Florida’s largest theme-park operator, Walt Disney World, reported a total of seven injuries during its summer session. All guests were injured while passengers on some of the park’s most popular rides. The latest incident occurred in September, when two people onboard Universal Orlando’s Harry Potter Forbidden Journey ride were hurt. Both passengers were treated for minor injuries on site.
The most serious injury of the summer session occurred at the company’s busiest park, the Magic Kingdom, and on its top attraction, the Magic Kingdom. It involved a 26-year-old woman who complained of neck pain, nausea, and later vomiting. The guest was taken to the hospital, where she underwent successful surgery to the head. The incident was investigated by park officials, but the cause of the injury remains a mystery.
In spite of these injuries, Walt Disney World has a stellar safety record, according to company representatives. Many of the injuries that are reported at their parks are the result of preexisting medical conditions, they say, rather than mechanical malfunction or operator error.