Spaceship Earth

[pixietwin]

I have a question about Spaceship Earth. In mid Feb 2008, the ride had been closed down. On our last day of our trip, they opened it up for a soft opening. Going up was fun, but going down was a different story. When it was time to descend, the seat was in a backwards position. At one point, we stopped for a while. Then the ride moved again, the whole time going backwards. The seat was somewhat recumbent which put pressure more on my back. I have a bad back, and it doesn't take much to make it sore. So it took longer to come down then go up, and everybody was backwards in their seats - and laying back some.

I'd like to know if this is how the ride is supposed to go, or was it a fluke in the soft-opening of the ride. How should the seats face when coming down - and are they recumbent in the slightest?

That ride made my back sore for the whole day just because of the hard back to the seat and the unusual way the seat was angled with more pressure on my back. If this is typical, I'll skip it next time.

 

[landshark]

When I rode it last June, that part was when all the string lights were hanging down like a curtain of stars. Probably the idea was to look up at all those. At the end they also had touch screens on the backs of the seats for guests to "create their own futures".

 

[Technosavant]

The cars they've always had are the ones they still have. They flip around because of the angle of descent; if they didn't you'd have people falling forward.

I hate to say it, but if it hurt your back before, I think it's likely that it will do so again.

 

[BradyBz12]

The stopping part wasn't typical - although it happens from time to time - but the backwards part is normal.

 

[TestTrackBoy]

This is how Spaceship Earth has always been. You have to go down backwards or it would be very uncomfortable for you as you might fall out of your seat due to the steep decline. If you can feel the pressure pushing you into your seat going back, imagine that going down the other way and how hard it would be to keep yourself in the seat. It usually only stops now to assist guests that need more time getting in and out of the ride.

 

[Debbie-TN]

You were probably just at the wrong place at the wrong time. It does go backwards for just a little bit, but it probably had to stop to let someone on or off just as you got to that part. Those seats are not padded so the backs pretty hard. Hopefully if you ride it again, it won't stop in that spot. Maybe you could put your hand on your back to cushion it a little bit.

 

[Schmeck]

SE always stops for a few minutes when I'm riding on it - I don't think we've ever had a completely fluid ride experience with this attraction, LOL! I don't mind the stop - as stated before, someone may have needed more time to board, etc, but the seat never hurt my back. I can understand the concern of the OP because of all the attractions at WDW, this is the one I think of as being a stop and go. Maybe you could bring a cushion with you, or place a sweatshirt back there to ease the pain?

 

[eeyorethegreat]

The cars they've always had are the ones they still have. They flip around because of the angle of descent; if they didn't you'd have people falling forward.

I hate to say it, but if it hurt your back before, I think it's likely that it will do so again.

Unfortunately, this is true. The stop was due likely to what others said someone who needed more time to transfer to get into the seat. I love SE but I can see where someone who had back issues would be made uncomfortable by it or be in pain afterwards.

 

[kmk1180]

When it was time to descend, the seat was in a backwards position. At one point, we stopped for a while. Then the ride moved again, the whole time going backwards. .

I'd like to know if this is how the ride is supposed to go, or was it a fluke in the soft-opening of the ride. .

This happens to alot of rides, not just SE. It's probably because someone in a wheelchair or elderly were getting on and needed more time to load.
You just happened to be decending at the time.
Could happen on any ride where the cars are on a belt like system.
TTA, HM, PP, Seas with Nemo, ect.

I think in your case maybe you should think of the warning about riding with prexisiting conditions, such as bad back, pregnancy, heart conditions, ect... to apply to any ride not just the thrill rides.