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6/14/05
6/14/05

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Christopher

Christopher

Portland, OR
November 2002

JUN 14, 2005 03:51 PM

On Mission: Space in Disneyworld, people are subjected to two-G’s of force in a centrifuge to simulate a lift-off. Like most rides, they have a minimum height and weight requirement, health restrictions, and warnings for pregnant women. It also claimed the life of a four-year-old boy shortly after he got off the ride.

It appears that the state of Florida does not have its own safety inspectors but relies on the individual companies to test their own equipment. Yet, recent legislation requires the amusement park companies to report to the state any serious accident. This is how we know about the four year old.

The ride recreates a rocket launch and a trip to Mars. A clock counts down before a simulated blastoff that includes smoke and flame and the sound of roaring rocket engines. The G-forces twist and distort riders' faces.
An audio recording and a video warn of the risks. Signs advise pregnant women not to go on the ride. Motion sickness bags are offered to riders. One warning sign posted last year read: "For safety you should be in good health, and free from high blood pressure, heart, back or neck problems, motion sickness or other conditions that can be aggravated by this adventure."


A 77-year-old woman also died riding “Pirates of Caribbean,” but fell short of her dying wish to die while riding Johnny Depp.

Ryan_Dipietro

Ryan_Dipietro

Naples, FL
April 2004

JUN 14, 2005 03:54 PM

christopher said:
On Mission: Space in Disneyworld, people are subjected to two-G’s of force in a centrifuge to simulate a lift-off. Like most rides, they have a minimum height and weight requirement, health restrictions, and warnings for pregnant women. It also claimed the life of a four-year-old boy shortly after he got off the ride.

It appears that the state of Florida does not have its own safety inspectors but relies on the individual companies to test their own equipment. Yet, recent legislation requires the amusement park companies to report to the state any serious accident. This is how we know about the four year old.

The ride recreates a rocket launch and a trip to Mars. A clock counts down before a simulated blastoff that includes smoke and flame and the sound of roaring rocket engines. The G-forces twist and distort riders' faces.
An audio recording and a video warn of the risks. Signs advise pregnant women not to go on the ride. Motion sickness bags are offered to riders. One warning sign posted last year read: "For safety you should be in good health, and free from high blood pressure, heart, back or neck problems, motion sickness or other conditions that can be aggravated by this adventure."


A 77-year-old woman also died riding “Pirates of Caribbean,” but fell short of her dying wish to die while riding Johnny Depp.



Pirates are scary dudes.

Lucina

lucina

USA
March 2005

JUN 14, 2005 04:00 PM

From the article:
Since the attraction opened in 2003, seven people have been taken to the hospital for chest pains, fainting or nausea. That is the most hospital visits for a single ride since Florida's major theme parks agreed in 2001 to report any serious incidents to the state. The most recent case was last summer, when a 40-year-old woman was taken to a hospital after fainting.
"Two Gs is not that big a deal," said Houston-based theme park consultant Randy King, a former safety director at Six Flags, which operates 30 amusement parks.

I'm sure the families of the deceased will be comforted by Mr. King' statement.

FunkySkunk

FunkySkunk

Gainesville, FL
July 2004

JUN 14, 2005 04:10 PM

Dude, how many times does a dying kid wish to go to Disney Land? How many times do you think that wish is granted? This kid is lucky. Maybe Mickey Mouse will do the eulogy.. not speaking of course, but he could do a bunch of hand gestures.

robosagogo

robosagogo

State College, PA
September 2004

JUN 14, 2005 04:18 PM

Well he's probably going to make his parents rich, which is certainly more than I'll ever do for my parents.

I wonder what killed him, though.

MisterSatan

MisterSatan

Portland, OR
August 2002

JUN 14, 2005 04:19 PM

"Ow, my heart!"

Finch

Finch

SUICIDEGIRL

Thailand

JUN 14, 2005 04:19 PM

frown huh. what actually killed him? i mean, does simply being in 2g's of force make stuff like that happen?

Shal

Shal

Los Angeles, CA
October 2002

JUN 14, 2005 04:26 PM

Finch said:
frown huh. what actually killed him? i mean, does simply being in 2g's of force make stuff like that happen?




Not unless you have high blood pressure, a weak heart, a blood clot, an aneurism, or a plethora of other problems that may or may not have been diagnosed in a 4-year-old boy...

freek

freek

Derry, PA
February 2005

JUN 14, 2005 04:32 PM

im just wondering, is it wrong that this actually makes me want to ride this ride? i mean i feel sorry for the family of the child and of course i send my deepest condolences, but shit if theres that much of a risk...im very enticed.

Ayin

Ayin

Chicago, IL
January 2003

JUN 14, 2005 04:35 PM

See...Disney is evil. I've been telling people that for years, but no one ever believes me....

[Edited on Jun 14, 2005 by deBreard]

D0BERMANN

D0BERMANN

Quebec, QC
May 2004

JUN 14, 2005 04:37 PM

I've never heard of kids getting hurt on the Neverland rides.

Lemonkid

Lemonkid

Canada
May 2003

JUN 14, 2005 04:38 PM

Now I know why there's so few four year old boys flying fighter jets.

gut666

gut666

Moreno Valley, CA
April 2005

JUN 14, 2005 04:48 PM

sad . i have a 4 year old niece so that hits home .

Lotusmonger

Lotusmonger

Chicago, IL
May 2004

JUN 14, 2005 05:00 PM

he's not dead, Disney froze him.

letigre

letigre

Long Beach, CA
October 2002

JUN 14, 2005 05:20 PM

thats shitty.

ocuinneagain

ocuinneagain

Mobile, AL
March 2005

JUN 14, 2005 05:34 PM

it is unfortunate and sad, but not unheard of nor unexpected. lots of people have undignosed or unknown heart and nerological conditions that can be triggered by something like this, even as small as a 2G spin. for instance, someone with SVT should not ride something like this, because that kind of stress can trigger an attack and send their heart into arrhythmia; while most would recover from it almost immediately after the ride stops, some would need to be shot with a defibillator to regain normal heart rhythm - and some would not make it.

they don't put all those warnings on rides just for the hell of it. people need to pay attention to them, and people need to know what's going on with their bodies *before* they subject them to unusual forces and stress like that.



[Edited on Jun 14, 2005 7:35PM]

Sauda

Sauda

HOPEFUL

Chicago, IL

JUN 15, 2005 09:45 AM

Shalome said:

Finch said:
frown huh. what actually killed him? i mean, does simply being in 2g's of force make stuff like that happen?




Not unless you have high blood pressure, a weak heart, a blood clot, an aneurism, or a plethora of other problems that may or may not have been diagnosed in a 4-year-old boy...



The 4 year old had an autopsy performed, and that revealed no obvious sign as to exact cause of death. They are awaiting test results to come back, which may or may not shed light on this subject. They expect those to take as many as two weeks to come back.

Happyboy

Happyboy

Berkeley, CA
December 2004

JUN 15, 2005 10:18 AM

Aside from whatever the autopsy reveals, I think the parents and the people in charge of running the ride that day should also be examined. How the hell did a little four year old kid get on such ride? When I was little I remember the only thing I hated about amusement parks was that I couldn't go on some of the cool rides because I had to be "at least this tall" and/or at least nine years old or something.

elkaen

elkaen

Gardnerville, NV
March 2005

JUN 15, 2005 10:22 AM

I rode this ride shortly after it was oppened. Aside from wanting to puke my guts out for the rest of the day it wasn't that bad. I do have a heart condition, clostrophobia, motion sickness, and a few of the other things they warn you about. But I can't pass me up a thrill ride. i have to say i may take those warnings more seriously next time.

I have to say I've been to Disney World 20 times or so (the only place my dad would and still will take us on vacation, I've been there the fewest times out of anyone in my family) and even though I find Disney to be the anti-christ, they have some of the safest rides in the world. This poor little guy had to have had something wrong with him that was undiagnosed prior to riding. I have a four year old daughter and I can't imagine what the parents are going through!

Elijah

Elijah

SUICIDEGIRL

New York, USA

JUN 15, 2005 10:30 AM

EbbnFlow said:
How the hell did a little four year old kid get on such ride?



exactly what im thinking.... isnt there a kiddie land there? like, teacups and whatnot?
but also id like to point out that MILLIONS of people have been on this ride, and were unaffected.
its unfortunate, and my heart goes out to his family. but its not like disney world was out to kill the kid, it was an unfortunate accident.

IvantheKitty

IvantheKitty

I'm lost
June 2005

JUN 15, 2005 10:34 AM

ARRR!!!

scarydoll

scarydoll

Trenton, NJ
January 2004

JUN 15, 2005 10:46 AM

Elijah said:

EbbnFlow said:
How the hell did a little four year old kid get on such ride?



exactly what im thinking.... isnt there a kiddie land there? like, teacups and whatnot?
but also id like to point out that MILLIONS of people have been on this ride, and were unaffected.
its unfortunate, and my heart goes out to his family. but its not like disney world was out to kill the kid, it was an unfortunate accident.




An article that I read said that he just made the height requirement. I'm thinking he was a tall 4 year old, and the ride was too much for such a young child. frown

Stumbleine

Stumbleine

SUICIDEGIRL

Ontario, Canada

JUN 15, 2005 10:47 AM

who'd take their kid on that ride? that's why they have children's rides!

poor little bugger.

Arete

Arete

SUICIDEGIRL

I'm lost

JUN 15, 2005 10:49 AM

Lemonkid said:
Now I know why there's so few four year old boys flying fighter jets.



exactly. it might be a "safe" ride, but that kind of force on a tiny little body can't be good, even if it doesn't result in death.

Cherie

Cherie

Providence, RI
October 2002

JUN 15, 2005 02:15 PM

Aw. Poor kid. frown

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