Mission space ride

[mommaU4]

We just decided to go to Epcot on our next trip. We were going to skip it because I wasn't sure my 5 yr old twins would enjoy it, but I changed my mind. I was wondering about that Mission Space ride. I've tried to read about it but I still don't get exactly what sort of ride it is. Is it appropriate for kids? Was that the ride where a boy died on it? I admit I don't have much info on this ride or the park in general because we weren't planning to go, but I know now that we ARE going my DS10 while for sure want to ride that. Any one been on it that can shed some light?

 

[MagicKingdom05]

I personally loved it. When I went in Feb, there were tons of kids who were on it and seemed ok, some saying lets go again.

 

[jenimay]

I think it affects everyone differently. My dh and 2 ds's (7.5 and 6.5) went on it and really liked it. But I've heard lots of other stories where people have gotten sick.
Basically my ds told me it's just like blasting of to space(although how would he really know-lol). Intense but fun, for him anyway

Jeni

 

[jcriket]

You can't exactly tell, but the ride spins like a giant teacup. You look into a small screen. It simulates taking off in a space shuttle. Because the ride spins you get pushed into your seat, and it feels real. It's a little close quarters, but not too tight. Yes it is the ride the boy rode. It's the only Disney ride I've ever seen that provides barf bag. (i've never needed it) The ride is very fun, one of my favorites. (it doesn't seem as intense as it was the 1st time I rode)
Test Track is another good ride at epcot.

 

[mcbj]

It made me sick, I had a feeling of Vertigo for the next 12 hours (sort of a dizzy feeling simular to coming off a cruise ship) My DH on the other hand loved it. We did child swap so we rode separate, I was seated with three college aged guys and were laughing the entire time at me! I was screaming my head off.

I will not let my DS 6 ride in December, maybe a couple more trips from now.

 

[mommaU4]

Ugh! Does not sound like the first ride you should hit right after lunch! Maybe my DH can take my kids and I'll sit this one out. I'm getting to the point where I get a headache on Star Tours! Is this what happens when you get old?! I have a b-day next Monday and I honestly thought I was turning 33, only to have DH break the news to me that I am in fact turning 34 ! How does one lose a whole year!? Anyways back to the ride...thanks for the advice, I'll think about it some more.

 

[tmt martins]

There is also alot to do after the ride that the smaller ones can go into with you to wait for the riders to come out .Interactive area with games and educational stuff.

 

[Disneyorbust05]

Out of the 5 adults that I went with (including myself), 2 got sick and the others loved it. One of the ones who got sick (not literally, but bad enough) was ME! It messed me up BAD for the rest of the day. We rode it first thing in the morning and I wasn't right until I woke up the next day.

I am so glad we didn't take any of the kids on it. It was just very intense for some of us and not so much for others. The scary thing is that you don't know who will have a "reaction" to it like I did. I thought I would be the last person on earth to have felt that way after a ride. Whatever it was, it was bad enough to make me think twice about doing anything like that again. And I definitely won't be going on Mission Space again.

 

[grumpydawg]

I loved it...............then I got a terrible headache and nausua, which ruined the rest of my day. if you dont do spinning rides well, dont do it.

 

[tekmnky]

We just decided to go to Epcot on our next trip. We were going to skip it because I wasn't sure my 5 yr old twins would enjoy it, but I changed my mind. I was wondering about that Mission Space ride. I've tried to read about it but I still don't get exactly what sort of ride it is. Is it appropriate for kids? Was that the ride where a boy died on it? I admit I don't have much info on this ride or the park in general because we weren't planning to go, but I know now that we ARE going my DS10 while for sure want to ride that. Any one been on it that can shed some light?

mommaU4,

Here's my 2 cents worth:

Mission: SPACE is basically a centrifuge. It uses a spinning motion to produce positive G-forces similar to what an astronaut feels during lift-off. Think of an old-west wagon wheel laying on the floor. At the outer end of the spokes (where the rim of the wheel would be) there are “launch capsules”. Inside each “launch capsule” sits four riders…you and your merry crew . The compartment you are in is pretty tight quarters – you and your crewmates are sitting elbow-to-elbow. After the CM closes the door on your capule, the instrument and control panel in front of you will lean towards you till it’s about 24” from your face. Then the wagon wheel starts to spin as if it were spinning on it’s axle. The riders normally don’t feel any spinning sensation, but you will feel the G-forces that are generated and it’s like a weight on your body pushing you against the back of the seat. If you’re prone to motion sickness, vertigo or have some other inner-ear/balance problems your body may detect the spinning of the centrifuge.
I’m certainly no doctor or physicist, so this explanation may not be technically or medically accurate. I’m just trying to give you an idea of what the ride is about from an ignorant layman’s perspective! And at the same time – I don’t want to spoil the fun and imagination of the ride by giving TOO much info about it. It’s a fun ride and I ride it at least once on every visit to WDW. But as you can tell from the other posters, some people aren’t at all crazy about it and the sensations it invokes.

 

[WDW1st-timers]

My husband actually went on it in September with my 7 year old daughter. They bothed loved it. Now I was in another park at the time and missed out trying it as they both raved about it. So the next day we made a point of going to Epcot just for this reason. Hubby wanted me to try it and I was quite scard to go on it from hearing about the young boy that died. When we got to the ride I spoke with a few CM's that work the ride and told them that I would like to try it but I'm nervous. After asking alot of questions and my 7 year old talking me into it I finally went on it. My hubby stayed back with our 5.5 year old. Even She wanted to go on, hubby and I thought it was not a good idea since she has asmatha. So after standing in line for maybe 5 minutes tops (basiclly walked right on) I was starting to make myself sick from just thinking about all that could happen on this ride from fear. Then all of a sudden it was time to board on the ride. My daughter kept saying "it's fun mommy" "you like rides like this". I was fine until I sat down and then they shut the door and I had the shoulder bar on. Then I started to have a panic attack. It got really bad and brought me to major tears when they had the concole ?sp... move right up to you about a foot away. If it wasn't for the other 2 older people in the ride with me, I would of been a basket case. Even though I was crying alot the ride was actually not that bad at all. Just make sure you don't move your head around cause that is what makes you sick cause it throws your balance off. Also keep your eyes open. Do not shut them. I barely felt the ride spin around...and believe me I can't handle nothing that spins. The G-forces we not that bad either. I really enjoyed it. Over all I will not go back on this ride cause I now understand that I went into a panic while inside the ride is do to me being closterfobic. Not having no windows, and having the control panel so close to me it just sent me over the edge. Basiclly if you think that your child is fine in VERY small spaces I would then say try it. Also let me warn you that there is NO way to get off the ride as soon as that door closes. You can't talk to no C.M's cause it's too late. Believe me ...I tried. It's all up to you. Trust your own judgment with your child. There are tons of people that love that ride, and I would too if everything wasn't so closed in. You can always back out as soon as you see the inside of the ride. I'm not trying to scard you in anyway. This was just my personal experince.

 

[mommaU4]

Thanks guys for the info. I've thought about it and DH can go if he wants to with the kids but there's no way I can handle it. Especially after reading the posts from tekmnky and WDW1st-timers. I know you were not trying to talk me out of it and I usually like to make up my own mind but not this time. I am horribly claustrophobic and would just go into panic mode. The sensations I could probably handle although they may make me feel ill. But the tight seating and close screen would have me screaming bloody murder and trying to claw my way out. Soooo..... one less person in line that day for the rest of you. Enjoy!

 

[Munch]

I went on this last week. I was really nervous and a bit edgy going on it but afterwards I wondered what all the fuss was about. I could feel the g-force but nothing like I was expecting. My husband loved it and raves about it but to be honest I can take it or leave it.

 

[kmp1191]

DD6 loved it. She actually thought we were on Mars! DS10, DH 41 & myself hated it! I had to sit down for 30 minutes afterwards just to get the nausea and my bearings straight. We went back to the hotel after that one. If you do go on it, make it the LAST on for the day, not the first!

 

[kizmac]

Ugh! Does not sound like the first ride you should hit right after lunch! Maybe my DH can take my kids and I'll sit this one out. I'm getting to the point where I get a headache on Star Tours! Is this what happens when you get old?! I have a b-day next Monday and I honestly thought I was turning 33, only to have DH break the news to me that I am in fact turning 34 ! How does one lose a whole year!? Anyways back to the ride...thanks for the advice, I'll think about it some more.

LOL.....hey I have been telling people that I am 36 for the past year and low and behold, just realized the other day that I am only 35 I will be 36 in January! Happy early 34!

As for MS....I rode it 2 times this last trip and really liked it. My 7 yr old DS did too. It may be too much for your 5 yr olds. I would ride it first to check it out. Be sure to keep your head back, eyes open and straight ahead at the screen and you should be fine. I get sick easily and even can't take the Astro Orbitor, but MS did not make me feel like I was spinning. Do it later in the day just to be safe.

 

[ruttie]

my 5 and 7 yr old loved it I stayed off causei had recentky had surgery and still had internal stitches and was told to stay off. Hubby and friend when t with teh boys (2 days before the boy died) Hubby and firend had a great time but they had headaches the whole rest of the day... and hubbie said he would not takl ethe boys again as it was alot of pressure .... but he was glad they did it once.....

 

[CharmedLife]

I personally would not let my DD5 go on that ride right now. But I know her and know how she'd do - she LOVES Goofy's Barnstormer, HATES Big Thunder Mountain (Mom - I am NEVER going on that ride again!!!). So she would not do well on Mission:Space. I think that you or your hubby should ride it first, then make a decision based on what you know about your kids and what they like. It sounds from this discussion that many people have younger elementary-aged kids who really like the ride, but I know many who would not. My daughter is a thrill-seeker, so some day she may like it, but just not now.

As for Epcot itself, we spend a lot more time there with DD5 and DS2 than you might think. She loves Soarin' and "The Land", likes Ellen's Energy Adventure (even though a lot of the jokes are over her head - she likes the dinosaurs), and of course likes Figment. We must also ride Spaceship Earth a million times every trip (we got stuck at the top on 10/14 and had to walk down due to an injury of someone getting on the ride).

Her favorite new ride in all of WDW is Test Track (this was her first time doing it). If there wasn't such a long wait, I have a feeling we would have done it as many times as Spaceship Earth. And going around World Showcase, she loves to do the Kidcot stations in every country and both of my kids liked searching for the penny presses in each country to collect the pennies. So even if you decide Mission:Space might not be for your kids, I wouldn't necessarily rule out Epcot altogether.

Hint - if you look for the pennies, there are no presses in China or Japan. You have to look in the main World Showcase shops for those!