Motley Fool's Munarriz's take on recent death

Rayray

New Member
The writer said that one cause of these deaths are the lack of awareness the guests have to the intensity because of theming. All of these deaths, though, were caused by relatively undetectable conditions (conditions unknown by the victims).

The writer also discusses how AK had a terrible attendence problem before EE. I know that AK attendance has spiked since EE, but the author sensationalizes it, just like the above topic.

I think the article is sloppily written.:wave:
 

MicheleK

Member
"The problem becomes compounded by Disney's mastery of themed elements. Go to a regional park, and the steel and wooden scream machines are visible for miles. The thrills are as obvious as they are naked. But at Disney, some guests may not be aware of quick-launching coasters or a space-themed spinner with lots of centrifugal force -- things that get wedged between much tamer diversions."

I just wanted to ad my two cents...........While your waiting for RnR you can see the take-off............over and over. I've seen plenty of people see it and opt not to ride. So I don't agree with it not being visible. As for M:S, if you don't heed all those warning, and there are MANY, MANY warnings, and get on anyway, well.........................
 

wannab@dis

Well-Known Member
I think you guys need to re-read the article. The author (a big fan of Disney) was pointing out the various claims written in the forums and media about the deaths. He then made a simple rebuttal to the theming aspect -- "All of this theorizing may be for naught. It's more than likely that these unfortunate riders would have still ridden identical rides in a non-themed, non-Disney environment."

He also made the following statement that I think is 100% correct... "My point here is that vacationers punch out all the time. The media just glosses over those occurrences to dive in to more graphic in-park deaths."

His final thought in the article sounds a lot like what several here have stated... interactive attractions may be the choice of the future to crank up the appeal. Interactive dark rides (such as Buzz Lightyear) combined with online technology may very well be on the horizon. It's already been used at the M:S postshow and the rumored Midway Mania type of ride in the Studios could utilize it as well.
 

GeneralKnowledge

Well-Known Member
Media channels have pounced on the chance to revisit stories detailing fatalities that have taken place on Disney's rides since last year. Even if nearly every case has pointed to a medical pre-existing condition, the smearing is legitimate.

How can you say the smearing is legitimate? If it is discovered that the cause of death is due to a preexisting health condition and it is clearly not Disney's fault, how is it legitimate for the press to twist things and still bash Disney for it. He acts like RnRC is this extremely intense roller coaster, but come on in any other thrill park like Six Flags, RnRC would be on the lower half of the thrill spectrum. Other than the first five seconds of the ride, it is rather tame. This is poorly written article in my opinion.
 

slappy magoo

Well-Known Member
Here's what I'd be curious to discover...

Now, obviously, the "population" in the entire Walt Disney World area will ebb and flow depending on time of year and day of the week. But if you took an average estimate of the population of WDW--and by that I mean anyone who's on the property, day guests, resort guests and all employees--and compare it to a location anywhere else in America with a comparable population, where would the mortality rate be greater?

As has been previously stated, the recent unfortunate deaths at WDW that have grabbed headlines were based on unknown pre-existing conditions exacerbated (sp?) by the attraction (and possibly other factors, like the heat, or stress from the crowd levels, lack of sleep due to excitement, etc.). Meanwhile, people die from situations that aggravate pre-existing conditions every day. A sudden scare could effect anyone with an unknown heart condition. Not to mention any natural causes of death. So, when people like to act as if WDW is spuh-ooooky because of these unfortunate incidents, it might serve them to know how many deaths might occur in similarly populated areas across the country.
 

Incredibles

New Member
To wannab@dis, the writer may claim to be a big fan of Disney, but he has never said as much and has quite often bashed Disney in other articles. The following link is to another artical by this author that I posted back in April where he contradicts himself often and even calls Disney "boneheaded."
http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/2006/commentary06042001.htm

He does bring up a good point that vacationers die often and that they are picked up more frequently by the press when they happen in an amusement park. But that is the only good point.

DisRussFIT is exactly correct in taking issue with the author's statement that smearing is legitimate. Why is it legitimate? That's like saying a construction company should be blamed for building a sidewalk that someone clumsily trips on while walking. If there are huge cracks in the sidewalk, then yes. If there was a problem with RnR, then yes. But there were no problems with it.

There is one major fact the press is CHOOSING to omit. I've only seen it once in the articles. 36.6 million people have ridden RnR safely in the past. 36.6 million people!!!!! It is a tragedy that the young boy died. But I think we forget about the stellar record Disney has with all their rides wordwide.

Rayray, you couldn't have stated it better. The article is very sloppily written.
 

wannab@dis

Well-Known Member
Incredibles said:
To wannab@dis, the writer may claim to be a big fan of Disney, but he has never said as much and has quite often bashed Disney in other articles. The following link is to another artical by this author that I posted back in April where he contradicts himself often and even calls Disney "boneheaded."
http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/2006/commentary06042001.htm

He's a fan of the parks and visits quite often (claims more than a hundred visits), but he's also a critical shareholder. I agree that his views are sometimes overbearing and annoying as he does complain about minutia. I've read his DAK articles and his "eBook" and it's apparent that he was sorely disappointed with DAK. In fact, his eBook is devoid of anything other than DAK complaints... :rolleyes:

Incredibles said:
DisRussFIT is exactly correct in taking issue with the author's statement that smearing is legitimate. Why is it legitimate? That's like saying a construction company should be blamed for building a sidewalk that someone clumsily trips on while walking. If there are huge cracks in the sidewalk, then yes. If there was a problem with RnR, then yes. But there were no problems with it.

Well, maybe we read that part of the article differently. If you read the linked article and the paragraph as part of that context, it appeared to me that he was claiming it was legitimate that the MEDIA was attempting to SMEAR Disney without reason other than to garner ratings. I will agree that it could be taken the way you read it, though... another example of a poorly written article.

I read Rick's articles much like I read Grizz's posts... someone that goes to the parks and is a fan, but seems to think that gives him the right to question every decision or be critical of every detail. It's tough to separate the "critic" from the "fan" and, as I said, can be annoying if that's the only thing ever written.
 

Incredibles

New Member
wannab@dis, I understand what you are saying and agree.

Also, I too think it is annoying that just because someone goes to the parks they think they are an expert on all Disney operations.
 

Pumbas Nakasak

Heading for the great escape.
With writing of that quality Im sure he would fit right in with the Scottish sports press.

Its classic Fox, opinion as news.
 

frankd1962

Member
What really annoys me about some of these reportings of death on a national level is that they never follow up. We here on a forum for the park will find out what more than any of the national news will broadcast. They will tells us someone died, what ride and what was done up to their death but we will never see them tell us that this person had a pre-existing condition that the ride worsen, what was done to fix the ride after the findings and anything else that was done to prevent it from happening again.

We know that local coverage will tells us this because we've had a death or two at Six Flags New England and we're told all the follow-ups to make it right and ridable again.

The one thing that a lot of people forget is most if not all "exciting" rides have warnings before you get on, a "chicken out" point if you figured out you don't want to actually ride it and attendants that will make sure all is set before getting you on the way. If you ignore all this and ride, you take the chance not the parks. They don't have someone there with a gun to your head telling you to ride this ride. If you have a condition (and you know about it) and go on, IMHO you're on your own. If you didn't know, I'm sorry.

I just get tired of seeing and hearing only the first half of a story then no follow up to it so the rest of the world can see that things were done to correct it or what actually caused the death. I beg the national media to do followups on any story they tell.
 

frankd1962

Member
Pumbas Nakasak said:
With writing of that quality Im sure he would fit right in with the Scottish sports press.

Its classic Fox, opinion as news.

I won't blame just Fox but all major media. Almost all of them put their opinion into their stories without prefacing it. This is why I hardly ever listen to or read the news too much anymore. When I do I take all with a grain of salt depending on the source.
 

PeeplMoovr

Active Member
wannab@dis said:
seems to think that gives him the right to question every decision or be critical of every detail.

I'd agree, but separate from just being a fan: being a shareholder (in my opinion) certainly would seem to give someone the right to question every decision or be critical of every detail.

That's my 2 cents, and I have nothing else to say. :lol:
 

PlaneJane

Well-Known Member
In the Parks
No
I used to like CNN as they were the most trustworthy of the cable news source. Now, they are just like the rest trying for the best ratings. I think Jon Stewart has the best opinion, that they should quit creating news and bsing around and just report.
 

brertigger

Member
frankd1962 said:
The one thing that a lot of people forget is most if not all "exciting" rides have warnings before you get on, a "chicken out" point if you figured out you don't want to actually ride it and attendants that will make sure all is set before getting you on the way. If you ignore all this and ride, you take the chance not the parks. They don't have someone there with a gun to your head telling you to ride this ride. If you have a condition (and you know about it) and go on, IMHO you're on your own. If you didn't know, I'm sorry.

I think it would be nice if Disney would have the chicken exits marked better.
I know one person who went on a ride they REALLY did not want to go on, but rode simply because they thought it was "too late" and there was "no way out." They did not see a chicken exit sign, so thought there was no chicken exit, even though there probably was.
 

giantbeagle

New Member
Rayray said:
The writer said that one cause of these deaths are the lack of awareness the guests have to the intensity because of theming. All of these deaths, though, were caused by relatively undetectable conditions (conditions unknown by the victims).

The writer also discusses how AK had a terrible attendence problem before EE. I know that AK attendance has spiked since EE, but the author sensationalizes it, just like the above topic.

I think the article is sloppily written.:wave:
Attendance at the AK is way, way up. We noticed it was more crowded than ever in May, so I asked a CM. He said attendance was up 22% this year, ever since EE opened.
 

frankd1962

Member
brertigger said:
I think it would be nice if Disney would have the chicken exits marked better.
I know one person who went on a ride they REALLY did not want to go on, but rode simply because they thought it was "too late" and there was "no way out." They did not see a chicken exit sign, so thought there was no chicken exit, even though there probably was.

All they have to do is ask. It is shameful to ask to leave. My daughter and ex-wife asked out of Tower of Terror, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster and Test Track. They went over to one of the cast member and asked if there was a way out because they didn't want to go on the ride proper but enjoyed the pre-show.
 

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