Bus Fire- Magic Kingdom

[MrMorrowTom]

Funny story about this...

When we were at Columbia Harbor House in August, a girl working the upstairs condiment station (an obvious CPer) asked us out of nowhere if we'd ridden the steam ship.

I was caught a little off guard, but replied with, "Yeah....but not this trip." Her response was, "Oh. That's cool. I've never ridden it but I see it from here a lot. Did you know that it runs on the oil from this restaurant? It's funny that I know that about the boat but I've never been on it."

I'm honestly not sure how I reacted or responded. But I'm pretty sure my wife was ready to kick me if I snickered or giggled.

Not to poke fun or be a jerk but how is that funny?
The steam boat has a boiler that burns diesel fuel (which could use vegetable oil as a substitute) which creates the steam, used to power the pistons. The pistons turn the paddle wheel.
It could be true.

 

[Tom]

Not to poke fun or be a jerk but how is that funny?
The steam boat has a boiler that burns diesel fuel (which could use vegetable oil as a substitute) which creates the steam, used to power the pistons. The pistons turn the paddle wheel.
It could be true.

The entire interaction was funny. I guess you had to be there. I wasn't discounting her information (although she was SLIGHTLY misinformed, as she thought the grease went right from the restaurant into the boat) - just thought it was a funny experience I could share, since the off-topic topic had gone toward oil-based fuels....and because she told me the story out of nowhere.

 

[MrMorrowTom]

The entire interaction was funny. I guess you had to be there. I wasn't discounting her information (although she was SLIGHTLY misinformed, as she thought the grease went right from the restaurant into the boat) - just thought it was a funny experience I could share, since the off-topic topic had gone toward oil-based fuels....and because she told me the story out of nowhere.

Ok my apologies thought you were laughing at her information as to how it could be far fetched.
I too also like those awkward moments with cast members whose social skills lack. They always seem to be in food or custodial field....

 

[Crockett]

there were no injuries and no guests even onboard the bus at the time.

Exactly. There was really no point in this entire thread other than yet another excuse to try and give WDW transportation a bad rep. This was completely blown out of proportion. Very glad nobody was hurt, but we should really move on.

 

[ridetech939]

Are you guys sure Mears doesn't own and operate the Disney bus system? I thought that was the case.

If they only have DME then maybe they should take over. I've never heard of DME exploding, running over anyone or crashing.

Disney Transport is owned and operated by WDW, and I believe that per there contract with the Union only Disney Transport Team Member my drive Disney Transport Buses. This is done in much the same way as only American Airlines Pilots my fly American Airlines Planes.

DME and Disney Cruise Line Busses are owed and operated by Mears under contract from WDW.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Unless the head of fleet maintenance is lurking around this thread then EVERYTHING is speculation. No one seems to know what actually caught fire much less why. Accidents happen, things break, tires blow out, wires fray, you can't plan for everything, but you can sure take the opportunity to bash Disney when they do. Unbeleivable!!!

Not knowing the exact cause does not immediately remove the possibility of negligence on the part of Disney. It has been a cause in the past. Just because some desire to push their own agendas by jumping to negligence as the culprit does not mean that it should be dismissed as a possible contributing factor.

I've never heard of DME exploding, running over anyone or crashing.

Incidents with the Mears operated busses have occurred and are often offered up initially as another piece of proof that Disney is being negligent regarding its bus fleet.

 

[828tnt]

maybe a bit off topic, but........... thought someone said....."....there was a bus fire at magic kingdom?":lookaroun

 

[PlaneJane]

Ok my apologies thought you were laughing at her information as to how it could be far fetched.
I too also like those awkward moments with cast members whose social skills lack. They always seem to be in food or custodial field....

Hey at least they are trying they could just look at you and then look away.

 

[gators11]

I know accidents can and do happen everywhere... even at WDW.

Since the Monorail and bus have already been done...One question I have for all is which do you think will be next and closeout the triple transportation whammie??? A watercraft accident (the little racers don't count), a tram accident, or a ride accident?

They had a watercraft accident in 2005. One of the ferries slammed into the TTC dock.

 

[disneydude2000]

Line starts here if you want to ask Disney to expand the monorail :lookaroun

 

[mrerk]

I know accidents can and do happen everywhere... even at WDW.

Since the Monorail and bus have already been done...One question I have for all is which do you think will be next and closeout the triple transportation whammie??? A watercraft accident (the little racers don't count), a tram accident, or a ride accident?

They had a watercraft accident in 2005. One of the ferries slammed into the TTC dock.

Does a Water Mouse (SeaRaycer) into a ferry count? We had one of those a year or two ago. A British woman IIRC.

 

[Mammymouse]

maybe a bit off topic, but........... thought someone said....."....there was a bus fire at magic kingdom?":lookaroun

My thoughts, too. Gee - seven pages of chatter and no picture? There are always pictures.

 

[gators11]

Does a Water Mouse (SeaRaycer) into a ferry count? We had one of those a year or two ago. A British woman IIRC.

Yeah wasn't that the same idiot that tried to come back and sue Disney for it even though THEY crashed INTO the ferry?

 

[Monorail_Red]

Where to start.....

The Monorail system now closing before guests have left the park has become one screaming example and a PR disaster!

The Monorail system only has 11, soon to be 12 trains at their disposal. Bus ops has about 600 busses at their disposal, so thats a 50:1 ratio. The trains need their maintenance. Gotta remember not one bus runs around the clock like a Monorail does (did).

To bad the monorail system is in shambles or maybe TDO would actually contemplate expanding the system.

I'm still not seeing how Monorails or any other from of Disney Transportation is in shambles.

i can totally see how that happens those buses run from 6 am till 2 am every day non stop im surprised they don't catch fire more often getting run that much!

Again, WDW has aroud 600 busses their disposal so it's extremely rare that the same bus runs 20hrs/day.

Disney buses are going downhill it's really sad . Didn't a bus run over a little boy last month??

Again, there is no evidence what so ever that any from of Disney Transportation is going downhill. Regarding that last incident, IT WAS NOT THE FAULT OF DISNEY OR THE DRIVER.

I tend to believe Monorail Red who has been in Disney transit. And, the National Fire Prevention Association keeps statistics and on average there are 2210 bus fires reported to police or fire departments annually in the US. That's about 6 per day. Not that uncommon so with it's large fleet running as many hours of operation as they do, a fire incident is not unexpected. You will have a certain number of incidents when running a bus fleet, especially in an area twice the size of Manhattan Island.

As to the incident of the boy, the only one I remember hearing about was last year and police determined that the boy ran into the side of the bus on a bike that had several things wrong with it. They did not blame the bus driver or Disney.

There really is no evidence of Disney buses going downhill.

Well said!

never heard of DME exploding, running over anyone or crashing.

If it's not Disney, chances are you won't hear about it. For some reason that I can't figure out, its only a big deal if it happens to Disney.

In no way is this a factual sign of lack of maintenance. Bus fires happen...a lot. They happen around here, and Indianapolis runs a very fine city bus. Our local school district has school bus fires, and their transportation budget is bigger than many schools' operating budgets.

The fact that a Disney bus has a fire this seldom is simply amazing. If the driver and other CMs did what they were supposed to do, and protected guests from the incident, then that's all that matters.

Thats what I'm saying...I am surprised that Disney is ridiculed as much as they are with the outstanding safety records they have.

Disney bus CMs will only spread dubious info and flat out lies to gullible tourists.

Not sure what to think of that comment, but welcome to my ignore list.

Since the Monorail and bus have already been done...One question I have for all is which do you think will be next and closeout the triple transportation whammie??? A watercraft accident (the little racers don't count), a tram accident, or a ride accident?

:brick:

-Monorail_Red

 

[bcamp935]

Disney transportation is free, and the admission tickets went up a couple months ago... so ???

It is one of the largest transportation networks in all of Florida (#3 I think). I know in the major city I live in we have about as many incidents as they have a WDW and I would bet that their system is of similar size.

I agree,things are bound to happen with as many buses as Disney has. Car and bus fires happen everywhere without advance warning.

 

[ScoutN]

IMO Disney made it through the brunt of the heat season amazingly. There car fires on a daily basis in the area I reside. Those cars would get nowhere near as hot as a but that regularly is packed to the gills.

I feel safer on Disney transit than any other form of "public" transit out there.

 

[dvitali]

One question I never ask before: Does the city of Orlando or the state of Florida provide state funds to Disney for transportation? Connecticut provide state fund to a company call CT Transit to provide bus transport thru out Connecticut. maybe that why I yet to see city buses in other Florida towns or on Disney properties.

 

[menamechris]

One question I never ask before: Does the city of Orlando or the state of Florida provide state funds to Disney for transportation? Connecticut provide state fund to a company call CT Transit to provide bus transport thru out Connecticut. maybe that why I yet to see city buses in other Florida towns or on Disney properties.

You are thinking about Lynx in Orlando. That is the bus transit that receives a certain amount of government assistance. There is no government assistance for Disney Transport, because it is owned by a private company and used solely for the company's use. And it would never happen - there is no way residents would be cool with their tax dollars going to help ease the internal costs of a multi-billion dollar operation.

 

[dvitali]

So what do Florida spend federal tax dollar that come back to the state for transport on beside roads and bridges? I presume you only have Amtrak for rails. If I retired to Florida I guess I going to need a car to go grocery shopping instead walking or taking a bus.

Connecticut residents seem to take it for granted that their state income tax funds provide bus transport to the Indians Casinos (also a multi millions dollar company here in Connecticut ).

 

[menamechris]

So what do Florida spend federal tax dollar that come back to the state for transport on beside roads and bridges? I presume you only have Amtrak for rails. If I retired to Florida I guess I going to need a car to go grocery shopping instead walking or taking a bus.

Connecticut residents seem to take it for granted that their state income tax funds provide bus transport to the Indians Casinos (also a multi millions dollar company here in Connecticut ).

You will want a car - but if you must rely on public transportation the bus system (as inadequate as it may be) is called Lynx Buses.