Boy who died on Mission Space update

[HappyMommy2]

This is just so terribly sad. As the mom of 5- and 3-year-old sons I can only imagine the family's grief at the loss of their little boy.
I hope they have found some peace in knowing what really happened.

Mission: Space IS safe for healthy people who meet the height requirement.
Making the height requirement taller probably wouldn't save people who have serious undiagnosed heart conditions like the one this little boy had.
If he had been 15 years old and 70" tall he might still have passed away. It's just very sad all around.

 

[Chicago526]

Even if it was their first time to a theme park, that ride has Warning signs all over it saying how extream it is. You can't miss them! The height requirment shouldn't matter at all. A young child should not be riding such an extream ride. Instead, they should have an age requirement.

While an age requirement sounds like a great idea, can you imagine enforcing it? Those poor CM's have no way of telling a 4 year old from a 5 year old. You'd have to require proof of age to make it fair, and how to you require people to bring their kids birth certificates along?

If age instead of height is the issue, then the best Disney or any theme park can do is state "Not recommended for young children". If the parents blow it off it's their own fault.

 

[poohandwendy]

Very sad for the family.

As much as people say it ruins the theming, there is a huge benefit to being able to see ride in action. Each trip through I see many people in the M:S queue totally clueless to the what they are about to experience.

This isn't an issue with other Disney "thrill" rides.

Yes, it is a very sad story.

But, MS is one of the the rides where they actually show you the 'ride in action' in the videos beforehand. As a matter of fact, they have so many warnings, I opted out the first time my family went through (thinking I would get sick). I then found out it wasn't that bad as long as you followed the instructions. MS has so many warnings and last second opt, it's amazing anyone even gives it a chance.

I do not agree that MS needs more warnings or a change in height restriction. It has not proven to be dangerous to those 44" and over (current restrictions) in any way shape or form.

 

[cardaway]

But, MS is one of the the rides where they actually show you the 'ride in action' in the videos beforehand. As a matter of fact, they have so many warnings, I opted out the first time my family went through (thinking I would get sick). I then found out it wasn't that bad as long as you followed the instructions. MS has so many warnings and last second opt, it's amazing anyone even gives it a chance.

I totally agree Disney has done everything they can considering the attraction they built. More than enough warnings in my opinion.

My was about the number of people I have seen in the queue who don't get what the video and descriptions are telling them. Some have even thought the wire diagram video of the pods spinning are just for show and not what you ride. In some ways I can't blame them. Many other attractions have showed you things that to make the attraction seem to be more than it really is. All this is really not an issue on BTM or SM< you see the coaster or drop.

Personally I'm into the whole engineering aspect. I know how they work and what they do. May just show up knowing nothing about the attraction until they do it for the first time.

Not making an excuse, I agree they shoudl read up on at least the warnings. Just passing along what I see.

As a side note, I was once very shocked at how extreme soemthing was... Cyber Space Mountain at DQ. Didn't expect that the pods would actually spin in all directions. I was used to the bottom mounted simulators. It's a good example of how it's great to have a way to see the attraction in action. They have a window so you can see the pods spinning and monitors showing the people inside. I was thrilled of course, but many a different choice after seeing it in action.

 

[poohandwendy]

My was about the number of people I have seen in the queue who don't get what the video and descriptions are telling them. Some have even thought the wire diagram video of the pods spinning are just for show and not what you ride. In some ways I can't blame them.

LOL, I'm not sure what you could do for those people if they aren't going to believe what they are seeing in the warnings. But I understand what you are saying. I am pretty sure, though, they do show actual people in the actual cars and how the whole thigs works. (right before the last opt out).

It's just one of those things....a thrill ride is bound to be too much for some people. I saw little kids coming out of MS laughing like crazy at their parents whose faces looked green.

 

[Free4Life11]

What exactly is Mission Space? I've heard of it but I've only been to Epcot once. I thought it was just going to be some "educational" NASA thing :lol:.

I remember the most horrible ride for me was some alien one, where they hold you down like you are in an electric chair. I was 17 at the time, but I hated it so much -- I got really claustraphobic and wished they had an "emergency exit" on that stupid ride. My sister said I was a big baby and yelling louder than anyone in there!

 

[TheDisneyBunch]

I cry everytime I think about this. I just can not imagine taking my child to the happiest place on earth, having a wonderful time and riding a ride together talking about what you will do the rest of the day and such just to get on and not get back off with your child alive. SO sad! I can not imagine what that family must be going through. It truely breaks my heart. Poor little boy!

 

[Chicago526]

I cry everytime I think about this. I just can not imagine taking my child to the happiest place on earth, having a wonderful time and riding a ride together talking about what you will do the rest of the day and such just to get on and not get back off with your child alive. SO sad! I can not imagine what that family must be going through. It truely breaks my heart. Poor little boy!

Now this we can all agree on! It's tragic no matter how you look at it!

This whole incident wasn't really anyone's fault. The parents could have shown better judgement, but I don't really think they were really to blame, either.

 

[cardaway]

I am pretty sure, though, they do show actual people in the actual cars and how the whole thigs works. (right before the last opt out).

Actually that's where I think they are lacking. There isn't anything that I remember (but it's been over a year and only been on twice) that shows how things directly work beyond one confusing portion that shows a wire diagram of the centrifuge motion. By that time they have been given so much show it's hard for them to take it seriously given the presentation.

Like I posted earlier, somebody could make the case that when you can't see the thing in action, you need less show and more straight forward reality. IMO they need to dump the wire diagram video and edit the Gary Sinise show to allow for a step by step process of what happens using real video of guests, not actors in suits.

I know it's part of the theming, but they focus more on those buttons that "need" to be pushed than they do on the whole actual extreme experience.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Am I missing something here? What does the heght requirement have to do with a 4 yo having a heart condition? I don't think the height requirement had anything to do with his death. He would of still died if he were 9 years old, and 54 inches tall.

I am heartbroken that this child died. But, from the very beginning, word was out that he had been a premmie, and had some medical problems. Why on earth would his parents put a 4 yo on such an intense ride? BTW, a 48 inch 4 year old is VERY uncommon. My goodness, my poor DD just made 48 inches this year, she turned 7 in July. So, we have a very tall 4yo.

Raising the height requirement would disappoint a lot of older kids. Disney did nothing wrong here.

 

[grinningghost]

The big question here is, why did the parents allow a child with a heart condition to ride something as intense as MS? Of course, the whole world jumped all over Disney about this tragedy - and all the while, the parents had to know their son had a heart problem - since birth.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Actually that's where I think they are lacking. There isn't anything that I remember (but it's been over a year and only been on twice) that shows how things directly work beyond one confusing portion that shows a wire diagram of the centrifuge motion. By that time they have been given so much show it's hard for them to take it seriously given the presentation.

Like I posted earlier, somebody could make the case that when you can't see the thing in action, you need less show and more straight forward reality. IMO they need to dump the wire diagram video and edit the Gary Sinise show to allow for a step by step process of what happens using real video of guests, not actors in suits.

I know it's part of the theming, but they focus more on those buttons that "need" to be pushed than they do on the whole actual extreme experience.

Regardless of whether or not Disney shows us exactly what happens in a ride, what do you think of the warning signs that are posted? Anytime I see a sign warning pregnant women, anyone with a heart condition and back/neck problems NOT to ride, indicates to me that the ride is physically intense. What does a picture need to be painted?

 

[poohandwendy]

The big question here is, why did the parents allow a child with a heart condition to ride something as intense as MS? Of course, the whole world jumped all over Disney about this tragedy - and all the while, the parents had to know their son had a heart problem - since birth.

It isn't clear that the parents knew that he had a heart condition, unfortunately they sometimes do not show up until sudden death or sometimes they are found during tests for other problems. If they did know, well that is just horrible and irresponsible. Either way, horrible tragedy.

I do agree though, it's amazing how much people jumped on Disney before the autopsy results were known.

 

[copper68]

The big question here is, why did the parents allow a child with a heart condition to ride something as intense as MS? Of course, the whole world jumped all over Disney about this tragedy - and all the while, the parents had to know their son had a heart problem - since birth.

john ritter didn't know..

 

[allie&mattsmom]

I was not aware that the parents knew about his heart condition. Did they know? Wow, if they did, then that makes it even more tragic. He shouldn't have been allowed to go MS or any other "thrill" ride if they knew.

 

[marybet]

It is amazing to me the number of people who have no idea of what the rides are like. I have been standing in line and want to ask if they did any research at all before they came to WDW. I was on the monorail with a woman who said she won't let her child ride a ride until she has ridden it first, I think she said her child was 3 or 4, he wasn't with her on the monorail.

I won't ride MS because I get motion sickness on some rides, my DH has ridden it and loves it. He thinks I might be okay but I figure why take the chance and be sick the rest of the day. On Star Tours I can close my eyes, but on MS that is suppose to make it worse. We did Soarin and I was good for the entire ride, you just never know.

It is sad whenever a child dies, and I am sure those parent will aways be asking themselves what if we hadn't gone on that ride.

 

[mommaU4]

I was not aware that the parents knew about his heart condition. Did they know? Wow, if they did, then that makes it even more tragic. He shouldn't have been allowed to go MS or any other "thrill" ride if they knew.

That's what I was wondering? If they knew he had problems? Sometimes you don't know. We've heard stories of high school athletes dropping down on the court and dying because of an unknown heart condition that suddenly caught up with them.

It is certainly a tragedy. I can't imagine what it was like for those parents and then to go through all this since the incident. So sad.

My son is very much looking forward to this ride on our next trip and now I'm scared to let him ride it. If nothing else I'm worried he'll get sick to his stomach and the rest of the day will be ruined for him. Not sure what to do.

 

[allie&mattsmom]

My son is very much looking forward to this ride on our next trip and now I'm scared to let him ride it. If nothing else I'm worried he'll get sick to his stomach and the rest of the day will be ruined for him. Not sure what to do.

My kids love this ride and have been on it numerous times. However, we've been there twice since this child died and DH & I agreed we weren't real comfortable letting the kids go on it. Well, it turns out that they chose not to go on it after they heard about the little boys death. I'm not saying DH & I will ban them from the ride forever. My DH hates the ride, it's not my favorite either. It is soooo intense.

 

[kdibattista]

Apparently, the family didn't know... per CNN - http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/11/15/disney.death/index.html

"The autopsy report states the boy suffered from a heart condition that affected his heart's left ventricle. The boy's family was unaware of the condition, said a spokesman in the medical examiner's office."

 

[RyMickey]

Apparently, the family didn't know... per CNN - http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/11/15/disney.death/index.html

"The autopsy report states the boy suffered from a heart condition that affected his heart's left ventricle. The boy's family was unaware of the condition, said a spokesman in the medical examiner's office."

The boy that died is from our area. Local news reports when it happened months ago stated that the boy had heart troubles since birth and that it was possible that they contributed to his death. I remember hearing that the boy had troubles and couldn't understand why the heck the parents would put him on the ride.