation in her arms and hands as she was being flown to the hospital.

In the past three years, two people died and 12 others were hospitalized after riding Mission: Space. In May, a tamer version of the ride was introduced. Authorities did not know which version the woman rode Monday.

The new version eliminates the centrifuge element of the attraction, lessening the G-forces on the body. But it still pitches riders forward and backward, shakes, and combines audio and video virtual-reality effects.

Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Polak said Mission: Space remained open because there was no indication it had malfunctioned or needed a closer review.

Hiltrud Blumel, a 49-year-old German woman, died of a stroke after riding Mission: Space on April 11.

Daudi Bamuwamye, 4, died after going on the ride June 13, 2005. An autopsy found he had a rare heart disease.

In the 12 months after Daudi died, paramedics were called to Mission: Space to treat 194 people, according to Reedy Creek Fire Department records. The most common complaints were dizziness, nausea and vomiting. Yet 25 people passed out, 26 suffered difficulty breathing, and 16 reported chest pains or irregular heartbeats.

In the past 18 months, seven people have died at Disney World attractions, mostly because of cardiovascular problems. The most recent was a 12-year-old Kentucky boy, Michael Russell, who died after riding the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Disney-MGM Studios. A preliminary autopsy showed he had heart defects, but the official cause of death has not been released.

[DancingBear]

This doesn't say at all whether she "fainted" from the ride's effect, or she just tripped while "talking to bystanders" and was knocked unconscious by the fall.

[barreloflaughs]

This doesn't say at all whether she "fainted" from the ride's effect, or she just tripped while "talking to bystanders" and was knocked unconscious by the fall.

No, it doesn't, but from a publicity standpoint it almost doesn't matter. At this point, medevacing a park visitor from anywhere in the vicinity of Mission Space can be viewed as problematic for the attraction. I'd venture to say that this would be an exception to the 'no such thing as bad publicity' rule.

barrel

[Tink's Tormentor]

I am not a fan of M:S and i do blame the ride for the other deaths, but I don't think M:S is responsible this time... let's wait for all the facts before jumping to conclusions... She may have just passed out from low blood sugar...

[MJMcBride]

I am not a fan of M:S and i do blame the ride for the other deaths, but I don't think M:S is responsible this time... let's wait for all the facts before jumping to conclusions... She may have just passed out from low blood sugar...

or perhaps heat. I imagine it was probably hot.

[Tink's Tormentor]

or perhaps heat. I imagine it was probably hot.

Dehydration... One of the most popular reasons people pass out..

[barreloflaughs]

Dehydration... One of the most popular reasons people pass out..

Drunkeness
Low blood pressure
exhaustion
standing up too fast
lack of sleep
reaction to prescription medication
reaction to ...er.....illicit medication
stress
irregular heart beat
neurogical problems

Hell..there are tons of possibilites but conjecturing about it is somewhat pointless really. The bottom line for Disney is more negative publicity for the big expensive spinning space thingamajig.

barrel

[MJMcBride]

but conjecturing about it is somewhat pointless really. barrel

Welcome to the Disney Rumors Boards :dance3:

[raidermatt]

Note they used the term "bystanders", and not "innocent bystanders".

A simple oversight? I think not. Clearly the omission of the word innocent was intentional, and intended to imply that the bystanders caused the fall, not the affects the women was suffering from the ride.

Another Disney cover-up.

[MJMcBride]

Another Disney cover-up.

Oh boy. Here we go again.

[lillasmom]

Note they used the term "bystanders", and not "innocent bystanders".

A simple oversight? I think not. Clearly the omission of the word innocent was intentional, and intended to imply that the bystanders caused the fall, not the affects the women was suffering from the ride.

Another Disney cover-up.

:rotfl2:

[ChrisFL]

I didnt see this in national news, did anyone else? If not then it's a better sign for Disney.

If any more major headlines come out about it, they'll soon have to call it Mission:Replace

[BRERALEX]

Mission:Displace

I had to

[DancingBear]

Mission:EmptySpace

[barreloflaughs]

Mission: Space (for rent)

[Laurajean1014]

Thank you for the updates.

[mla973]

I saw this on Yahoo's website - I assume that means it is "national" news.

[TCPluto]

Note they used the term "bystanders", and not "innocent bystanders".

A simple oversight? I think not. Clearly the omission of the word innocent was intentional, and intended to imply that the bystanders caused the fall, not the affects the women was suffering from the ride.

Another Disney cover-up.

I heard somewhere else that someone was spotted on the grassy knoll too.....

It just keeps getting worse for Disney.

[raidermatt]

Mission:EmptySpace

Well, outerspace is largely a void, after all. With the right spin...

[DancingBear]

Well, outerspace is largely a void, after all. With the right spin...Just punnin'?

[ChrisFL]

How about Mission: Trading Spaces, where it will trade effects with Stitch's Great Escape.

[mitros]

Despite what has been happening recentley, accident-wise, I do not see signs of Disney's business suffering. Especially at the parks and resorts. Lots of capacity going on these days. All of our trips this year, 25 to this date, have shown us that the parks are full as are the resorts. For about three or four years after 9/11, those of us with Florida residents seasonal passes, {blackout dates from about the middle of June to the middle of August} were able to access the parks during these black-out dates to generate business. Ain't happened lately. I guess they are doing enough business at the parks so as not to be concerned about these accidents. They always open the rides pretty quickly after these incidents.

[ChrisFL]

Despite what has been happening recentley, accident-wise, I do not see signs of Disney's business suffering. Especially at the parks and resorts. Lots of capacity going on these days. All of our trips this year, 25 to this date, have shown us that the parks are full as are the resorts. For about three or four years after 9/11, those of us with Florida residents seasonal passes, {blackout dates from about the middle of June to the middle of August} were able to access the parks during these black-out dates to generate business. Ain't happened lately. I guess they are doing enough business at the parks so as not to be concerned about these accidents. They always open the rides pretty quickly after these incidents.

No, I wouldn't expect Disney's overall business to suffer, but the popularity of Mission:Space could very well suffer if enough reports of problems keep showing up.

Already, I've heard trip reports where the lines are never longer than 10-15 mins for M:S. I can't confirm that though.

[mitros]

No, I wouldn't expect Disney's overall business to suffer, but the popularity of Mission:Space could very well suffer if enough reports of problems keep showing up.

Already, I've heard trip reports where the lines are never longer than 10-15 mins for M:S. I can't confirm that though.

While we haven't been there since they changed some of the ride vehicles to a "non-spin" event, I can tell you that there were literally no lines to speak of for quite some time now.

[raidermatt]

Already, I've heard trip reports where the lines are never longer than 10-15 mins for M:S. I can't confirm that though.

While we haven't been there since they changed some of the ride vehicles to a "non-spin" event, I can tell you that there were literally no lines to speak of for quite some time now.


I know this is all anecdotal, and somebody will probably claim that everytime they go the lines wrap around the lagoon, but assuming M:S really isn't drawing all that many people, then it has to pretty much be a given that Disney's business has been affected. Not necessarily to the point where people are staying home, but M:S was supposed to be a "signature" type ride. It was advertised nationally and it was hoped it would be the kind of ride that causes people to schedule trips.

If that's not happening, then from a business pov, Disney will view the ride as a failure. One that isn't bringing a satisfactory return on investment. HP will see it the same way, as would any other potential sponsors of future rides.

One question is whether the ride isn't drawing like intended because of the accidents and dizziness/nausea, or because there just aren't enough people who really like the ride. Probably both.

Regardless, the end result could be a reluctance on the part of Disney and sponsors to risk large money on future attractions. The unfortunate thing is that this type of investment is still a good deal, IF the execution is solid. But rather than fix the execution, its possible Disney will simply not take the risk in the future. Similar to the way they went to the "build small parks" model after EuroDisney, and are now scaling back film production.

[ktulu]

I think that M:S is one of the best rides Disney has done recently. I don't think the ride can be blamed for deaths resulting from a pre-existing condition.

darren

[DisneyFanGuy]

Like it or not, every parent who rides Mission Space now thinks about these stories. They make national news. In the minds of many people, the ride has caused the death of several folks. Blaming a pre-existing condition may be a legal stance, and it is mostly correct, but the ride still does a number on people and the stress certainly contributed. I have ridden the thing several times, and was willing to accept the first incident as a freak thing, but.......come on. A percentage of people who visit Disney are people who do NOT visit amusement parks normally. They would likely NOT go on the Incredible Hulk over at Universal, because it's a bad*** roller coaster. But they walk onto Mission Space like lambs to the slaughter because it's a "Disney" attraction.

The wait for Test Track can be 90 minutes, and the wait for MS is 15 minutes. That's not due to the incredible efficiency of the Mission Space attraction. That's because Houston has a problem. Also, if the attraction attracts a smaller audience, it will certainly reduce the possibility of these things continuing to happen, but how will HP (The attraction's sponsor) feel about decreased traffic and being attached to an attraction that has contributed to the death of several people? I bet they are not happy right now.

And legal fans, suppose Disney considers closing the attraction? Is that an admission that all the people that have felt crummy leaving the thing can blame Disney? That's a lawyers dream. It would be a "Ford Pinto" kind of thing. I mean, the Unofficial Guide offers a full page of advice on how to avoid getting sick. It's clearly a defining characteristic of the attraction that it messes with people.

Fair or not, those are the questions that Disney is facing. Ride it now. I will, but if I develop ANY medical conditions I would avoid it. And I am 45. Would I advise my 72 year old father (who likes fast rides and enjoys Disney) to ride it? No way. Would I take my kids on it? I have and will. For now.

So if I have these questions in my head, and I am a big fan and customer of Disney, what are other people thinking? Disney has a big problem here.

[PlutoLuvr]

A percentage of people who visit Disney are people who do NOT visit amusement parks normally. They would likely NOT go on the Incredible Hulk over at Universal, because it's a bad*** roller coaster. But they walk onto Mission Space like lambs to the slaughter because it's a "Disney" attraction.

I agree with you. M:S from the outside doesn't look like it has more G's (or at least a longer duration) than the Hulk from the outside. Plus it's Epcot, the "easy" park, the "learning" park. I know, I know, there's signs all over, but folks become so densitized to those signs. There's signs on every ride now, even simple ones.

Also, heart disease is becoming an epidemic in our country. Blame it on whatever you want, inactive lifestyles, poor diets, genetics, whatever, but a lot of younger folks have issues with their hearts and may not even know it. Rides are becoming more and more extreme for the adrenaline junkies -- and that's fine for the adrenaline junkies, but the average Joe with undiagnosed CAD might have a wild hair and decide to try one of these rides...bam. Could the average Joe just be walking around and have a stroke or heart attack? Sure, but I think the probablities must go up when the odds go up that he/she will go on an extreme thrill ride.

Finally, didn't some astronaut try this ride out when it first came out? Didn't he give it his approval, said it was like being launced off into space? Well, I've seen what those astronauts go through physically to prepare them for space. They're lean, they're tested from head to toe to make sure they don't have any health issues, they're tested to make sure they don't pass out during a mission. I know a minute-long ride is not comparing apples to apples with a month-long mission to space, but I see an awful lot of people coming off that ride who are morbidly obese, red-faced, profusely sweating...basically looking like a heart attack in waiting.

I'm not saying I think it should be closed, modified even more or kept open. I don't ride it; never have -- motion sickness victim here -- but I wouldn't be surprised that as rides become more and more extreme and as our society become sicker and sicker, we're going to see more of these tragedies, no matter what park they're at.

My hubby suggests the new name should be "Mission:Accomplished." And he adores the ride!