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Disney Debuts Tamer 'Mission: Space' Thrill Ride

POSTED: Friday, May 19, 2006
UPDATED: 1:29 pm EDT May 19, 2006

Walt Disney World debuted a new, tamer version of the attraction thrill ride "Mission: Space" Friday at its Epcot theme park in Florida.


SLIDESHOW: What Riders See
Two people have died after riding the attraction.

"It is a ride so intense that it offers its riders throw-up bags," Local 6 reporter Jessica Sanchez said Friday.

Epcot guests will now have two options when it comes to the ride; they can either go on the current attraction or a new version, which provides a milder experience, according to the report.

In the new version, the spinning centrifuge will be turned off for guests who are prone to motion sickness or have other conditions.

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

Hiltrud Bluemel, 49, died April 12, one day after she went on the ride.

A preliminary report from the Orange County Medical Examiner's Office showed Bluemel died from bleeding of the brain. She also suffered from severe, long-standing high blood pressure, according to the medical examiner's office.

Also, last year, a 4-year-old boy died after riding "Mission: Space."

An autopsy determined Daudi Bamuwamye, of Sellersville, Pa., died of an irregular heartbeat linked to a natural causes. The boy had an abnormal thickening of the heart muscle that can throw heart contractions out of coordination.

Disney officials said the decision to offer a watered-down version of "Mission: Space" had nothing to do with the deaths.

Officials said they simply wanted to offer more options for guests who are prone to motion sickness or have other conditions.

However, theme park consultants said Disney likely felt the pressure to make some changes after the deaths, Sanchez said.

The $100 million Epcot attraction simulates a mock spaceflight to Mars and spins riders in a centrifuge that subjects them to twice the normal force of gravity.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this breaking news story.

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