Mission: Space Lite! Disney Disables Centrifuge
Disney is now offering its Mission: Space ride without a centrifuge for those visitors to Epcot that are too weak, disabled, elderly or unable to follow directions so maybe less visitors will die.
From WKMG here:
Disney Debuts Tamer ‘Mission: Space’ Thrill Ride
ORLANDO, Fla. — Walt Disney World debuted a new, tamer version of the attraction thrill ride “Mission: Space” Friday at its Epcot theme park in Florida.
Epcot guests will now have two options when it comes to the ride; they can either go on the current attraction or a new version, which provides a milder experience, according to the report.
In the new version, the spinning centrifuge will be turned off for guests who are prone to motion sickness or have other conditions.
“By offering a second adventure, we hope to broaden the appeal of “Mission: Space” and enable even more guests to experience the attraction,” said Al Weiss, president of Walt Disney World Resort.
Hiltrud Bluemel, 49, died April 12, one day after she went on the ride.
A preliminary report from the Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office showed Bluemel died from bleeding of the brain. She also suffered from severe, long-standing high blood pressure, according to the medical examiner’s office.
Also, last year, a 4-year-old boy died after riding “Mission: Space.”
An autopsy determined Daudi Bamuwamye, of Sellersville, Pa., died of an irregular heartbeat linked to a natural causes. The boy had an abnormal thickening of the heart muscle that can throw heart contractions out of coordination.
Disney officials said the decision to offer a watered-down version of “Mission: Space” had nothing to do with the deaths.
I hope that they have a separate room with just the rider’s cage in it so visitors can get just the visual aspect of the ride. I really hope they didnt disable a working portion of the ride for this.
