Summary
Overview
Ash and Elena are back with part two of their amusement park disasters series, this time focusing on theme parks including Disneyland, California's Great America, and the infamous Action Park in New Jersey. They explore tragic accidents from the 1960s through the 1990s, examining cases of mechanical failures, human error, and shockingly lax safety standards that led to multiple deaths and injuries at these parks.
Introduction and Personal Perspectives on Thrill Rides
The hosts open with a discussion about their contrasting attitudes toward risk and thrill-seeking. Elena explains her deeply risk-averse nature, describing herself as having a healthy respect for mortality and no desire for thrilling experiences. Ash offers an astrological perspective on Elena's caution, noting her Capricorn sun, Virgo rising, and Cancer moon all contribute to her grounded, safety-conscious personality. They explore how becoming a parent intensifies these feelings, particularly Elena's fear of flying and watching loved ones engage in risky activities.
- Elena admits she's 'a little bitch when it comes to not wanting to die' and doesn't seek risk in any way
- Ash explains Elena's astrological chart makes her extremely rooted to earth and resistant to change
- Elena's fear of flying got significantly worse after having kids
- The hosts discuss how parenthood changes one's relationship with risk
" I am not one of those people who seeks risk in any way, shape or form. And I'm okay admitting that. I know that probably makes me a little boring. And that's fine. "
" I have absolute when I tell you that not one cell in my body feels like I need any kind of thrill, I can't stress it enough. "
The Matterhorn Tragedy at Disneyland - 1964
The first major safety incident at Disneyland occurred in 1964 on the Matterhorn Bobsleds, the world's first tubular roller coaster. Fifteen-year-old Mark Maples was violently thrown from the sled headfirst during the steepest descent, landing beside the lower track. Park attendants initially refused to believe the accident had occurred, assuming the boys were joking. Mark died from his injuries four days later, with investigations suggesting the death resulted from horseplay rather than mechanical failure.
- The Matterhorn was built from dirt excavated during Sleeping Beauty's castle construction
- Mark Maples was thrown from the sled at the steepest descent point in May 1964
- Park attendants initially refused to believe the accident happened, thinking the boys were joking
- Coroner found that if Mark was strapped in properly, he couldn't have fallen out
- The death was ruled purely accidental, attributed to horseplay and an unbuckled safety belt
" I felt him bump into me, but there was no way to tell what he was doing. It's a bumpy ride. "
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