A tamer Mission: Space is on the way

I contributed this to news, but thought this was worthy of post here as well:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/orl-bk-missionspace050206,0,3758507.story?coll=orl-news-headlines

Sorry. I can't ever remember how to fix a link the right way on here. *** Edited 5/3/2006 1:24:04 AM UTC by bigboy***

Sounds like a good solution as long as it is clear what you are getting on in line.

Its a dead link.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/orl-bk-missionspace050206,0,7700230.story

Essentially, the gist of the article states that you can ride one of the four centrifuges without the spinning... just the rocking motions. *** Edited 5/3/2006 2:44:16 AM UTC by Chris Rettig***

I think that's a much better idea than taming down all 4 pods.

LOL, copy/paste the entire link into your browser's address bar. ;)

Anyhow, this was NOT unforeseen...have to wonder how it will work exactly in terms of ridership, capacity, etc. I'll even volunteer to try out one of the "rocking" cars and report back...the sacrifices I make for you people! :)

Honestly, a VERY good move, they'll need to convince a fair number of people to make use of the new "tamer M:S". I still think even the *regular version* is a BIT too strong, but I know from experience I'm going to be in the minority opinion on that count, LOL.

I think you're just a wimp. And to think that the current Mission: SPACE program already is toned down from the program used during soft-open!

I just rode Mission:Space this weekend, and loved it. No issues at all. How toned down is the program they're running these days compared to the original setup?

Perhaps this is just me being cynical, but does anyone else think that, eventually, someone who probably shouldn't try it will decide that they can handle the more extreme ride -- and Disney may have another harmful, if not deadly, situation on their hands?

EDIT: Crappy initial syntax -- changed for clarity.
*** Edited 5/3/2006 3:42:53 AM UTC by Nitro Dave***

Even worse...I think there is a chance that for a large number of people, the 'non-spinning' version would be MORE NAUSEATING than the spinning version!

I don't know that for certain, of course. But I do know that Mission: Space was the first simulator I ever rode where the ride motion matched up with the screen action in such a way that it did NOT cause me a certain degree of discomfort. Take away the rotation, and Mission: Space becomes much more like, say, Star Tours, which is actually rather unpleasant... (though not nearly as bad as BTTF...)

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Won't be as nauseating, but the most important for some people is the fact there won't be those G's putting pressure on people...

The preview for Epcot Cast Members was insane! Much more powerful than now.

Disney finally does something for the enthusiast, and then changes it. Classic.

Enthusiasts are nothing for Disney. They simply did a ride that doesn't really cater well to the guests that visit Epcot and they found a solution to fix it.

If you're looking for thrill rides... WDW is not for you.

They're not changing it. They're adding a less intense alternative.

I loved it when I rode it, but I don't think taming down one of the pods was thee answer. The real problem is in informing the people who are riding of the danger of riding. People need to clearly know what they are getting into so they can decide if they can handle it or not. I have NO doubt that SOMEONE who ASSUMES they'd be fine on the unaltered version will ride the unaltered version and problems will happen. It's just a matter of time.

The real problem is, most people don't equate Disney with extream thrill rides, and Mission Space, based on the forces placed on the riders, could be classified as such. What makes matters worse, is riders are usually unclear of what they are getting into the first time.

I seriously have NO problem with Mission Space as it is, the real problem is the people who go to amusement parks and don't follow the listed guidelines or people who go to amusement parks and see the recomendations for a ride, and just assume that they are "toughh enough" to handle the ride dispite their preexisting heart condition, recent surgery, etc...

I have seen pictues of the line and just a couple of the actual ride vehicle. I can honestly say after hearing about it for several months, I still do not have a clear idea of how this ride works. How come there are no videos of the ride running? Is it that well hidden from the line? No, I have not been to Disney, and don't see myself getting there anytime soon.

Edit: in fact, I am disapointed that the USA doesn't have thrill ride websites similar to Europe. Would love to start one, but don't know a thing about website code. *** Edited 5/3/2006 5:56:12 AM UTC by coasterb***

There are no videos online because your quickly ushered to the ride vehicel and there are doors hiding the pods while the ride is in motion. The only time they open is when the ride stops. I don't know why there is video but the only thing you would see is the in ride video or riders faces because thier is no frame of refrence to see the what the pod is doing. Also, a castmember or a vip could do a video but it will have to be from where people watch the ride(if they do and if they can) but I consider it unlikely. Think of it as a round up ride but staying on the ground and not tilting. each spot where some one stands is a pod, but there is only 10 pods (40 people) on each ride system (4 ride systems). Also the pod is faced toward the center of the ride. Thier is also rocking motion and tilting going on. It's very simple. Here are some pictures, not just the inside of the pods. http://www.mouseplanet.com/wdwupdate/wdw031016avp.htm

I'm assuming that all that pods spin on one ride system right? so wouldn't that leave one ride system open. Im worried it's gonna slow down the ride because I don't they will fill it up as quickly.

I'm not at all surprised, as ridership seems to be very low for a 3 year old $100M attraction. When we were there late this past winter, Test Track was giving away bonus fastpasses for it on several different occasions. In effect: "while you're waiting to ride TT, why not come over and try M:S? No delay!"

This on the same day when Soarin' and TT were easaily running lines of 75 and 45 minutes.

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Michael Darling said:
I think you're just a wimp. And to think that the current Mission: SPACE program already is toned down from the program used during soft-open!

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No it's not, the complexity of toning it down is crazy, it's not. M:S is not like a regular simulator and you cannot just "tone" it down.

ANYWAY, great idea, surprised they didn't do this since the start!

Do you really think that Disney spent 100 million bucks on a ride that they can't adjust the program on? I call shenanagins on you.

The programming is not set in stone. It can be adjusted, tweaked, tuned, toned down, toned up, or run in reverse, upside down, sideways, and every which way to Mars. The Imagineers aren't n00bs at this.