How long have YOU been stuck in Spaceship Earth? - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Just a curious question....Everyone who has ridden Spaceship Earth many times knows that it tends to stop for short periods on occasion
Our latest stop was on our recent Vacation...we were on the decent back down when we stopped (Probably the worst spot because you know its such a steep decent back down... ouch!) Normally we have scenery to look at, but it was a bit creepy since we were near the bottom where there is no lighting and everything is just black. Even more creepy, it sounded like the entire track system went off, along with the background music...the only thing we heard was the automated message every 15 seconds or so and we were stuck for about 3 minutes....it was very creepy (Being curious, I was able to make out a door near us...We would be saved if the ride was broken..LOL )
Usually we stop at the very top where you can see the earth, and the music plays and the stop is very brief..lol
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We were stuck once for at least that long, right before you get off the ride. It was near park closing and there was nobody else on the ride but us. We started to think that they shut it down and forgot about us. We thought we were being paranoid, but we did some loud coughing just to make sure they knew we were there!
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We were stuck once for at least that long, right before you get off the ride. It was near park closing and there was nobody else on the ride but us. We started to think that they shut it down and forgot about us. We thought we were being paranoid, but we did some loud coughing just to make sure they knew we were there!
For that reason I am always scared of going when it right near park closing, even though the no wait attracts me!
What if you were at the top and were coughing...I doubt they would hear it 5 stories down LOL
We used to get a little unnerved on rides when that happened, until last year - when we finally realized WHY it happens - they are actually stopping the ride to let people with mobility issues on and off the attractions - they will normally seat several of them in a row, so that is why there may be a rather long pause in the ride - it's because they are moving an entire group of people on and off the ride. The reason I know this is because we were using a GAC last year, and so we were escorted through the handicapped/special assistance entrances many times, and we saw first hand how they assisted the guests on and off the rides in these cases. They would wait until they could seat several of them at once, and so the ride would be paused for minutes at a time to make it more efficient, if that makes sense.
We used to get a little unnerved on rides when that happened, until last year - when we finally realized WHY it happens - they are actually stopping the ride to let people with mobility issues on and off the attractions - they will normally seat several of them in a row, so that is why there may be a rather long pause in the ride - it's because they are moving an entire group of people on and off the ride. The reason I know this is because we were using a GAC last year, and so we were escorted through the handicapped/special assistance entrances many times, and we saw first hand how they assisted the guests on and off the rides in these cases. They would wait until they could seat several of them at once, and so the ride would be paused for minutes at a time to make it more efficient, if that makes sense.
We were aware about this too...but of course sometimes the stops can be mechanical...but it does put your mind at ease knowing that is probably what it is
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We have been stuck a a minute or two several times, however on our trip last June it was the first time on the refurbished ride...we got stopped in the part with the strobbing lights (right before you get to the universe scene). We were there for almost 15 minutes...I was so worried as my little one and my older daughter were in a car ahead of me, but the little one took a cat nap, she was up and ready by the time we made it to the descent
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On our last trip, we rode several times and stopped each time, as expected to assist those with mobility issues. However the last two times we rode, we stopped more than once, no longer than 2 minutes at a time. We stopped on the ascent, where they take your picture --- thankfully, it takes one picture and stops snapping. Then we stopped in burning Rome, which is bad for someone like me with asthma.
On our last trip, we rode several times and stopped each time, as expected to assist those with mobility issues. However the last two times we rode, we stopped more than once, no longer than 2 minutes at a time. We stopped on the ascent, where they take your picture --- thankfully, it takes one picture and stops snapping. Then we stopped in burning Rome, which is bad for someone like me with asthma.
Yep- we were stopped for about 5 minutes at burning Rome last year as well, and both myself and DS15 suffer from migraines and smells/fumes can set them off, and DS15 got a migraine shortly after we got off the ride - not fun!!!
Never more than a couple of minutes. I love getting stuck at the top with all of the twinkly lights/stars. The ride we seem to get stuck on at least once every year is the Haunted Mansion, which is also fun depending on where you are when it stops.
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Side note on Space Ship Earth - DS15 and I had a ball last year, every time we rode we chose a different language and tried to figure out what the heck they were saying! Our favorite was Mandarin.
I always seem to get stuck looking at the twinkling lights which is fun. Never more than a minute or two though. But that's why they post all the warnings about claustrophobia.
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How long have YOU been stuck in Spaceship Earth?
(Being curious, I was able to make out a door near us...We would be saved if the ride was broken..LOL 
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We've been stuck on there for no more than a minute. 
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