Mission: Space distress survey

[DisDreams]

Now that I have read there is an EPCOT CM who interviews guests who "toss their cookies" upon disembarking the Mission: Space centrifuge, I wonder if there is enough data regarding this phenomenon to discover a common denominator as it were; be it age, sex, body type, favored rides (coaster/fast ride) frequency, etc.?

[tappenfeat]

I don't think I can help you with the survey, but I can tell you that I skipped Mission Sace for the reason that those kinds of rides make me very nausea.

I can do any roller coasters and feel great! But, it's something about those types of rides that make the cookies want to jump out!

Star Tours is another one that I can't handle...uggggg...I wish I could though.

[AnonyMOUSE]

For all we know, they ate in Mexico, and looked left and right will leaning foward (it's an inside joke).

[midwestdreamer]

I will never do Mission Space again. My cookies stayed put, but they didn't feel normal for about 2 hours. And I can do all of the other rides. And I was so excited about this ride, too.....

The games after the ride are awesome. My 15 year old son loved the group game. This area is worth going to.

[AnonyMOUSE]

Mission:SPACE is definitely one of my most favorite attractions at WDW. I liked it so much, I did it 5 times during previews.

[kjsmom]

My husband tried out Mission Space last week and said it was awesome! He's 37, average build and loves coasters, if that means anything :D . I didn't see anyone coming off the ride looking like they had lost their equilibrium or needed to toss their cookies. I would have given it a shot but being 22 wks pregnant with twins I had to skip it this trip :rolleyes: . Maybe next time ;) .

Kelly

[CatLover]

We just returned last night from our last trip. My husband, 5 yr old son and I all rode Mission space. We all liked it, and would all do again. Speaking as a physician, the nausea would result from stimulation of the vestibular system of the inner ear. (The ride spins to generate the 2G of force). People who are already sensitive to that type of stimulation would be most susceptible--those with Meniere's disease, benign positional vertigo, etc. In general, there is not a correlation to age, body type, etc, as such, but the general warning about motion sickness refers to the stimulation of the vestibular system. Staring ahead, focusing on the image in the monitor, as recommended, helps. Some people might experience labyrinthitis after a cold, temporarily, which also something to keep in mind if you have a URI at the time you are visiting

[AnonyMOUSE]

Yes, it does go very fast--the centrifuge acheives a speed of 180 mph during the attraction.

[Mark Goldhaber]

My wife and I did Mission: SPACE last week, and we both enjoyed it. We are both obese and not in shape at all. She felt that once was enough, and she got dizzy a few minutes after we got off. I was battling a cold all week, and one ear was clogged while on the ride. Not good. I could feel the spin the whole time, and it was very disorienting. Luckily, I was able to control myself and keep my cookies down. (We didn't eat beforehand for a reason.) We had an extra Fastpass and I would have used it immediately if I had been able to get my ear to pop, but since I couldn't, we just went to eat and settle our stomachs. We didn't see any cookie tossing during our exit.

If you're not bothered by motion sickness, don't worry about M:S. Just keep looking at the screen or the controls in front of you.

[Matterhorn Fan]

Originally posted by Mark Goldhaber
If you're not bothered by motion sickness, don't worry about M:S. Just keep looking at the screen or the controls in front of you. What would you say about claustrophobia?

[CatLover]

It depends on how claustrophic you are. There are 4 seats across and really plenty of head space. It is much more roomy than an MRI, for example, but, less roomy than a car.

[Mark Goldhaber]

Originally posted by Matterhorn Fan
What would you say about claustrophobia?

I think it depends on perception. If you can look at a video screen and believe that you're looking through a window, I think you'll be OK. Otherwise, you're just staring at a video screen a foot or two from your head, and there's not too much open space otherwise. If you try looking to the side to see the people near you, it'll affect your inner ear and give you a little vertigo, so looking ahead, you've got the screen and the open space between you and it and that's all.

[goofyfan]

I rode Mission Space twice, and my wife rode it once. It's funny, but my wife can ride all the coasters, and not feel sick at all, plus, she never gets car sick. She does, however, get sick on Body Wars, Star Tours, and Dinosaur. She says that a coaster is smooth, but these rides jerk a lot. She rode Mission Space one time, and felt bad enough that she didn't want to ride it again. I, on the other hand, get extremely sick if I'm not sitting in the front seat of a car and not looking straight ahead. I can't do coasters, but am able to do Star Tours, Body Wars, Dinosaur, and had only a little discomfort on Mission Space. I guess that you just have to try it out and see what happens to you. I did look straight ahead and keep my eyes open as suggested.

[danyoung]

Originally posted by Matterhorn Fan
What would you say about claustrophobia?

I think that this is an important key. I'm very claustrophobic, but went in with my eyes open. When that control panel closed in, I started freaking pretty hard. My capsule mates (whom I didn't even know!) were great in trying to chill me out. By the time the acceleration of launch hit, I was so keyed up that I nearly passed out. VERY uncomfortable, and sadly the last time I'll be riding (which sucks - I really wanted to like this one!).

[danyoung]

Originally posted by Mark Goldhaber
I think it depends on perception. If you can look at a video screen and believe that you're looking through a window, I think you'll be OK.

If there was a single tip I could give Disney to help this ride, it would be to start the video IMMEDIATELY after moving the control panel into place. I had probably about 30 seconds after the panel moved in before the video started (although it felt like half an hour!!!). Plenty of time for panic to set in and build to a crescendo. As soon as the video started the claustrophobia started to recede, but it sure was a bad start to the ride!!!

[DisDreams]

Thanks to all who responded to this query, especially dmkolody with her medical point of view. I am leaving tonight for WDW for a week to ride & test this new attraction for myself. Hope the recent solar flares don't affect the flight...

[tebright]

Ok..I noticed that someone wrote that they were overweight. Any problems fitting in the seat? I know Disney is pretty good about pooh sized people.

[goofyfan]

Hi tebright

I weigh a little over 330 lbs, and had no trouble with the seat size, or with the amount of room inside the "capsule".

[tebright]

Thanks so much Goofyfan. I feel much better now then. I don't think I'll have any problems with many rides but just want to know which ones might be a problem before embarrassing myself. I'm around 310.....any potential problem rides that you can think of?

Thanks

[goofyfan]

Hi again tebright

I haven't ridden Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, or Rockin Rollercoaster (I'm just a big chicken), but I've never had any problems on any of the other attractions. The biggest problem I've ever had is squeezing into those tiny airline seats:)

[Trinitys Ghost]

I rode M:S twice, and experienced slight eye disorientation afterwords for an hour or two (kinda dizzy eyed, but no nausea).

This is from a gal who gets sick on long road trips (no Cheezits...please). :)

In other words...I liked the ride. It's been a longtime fascination (and wish) of mine to travel to the stars, and now I get to do it in a fashion.

[MikeScopa]

I understand that Mission: Space is still averaging about 30 disoriented/cookie tossing guests per day.

That statistic plus the warning signs posted outside and inside the attraction proabably would sway many guests from trying the attraction.

I think they may have missed the boat by not putting in some sort of pre-show to help guests determine if they can handle the centrifuge.

Would anyone care to volunteer an opinion as to whether or not those who become ill on the Tea Cups would also not fare well on M:S?

Mike

[AnonyMOUSE]

Maybe not. With Teacups, you're going around and around and around.......with M:S it's the same, but you don't realize it---you're in an enclosed cabin on a centrifuge. Now with Body Wars.....whoa-ho, that's definely a problem. If you get ill on Body Wars, Star Tours, Dinosaur, etc., then there's a problem.

[Madame Leota]

I have to say that Mission Space is an extremely well done attraction that truly makes you feel as though you are being launched into space. It really is breathtaking.

That being said, it's the only Disney attraction I can say I truly dislike. Let me say that I am a huge thrill-ride fan - I never shy away from a coaster or a Maliboomer-like (DCA) attraction. I do have to avoid the teacups and Star Tours like motion simulators due to the motion sickness factor.

With my limitations in mind and knowing that I might end up "tossing my cookies", I decided to go anyway.

I did not end up experiencing any true motion sickness symptoms. I didn't feel sick at all after the ride and it was impossible to tell that you are actually spinning. What I disliked immensely was the gravitational force on my chest and face that does not let up through the entire attraction. It made me so uncomfortable, I really couldn't wait for it to be over. I have never experienced anything quite like this before. I was not claustraphobic in the slightest and didn't feel dizzy. The warnings to keep your head back and facing forward did help as did the cool air that blows into your face.

While I am glad I did go and can appreciate the technology that made this possible, I can safely say that I will never go again. My best friend, however who dispises most thrill rides, went on it again immediately and loved it. Go figure....

[midwestdreamer]

Originally posted by Madame Leota
I have to say that Mission Space is an extremely well done attraction that truly makes you feel as though you are being launched into space. It really is breathtaking.

That being said, it's the only Disney attraction I can say I truly dislike. Let me say that I am a huge thrill-ride fan - I never shy away from a coaster ........ I can safely say that I will never go again. My best friend, however who dispises most thrill rides, went on it again immediately and loved it. Go figure....

I agree wholeheartedly. My not being able to handle this ride truly stumped me. I think the concept and technology are excellent, too.

Oh well.

MWdreamer