ORLANDO, Fla. — Two people died at Walt Disney World last year, including a woman who passed away after losing consciousness on It's a Small World in Magic Kingdom.
Investigative reporter Christopher Heath obtained a copy of the park report, and he discovered just how many people have been injured at theme parks across the state and why some parks may not be revealing every injury.
Every time a guest requires emergency medical treatment, theme parks in Florida report the incident to the state. At least they are supposed to.
Disney and Universal Studios reported more than 50 incidents last year, including the two deaths at Disney.
Orlando is home to 11 of the world's most popular theme parks. Last year alone, it's estimated 55 million people visited Disney parks in central Florida, including more than 18 million at Magic Kingdom, the most popular park in the world.
Of those visitors, Disney reported to the state 42 accidents involving injuries.
According to the report by the Department of Agriculture, a 54-year-old woman died on Oct. 4 after losing consciousness on Toy Story Midway Mania in Hollywood Studios.
Two months later, a 22-year-old woman with a pre-existing condition died after riding It's a Small World.
Universal reported 13 injuries last year, but no deaths.
While the parks give a brief description of the injuries, there is little else known as theme parks in Florida are allowed to self-report.
Disney has reported 18 deaths since 2001. Meanwhile, Busch Gardens in Tampa has only reported five injuries in that same time and nothing since 2006.
Of all the rides listed in the report, Disney's Space Mountain had the most injuries with 24 reported to the state since 2001.
Most were for nausea and dizziness, but two people died after riding Space Mountain and one child died after passing out while waiting in line.
WFTV
