News Story - CNN.com - Woman dies a day afer riding Mission Space

[dbm20th]

If the logic of "how many riders don't die" works, then the logic of "how many ride have similar warnings and people DON'T die" also works and probably even better.

Enough is enough for Mission Space. How many people have undiagnosed heart problems or blood pressure problems? Are we now suggesting people go for a full physical in order to ride attractions at EPCOT?

 

[ChrisFL]

My point exactly, looping 'coasters and many other rides produce more Gs, for longer times than MS without producing a line of body bags. BTW, a rider of ToT died after doing that attraction within the last year. To paraphrase the vulgar tee shirt, Stuff Happens.

Bill From PA

I don't know of any rollercoaster that sustains as many G's for the length of time as M:S, I'd like to see your proof. Rollercoasters also do not keep G's focused on one part of the body, since they go through so many changes in direction.

I've rode on some of the biggest coasters in the country and never felt there was anything wrong, the first time I rode M:S I did. That was also the last time.

 

[Mellie0119]

I'm torn on the issue. It is very sad that this woman has died, and likely she had some kind of undiagnosed medical condition that *may* have been agrivated by the ride. I realize this is one of the most intense rides at WDW (I rode it once and can firmly say never again- I was ill/queasy for a good hour after), but can we say that this was the ONLY ride she rode- almost all rides have warnings about people with health problems, which to me means that there is a chance on ANY ride that something could go wrong.

Loss of life is always sad for those left behind. But death is a fact/reality of life that we will all face at one time. All that said, I'm a firm believer in the idea that "when it's your time to go... it's just your time to go." Doesn't matter what you were doing the day before, that day or 6 weeks ago. Say I decide to skip M:S and then walk out and get hit by a bus. Could happen to anyone.

Again, I am sorry for the loss of life, but to shut down a ride that has been assoicated with 2 deaths is a bit over the top. Should we all stop driving cars? Many more deaths have been associated with motor vehicles than any WDW ride. No, we make things as safe as possible, then choose to take the risk- be it driving, walking, using a toaster or riding M:S.

(Just my 2 cents )

 

[boomhauer]

How many people have undiagnosed heart problems or blood pressure problems? Are we now suggesting people go for a full physical in order to ride attractions at EPCOT?

That's actually an excellent point. Seriously - Who in the world would think of having their 4 year old son checked out for a heart problem? Granted, this isn't Disney's fault per say, however, if the ride is so intense that people with heart problems could potentially die from it, then yes, something should be done to tone it down a bit more.

If this happens again, Disney will have to start only allowing riders with doctors permission to ride Mission:Space.

 

[Maps05]

I think the whole point is, this isn't a Disney Family ride. It replaced Horizons which everyone could ride and enjoy. It should now be changed to something along the same lines, maybe interactive. Suggestions??

 

[Andrea]

is this ride at mk ? or where ?

 

[boomhauer]

is this ride at mk ? or where ?

Epcot.

 

[allegracristina]

I also feel that MS is tame-very tame at that. It is quite similar to the Gravitron in its design, DBF and I noticed that upon entering the "room".

 

[Harmony]

When I rode MS last summer, I was sick the entire day. The entire day. (and that's 'cause I'm a roller-coaster/thrill ride junkie)

I don't know...I feel horrible for the little boy and for the woman who lost their lives. For them and for their families. I hope Disney doesn't play the "chances are you will be fine" game. Two people have already died...they need to close this ride. *sigh* So sad....so sad. Prayers for their families....

 

[boomhauer]

I think the whole point is, this isn't a Disney Family ride. It replaced Horizons which everyone could ride and enjoy. It should now be changed to something along the same lines, maybe interactive. Suggestions??

Suggestion - Never have replaced Horizons to begin with. I loved that attraction.

The fact is, many people like Mission:Space, so it wouldn't be fair to them to close it down. However, I find it a great loss, that in the most family friendly place on the planet, in the park that explores technology as it does (Epcot), an attraction about space is not available for all to enjoy.

 

[Bill From PA]

Quote: 'How many people have undiagnosed heart problems or blood pressure problems? Are we now suggesting people go for a full physical in order to ride attractions at EPCOT?'


Quite the contrary. I'm saying that the designers of amusement park attractions should do their work without regard to that segment of the population who have hidden physical flaws. Should I, an incredibly fit Senior Citizen, have my entertainment options limited to the Merry Go 'Round or Dumbo simply because .0001 percent of the population have an undiagnosed embolism which will blow the next time they shovel snow or run to catch the bus? I don't think so.

Bill From PA

 

[boomhauer]

Quote:
Should I, an incredibly fit Senior Citizen, have my entertainment options limited to the Merry Go 'Round or Dumbo simply because .0001 percent of the population have an undiagnosed embolism which will blow the next time they shovel snow or run to catch the bus? I don't think so.

Bill From PA

Perhaps not. Somehow, I have a funny feeling, if you were the grandfather to that 4 year old boy, you might have a slightly different attitude though.

 

[weirdpaintballr]

I don't know. As I said, I've yet to ride M:S. I didn't find the Gravitron intense at all. I always found it rather boring.

As for M:S being tame, I would venture to say the people that have gotten sick on the ride might tend to disagree with you.

Mission:Space is so tame now its not even funny, When it first opened it was so intense:but an amazing experience. I've ridden it with a CM that is a friend of the family, and she agrees that every time she's in WDW, M:S has gotten a little weaker...I'm telling you people....if you get motion sickness...don't ride it...but if you don't, then you are fine....

 

[Laurajean1014]

I've rode this ride about 6 times. It is very exciting, exilerating and fun.

 

[Alice Sr.]

I don't know. As I said, I've yet to ride M:S. I didn't find the Gravitron intense at all. I always found it rather boring.

As for M:S being tame, I would venture to say the people that have gotten sick on the ride might tend to disagree with you.

I think part of the problem (with making people sick that is) that people who would never ride the Gravitron because they know their limits or what they don't like do try MS because they don't really understand how the ride works. If I were at a carnival I would never consider riding Gravitron but I did try MS when it was first open not fully realizing the mechanics behind the ride. I did feel funky for a bit after the ride but not any different than I would have felt from riding Tea Cups or the Gravitron.

 

[jann1033]

Not sure about that as I've never been on Mission:Space. I've been on the Gravitron before though, and that ride never made me sick. I'd be shocked if the Gravitron, a carnival midway ride, compares in intensity to M:S, an attraction that Disney spent $100 million on.

Also not sure about the G's on a looping coaster, but I have yet to hear about anyone dying or being taken to the hospital after riding Rock N Roller Coaster.

then how can you say it's intense? it's not, the first few mins are,I would say on a par with rnr take off, the rest feels like you are floating...imo you are much more likely to be "hurt" on space mountain where you are thrown around or something like rnr (rnr did a number on my back,i couldn't walk the next day and had i been home probably would have gone to see the DR....BUT I have back problems and rode it anyway...so is that Disney's fault i was to dumb to listen to the warnings ? which is why you don't see me griping "the ride did it"... not to say someone can't have an undisclosed medical issue that is aggravated by something be it playing golf, shoveling snow, riding an amusement park ride and tragically causes their death. not saying it isn't terrible but it happens every day outside of wdw , it's called "life"

imo the only thing Disney is at fault with is over hyping MS ,a not so thrilling ride

and if you want to rate "intensity" as ability to make you want to exhale breakfast, get rid of those teacups!

 

[Laurajean1014]

Perhaps not. Somehow, I have a funny feeling, if you were the grandfather to that 4 year old boy, you might have a slightly different attitude though.

Sorry, but this comment is inappropriate.

 

[threeboysmom]

This is very sad. I remember reading about the little 4 year old boy that died and I cried. But I am torn on this issue. Who is to say that this woman or that boy would have died that day anyways, whether they were on Mission Space or on Small World?

I am a BIG thrill seeker - I love ALL thrill rides! BUT Mission Space ended up being too intense for me - I couldn't breathe, blink, or move a muscle on that thing. And I felt off for the rest of the afternoon...

I'm really not sure what the answer is, but my heart goes out once again to all the family members grieving today over this.

 

[Fonzy13]

Mission:Space is so tame now its not even funny, When it first opened it was so intense:but an amazing experience. I've ridden it with a CM that is a friend of the family, and she agrees that every time she's in WDW, M:S has gotten a little weaker...I'm telling you people....if you get motion sickness...don't ride it...but if you don't, then you are fine....

Agree. We were there for the opening of the ride three summers ago, and the first time we went on it I was blown away. And while I still enjoy it, in no way is it as intense as it was when it first opened. It's not even close.

 

[Bill From PA]

Quote: 'Perhaps not. Somehow, I have a funny feeling, if you were the grandfather to that 4 year old boy, you might have a slightly different attitude though.'


I don't expect the world to be ordered to the accomidate the least common denominator among us. If I live long enough, I'll lose people close to me, but I doubt I'll be crusading to prevent others from indulging in whatever it is that claims those people. Perhaps my attitude is best stated this way, if a ride that millions have enjoyed triggers a flaw that takes someones life, that someone was on death's door anyway, and the next bit of physical stress was going to do them in sooner rather than later.

Bill From PA