Mission Space, is it safe?

[sjreed]

JennyW...it is different from those carnival rides in the fact that you don't "feel" like you are spinning. Just keep your head back, and look straight ahead at your screen (don't turn your head to the side, up or down...that could make you feel sick). It's an awesome ride.

 

[snowbunny]

Of course it's safe. The last couple of people who died on this ride...

 

[CleveRocks]

I started taking medication for high blood pressure last year. Prior to a trip to Six Flags Great Adventure, I specifically asked my doctor whether I should skip rides that have a high blood pressure warning. He told me that I now have "controlled high blood pressure," and I should be fine on those thrill rides.

Now I just have to decide if I trust my doctor's opinion enough to risk riding M:S.

Tom in Poughkeepsie

I'm not a doctor, so the advice I'm about to give might be worth what you're paying me for it ....

The warnings about HBP have to do with the current physical/hydraulic conditions in your body. It has nothing to do with the ROOT CAUSES of HBP. So, for example, if your HPB is caused by a kidney problem, but medication is controlling the HBP so that your blood pressure is CURRENTLY normal, then you'll be fine.

But if you currently, actively have HPB right now, regardless of root causes, the ride MAY have a bad effect on you.

So, just because your medical chart lists a diagnosis of HBP doesn't mean you need to avoid M:S. If your blood pressure is currently under control (according to your physician), then M:S poses no more risk for you than it does for me.

For the record, the teacups and any other spinning contraption make me queasy and leave me feeling just terrible for a while. I also have a very mild case of claustrophobia. I rode M:S and LOVED it, even though it made me feel sort of dizzy and "not right" for an hour or so afterwards. had I not followed the directions to keep my head back and focus on the screen, I'm sure the CMs woulda had to deal with a protein spill. And last year I was a 38 year old who was 6 months into a very successful running program, so I was in great shape (at least for me). I rode M:S with my FIL, in his mid-60s, very out of shape; he's a guy who refused to ride Splash Mountain (!!!) and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad because they looked too scary. He loved M:S and had no idea what all the hype was about. But the day before he rode Goofy's Barnstormer with my five year old and he looked pale and dazed after THAT. Go figure.

My Dad rode M:S a couple years ago. He was 72 and was in-between rounds of chemotherapy at the time. He loved the ride felt no ill-effects from it.

 

[bubba73]

Mission Space itself is a safe ride. It is just not for everyone. A lot of these incidents are from people who are not reading or paying attention to the warning signs that are plastered all over the place. I am not saying that it isn't intense because it is but it is a safe ride. Some people just need to use common sense and these accidents will stop.

 

[Hollymom1229]

Personally I love MS. Almost every member of my family has been on this and the reactions along with desire to ride again vary widely. DH, BIL, and MIL will never ride again. All of them got horrible motion sickness, nausea and headaches. Myself, mom, dad, nephew, and sister have all been fine on it. Dad and sister both have high blood pressure controlled by meds. All of us would gladly ride again. Unfortunately now that my epilepsy has decided to resurface I will not be riding. But that's a matter of knowing your own health and what is or is not good for you.

 

[Soichiro]

It's kind of like saying the Grand Canyon is unsafe. Every year, people fall off hiking down it. It's all a matter of knowing what your body can take, and sometimes you don't even know about it, it just happens that you're not able to do it. You just find out too late.

 

[joecatz]

I am an avid rollercoaster fanatic, and I never get sick on rides. My wife, on the other hand, does not do well on anything that goes upside down.

When I rode Mission space, I was extremely affected for 30 minutes after the ride. My wife went on it and actually had to go back to the hotel for a while after riding it. Her equilibrium was not the same for a few months.

It is definitely not a ride to go on if you have motion sickness issues.

It is also the only ride I've ever been on to privide vomit bags ON THE RIDE.

That in and of itself is a sign.

 

[TomPokNY]

So, just because your medical chart lists a diagnosis of HBP doesn't mean you need to avoid M:S. If your blood pressure is currently under control (according to your physician), then M:S poses no more risk for you than it does for me.

Thanks for posting that. What you are saying does make sense. Too bad the warning signs don't say "uncontrolled high blood pressure", I'm sure that would make some people feel much more at ease.

 

[erikthewise]

It is also the only ride I've ever been on to privide vomit bags ON THE RIDE.

Except of course for the aircraft you probably flew on to get there.
And it may be the only nausea-inducing thrill ride which is gentle enough that you actually have an opportunity to use this amenity. (Imagine trying to use a barf bag on Incredible Hulk.)

 

[kaysmommie]

Dh has decided not to ride it! I never rode Ms to begin with because I get motion sickness. Our DD was too little last time we were at WDW but she is 42 inches now and NO she will not be riding!