Why did the rides keep stopping?

[momrek06]

Hopefully you weren't stuck backwards for 20 minutes. The ride stopped when we were on it in Sept and I am hoping it was only to load a handicap person but that was my DH's first time on SE and when we stopped we were backwards and he HATED it so now he HATES that ride!!

I am with your DH on that one...we stopped LAST January exactly like that backwards and at like the highest part of the SE. Anyway, I really do love it and just pray that it will eventually MOVE ON again and it did. We are going to WDW on 01/29 and I will be on it once again and the paranoia will kick in as we board and head on our way up SE!!!

 

[DKH01701]

I don't know why SM was having so many problems last year, but while riding the People Mover the lights inside SM were on and I got to see what it really was. OMG it's a roller coaster, I hate those! (Still riding, though.)

 

[Goofy4]

Based on what I saw waiting to ride Spaceship Earth, I will speculate a bit on what has changed over the years.

As I've grown older, the CMs running the show have grown younger (it's not just me, is it?). The teenager running Spaceship Earth was having problems getting the ride controls to start the ride. After several false starts, another CM came over to help. Magically, it started.

In the "old days", how many false starts would it have taken for a senior CM to run over and help. My guess, 1. Or, "junior CM" would not have been the one driving in the first place. No doubt the number of guest needing assistance has gone way up as well.

 

[grumpymakesmehappy]

I don't think we've ever been on Spaceship Earth at EPCOT without it stopping...

As DisneyGeek2000 noted, many rides need to be stopped so handicapped riders can get on. The only ride at MK that they do not stop is Peter Pan's Flight.

Isn't that part of the ride??? You just learn to roll with the punches!