Dumb Space Mountain Question

RiaLucia · Post by **RiaLucia** » Mar Sun 04, 2007 3:06 pm

On my college program one of my friends was an attractions host in Tomorrowland, so he operated Space Mountain. Trust me, even though it definitely feels like it, you're not going to bop your head on the track. Even knowing this, though, I usually put my arms up and then chicken out when it feels like I'm getting too close to something. I guess that's a credit to the Imagineers, though!

TikiTikiRoom · Post by **TikiTikiRoom** » Mar Sun 04, 2007 3:17 pm

I read a story somewhere of a man riding Space Mountain, (and like an idiot) he stood up. What happened? Decapitation. Of course this is just what I heard. I almost don't want to believe it, but there have been some scary moments down there in Orlando. Not to mention the casualities from the Space simulation. No one reads the warnings anymore.

GhostHost · Post by **GhostHost** » Mar Mon 05, 2007 9:05 am

TikiTikiRoom wrote:I read a story somewhere of a man riding Space Mountain, (and like an idiot) he stood up. What happened? Decapitation. Of course this is just what I heard. I almost don't want to believe it, but there have been some scary moments down there in Orlando. Not to mention the casualities from the Space simulation. No one reads the warnings anymore.

Yikes! I hope that's just another rumor. I have to admit that I duck my head down and never put my arms up on this ride. I'm sure it's completely safe as long as you are seated but still...

stinoi · Post by **stinoi** » Mar Mon 05, 2007 10:15 am

Having my hands up on the ride has never bothered me as much as the "shakiness" of the track beneath the cars. I know that this is by design, but I always feel like we're going to jump the tracks!

Post by **js3901** » Mar Mon 05, 2007 5:25 pm

I don't believe that anyone has been decapitated while on Disney property. I know people have been run over by the people mover, as well as a guy getting hit in the head with a mooring cleat, but I've never seen any report of decapitation...

Mr.ToadWildRider · Post by **Mr.ToadWildRider** » Mar Tue 06, 2007 1:35 am

If you watch some online ride through vids of SM with the lights on the cross bars and other scaffolding are actually a lot further from the track than they look while on the ride in the dark. It's pretty weird. I wonder if Disney intended this effect? I doubt it, I think they want the skeletal metal work as invisible as possible to make it seem more like an actual space ship and less like a rollercoaster.

TikiTikiRoom · Post by **TikiTikiRoom** » Mar Tue 06, 2007 11:27 am

This is just me talking, but I think it's time Disney updated the ride. Reduce the shakiness, and for the LOVE of Sam-Hill, make the coaster cars bigger. My knees were scrunched up and it was extremely uncomfortable.

Post by **subsonic** » Mar Tue 06, 2007 11:54 am

js3901 wrote:I don't believe that anyone has been decapitated while on Disney property. I know people have been run over by the people mover, as well as a guy getting hit in the head with a mooring cleat, but I've never seen any report of decapitation...

A Cast Member was decapitated on Carousel of Progress when it was at DLR.

GhostHost · Post by **GhostHost** » Mar Tue 06, 2007 12:18 pm

subsonic wrote:
js3901 wrote:I don't believe that anyone has been decapitated while on Disney property. I know people have been run over by the people mover, as well as a guy getting hit in the head with a mooring cleat, but I've never seen any report of decapitation...
A Cast Member was decapitated on Carousel of Progress when it was at DLR.

Wow. I should know this but is the COP attraction which currently resides at MK the same one that was at DLR before?

packwingfn · Post by **packwingfn** » Mar Tue 06, 2007 12:28 pm

I'm always afraid that my arms will hit at the end when it goes through the tunnel but once again I realize I'm at Disney World!

Sarah Turp · Post by **Sarah Turp** » Mar Tue 06, 2007 12:52 pm

How the hell do you decapitate someone on the carosel of Progess. IT seems such a slow safe ride!

AKLRULZ · Post by **AKLRULZ** » Mar Tue 06, 2007 1:06 pm

She was caught between the doors during the movement of the carosel - I had heard she was crushed to death rather than decapitated, though.

Sarah Turp · Post by **Sarah Turp** » Mar Tue 06, 2007 1:45 pm

OUCH! Now we know to take all the health and safety stuff seriously!

I just cant believe that such a tragic accident could occur on such a tame ride!

Cheshire Cat · Post by **Cheshire Cat** » Mar Tue 06, 2007 3:05 pm

A Cast Member was decapitated on Carousel of Progress when it was at DLR

I read a book about accidents and injuries at Disney parks back in decemeber and this is the only instance I think someone was actually decapitated. When the theater was changed to America Sings, the walls seperating the sections were "re-imagineered" so that they would break away if something ever got caught in them again. So, rest assured, the new Carousel theaters are safe. However, as for the sapce mountain decapitation, I'm sure something like that would have made it into a book specifically about accidents at the disney parks, but I don't recall a story like that.

FlatlandMounty · Post by **FlatlandMounty** » Mar Wed 07, 2007 12:25 am

Sarah Turp wrote:How the hell do you decapitate someone on the carosel of Progess. IT seems such a slow safe ride!

These are the most dangerous rides. roller coasters only have about 1 second where you can get hurt. The one second it flys by where you are. If you are on it, you move so fast, its hard to get out. You are strapped in.

The slow rides people jump out because its "safe" then they get a foot caught in a mechanism and it drags you in slowly. Now Disney has safety switches everywhere to prevent this stuff, but you do something you aren't supposed to or not follow operator instruction, you can get really hurt on the slow movers.