Injury report: Disney, Universal rides prompt dizziness, pains
Theme park visitors reported dizziness, lost consciousness and chest pain on attractions between April and June, according to a state document released Thursday.
Eleven incidents were recorded at Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, including four at Central Florida’s water parks.
Under an agreement with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which oversees ride regulations, the state’s major theme parks self-report guest injuries on rides that require 24 hours of hospitalization or more. The state presents those results to the public quarterly.
In April, a 60-year-old male complained of chest pain after leaving Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, a dark ride at Magic Kingdom. In May, a 76-year-old man felt faint after riding Tron Lightcycle / Run, a roller coaster at that park. A 39-year-old woman reported disorientation while exiting Space Mountain, another Magic Kingdom coaster, in May.
In June, a 42-year-old woman at Epcot reported back pain after exiting Frozen Ever After, a log-flume dark ride, and a 69-year-old man experienced dizziness on Minnie & Mickey’s Runaway Railroad, a dark ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park.
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At Typhoon Lagoon, one of Disney World’s water parks, a 25-year-old guest hit her head and lost consciousness while riding Humunga Kowabunga, a body slide that the company’s website describes as featuring “a near-vertical five-story drop.”
At Volcano Bay, Universal Orlando’s water park, three injuries were reported in June. A 70-year-old man experienced chest pressure in TeAwa the Fearless River; a 23-year-old woman reported loss of consciousness on Hona ika Moana, a raft ride; and an 8-year-old male had leg pain at Runamukka Reef, a play area.
At Universal’s Islands of Adventure, a 78-year-old man reported dizziness and loss of consciousness from Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, a motion-simulator attraction, in April. A 64-year-old woman had dizziness on Hogwarts Express, a train with motion-simulator screens that connects the Wizarding World of Harry Potter attractions at IOA and Universal Studios theme parks.
No injuries were reported by SeaWorld Orlando, Legoland Florida in Winter Garden or Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
The state does not receive updates after the initial assessments. An Orlando Sentinel investigation revealed last year that descriptions of the injuries are often vague or inaccurate.