What's with SE, the new "Slowly Rotate" Spiel?

[Robo]

For decades, in the various incarnations of Epcot's Spaceship Earth's "set-up" (just after loading) you were just told about what you were about to experience (a typical program introduction... all part of "setting-the-mood").

Now (in the last 4 or 5 years, they have added a HUGE (several wide-screen monitors) animation and audio explanation that says (paraphrase), "Spaceship Earth is a slow-moving journey through mankind's history of communication. During your journey your ride-vehicle will rotate slowly backwards..."
(Its even been added to the QUE with expensive "lenticular" images illustrating a rotating ride-vehicle.)
Then, at the top-most part of the ride, when the vehicles DO start to rotate, a new OUTSIDE the vehicle audio spiel says (paraphrased), "Attention Spaceship Earth travelers, your ride-vehicle is now rotating backwards for your return journey, please remain seated" REPEAT-REPEAT-REPEAT...

My question is WHY do we need this NOW after all of the countless MILLIONS have ridden this attraction over the years without all of them JUMPING OUT in the full-darkness at the top of the ride?

Did this actually happen... OFTEN enough for a SERIES of major WARNINGS?
Or did many guests somehow complain that, "We turned around backwards and didn't get to see where we were going that time?"
Is this just an extra precaution brought on by say, an "insurance underwriter"?

I can say that in Haunted Mansion the doom-buggies do virtually the same thing (spin backwards, and tilt as you descend) after the attic-tour.
The SE vehicles are "omni-mover" technology (which is the same basic ride-system used at the mansion. (The main difference of course, is that there is a "safety-bar" (read: "guest-catcher") in the HM doom-buggy.)

Does anyone know the real reason for this major warning?
Or is this just more of the newly-added "watch your children" spiels brought on by so many inattentive (ignorant) parents?

 

[RyMickey]

Or is this just more of the newly-added "watch your children" spiels brought on by so many inattentive (ignorant) parents?

I think you answered your own question.

 

[safetymom]

Maybe for insurance reasons?

 

[micksterlee]

They probably do this for the same reason the fishing lure I purchased the other day had "Do not put in mouth choking hazard". Some where there is someone that needed that warning.

 

[cobbler]

They probably do this for the same reason the fishing lure I purchased the other day had "Do not put in mouth choking hazard". Some where there is someone that needed that warning.

 

[7thdwarf/dopey]

They probably do this for the same reason the fishing lure I purchased the other day had "Do not put in mouth choking hazard".

 

[bicker]

"This coffee beverage it hot."

 

[Thumper13]

How about chainsaws with instructions "keep away from genitals," or hairdryers that with instructions "do not use while sleeping?" Hello???!!! I thought these things were obvious, but someone must have done them at one time or we wouldn't need these warnings!

 

[bicker]

I give people more credit that they're not stupid, but rather selfish. The people at whom these reminders are targeted don't need these reminders because they didn't know of the dangers, but rather because they exploited the fact that the reminders weren't evident in order to justify self-serving lawsuits.

 

[Pedler]

How about chainsaws with instructions "keep away from genitals," or hairdryers that with instructions "do not use while sleeping?" Hello???!!! I thought these things were obvious, but someone must have done them at one time or we wouldn't need these warnings!

But don't these warnings interfer with natural selection?

 

[Forevryoung]

I have an iron on gemstone patch that says on the back "Do not attempt to iron on while wearing the T-shirt"


and speaking of stupid stuff my dad loves Home Depot and because he has no sons, the two of us wander in there. We saw someone buying a "chainsaw on a stick". I am not joking. It was a chainsaw that was on a pole to cut the branches that are above you. There are two things wrong with this: 1) the branches then fall and can hurt you and 2) you have little control over the chainsaw, what if it falls?

I bet that product is off the market

 

[BethC1952]

But don't these warnings interfer with natural selection?

OMG, you just made my night (maybe even my week)!!!

Beth

 

[DisneyDar]

Kind of like the showers caps that are in the Disney Resorts that say: "Fits One Head".

 

[jenr812]

Thanks for the laughs

 

[JoannaOhio]

But don't these warnings interfer with natural selection?

I like the warnings on the inside of those cardboard or padded silver sunshields that you put inside your windshield to keep the car cooler while it is parked in the sun. They warn people not to drive with the sunshield in place, when you can't even see out of the windshield with the darned thing in place.

 

[crazyj4488]

One of the lamest things I saw printed on a product was for a frozen microwable sandwich. On the instructions, step 1 was:

*Take product out of freezer

***?!?

I agree, all the warnings are a bit ridiculous and take away from the experience a bit.

 

[Leota]

But don't these warnings interfer with natural selection?