Let’s get real for a moment. That clearly did not strike Spaceship Earth, the sound would have been deafening. Have you ever be close to anything that has actually been struck by lightning? I have, you would know if you had. That bolt was miles away, just happened to be miles in that direction. Miles away, miles. If only one miles away you would hear people screaming. 1/4 mile away and you would have felt it to your core. 100 yards away and you felt the heat, 5 feet and you wouldn’t have anything but the recollection of a flash and the blast as it hits the tree next to you. I know this, been there, in every scenario. The bzzt with the firefighters trying to extinguish the tree while trying to figure out if I’m dead? Only once. The others? Any good day in August, I live an hour away in the lightning capital of the world.
That bolt might have hit earth, sure as my name is not Mickey Mouse it was miles away. Great video, could lose the drama, it would be better.
Fun fact, lightning has never struck a structure at WDW, if anyone knows how lightning suppression works they would understand why.
I’ll share, lightning rods do not attract lightning and provide it a path, contrary to popular belief. Instead they provide a way to discharge ions to ground to prevent the build up of energy at that given point. Bzzt.
“Fun fact, lightning has never struck a structure at WDW”
Horse hockey!
And, while that particular strike may not have actually hit Spaceship Earth, it was most definitely not “miles and miles away”. The thunder was nearly immediate. Do you know how long it takes sound to travel a mile at sea level? I do.
Just for the editors note – this 100% was taken last night. The weather was INSANE and we heard quite a few on-site strikes from our All Star Music Resort room.
That strike was miles away. If it actually hit spaceship earth you would have seen a flare near the start point, the camera would have been completely blinded and you would have jumped out of your shoes from the sound. Absolutely would have felt the heat.
Lightning ground strikes starts from the ground, not the sky, and if your close its easy to see. The lighting you see coming down from above is a result of ionization of air following the discharge itself. It’s an after effect, just like thunder.
As far as Disney lighting rods and strikes, there are plenty of videos of buildings at Disney taking strikes. Happens at the Contemporary multiple times each summer, they have a web cam up there just for the giggles of seeing it. There are videos from long ago of strikes happening while visitors were on the observation deck outside California Grill
What a joke of an article. Typical ITM stuff. Do you people have any clue at ITM because it certainly does show.
However, it may have struck one of the many lightning rods on Spaceship Earth as that is what they are for. There are lightning rods all over the buildings at WDW and they get struck on a regular basis. There are a lot of pictures out there showing this. Lightning rods are designed to capture the electrical energy and send it to ground safely. They do not generate as much heat or noise( but it would still cause a very loud immediate bang).
I have to agree with others that it does not appear to strike Spaceship Earth , but a distance away from Epcot. The people were in the right spot at the right time to capture the appearance of a strike. My guess is that it was in a remote are of the Disney Property.
A non story however a cool video.
I can say that I was there stuck near the exit of Cosmic Rewind. The weather was absolutely insane and there was lightning so loud and thunder IMMEDIATELY after. I would not be surprised if it struck Spaceship Earth. I would add, why is this person standing to video it though?!?! Super dangerous bc it was a very intense storm!
Comments for Lightning Strikes Iconic Disney World Ride, Astounds Guests
Erik
Let’s get real for a moment. That clearly did not strike Spaceship Earth, the sound would have been deafening. Have you ever be close to anything that has actually been struck by lightning? I have, you would know if you had. That bolt was miles away, just happened to be miles in that direction. Miles away, miles. If only one miles away you would hear people screaming. 1/4 mile away and you would have felt it to your core. 100 yards away and you felt the heat, 5 feet and you wouldn’t have anything but the recollection of a flash and the blast as it hits the tree next to you. I know this, been there, in every scenario. The bzzt with the firefighters trying to extinguish the tree while trying to figure out if I’m dead? Only once. The others? Any good day in August, I live an hour away in the lightning capital of the world.
That bolt might have hit earth, sure as my name is not Mickey Mouse it was miles away. Great video, could lose the drama, it would be better.
Fun fact, lightning has never struck a structure at WDW, if anyone knows how lightning suppression works they would understand why.
I’ll share, lightning rods do not attract lightning and provide it a path, contrary to popular belief. Instead they provide a way to discharge ions to ground to prevent the build up of energy at that given point. Bzzt.
Mickey
“Fun fact, lightning has never struck a structure at WDW”
Horse hockey!
And, while that particular strike may not have actually hit Spaceship Earth, it was most definitely not “miles and miles away”. The thunder was nearly immediate. Do you know how long it takes sound to travel a mile at sea level? I do.
MFG
Lightning strikes the Hollywood Tower Hotel every couple minutes, it seems.
MFG
“Instead they provide a way to discharge ions to ground”
… In other words, they provide a path for lightning to ground 🤦♂️
Michael
Just for the editors note – this 100% was taken last night. The weather was INSANE and we heard quite a few on-site strikes from our All Star Music Resort room.
Tommy Dynamite
When the sky flashes is that when the call it the lightening lane?
Dave
I was there Friday. The strikes were not “miles and miles” away. And the way lightning rods work is not “popular myth” but pyhics fact. Google it.
WIMSEY
That strike was miles away. If it actually hit spaceship earth you would have seen a flare near the start point, the camera would have been completely blinded and you would have jumped out of your shoes from the sound. Absolutely would have felt the heat.
Lightning ground strikes starts from the ground, not the sky, and if your close its easy to see. The lighting you see coming down from above is a result of ionization of air following the discharge itself. It’s an after effect, just like thunder.
As far as Disney lighting rods and strikes, there are plenty of videos of buildings at Disney taking strikes. Happens at the Contemporary multiple times each summer, they have a web cam up there just for the giggles of seeing it. There are videos from long ago of strikes happening while visitors were on the observation deck outside California Grill
Tim
What a joke of an article. Typical ITM stuff. Do you people have any clue at ITM because it certainly does show.
However, it may have struck one of the many lightning rods on Spaceship Earth as that is what they are for. There are lightning rods all over the buildings at WDW and they get struck on a regular basis. There are a lot of pictures out there showing this. Lightning rods are designed to capture the electrical energy and send it to ground safely. They do not generate as much heat or noise( but it would still cause a very loud immediate bang).
I have to agree with others that it does not appear to strike Spaceship Earth , but a distance away from Epcot. The people were in the right spot at the right time to capture the appearance of a strike. My guess is that it was in a remote are of the Disney Property.
A non story however a cool video.
McRigs
I can say that I was there stuck near the exit of Cosmic Rewind. The weather was absolutely insane and there was lightning so loud and thunder IMMEDIATELY after. I would not be surprised if it struck Spaceship Earth. I would add, why is this person standing to video it though?!?! Super dangerous bc it was a very intense storm!
McRigs
*so bright 😹 lightning can’t be loud! The thunder was loud though!
Comments are closed.