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

[jann1033]

some made a good point imo...people who know not to go on the teacups go on this( husband=case in point) and get motion sickness...which is a far cry from imminent death. who knows why since there are plenty of signs. and how linked are these occurrences?

1) the 4 yr old ( if i recall) dies soon after riding from an evidently unknown cardiac problem ( should they outlaw high school sports since this has happened a number of times with high school athletes?)

and 2) a woman dies a day after she rode ms( and no doubt test track, soaring, spaceship earth, maybe ate in LeCellier and had a school bread in Norway) so automatically they are linked...sorry that just doesn't hold water

if it were found to be dangerous by all means close it but so far that simply is total fabrication

 

[dbm20th]

This is a great debate, and one that will go on forever, but stop with these goofy straw man arguments. This has nothing to do with driving your car or any of the other non-related dangerous things that happen.

I am not saying it is dangerous to ride M:S. What I am say is that, it is obviously much more intense than any other ride on property and much more physically jarring.

 

[rgribik]

Good points for and against---But people remember--THIS IS JUST A RIDE! There are some on here that will defend disney to the death, but remember it is a family park, and if two people have died on a certain ride, it should be looked into and modified. Dis doesn't need the "thrill ride" image to keep attracting crowds. I would still go every year if they took MS away or toned it down. I understand these people may have had pre-existing conditions, but it doesn't change the fact that they died on this ride. I have ridden MS and personally get sick on it, my dh can do it, and I haven't let any of my kids on it, but again it is just one ride in a large, large park, full of other great rides. Some people think because this is disney everything is wonderful, safe, and happy, but people don't follow directions, worry about rules, ect... so disney is responsible for maintaining safety of as many as possible.

 

[jann1033]

This is a great debate, and one that will go on forever, but stop with these goofy straw man arguments. This has nothing to do with driving your car or any of the other non-related dangerous things that happen.

I am not saying it is dangerous to ride M:S. What I am say is that, it is obviously much more intense than any other ride on property and much more physically jarring.

have you ridden it? you feel it is more physically jarring or intense than being dropped 13 stories or the space mountain or even btmr for that matter?
my intenseometer must be way off base then

and i think the point is with the car accident posts, the woman died from who knows what...this happens everyday, some one dies from unknown causes but cause they didn't go to wdw the day before you don't hear about it.

 

[bicker]

If you're not physically able to ride MS, don't ride it.

Absolutely. With all due respect to the family of the deceased, I find it irresponsible for folks who know they have a pre-existing condition to ride Mission: Space. It is a shame that family-oriented theme parks cannot offer intense attractions because some guests are irresponsible.

 

[DepCor0311]

I am not saying it is dangerous to ride M:S. What I am say is that, it is obviously much more intense than any other ride on property and much more physically jarring.

I disagree...Star Tours if far more "jarring" than Mission Space....The initial take off on RnR is pretty intense, I have seen adults cry on Tower of Terror...Intensity is in the eye of the beholder.

AND...I don't think the car thing is a far fetched arguement...If your goal in life is to steer clear of potentially dangerous activities, why not focus where there is real danger?

 

[bicker]

My concern is for those riders who don't know they have medical issues

Each person should express and hold that concern for themselves, and then make the decision whether to take the risk. "Take the risk" -- that means take the risk onto themselves, not expect someone else to incur the risk in they have an unknown medical condition as is the case in many cases where people are hurt or killed on thrill rides.

This is tragic for the family, and everyone's deepest sympathies should go out to them. I just hope neither they nor the media seek to abuse this tragic situation for personal gain by distorting the appropriate attribution of responsibility.

Are we now suggesting people go for a full physical in order to ride attractions at EPCOT?

No: I think we're suggesting people take responsibility for their own decisions and actions, or governments pass laws to prohibit anything risky, so that no company has the option to decide to offer risk to their patrons.

 

[Henlady]

I haven't rode Mission Space, because I do not do well on spinning rides. However, my then 19 yo daughter and her friend also 19 rode it in Jan 2004. They rode side by side - DD loved the ride and had no adverse effects. Her friend, on the other hand, felt awful afterward. It was a couple of hours before she felt "normal" again and she said that no ride had ever done that to her before. There was no way for her to know that would happen. Disney was not at fault for her feeling awful, it is just something that happens to individuals. If you don't have any of the health problems listed in the "warnings", you don't know there will be problems beforehand. I don't see how this would be Disney's fault when they have so many "warning" signs before you get on the ride. Unfortunately, some people don't think that the warnings are for them.

Kris

 

[bicker]

I think a rule that says when a second person dies after riding a major theme park attraction, it may be time for a time out, is an incredibly sensible one.

Each person can take that time-out for themselves, as they see fit. My wife and I have, and we have decided not to ride Mission: Space. Why is that approach not good enough?

All she knows is that the ride is called "Mission Space" and that my son (her grandon) loves space and anything he loves is something she wants him to be able to do.

The warnings at the entry to the ride should have been a clear indication that the attraction is not just about Space.

 

[princess aurora]

I am not saying it is dangerous to ride M:S. What I am say is that, it is obviously much more intense than any other ride on property and much more physically jarring.

Okay sorry but you can not say "obviously more intense" based on what exactly? The people's comments here saying they either like it or don't like. Get sick or not sick. Or that 2 people died AFTER riding the same ride?

We do know the boy's death from last year was NOT caused by MS but he had an undiagnosed medical problem (as explained/reported after the medical examination). This was an unfortunate and sad situation that occured while he was probably having the time of his life with his family on vacation. At this point we DO NOT know if we are looking at a coincidence of another death on the same ride OR that this ride infact CAUSED this woman's death. Again another terribly sad situation.,

I agree Disney will and should take pause (which they are) and have a thourough investigation (which they will) to find out if the ride was running to its fullest safety standards. They will then have to wait to find the exact cause of death before any further action can be taken.

Saying that this ride is or isn't intense is completely a moot point. The signs ARE posted about people with medical conditions, motion sickness etc should not ride this ride. Just as warning signs are posted at many OTHER rides!!!!

ETA: I think people should be careful to clarify their OPINION, which they are entitled to but not spout off their opinion as FACT. As in...

"but it doesn't change the fact that they died on this ride."

Sorry that's not a fact. The two are very different and what is causing a lot of debate on this and many other discussions on this site in general.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

Why is it inappropriate? I'm not trying to be mean - I'm just being honest. I think the most important issue here is that 2 people tragically lost their lives. I'm not blaming Disney. I can't do that, as I've never been on Mission:Space. I'm simply making a comment that if people were affected by something so tragic, surely, they would have good reason to fault Disney - Right or wrong.

They might have reason, but not necessarily good reason. Remember, not everyone grieving a tragic loss will automatically look to assign blame, and not all of those interested in assigning blame (or at least thinking about it) will necessarily be comfortable blaming the nearest blamee (who may well be blameless)!
Some of us just accept that, as another poster so eloquently paraphrased it, "stuff happens"...it is a terrible reality that we will all pass someday, and lose loved ones before our time is up. Personally, were I to find out that a member of my family passed in WDW as the result of an undetected health condition, I would be grateful that he/she went out having a good time, at least. Honestly. Some people think like that. Maybe her family will, too?
My sincere condolences to this woman's family.

 

[Goofy4]

I am not saying it is dangerous to ride M:S. What I am say is that, it is obviously much more intense than any other ride on property and much more physically jarring.

There are probably other comments on this, but I have to ask how the ride is jarring? Much of the "extreme gravity" (not) affect is to not give away "the secret". The ride is so smooth, it is difficult to tell that you're in motion.

 

[PKS44]

No, actually it's exactly backwards. Not at least allowing for the possibility of cause and effect is the mistake.

Where do I not allow for the possibility in my statement....I said ASSUMING there is a cause and effect is a mistake...and it is...re-evaluating it is reasonable but my comments were directed at those who insist the ride must be shut down forever as it OBVIOUSLY is a problem...the only obvious problem I see is that people lack the ability to think about things in a logically consistent way when it comes to accidents like this....I will say it again---cause and effect are not at all apparent here...if you do an experiment 12 million times and it comes out in a different way 2 of those times - I have a hard time making any conclusions from those 2 outcomes.

 

[boomhauer]

Absolutely. With all due respect to the family of the deceased, I find it irresponsible for folks who know they have a pre-existing condition to ride Mission: Space. It is a shame that family-oriented theme parks cannot offer intense attractions because some guests are irresponsible.

Agreed - But what about those who don't know they have a pre-existing condition? I find it hard to believe that the family of the 4 year old boy would have thought it a good idea to have their son checked out for an existing heart problem.

 

[bicker]

"but it doesn't change the fact that they died on this ride."

Sorry that's not a fact.

Indeed. Neither guest died on the ride. There isn't even any evidence that either died specifically and solely because of the ride. Let's say, "it is a shame what happened," but let's not let our sympathy for those who have tragically lost a loved one cloud our statements and our discussion with erroneous and misdirected allegations.

 

[maccalovah]

What a sad thing to have happen....I'm so sorry for her family and friends

MS is now closed for a thorough investigation, and I believe that Disney would never make the decision to re-open it if there was a chance it put any of its guests in danger. I have to agree with above posters: stuff happens. Who knows why these things happen to anyone? I personally have known two people who have suddenly died without any sort of warning- and their final activities of their last days had nothing to do with it. Without further facts, it doesn't seem appropriate to place the blame on this ride. Until there is a medical record stating that MS was directly responsible for this woman's death, blaming MS and thrill rides in general seems to be embracing a panicky mob mentality.

Sarah

 

[bicker]

Agreed - But what about those who don't know they have a pre-existing condition?

I posted this in the other thread -- it answers your question directly:

Each person should express and hold that concern for themselves, and then make the decision whether to take the risk. "Take the risk" -- that means take the risk onto themselves, not expect someone else to incur the risk in they have an unknown medical condition as is the case in many cases where people are hurt or killed on thrill rides.

This is tragic for the family, and everyone's deepest sympathies should go out to them. I just hope neither they nor the media seek to abuse this tragic situation for personal gain by distorting the appropriate attribution of responsibility.

 

[jann1033]

People with this condition are at risk for sudden death throughout their life due to abnormal electrical heart rhythms," according to a Nov. 15 report by the medical examiner for Orange and Osceola counties. "This risk could be increased under physical or emotional stressful situations."


the other thread has a link to info and includes the above quote about the 4 yr old ...i was going to post the link but shut the windowby mistake it's in a post by zurgswife if interested, i think on around page 3 or 4

to say 2 people died after riding implying a connection to the ride( cause and effect) isn't totally accurate. 1 died from something he could have and probably would have sometime in his short life according to the me above, and nobody as yet knows what the other died of.

the link mentioned above mentions the g forces on various rides...ms has less gforces than usually sustained by astronauts which of course goes back to the same point... astronauts are tested for physical fittnes first, wdw riders aren't...nobody's fault just a fact. don't ride it if you think you have a problem, that's your responsiblity not wdw .if you take your chances that's up to you. but truthfully there are a lot of rides with similar warnings at most parks i've been to. and how many people do you hear die from riding?

 

[brivers222]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2631&ncid=2631&e=7&u=/ap/20060413/ap_on_re_us/disney_world_death

MISSION SPACE OPEN AGAIN!!!!!

 

[kaysmommie]

My DH rode MS when it first opened in 2003. He was fine but told me to stay not to ride because I get carsick. Glad I followed his advice! I ride all the roller coaster with no problem. RNR is one of my favorites. My DD who will be 6 on this trip will not be riding MS! I hope DH chosses not to as well. There are people old & young who don't feel right after riding MS. Also some people on this board are very insensitive as far as death goes. If that were my child that died on that ride on our family vacation I would be devasted for the rest of my life! Some people are taking this so lightly with there
"stuff Happens" attitude. They need to investigate the ride