$8,000 for man trapped on 'Small World' ride

[PrisonerOfHope]

$8,000 for man trapped on 'Small World' ride

A wheelchair-bound Southern California man was left on the broken-down attraction for 30 minutes while it was repaired.
By Kim Peterson Wed 5:24 PM

"It's a Small World" is traumatic enough, with its relentlessly thumping soundtrack and those animatronic children staring you down with those cold, cold eyes. It's just a matter of time before one of those kids comes alive in a murderous rage, and my money's on you, tulip sitters.

One man lived the nightmare for about 30 minutes in 2009 after getting trapped on the ride at Disneyland. The ride broke down at the end, in the "Goodbye Room," and while other riders were evacuated, Jose Martinez was left in the car with the music playing repeatedly.

Martinez is paralyzed and needs a wheelchair, and Disneyland workers couldn't get him out. So they left him there while the ride was fixed.

Martinez, 52, sued Disneyland in 2011, and his attorney said this week he has been awarded $8,000 -- $4,000 for pain and suffering and $4,000 related to other violations, The Los Angeles Times reported. His attorney said Martinez suffers from panic attacks and high blood pressure, both of which kicked in as "It's a Small World" played over and over and he had no way off.

That works out to about $267 for every minute Martinez was trapped on what some have called the scariest ride in Disney's roster.

Disney fans say that once you ride on "It's a Small World," the song will "stay in your head forever." (Too true!) If that's the case, then Martinez can thank Disney for laying down the soundtrack for the rest of his life.

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