Central Florida theme parks reported 14 injuries at their attractions in the final three months of 2024, and the bulk of those incidents were related to roller coasters.
The state’s major theme parks self-report about visitors who are injured on their rides and require at least 24 hours of hospitalization. The totals are made public quarterly through an agreement with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
In a six-week period in November and December, there were three incidents tied to Jurassic World VelociCoaster, a thrill ride at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. A 43-year-old complained of nausea in mid-November, a 63-year-old female had shortness of breath in early December and a 44-year-old male reported that he fainted in late December after experiencing the VelociCoaster.
Aboard other coasters at Islands of Adventure, a 36-year-old man reported a seizure after Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure in November and a 48-year-old man registered head pain after riding the Incredible Hulk Coaster in late November.
Next door at Universal Studios theme park, a 48-year-old woman said she had chest pain after riding Revenge of the Mummy in November, and a 76-year-old woman fainted after being on Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts in December.
At Walt Disney World, a 54-year-old female reported nausea after leaving Epcot’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, an indoor coaster, in October. A 67-year-old woman felt shortness of breath after leaving Cosmic Rewind in late December.
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A 55-year-old man had chest pains after riding Expedition Everest, a coaster at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, in November, and a 50-year-old woman experienced shortness of breath after riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom in December.
At SeaWorld Orlando, a 25-year-old man reported a headache, nausea and vomiting after riding “multiple roller coasters” on Dec. 24, the state document said.
Falls were a common thread for two non-coaster injuries at Magic Kingdom. A 79-year-old woman fell and injured her hip while entering the Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid attraction in October and a 68-year-old female fell and injured her hip while exiting the Prince Charming Regal Carrousel on Nov. 21.
The state does not receive health updates after the initial assessments.
No injuries were reported for the quarter by Legoland Florida, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay or at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
dbevil@orlandosentinel.com
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