Mission: SPACE -- no G-force testing

[All Aboard]

I'm still hearing that there is more to come. The same source that told me (just a few days after the last incident) that this would be coming has also told me that there will be a reduction in the intensity of other three centrifuges.

This current measure reduces Disney's exposure somewhat. Clearly, in the event of another death, Disney's defense is a bit stronger where they can show that they have another option and that the warnings are very clear.

However, another death would be bad on so many levels. And, it's a reasonable assumption that the remaining three centrifuges present the same dangers to people with risk factors.

Sure, while Disney can say "hey, it's thier own damn fault", how will the public perceive that? Right now, I'm believing the news I heard this morning - the rest of the attraction will be toned down in intensity.

You drive off a major few thrill seekers (never has been WDW's bread and butter, and isn't the only means of driving growth and popularity - Soarin' has proven that), but bring in a greater number of guests overall to the attraction. And, you reduce the chances that there is another death. Makes sense to me, and likely makes sense to Disney.

 

[dbm20th]

From Local 6 website...

Disney To Offer Tamer Version Of 'Mission: Space' Ride

Walt Disney World will offer a tamer version of the attraction thrill ride "Mission: Space" the company said Tuesday, less than three weeks after a woman became ill on the ride and later died.

Beginning this summer, Epcot guests will have two options when it comes to the ride; they can either go on the current attraction or a new version which provides a milder experience, according to the report.

In the new version, the spinning centrifuge will be turned off for guests who are prone to motion sickness or have other conditions.

"By offering a second adventure, we hope to broaden the appeal of "Mission: Space" and enable even more guests to experience the attraction," said Al Weiss, president of Walt Disney World Resort.

Signs posted in the queue area of "Mission: Space" will outline the difference between the two adventures and provide health advisories appropriate for each experience.

"Providing a choice between two ride options will help to further encourage all Guests to carefully consider posted health advisories when making their decision," Weiss said.

Hiltrud Bluemel, 49, died April 12, one day after she went on the ride.

A preliminary report from the Orange County Medical Examiner's Office showed Bluemel died from bleeding of the brain. She also suffered from severe, long standing high blood pressure, according to the medical examiner's office.

Disney officials said the decision to offer a watered down version of Mission Space had nothing to do with Bluemel's death.

A spokeswoman declined to specify exactly how long the company has been working on the alternative version.

Also, last year, a 4-year-old boy died after riding "Mission: Space."

An autopsy determined Daudi Bamuwamye, of Sellersville, Pa., died of an irregular heartbeat linked to a natural causes. The boy had an abnormal thickening of the heart muscle that can throw heart contractions out of coordination.

People with the condition are at risk for sudden death throughout their lives, especially in physically or emotionally stressful situations, a medical examiner said.

Theme park consultants said Disney likely felt the pressure to make some changes to the ride after the two deaths.

"I think they felt they were kind of in the position where they've got to do something. All the warnings in the world have not prevented the tragedies," said Steve Baker, president of Baker Leisure Group Inc. "They've got to do more to warn. But the unfortunate thing is the people who had a problem didn't know they had a problem. So I don't know how you stop that."

Jerry Aldrich, president of Orlando-based Amusement Industry Consulting and a former Disney employee, said the move could widen the demographic drawn to the ride.

"I would imagine there's just a lot of people that may be hesitant to ride it because of all the warnings, or maybe they had some conditions which meant they shouldn't ride."

"Mission: Space" opened in August 2003. Since that time, 11.8 million rides have been given on the attraction.

The $100 million Epcot attraction simulates a mock spaceflight to Mars and spins riders in a centrifuge that subjects them to twice the normal force of gravity.

The alternative version is slated to start this summer and will run alongside the original ride.

 

[flatline]

I'm still hearing that there is more to come. The same source that told me (just a few days after the last incident) that this would be coming has also told me that there will be a reduction in the intensity of other three centrifuges.

This current measure reduces Disney's exposure somewhat. Clearly, in the event of another death, Disney's defense is a bit stronger where they can show that they have another option and that the warnings are very clear.

However, another death would be bad on so many levels. And, it's a reasonable assumption that the remaining three centrifuges present the same dangers to people with risk factors.

Sure, while Disney can say "hey, it's thier own damn fault", how will the public perceive that? Right now, I'm believing the news I heard this morning - the rest of the attraction will be toned down in intensity.

You drive off a major few thrill seekers (never has been WDW's bread and butter, and isn't the only means of driving growth and popularity - Soarin' has proven that), but bring in a greater number of guests overall to the attraction. And, you reduce the chances that there is another death. Makes sense to me, and likely makes sense to Disney.

fantastic, they're toning down a few 2 G pulls as well now. just rename it Mission: Sit and Watch the Movie.

 

[DrTomorrow]

No one is complaining. And it doesn't satisfy everyone, the vast majority of people like it just the way it is now. [...]

Always wanted to meet the spokesperson for "the vast majority"

More on point, this is a sensible idea. With four centerfuges, they can gauge the demand for M:S-L (Mission:Space - Lite) and spin up / spin down as needed. This addresses not only the PR issues of guests "going to see Walt" on attractions, but opens up a popular attraction to more guests. And isn't a big part of the whole Disney concept is that Walt wanted rides that the whole family could go on?

And to the person who summed up M:S-L as sitting, watching and pushing buttons - you underestimate the entire ride experience. The M:S pre-ride is pretty intense and immersive, and the capsule is pretty claustrophobic; factor in the vibrations and rocking and it's still going to appeal to a lot of folks.

IMHO - YMMV - Be well!

 

[flatline]

And to the person who summed up M:S-L as sitting, watching and pushing buttons - you underestimate the entire ride experience. The M:S pre-ride is pretty intense and immersive, and the capsule is pretty claustrophobic; factor in the vibrations and rocking and it's still going to appeal to a lot of folks.

IMHO - YMMV - Be well!

the pre-board is watching Gary Sinese reading off of cue cards, it's as immersive as watching paint dry. if there's a MS lite version, that's fine, queue up for it. but to tone down the other capsules to stave off a one in 6 million chance of death, that's wrong.

 

[All Aboard]

but to tone down the other capsules to stave off a one in 6 million chance of death, that's wrong.

Let's assume for a moment that your probability is correct. I have no idea, of course, whether it is. But, for craps and giggles, let's say it is.

Do you think that Disney (and Hewlett Packard, for that matter) is either interested or willing to take that risk? If that translates into a death a year, do you think Disney can stomach that? Knowing, of course, that if it happens, that the news stories will list each and every death.

I don't believe anyone can possibly predict what the long range prospects for deaths on the attraction are. But, Disney is already in a hole on this. They can't afford to drop any deeper. The next one will be huge.

 

[Tink's Tormentor]

Has anyone even considered that this may have been HPs decision and not Disney's??? Remember, HP is sponsering the attraction and could pull the funding at any time, especially with the recent death and numerous reports proving M:S is the one attraction in WDW that get's more people sick...

Oh, and as for the person who said the vast majority loves M:S the way it is now, i disagree... I would say the vast majority does not like M:S the way it is now.. Average the numbers... 6 million a year compared to 16 million visitors a year to Epcot... not even half the visitors go on M:S.. so, the vast majority does not like M:S and refuses to ride....

 

[erikthewise]

Oh, and as for the person who said the vast majority loves M:S the way it is now, i disagree... I would say the vast majority does not like M:S the way it is now.. Average the numbers... 6 million a year compared to 16 million visitors a year to Epcot... not even half the visitors go on M:S.. so, the vast majority does not like M:S and refuses to ride....

Studies show that 39% of all statistics are made up. (Speaking of which, where did you find that figure of 16 million visitors a year to Epcot?)
So why not have the vast majority of people agree with me? It costs nothing.

On at least half of my 20 or so visits to Magic Kingdom I have not ridden Space Mountain. Not one of those times did I "refuse to ride"; I enjoy the ride quite a bit. The data that 6M people out 10M visitors ride M:S proves nothing.

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

DrTomorrow: "going to see Walt" I laughed my tail off when I read that. Maybe they could use that to promote the ride!

For the complainers, and yes you are complaining, would you rather they shut it down for good? And the tamed down version would hardly be "Mission: Sit and Watch the Movie" like a previous poster mentioned it would be like Star Tours or Body Wars (R.I.P.) in fact even better because of the smaller capsule you are riding in.

I aslo would like to mention that I don't think M:S is the most intense ride in WDW, in about a year when DQ closes we will be losing what I think is the most intense ride which I think is the Virtural Space Mountain. I belive it operates on a similar principal that M:S rides on but it also filps upside down forward, backward and side ways. I was sick as a dog when I got off it. I found out after that you could ride it with the montion turned off.

 

[Tink's Tormentor]

LoL. I like that Erik...

I do believe I saw that number on a coaster website that had the attendance figures of U.S. theme parks... MK was first and Epcot was 2nd.. Maybe it was 14 million.... I do not rememebr the exact number... I may be wrong... Maybe it wasn't 16 million... But, saying the vast majority love M:S is wrong to say...

 

[erikthewise]

LoL. I like that Erik...

I do believe I saw that number on a coaster website that had the attendance figures of U.S. theme parks... MK was first and Epcot was 2nd.. Maybe it was 14 million.... I do not rememebr the exact number... I may be wrong... Maybe it wasn't 16 million... But, saying the vast majority love M:S is wrong to say...

Agreed. The truth is we don't have such statistics; clearly there are a lot of people in both categories.

As far as theme park attendance stats go, Disney doesn't release figures, but the estimates at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/200512/2/ seem to be widely accepted.

 

[freediverdude]

I don't mind them turning one of the centrifuges into a toned down version of the ride, so practically anybody could experience it- that sounds like a smart idea. But I don't agree with slowing down the other centrifuges as well. It's going to turn off the people who like the current ride, plus that version may actually make more people sick to their stomach, as the spinning would be more noticeable when it's slower. Not a good idea.

 

[DancingBear]

If you don't have any visual reference, I don't think you'd notice the spinning any more by going more slowly.

 

[JMD]

And isn't a big part of the whole Disney concept is that Walt wanted rides that the whole family could go on?

Why can't the whole family go on M:S? Every time I've been on the ride, I'm surrounded by families while I wait in line.

 

[JMD]

not even half the visitors go on M:S.. so, the vast majority does not like M:S and refuses to ride....

Have you ever waited in line for MS? Or tried to get a fast pass? The line for MS is typically one of the longest in the park. During peak season, they will run out of Fast Passes before any other ride. In fact, look at all the rides that have the some longest wait times at each park. Test Track, MS, RnRC, TOT, Space Mountain.......hmmmm......and the vast majority doesn't like thrill rides?

 

[Tink's Tormentor]

Have you ever waited in line for MS? Or tried to get a fast pass? The line for MS is typically one of the longest in the park. During peak season, they will run out of Fast Passes before any other ride. In fact, look at all the rides that have the some longest wait times at each park. Test Track, MS, RnRC, TOT, Space Mountain.......hmmmm......and the vast majority doesn't like thrill rides?

Yea.. i did.. 5 minutes.. no wait... never ever a wait for M:S... in fact, every time I go, TT is always over 90 min and Soarin is 100 plus.. but MS, its a walk on to maybe 5 minute wait.... So, how is it one of the longest in the park?

And you twist words... the person said the vast majority loves MS the way it is.. not the vast majority loves thrill rides... I only said the vast majorty does not love MS the way it is... I answered what was spoken.. if the person had said the vast majority loves thrill rides, even though that is debatable, i wouldn't have disagreed much...

 

[Tink's Tormentor]

Agreed. The truth is we don't have such statistics; clearly there are a lot of people in both categories.

As far as theme park attendance stats go, Disney doesn't release figures, but the estimates at http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/200512/2/ seem to be widely accepted.

There was another one I was looking at... not that one.... But, maybe I did get a little confused about the numbers.. Yes MK was 16 million... After seeing that site, it reminded me.... But, the one I saw had Epcot's numbers higher..

of course, I am beating myself here looking for that stinking site and now i cannot find it....

 

[JMD]

Yea.. i did.. 5 minutes.. no wait... never ever a wait for M:S... in fact, every time I go, TT is always over 90 min and Soarin is 100 plus.. but MS, its a walk on to maybe 5 minute wait.... So, how is it one of the longest in the park?

And you twist words... the person said the vast majority loves MS the way it is.. not the vast majority loves thrill rides... I only said the vast majorty does not love MS the way it is... I answered what was spoken.. if the person had said the vast majority loves thrill rides, even though that is debatable, i wouldn't have disagreed much...

If you only waited 5 minutes then you must be very lucky. Everytime I've been there it was the longest wait. I'm going back in two weeks so I hope you're right.

I'm not twisting words, your not reading the whole thread. You commented on a response I made to another poster. I can understand why Disney would test a tamer version of M:S, I've said that already. But someone mentioned that they should do it to other thrill rides so that they would appeal to a wider audience. Thats what I disagree with. Disney doesn't need a slow or tamer version for every ride in the park. Considering the recent issue with M:S, thats obviously an exception.

 

[Kae]

I was just wondering if MS had the toned down verision offered if it would have made the outcome (of the 2 that died) any different? I know my thought, but was wondering about other peoples?

Kae

 

[All Aboard]

Have you ever waited in line for MS? Or tried to get a fast pass? The line for MS is typically one of the longest in the park. During peak season, they will run out of Fast Passes before any other ride.

JMD, you're missing on several cylindars here. On most days, M:S has the third or fourth longest line at Epcot. Soarin' is always longest, followed by Test Track and then most often by Living with the Land.

Common mid-day wait times during this time of the year are:

Soarin' 60-90 minutes
Test Track 30-45 minutes
Living with the Land 20-30 minutes
Mission:Space 20-30 minutes

Often, even when 20 minutes is posted for Mission:Space, the attraction is actually a near walk-on. And, they have the ability to control the capacity of the attraction by shutting down centrifuges, which they often due - running only two or three. The attraction is not nearly as popular as initially expected.

At Test Track, a car leaves every 12 seconds. It runs at full capacity (unless it breaks down) all day long.