4 year old died on Mission Space today?

[Mickmse2002]

Very sad indeed. It will be very interesting to see if we hear anything in the future as to cause.

 

[Maria395712]

prayers for this family

I lost my 2 yr old in a tragic accident 24 yr ago june 4 th It will never be forgotton by the family
they said his sister was on the ride with him so very sad for her
he was allowed because they said he met height requirement of 44 inches that is in the news article
maria

 

[ophie]

prayers for this family

I lost my 2 yr old in a tragic accident 24 yr ago june 4 th It will never be forgotton by the family
they said his sister was on the ride with him so very sad for her
he was allowed because they said he met height requirement of 44 inches that is in the news article
maria

I'm sorry for your loss as well.

As I said above, I realize that I misread the article in my first read-through.

 

[MELSMICE]

prayers for this family

I lost my 2 yr old in a tragic accident 24 yr ago june 4 th It will never be forgotton by the family
they said his sister was on the ride with him so very sad for her
he was allowed because they said he met height requirement of 44 inches that is in the news article
maria

Sorry for your loss too, Maria.

 

[Disney29]

This is so sad for the family. Pray for them.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Of course, the main concern right now is for the family.

That being said, I find it hard to believe that M:S alone caused the death. I mean, it's not THAT intense.
I'm not a medical person, but I wouldn't be surprised if they found a pre-existing condition, that was perhaps agravated by the ride.

MG

 

[ChrisFL]

I still wouldn't be the least bit upset if they tore out M:S and put back an updated Horizons ride...but that will never happen

 

[Maistre Gracey]

This is obviously a tragedy. From following it this morning, the situation sounds analogous to the recent spate of high school football practice deaths in that the practice/ride triggered a previously unknown condition.

Note: that is much different than saying M:S caused the death by creating an event that otherwise would not have occured (such as a spinal cord injury).

Your exactly right. I just don't see how the ride alone could have caused this.

MG

 

[sbl56]

Your exactly right. I just don't see how the ride alone could have caused this.

MG

So sorry for their lost.
my son 17yrs was there in May for his School trip, he road MS about 50 times. and the one time he called me on his cell phone inside the ride.

 

[rocketriter]

My condolences to the family, and I agree that the margin of safety on a Disney ride should be sufficient to protect any child who meets the height requirement. Of course, I don't know the family and don't know--if they themselves know--whether there was a pre-existing condition acting as a wild card in this tragedy.

That said, I wouldn't take a 4-year-old on a ride of this intensity, even without a health risk. We do enough to desensitize our children too young as it is.

 

[MrIncreadable]

Its a sad story to hear that any parent lost a child. I don't know what I would do if I lost any of my children.

The news said they will be performing an autopsy later this week. Maybe there was a condition the family was unaware of.

Prayers to the grieving family.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I sympathy goes for this family too. Not only have they lost a child at such a tender age, it was when they should have been having the time of their life.
I truly feel for them. The mother will be eaten with grief and guilt for the rest of her life. When any loved one dies people often feel guilty at some level, right or wrong. And this will be tremendous, I would think.
Unless there was a previous health issue, I do not see how this ride could have caused death. It is not something that anyone could fall or be pulled from. It is not jarring.
Yes, riders spin, but really you don't even realize it. I think I could only tell due to the feeling of my facial skin pulling back.
M:S can be an intense ride, somewhat because of all the Warnings in signs and announcements right up to boarding. Atmosphere can really hype people up. I see it all the time on ToT. Newbies get themselves all worked up before and during the ride. I know I did too, until I rode it the first time.
I can't say I would take someone that young on M:S. But if I did, not in my wildest dreams would I anticiapte anything more than dizziness (as if spinning on a teacup ride) or upset stomach.
That is one thing is so upsetting -- who would have thought this could happen to someone so young? We would not be as surprised if it had been an adult with a history of health issues.

 

[luvmyfam444]

I have to agree that I wouldnt' think that MS would have caused this...BUT then again it's not like WDW puts 4 yo on there to find out...the height is really just for falling out or shifting or things like that...but you just never can tell about a preexisiting condition that ANY of us could have that ANY slight thing could aggravate....who knows

 

[YoHo]

I got this form another website so can't take credit for the searching, but:

A few Quotes from the Lawsuit that ETC filed against Disney some time back

ETC alleges that Disney has refused both to allow it to participate in the safety testing of Mission: Space and to provide it with data to assure that the ride is safe. Its role in testing the safety of the ride, it states, was spelled out in its initial contract with Disney.

In fact, ETC states, "the chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Co., Michael Eisner, informed ETC that, rather than have the work done 'in house' at Disney by its 'imagineers,' Disney specifically wanted ETC to build the ride due to its experience with centrifuge systems."

"If ETC is prevented from using its years of experience with human centrifuge systems to participate in the safety testing and analysis (of the ride) ... then there are increased risks of injury to the public at large, and the associated increased risk of irreparable damage to ETC's reputation," the company states in the suit.

That is not a good thing.
Sounds to me like ETC had some saftey concerns and Disney brushed them off.

 

[raidermatt]

While they did not explicity state they had specific safety concerns, they stated they believed there were inherent risks to not allowing them, the creators of the mech, to be involved in the safety testing.

Not that this incident proves them correct, however, certainly its reason to look at things a bit more closely.

 

[Walt's Frozen Head]

official Disney World statements, and some additional legal info on the incident are now posted

The website Chad references is, of course, one of Chad's personal websites.

We discussed this here at the time it happened. Disney refused to honor the contract they had with ETC with regard to safety testing and threw ETC off the job. If nothing else, Disney made it clear that Disney and only Disney were the ones who would be in charge of the safety testing.

My understanding is that, because of some concerns about ETC's testing effort

My understanding (which is great term to use if you need to avoid taking any responsibility for the claim later proving to be an out-and-out lie) is that Disney's concern about ETC's testing effort was how long it was going to take and how much it was going to cost.

 

[bicker]

Your current disagreement is also too trivial to "bog down" this thread. A young child is dead. It's tragic. In light of this tragedy, to extend a discussion beyond absolute, certified truth, established by court, is reprehensible opportunism. It already got one thread on this subject closed today -- are y'all aiming to have this one shut as well?

 

[Walt's Frozen Head]

I have no personal dispute with anyone. If either of you cares to discuss the points of fact in my original post, fine.

If it turns out that you _can't_ argue with the fact that Disney themselves made it clear that they were the sole arbititors on what "safe" meant for M:S... well, just do what you're doing, now.

 

[YoHo]

Interesting the Website Scoop linked recommends no longer then an 80 second ride duration.

Mission Space Proportedly runs 4 minutes from Door close to open.


I feel for the victims here, but I refuse to believe there is some limitation on when we observers with no connection to anyone involved can discuss the implications. It's an important thing to know especially when something this tragic happens and I am perfectly capable and well within my rights to speculate based on the info I have. Obviously a courtroom should one become involved will be the ultimate arbiter of fault, but even then, I don't expect a criminal case I expect a civil one.

I don't believe Disney did anything malicous here. I just suspect that they didn't do everything they needed to to gaurntee safety on the ride and it seems that the manufacturer may agree. Certainly the warning will affect any potential outcome of a trial.

 

[airlarry!]

Mr. Bicker, I object to amateurs thinking they know better than the people actually in the business of risk prevention and litigation. It's so incredibly self-serving and arrogant, that I cannot let it go without making the point.

On a more serious note, and assuming for the moment that we are allowed to discuss an obviously Disney-related topic, in my humble opinion it is much too early to cast blame at this specific death.

However, in my opinion, it is fair and in play to discuss:

a. Disney's safety record;
b. Disney's dispute with ETC over contractual matters, including safety;
c. Complaints in the past against Mission:Space; and
d. Discussing topics related to the marketing and design of Disney's latest additions;

I am sorry for the family's loss. I am sorry that a kernel of doubt has crept in my mind as to Disney's ability to add safe, family-oriented attractions to its parks, and at the same time. I am stunned that a four-year old would be on this attraction, but then I remember when my four year old rode Tower of Terror and loved it.

We assume that in spite of the warnings rightly or wrongly that these brightly covered pavilians and fancifully lighted attractions are inherently safe for all passengers able to get past the CMs watchful gazes. Accidents like this should never happen. Never. The death of one person in a family amusement park is one person too many. Let's hope Disney gets to the bottom of this and correct whatever needs correcting.