From cnn.com, a
tragic death on a ride at Epcot.
A 4-year-old boy died after passing out while aboard Walt Disney World's "Mission: Space" attraction -- a ride that has caused previous concerns because of its intensity.
This is indeed an intense ride. More below.
I first went on that ride a couple of years ago, about a week before it was officially opened. I went with my partner, who's really not much into thrill rides anyway.
The scenario is that you are put in front of an individual video screen that shows your view outside a space capsule. The first few seconds as the ride starts up are very disorienting: the screen image shows that you are being launched vertically, but your body's equilibrium mechanisms tell you that you are moving sideways. This is because the ride is essentially a big centrifuge that simulates increased G-force by spinning you in a circle.
Once you get over the first few seconds, the dizziness goes away, and the rest of the ride is pretty thrilling.
When we got off the ride, my partner was dizzy and almost sick. He spent the next hour sitting on a bench just outside the ride. I went back in for more.
I was back again a few months ago, and went on it twice in a row. My partner waited outside.
The thing is, they now tell you to not close your eyes during the ride, especially the opening sequence, as that is almost guaranteed to make you dizzy and perhaps ill. My partner had closed his eyes from the get-go and never opened them...and I thought he was going to pass out sitting there on that bench.
The sheriff's office said the boy did meet the minimum 44-inch height requirement for the ride at the Epcot theme park, which simulates twice the normal force of gravity.
A cause of death could not be immediately determined and an autopsy was expected Tuesday.
OK so this boy was tall enough to go on, but 4 years old? WTF?
I'm sorry, but a 4 year old has no business whatsoever on this ride. As we have learned today, this ride has a history of making adults ill. A child of that age should not be allowed on. As for the parents here...if they'd never been on before, they would have no way to know precisely what to expect. There are warning signs, and the obvious height restriction. But add it all up, and this is clearly and umbiguously an extremely intense thrill ride. If I were a parent, I'd never allow a child of that age to go on. But that's me.
Disney, on the other hand, should know better. In addition to the height restriction, this ride really needs an age restriction. If adults have to be told not to close their eyes, what kind of rationalization does a 4 year old have to understand and follow through on this instruction?
This was a tragic event, that could have been prevented by having rules that make sense, to prevent this child from getting on the ride at all.
Given the ride's history, that I wasn't aware of before, would I go on it again? I'm tempted to say yes, but I'd have to think seriously about that. My partner for sure would likely grab my arm and tell me there's no way in hell he'd let me go in there again.
For now, the ride is closed. If it re-opens, there may be some changes in store.
