# Acceleration Required To Transport Passengers 220 Miles Straight Up In ~40 Seconds (Spoilers for "Space 220" restaurant at Disney World) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 6, 2021, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acceleration-required-to-transport-passengers-220-miles-straight-up-in-40-seconds-spoilers-for-space-220-restaurant-at-disney-world/952003 "2021-10-06T14:07:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2021, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acceleration-required-to-transport-passengers-220-miles-straight-up-in-40-seconds-spoilers-for-space-220-restaurant-at-disney-world/952003/1 "2021-10-06T14:07:44Z")
This video shows the VFX that customers experience when they dine at the “Space 220” restaurant at Epcot at Walt Disney World. For those not familiar, the concept is that the customers board a “space elevator” that takes them 220 miles up into space, wherein they enjoy their meal at a space station. Unless the YouTuber cut something out, the entire “journey” seems to take about 40 seconds. I’m not proficient enough to work out the math required to determine the acceleration that would actually go on in this scenario, but I imagine it’s more than enough to kill everyone aboard, yes? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2021, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acceleration-required-to-transport-passengers-220-miles-straight-up-in-40-seconds-spoilers-for-space-220-restaurant-at-disney-world/952003/2 "2021-10-06T14:24:18Z")
I think you’re missing the link to the video. (And I don’t think there’s any need to warn of spoilers. I doubt anyone _really_ thinks a Disney ride is really taking them into space. At least not yet. Perhaps in fifty years or so.) ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2021, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acceleration-required-to-transport-passengers-220-miles-straight-up-in-40-seconds-spoilers-for-space-220-restaurant-at-disney-world/952003/3 "2021-10-06T14:25:46Z")
Sorry about that. [Here’s the video](https://youtu.be/lAR4NJrUSqk). ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2021, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acceleration-required-to-transport-passengers-220-miles-straight-up-in-40-seconds-spoilers-for-space-220-restaurant-at-disney-world/952003/4 "2021-10-06T15:43:37Z")
Assuming starting velocity and end velocity are zero, then I think it would just be 20 seconds of acceleration and 20 seconds of deceleration for 110 miles. I get a=2s/t^2 = to about 90 g acceleration and 90 g deceleration. I might have done something terribly wrong though. ---
**Author:** ![YamatoTwinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/cc9497/32.png) [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2021, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acceleration-required-to-transport-passengers-220-miles-straight-up-in-40-seconds-spoilers-for-space-220-restaurant-at-disney-world/952003/5 "2021-10-06T15:47:02Z")
Assuming a static start, getting to 220 miles in 40 seconds requires a little over 45 g’s of continuous acceleration. This is compared to a fighter pilot that can endure ~9 g’s using specialized suits and training. According [this](https://www.medicaldaily.com/breaking-point-whats-strongest-g-force-humans-can-tolerate-369246), humans have survived with exposure to ~46 g’s before, but only for a few seconds. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2021, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acceleration-required-to-transport-passengers-220-miles-straight-up-in-40-seconds-spoilers-for-space-220-restaurant-at-disney-world/952003/6 "2021-10-06T15:57:28Z")
> [@YamatoTwinkie](#): > > Assuming a static start, getting to 220 miles in 40 seconds requires a little over 45 g’s of continuous acceleration. But I think you’d want to be stopped at the end instead of going 40000 mph. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2021, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acceleration-required-to-transport-passengers-220-miles-straight-up-in-40-seconds-spoilers-for-space-220-restaurant-at-disney-world/952003/7 "2021-10-06T16:01:49Z")
> [@YamatoTwinkie](#): > > Assuming a static start, getting to 220 miles in 40 seconds requires a little over 45 g’s of continuous acceleration. Okay, but that sudden stop is really gonna hurt! OTOH, given the choice between that and **Folly** ’s idea … ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2021, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acceleration-required-to-transport-passengers-220-miles-straight-up-in-40-seconds-spoilers-for-space-220-restaurant-at-disney-world/952003/8 "2021-10-06T16:01:51Z")
> [@YamatoTwinkie](#): > > According [this](https://www.medicaldaily.com/breaking-point-whats-strongest-g-force-humans-can-tolerate-369246), humans have survived with exposure to ~46 g’s before, but only for a few seconds. Maybe they’re actually doing a ride based on “The Marching Morons”… ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2021, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acceleration-required-to-transport-passengers-220-miles-straight-up-in-40-seconds-spoilers-for-space-220-restaurant-at-disney-world/952003/9 "2021-10-06T16:03:11Z")
> [@Keeve](#): > > OTOH, given the choice between that and **Folly** ’s idea … I think you’re a pancake either way… ETA: Get those inertial dampeners online ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2021, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acceleration-required-to-transport-passengers-220-miles-straight-up-in-40-seconds-spoilers-for-space-220-restaurant-at-disney-world/952003/10 "2021-10-06T19:33:50Z")
There’s a bigger problem than getting smeared against the floor during the trip. Space elevators typically go to stations in synchronous orbit. Not sure how it is supposed to work at 220 miles. Anyhow, interesting the next time I want to mortgage my house for lunch. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2021, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acceleration-required-to-transport-passengers-220-miles-straight-up-in-40-seconds-spoilers-for-space-220-restaurant-at-disney-world/952003/11 "2021-10-06T19:45:53Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Space elevators typically go to stations in synchronous orbit. Not sure how it is supposed to work at 220 miles. Well good news, if we’re OK with 90 g (and I haven’t heard any emphatic objections so far) then we can go all the way up to about 62000 miles above earth in about 11 minutes or so. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2021, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acceleration-required-to-transport-passengers-220-miles-straight-up-in-40-seconds-spoilers-for-space-220-restaurant-at-disney-world/952003/12 "2021-10-06T19:50:17Z")
ETA: never mind. off by a few orders of magnitude. ---
**Author:** ![pmwgreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@pmwgreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pmwgreen)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2021, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acceleration-required-to-transport-passengers-220-miles-straight-up-in-40-seconds-spoilers-for-space-220-restaurant-at-disney-world/952003/13 "2021-10-06T20:07:43Z")
Would it kill Disney to use 350km instead of 220 miles? What are they going to do at EuroDisney? Also, according to this calculator, ([Orbit of a satellite Calculator - High accuracy calculation](https://keisan.casio.com/exec/system/1224665242)) you’re going to be needing to go 7.7 km/sec sideways to match up with the space station. (Unless the space station is in a powered orbit to simulate 1 g in which case you are eating upside-down. Frankly the whole thing sounds awesome!) ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2021, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acceleration-required-to-transport-passengers-220-miles-straight-up-in-40-seconds-spoilers-for-space-220-restaurant-at-disney-world/952003/14 "2021-10-06T21:21:59Z")
> [@pmwgreen](#): > > Would it kill Disney to use 350km instead of 220 miles? For better or for worse, we use miles in the USA, where this attraction is located. > [@pmwgreen](#): > > What are they going to do at EuroDisney? Probably use kilometers? Paris is on the metric system. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2021, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acceleration-required-to-transport-passengers-220-miles-straight-up-in-40-seconds-spoilers-for-space-220-restaurant-at-disney-world/952003/15 "2021-10-06T21:22:48Z")
If the whole elevator goes up to geosynch and beyond, but the restaurant only goes to 220 miles up on that cable, then you could just hang there without needing to be in orbit, and have a gravity only a little less than what you’d have at the surface. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2021, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acceleration-required-to-transport-passengers-220-miles-straight-up-in-40-seconds-spoilers-for-space-220-restaurant-at-disney-world/952003/16 "2021-10-06T21:33:08Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > Probably use kilometers? Paris is on the metric system. No McD quarter pounders. And they put mayonnaise on fries! ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2021, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acceleration-required-to-transport-passengers-220-miles-straight-up-in-40-seconds-spoilers-for-space-220-restaurant-at-disney-world/952003/17 "2021-10-06T21:37:05Z")
At 90g, it’s a 22.5 pounder. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2021, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acceleration-required-to-transport-passengers-220-miles-straight-up-in-40-seconds-spoilers-for-space-220-restaurant-at-disney-world/952003/18 "2021-10-06T21:45:26Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > At 90g, it’s a 22.5 pounder. I can’t eat that much! ---
**Author:** ![pmwgreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@pmwgreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pmwgreen)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2021, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acceleration-required-to-transport-passengers-220-miles-straight-up-in-40-seconds-spoilers-for-space-220-restaurant-at-disney-world/952003/19 "2021-10-07T01:31:45Z")
But if you’re just hanging on the space elevator cable, you don’t get to watch Earth revolve beneath you. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2021, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acceleration-required-to-transport-passengers-220-miles-straight-up-in-40-seconds-spoilers-for-space-220-restaurant-at-disney-world/952003/20 "2021-10-07T02:16:03Z")
You know, I didn’t think we’d ever have to worry about giving away spoilers for a restaurant. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acceleration-required-to-transport-passengers-220-miles-straight-up-in-40-seconds-spoilers-for-space-220-restaurant-at-disney-world/952003.md?page=2)