Mission Space mishaps

[IndyandMarion]

Back on Topic.

It'll be interesting come summer time to see exactly how long it takes Disney to say "Well. That didn't work".

For those who haven't heard the news, Disney is working on a "Non-motion" based version of SPACE. It'll be the same exact show as right now, just without the G-Force.

They've said that this has nothing to do with the deaths and has to do with "Opening the attraction to a wider base of guests"

My question: Exactly how are you going to get people to realize which line is "G-Force" and which line is "G-Forceless"?

Considering people can't read the 13 signs, hear the numerous warnings or read the warnings during the preshows. . .HOW THE HELL DO YOU EXPECT THEM TO READ WHICH QUEUE LINE THEY WANT TO GO IN.

Seeing that this somehow manages to stay afloat, I see the single rider line going the way of Soarin's single rider in order to make it the "G-Forcesless" queue. Most likely they'll split the bays up to 1&2 being "G-Force" and 3&4 being "G-Forceless"

[leftcoaster]

Apparently it will be available by early summer, and they will be turning off the centrifuge which will effect 10 ride capsules.

[EpcotGolfer]

Back on Topic.

It'll be interesting come summer time to see exactly how long it takes Disney to say "Well. That didn't work".

For those who haven't heard the news, Disney is working on a "Non-motion" based version of SPACE. It'll be the same exact show as right now, just without the G-Force.

They've said that this has nothing to do with the deaths and has to do with "Opening the attraction to a wider base of guests"

My question: Exactly how are you going to get people to realize which line is "G-Force" and which line is "G-Forceless"?

Considering people can't read the 13 signs, hear the numerous warnings or read the warnings during the preshows. . .HOW THE HELL DO YOU EXPECT THEM TO READ WHICH QUEUE LINE THEY WANT TO GO IN.

Seeing that this somehow manages to stay afloat, I see the single rider line going the way of Soarin's single rider in order to make it the "G-Forcesless" queue. Most likely they'll split the bays up to 1&2 being "G-Force" and 3&4 being "G-Forceless"

Indy, I don't think the intention is to make Space actually "safer" for SGs, but instead to give a less intense option to people who do have half a brain but are currently afraid to go on it due to the incidents. It's all a PR thing, and, frankly, they need it. From what I've heard, Universe of Energy has been outdrawing M:S over the past few weeks on many days (at least until UoE went down for refurb). Walk through Epcot, I guarantee that you'll hear a conversation like this: "Why don't we go on Mission:Space?" "No way! I don't want to die!"

[Zazu]

Dreamfinder Ron? No way... I didn't know he was still haunting out there....

Yup, that's the right Ron!

He was gone for a while; at last report he was playing the Captain of the Titanic on I-Drive, so it looks like "haunting" is the right word. Great guy, he gave me some of my best instruction in puppetry in one short evening.

[Taswira]

Back on Topic.

It'll be interesting come summer time to see exactly how long it takes Disney to say "Well. That didn't work".

For those who haven't heard the news, Disney is working on a "Non-motion" based version of SPACE. It'll be the same exact show as right now, just without the G-Force.

They've said that this has nothing to do with the deaths and has to do with "Opening the attraction to a wider base of guests"

My question: Exactly how are you going to get people to realize which line is "G-Force" and which line is "G-Forceless"?

Considering people can't read the 13 signs, hear the numerous warnings or read the warnings during the preshows. . .HOW THE HELL DO YOU EXPECT THEM TO READ WHICH QUEUE LINE THEY WANT TO GO IN.

Seeing that this somehow manages to stay afloat, I see the single rider line going the way of Soarin's single rider in order to make it the "G-Forcesless" queue. Most likely they'll split the bays up to 1&2 being "G-Force" and 3&4 being "G-Forceless"

Exactly. I just can't see this working very well and think people with pre-existing conditions they don't know about will go on the regular version anyway and there will still be illness or deaths. The ones who died were unaware they had any problem, right? So I don't see this as a solution. It will give an option to those who did not previously ride it because they never go on anything exciting anyway, but I don't think it will in any way reduce the number of illnesses or accidental deaths due to pre-existing conditions. If the motivation really has nothing to do with that, but with allowing the skittish to get a taste of the ride, what's next? Will the unadventurous expect a tame version of Space Mtn., BTMR, RNRC and TOT?

[IdiotsAreEverywhere]

They've said that this has nothing to do with the deaths

No offense to Disney but that is total bullshit.

[IndyandMarion]

Will the unadventurous expect a tame version of RNRC?

No. They will be scared off in the courtyard by the army of squirrels I have trained there. *See rocknrollercoaster.com for the story.

[ThunderCat]

Back on Topic.

It'll be interesting come summer time to see exactly how long it takes Disney to say "Well. That didn't work".

For those who haven't heard the news, Disney is working on a "Non-motion" based version of SPACE. It'll be the same exact show as right now, just without the G-Force.

They've said that this has nothing to do with the deaths and has to do with "Opening the attraction to a wider base of guests"

Here's the article:

Disney to tame Epcot's Mission: Space ride
Park to offer a toned-down version of ride for visitors
Scott Powers and Beth Kassab
Sentinel Staff Writers

May 2, 2006, 7:14 PM EDT

Less than a month after a second person died after riding Mission: Space, Walt Disney World is reworking its hazardous but popular Epcot ride to offer a Mission: Space lite for people who shouldn't or don't want to try the full experience. (ThunderCat notes: love that bias!)

Mission: Space simulates a spaceship launch, flight and landing by combining centrifugal and other motions with audio and video effects. There are four separate centrifuge systems in the building and at least one of them would be turned off so that riders experienced rocking motions and the other effects, but not the spinning.

Disney announced the new ride option would be available by "early summer" for people who chose not to ride the more intense version either because they don't want to or because they have health problems that prevent them from doing so.

Disney officials said the change is not being made because of the April 12 death of a German tourist, Hiltrud Blümel, or the death last summer of a 4-year-old boy, Daudi Bamuwamye, or because of numerous other illness complaints.

Instead, Disney is characterizing the change as an exciting new option.

"By offering a second adventure, we hope to broaden the appeal of Mission: Space and enable even more guests to experience the attraction," Al Weiss, president of Walt Disney World Resort, said in a prepared statement.

The ride has drawn 11.7 million people since it opened in the summer of 2003 and is a favorite of many. But it's also the Disney ride that draws the most complaints and serious illnesses, and is the only ride at Disney that includes motion sickness bags. Besides the two deaths, more than 130 riders have sought medical attention, including 10 reported for suffering serious health effects.

When asked if the change was being made because of recent events, Disney spokeswoman Kim Prunty responded, "The answer is no.

"We are doing this for three reasons: to enable even more guests to experience the attraction][email protected][/email] or 407-420-5441. Beth Kassab can be reached at [email protected] or 407-420-5448.

Copyright © 2006, Orlando Sentinel

[Syndrome]

If the motivation really has nothing to do with that, but with allowing the skittish to get a taste of the ride, what's next? Will the unadventurous expect a tame version of Space Mtn., BTMR, RNRC and TOT?

Sigh! To paraphrase my favorite movie, it sounds like WDW is finding new ways to celebrate mediocrity. This is as stupid as the "playgrounds" with monkey bars that are low so no one will get hurt falling off them (never mind the fact that "fun" is absent) and other safe but joyless, boring equipment. If you want simulations, go to DQ. I never thought I'd see the day that thrill rides are tamed down to the lowest common denominator (although with all the idiots who like to wriggle out of roller coaster restraints, I do predict a day when you'll be required to be strapped into a three-point harness to ride one).

[BRWombat]

Thought you all might get a kick out of this. From today's "edition" of The Onion: http://www.theonion.com/content/node/49168 . Check out the last line.