Mission Space: My Rant follow-up

[WedWay72]

Hello all,
About a week ago I posted a note where I was disappointed with the imagineers again falling back on a ride at Disney that created motion sickness in the large number of us that simply can't handle spinning, etc.

Well, I was at Epcot on Sunday and as I had said, I wouldn't be riding Mission Space this trip but will in December (longer trip...more time to recover LOL).

I decided to spend 30 minutes at the exit area, both inside and outside and this is what I observed:

1. No one was running to the restroom "sick"
2. Most people, epecially adults, appeared stunned...yes, stunned....very quiet, no conversation as they walked up to 100' from the ride. That was weird. A few middle-aged men had a real pastey look to their face. I guess flushed.
3. A few people ended up on the floor waiting to get their EQ back.
4. One woman said "I've never heard so many people say they'll never ride it again." That's a quote.
5. Kids seemed happier as they exited, than adults.
6. The queue is dramatic.....really something.
7. Wait time at 10:30 AM was 70 minutes on Labor Day weekend Sunday and Fast Pass had you coming back at 12:15....not bad.
The inside queue area is Loooong. You'll see very few people outside the ride.

We've all read the reviews (this board, Passporter Guide, Deb Wills, etc). You can make up your own mind. Like everything in life, some of you loved it and some of you found that the "G's threathened you.

For me....as I said I'm a huge fan of the space program (I'm 49)...I've gotta try this ride. Ok, no breakfast, take a deep breath...and go for it. TOT doesn't affect me and I've been on a few of the IOA thrill rides...so my time will come.

Wedway

 

[Dan Murphy]

What do you think, Bruce, for this old 59 year old? I am lightheaded when I walk through the gift shop at ToT.

 

[ebaynut31]

It is an absolutely must do! I get car sick, sea sick, air sick and love my dramamine or patches. I went on the ride 3 times during my trip 2 weeks ago. Nothing! If you sit there with your head back in the headrest and just look straight ahead, you should be ok.

I was exhilirated (sp) getting off this ride. I am 33 and my daughter is 10 and we both LOVED this ride. I can't say enough about it.

 

[WedWay72]

Dan,

I'm here laughing at your post..... lightheaded going through the gift shop LOL!

Well, I really want to give this ride a shot.....but if not, I guess it's another ride on Spaceship Earth ("Extra, Extra Read All About It")

And whatever happened to Carousel of Progress. Now THAT was a ride!

(now I'm sounding like an old fuddy-duddy)


Wedway

 

[Ted and Holly]

I rode this a couple weeks ago. I tend to get motion sickness if I read in a car or look at a computer screen on a plane. I once pretty much passed out doing "S" turns while waiting for D.C. airspace to clear up on a flight to WDW.

With this in mind, I decided to give Mission: SPACE a try.

The Standby time said 45 minutes. I think I waited a total of 15.

The CMs tell you to never turn your head or close your eyes. Lean your head against the rest and look directly at the screen.

It was the most amazing ride I have had. You feel the G-forces, like those on the RnR take-off, but for a longer period of time. In the back of my mind, I "thought" I could tell I was spinning. This is probably because I know how the ride system works.

Many people in line kept saying, "Wait, you SPIN on this ride?!?!"

Getting off the ride, I found it a very strange sensation. Almost like being drunk. I found that I had to continue to stare straight ahead.

Leaving the ride capsules, you go through "Mission Control" where people are playing games and watching videos. This was PACKED. I waded through the people, pretty much in a daze.

Leaving this room, you then go into the surprisingly small gift shop. I REALLY wanted to look around, but I was still off balance. This room was also PACKED. People were sitting on the floor! I thought I was in for it. But, the truth was, it was POURING out. People had taken cover inthe gift shop. They were not sitting there because they were sick, they were staying dry.

I tried to give Holly a call, but I had no cell reception in the M:S building. So, I RAN to a concession cart between M:S and TT. I called HOlly, found out she was in Innovations East and I RAN for it.

The rain and running knocked all thoughts of sickness or unbalance out of me. Holly says I still looked out of it when I met up with her, but I felt fine.

Having said all this, I can't WAIT to do it again. Maybe this weekend.

A CM we know that works at Mouse GEar says that at earlier runs of Mission: Space, just outside her store was the place that many finally got sick or fell down. IT has always been warned that M:S can lead to delayed onset motion sickness.

No one can tell if they are going to be sick or not. I say give it a try.

Just plan ahead.

Ted

 

[RaySharpton]

I rode Mission Space for the first time on August 12th. I couldn't wait to ride this new attraction.

The inside of the queue line, I enjoyed all of the visuals.

When I stepped into the seat, everything looked cool.

But at sometime after liftoff, I literally stopped doing everything and held my mouth closed. Please excuse my graphic description, but my breakfast of eggs and bacon has risen to my mouth. I was afraid that I was going to throw up over everything. It may sound funny, but I was very embarrassed and sick as a dog. Finally, the ride stopped and I swallowed my breakfast again. I was not prepared for this ride, despite hearing the younger crowds saying that the "G's" were terrific and they were on their tenth ride.

I will ride it again, but I will go without eating breakfast and on a empty stomach. I am 53 years old andI weigh 285-lbs..

I'm sure that it was just me, but this was the only WDW ride that I almost lost it.

I think everyone should try the ride at least once, but bring a plastic bag, just in case and a wash rag...lol.

 

[jann1033]

does anyone know how long this ride is open each day? my husband gets motion sickness( he actually has turned green on a glass bottomed boat ride) and loves space so would like to ride it and give it a try but not be sick all day so we thought if it was open late, go and leave afterwards is necesssary. ALSO( big if with this..) is it true they lower the front of the "pod"(for lack of a better word) you sit in ? so are you basically trapped in a very small area? i keep reading people's reviews say it's somewhat claustrophobic but I need details(lol)! shoulder harnesses don't bother me but no air circulation in the dark and not being able to move around at all does. ( no other WDW rides affects me) I love thrill rides but don't want to be screaming my head off before it even starts!
Thanks

 

[jann1033]

Originally posted by RaySharpton
I rode Mission Space for the first time on August 12th. I couldn't wait to ride this new attraction.

The inside of the queue line, I enjoyed all of the visuals.

When I stepped into the seat, everything looked cool.

But at sometime after liftoff, I literally stopped doing everything and held my mouth closed. Please excuse my graphic description, but my breakfast of eggs and bacon has risen to my mouth. I was afraid that I was going to throw up over everything. It may sound funny, but I was very embarrassed and sick as a dog. Finally, the ride stopped and I swallowed my breakfast again. I was not prepared for this ride, despite hearing the younger crowds saying that the "G's" were terrific and they were on their tenth ride.

I will ride it again, but I will go without eating breakfast and on a empty stomach. I am 53 years old andI weigh 285-lbs..

I'm sure that it was just me, but this was the only WDW ride that I almost lost it.

I think everyone should try the ride at least once, but bring a plastic bag, just in case and a wash rag...lol.

as a larger person did you find this ride overly confining ? That is if your other "difficulties" weren't keeping your mind otherwise occupied! sorry to hear about that, how upsetting/unnerving that would be. not to be really grahic but how long after breakfast did you go ( first ride or almost lunch time)

 

[dgaston]

The MS ride does tilt you back at "lift-off" to simulate the feelings astronauts experience. There is cool air blowing into your face, and this definitely helps reduce the claustrophobic feelings. I rode MS twice in a row, then TT, and finished with MS. I did feel "off" after the 2nd time (not nauseous, or dizzy) but TT straightened me out! LOL

I think this is hard to pre-judge--I can't do tea cups or tilt-a whirls anymore, but will repeat MS whenever I can.

I'm a pooh-sized person, and didn't feel squished in the seats.

 

[Cookie55]

While I did not personally ride (Splash is as thrilling as I get) my family did and I can second the recommendation that you keep your head in the headrest and look at the screen. My 17yo DS rides absolutely everything. For example he has been on EVERY roller coaster at Cedar Point and Magic Mountain. He has never had any problem whatsoever on any ride he has ever been on. HOWEVER...he decided that he wanted to "see how it would feel" if he moved his head and for the first time in his life he felt sick. It was not instantaneous. It came on about ten minutes after he exited and lasted for a few minutes. He learned his lesson and when he rode the next time he heeded the advice of the CMs and as a result enjoyed the ride much more!!!

 

[cleo]

I rode Mission: Space last week and did so on an empty stomach with one tablet of Low Drowsiness Dramamine. I am not prone to motion sickness, but why have the whole day ruined if M:S is too intense?

It was absolutely one of the most amazing attractions I've ever done, hoever, no WAY would I do it if I'd eaten any time in the previous few hours. Another thing to watch out for is soda....it shakes up in your tummy far worse than food does.

Take something an hour ahead of time and give this attraction a try! Not one person around me got sick (though one man in our pod said he felt ill and my associate was white as a ghost for about an hour afterwards!), and there were not rows and rows of trash cans as some have said. As far as I know, no one used the one trash can I saw.

That said, I was so stunned by this attraction that I didn't even notice the gift shop!

 

[RaySharpton]

I had plenty of run to walk in and sit down, and then the console came toward me. I really didn't get claustrophobic, but I can see how some people could be.

I was preoccupied holding my breakfast inside my body, and I wasn't sick afterwards.

I held my head back(not much choice).

I ate breakfast about three hours earlier at the hotel.

Don't forget to take a wet wash cloth in a sealed plastic bag for any emergencies and chewing gum...lol.

 

[Ted and Holly]

Yes! You touched on a few major points.

Don't go on with a full stomach!

When I was in the line, there were four guys ahead of me. They were in their mid twenties and all had cups of beer in their hands. At the last trash can before the inside queue, they all POUNDED the beers. The CM standing there just shook her head. They were in a different pod together and when they got off they were stumbling. One mentioned that it just "intensified his buzz". The others didn't seem as thrilled.

The console tilts in. The screen is about a foot or so from your face. The buttons you need to push can be pushed without extending your ams. There is cool air blowing in your face the whole time.

I was so afraid to blink that my eyes were watering from the air. It was great though!

 

[Nebsky]

Rode it 4 different times last week and loved it.

Yes it is very intense. I liked it alot but it did make me kind of "off" for the next 10 mins. Had the burps/hiccups and all I had eaten was Granola bars. Didnt make any sense to me.

The Air on the face helped alot.
What the CMS say is correct. Dont move head and stay focused on the screen.
Personally I thought the screen was kinda blury and should be "crisper". I think that may have been what put me "off"

I was riding with some people the last time that had no clue what they were getting in to. I was on the far left of the capsule and when Capcom tells them to hit the buttons, they start hitting the wrong ones. Next thing I know they are having all sorts of fits. Luckily it was after "sleep" and the ride was winding down time wise. But that was when the "twists and turns" to the landing strip happend. I thought I was going to be walking through their lunch, but luckily it didnt happen.
Stupid me decided to turn and watch them to make sure they didnt puke.

I will ride it every chance I get, but would probably only do it once an hour just to play it safe.

 

[grinningghost]

I have MS (as in multiple sclerosis, not Mission Space), and dizzy is my middle name. I'm dizzy just walking through the grocery store. Here's what I thought of MS (Mission Space, not multiple sclerosis ):

The queue is pretty cool. Very "spacey". The line moved quicker than I thought it would. Fastpass wasn't even really necessary. The warnings throughout the queue and preshow are numerous. Many chances to chicken out.

After entering the pod and getting strapped in, I felt an enormous sense of anticipation. I had no idea what to expect, but I was ready. The minute they popped the "blue sky shot" on the screen, I knew something crazy was about to happen. The first few seconds of the launch literally sucked the breath right out of my lungs and I couldn't have moved my head to the side if I tried - it was pretty much vacuumed into the headrest.

Those first few seconds of G's were very, very intense to me, I thought I might pass out, but then the ride suddenly lost something. It almost immediately mellowed out and became almost mundane. Another simulator, and not much more.

So fellow space travelers, if you decide to ride MS, remember if I can live through it, anyone can.

Incidentally, I did ride it again and found it to be pretty uneventful. DH loved the ride and wanted to go again and again. I guess it's all in what you like.

 

[sus]

Ok, so maybe it's just me but WHY? Why would you even try it if you are prone to motion sickness. All these people saying they got sick, almost got sick, felt wierd, on and on and on. What's the point? Why ruin your vacation day by feeling like yuck all day for riding something like this.
Just my opinion, I'm sure someone will disagree.

 

[jann1033]

Originally posted by grinningghost
I have MS (as in multiple sclerosis, not Mission Space), and dizzy is my middle name. I'm dizzy just walking through the grocery store. Here's what I thought of MS (Mission Space, not multiple sclerosis ):

The queue is pretty cool. Very "spacey". The line moved quicker than I thought it would. Fastpass wasn't even really necessary. The warnings throughout the queue and preshow are numerous. Many chances to chicken out.

After entering the pod and getting strapped in, I felt an enormous sense of anticipation. I had no idea what to expect, but I was ready. The minute they popped the "blue sky shot" on the screen, I knew something crazy was about to happen. The first few seconds of the launch literally sucked the breath right out of my lungs and I couldn't have moved my head to the side if I tried - it was pretty much vacuumed into the headrest.

Those first few seconds of G's were very, very intense to me, I thought I might pass out, but then the ride suddenly lost something. It almost immediately mellowed out and became almost mundane. Another simulator, and not much more.

So fellow space travelers, if you decide to ride MS, remember if I can live through it, anyone can.

Incidentally, I did ride it again and found it to be pretty uneventful. DH loved the ride and wanted to go again and again. I guess it's all in what you like.

I also have a chronic illness that causes dizziness (intermittant,sometimes I can basically fall over standing still... OOPs! however darkness seems to intensify the effect , then I'm a walking pin ball bouncing from wall to wall) and have had occasional problems on inverted loop coasters.( love them anyway) and since I can hang on to my husband and I basically just look drunk, if it isn't too bad it's worth it. however wonder if you had no problems with this what so ever? thanks for the info. I really want to ride this if I can overcome the claustrophobia bit.

 

[Ted and Holly]

Funny you should ask that.

Holly knows my history, she sent me away to ride it with the intention of leaving Epcot as soon as I was done. In fact, she thought she would be walking along a stretcher out of the park.

If I had just chosen to not do it, I would have never known what it was like and if it would do anything to me.

Maybe next time I WILL get sick, but there will be a next time. And one after that too!

I don't like to live with a "what if..." mentality. Especially when it comes to stuff like this. Live and learn.

Ted

 

[clutter]

"The console tilts in. The screen is about a foot or so from your face. The buttons you need to push can be pushed without extending your ams. There is cool air blowing in your face the whole time. "


Do I need my readers??????

 

[Ted and Holly]

Originally posted by clutter
"The console tilts in. The screen is about a foot or so from your face. The buttons you need to push can be pushed without extending your ams. There is cool air blowing in your face the whole time. "


Do I need my readers??????

Good question! I have no idea, as I don't wear them. The screen IS close. And it is not as clear as I would have expected from a brand new ride.

If you were watching is video or looking at photos on your computer screen, and you had your head a foot from the screen, would you need the reading glasses?

I am stumped, maybe someone will have more insight (no pun...).

Ted