Disney Skyliner shutdown and evacuation - October 6 2019

[Sir_Cliff]

I believe you are onto something. The people that would go cliff climbing or scuba diving are off doing just that, not meandering around Disney parks. Disney is for people that want a safer environment, or else they would be cliff climbing, too. Maybe that's what's so surprising when something that even seems unsafe happens at the park.

I think this is 100% correct.

The issue regarding Disney visitors is not that they're all stupid. It's just that they have chosen to go to a "safe" destination where Disney promises to ensconce guests in a bubble which begins with a Disney bus whisking you to a Disney hotel and then days spent wandering around Disney environments painstakingly designed by Disney Imagineers. There is undoubtedly some cross over between the people choosing that kind of vacation and those doing more active or risky activities, but a large percentage of Disney's guests are going precisely because they want to vacation in the heavily controlled environment that Disney promises and for which they charge top dollar.

That doesn't mean anyone should reasonably expect no inconveniences nor to abdicate responsibility for their own actions. But it is relevant in considering how things like new transport systems are going to work. That people would start to get agitated being stuck on a gondola in the dark for an extended period with no communication from Disney about what was happening is pretty easy to foresee. Particularly when that began to stretch on for hours.

 

[mergatroid]

That doesn't mean anyone should reasonably expect no inconveniences nor to abdicate responsibility for their own actions. But it is relevant in considering how things like new transport systems are going to work. That people would start to get agitated being stuck on a gondola in the dark for an extended period with no communication from Disney about what was happening is pretty easy to foresee. Particularly when that began to stretch on for hours.

I agree 100% with that, it's a very unpleasant scenario. And whilst I also agree that Disney is supposed to be very safe, I would suggest that people use some common sense and think "If there's a breakdown whilst I'm on this, would it freak me out as there's a possibility of that happening".

I'm not blaming those who rode the Skyliner as such, it's just with any sort of transportation you should bear in mind that it could breakdown and then decide whether that happening is something you could cope with. I also concede that those who had that mindset probably wouldn't have imagined a 3 hour breakdown though, that was a long time to predict.

 

[drizgirl]

I think if you provide people an alternate way to communicate back to the ground over 911 most will take it. Whether that’s a call button like some elevators have or a hotline to call.

Now I’m legit confused. I thought the cabins did have call buttons.

 

[peter11435]

[QUOTE="GoofGoof, post: 8930831, member: 82601]I think if you provide people an alternate way to communicate back to the ground over 911 most will take it. Whether that’s a call button like some elevators have or a hotline to call.
[/QUOTE”]
Now I’m legit confused. I thought the cabins did have call buttons.

They do

 

[Victor Kelly]

Unfortunately statistics and facts are meaningless to people who have fears(irrational or not). A well known Disney Vlogger's wife will never ride the Skyliner again because of this incident. Here is her explanation(It starts at 4:55)...



She goes on to explain she will not ride the Monorail or Disney buses, if there's ever a problem with the ferry's I'm guessing she'll never make it to MK again.

She is not unique. There are many people like her who will never ride the Skyliner no matter how safe it's proven to be.

I am unable to watch the video but,

I know she has some fears and phobias, anyone that watches that channel knows it. But they are very nice people and her fears are warranted.

First she is pregnant. Her concerns for the monorail and skyliner are reasonable for a pregnant woman. The buses, well you got me there. Maybe because she may have stand? Given that people nowadays lack manners and would gladly watch a pregnant woman fall on the floor, I could understand that.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

I agree 100% with that, it's a very unpleasant scenario. And whilst I also agree that Disney is supposed to be very safe, I would suggest that people use some common sense and think "If there's a breakdown whilst I'm on this, would it freak me out as there's a possibility of that happening".

I'm not blaming those who rode the Skyliner as such, it's just with any sort of transportation you should bear in mind that it could breakdown and then decide whether that happening is something you could cope with. I also concede that those who had that mindset probably wouldn't have imagined a 3 hour breakdown though, that was a long time to predict.

I agree that you have to be reasonable about expecting breakdowns and also know your own boundaries. If you are afraid of heights and enclosed spaces, then you can't complain if you willingly get on the gondola and it triggers both those fears. Once the thing stops and the minutes start ticking by without any communication from Disney, I think things begin to change as anxieties that people may not entirely anticipate begin to kick in. There also should be some reasonable expectation that if a breakdown is going to happen you will at least be kept informed about what is happening.

If Pirates of the Caribbean stopped dead and people were stuck in their boats for hours on end without any communication from CMs, I imagine there would also be people freaking out and calling 911.

 

[mergatroid]

First she is pregnant. Her concerns for the monorail and skyliner are reasonable for a pregnant woman. The buses, well you got me there. Maybe because she may have stand? Given that people nowadays lack manners and would gladly watch a pregnant woman fall on the floor, I could understand that.

No. She said they were in their car one day and a Disney bus nearly 'side swiped' them, she therefore will no longer use Disney buses. She's a grown adult who gets to live her life how she wants, making her own decisions. That's how it should be, however sometimes people make decisions without thinking them through properly imho.

Let's address her bus concern for a moment. There was an incident where she was in a car and a bus nearly hit them, but didn't hit them. Had it hit them it would my guess that in most cases the car and it's occupants would come off worse in such an impact as the car is lighter with less force behind it (there may be incidents where the bus comes off worse, but it's generally unlikely). Chances are had the collision happened she'd have been safer in the bus than in the car especially as it was the bus hitting the car and not vice versa.

She takes from this scenario that it's dangerous to ride in buses but cars are safe, or safer. Again that's fine and it's her choice but if it were my wife saying that then I'd try to explain to her that it's not the most logical conclusion to come to (just not using those exact words though, I'm not a complete idiot). There's an inherent risk in everything really, sometimes you just have to weigh it up and try to come to the safest and most practical conclusion by factoring in all possibilities.

 

[Victor Kelly]

No. She said they were in their car one day and a Disney bus nearly 'side swiped' them, she therefore will no longer use Disney buses. She's a grown adult who gets to live her life how she wants, making her own decisions. That's how it should be, however sometimes people make decisions without thinking them through properly imho.

Let's address her bus concern for a moment. There was an incident where she was in a car and a bus nearly hit them, but didn't hit them. Had it hit them it would my guess that in most cases the car and it's occupants would come off worse in such an impact as the car is lighter with less force behind it (there may be incidents where the bus comes off worse, but it's generally unlikely). Chances are had the collision happened she'd have been safer in the bus than in the car especially as it was the bus hitting the car and not vice versa.

She takes from this scenario that it's dangerous to ride in buses but cars are safe, or safer. Again that's fine and it's her choice but if it were my wife saying that then I'd try to explain to her that it's not the most logical conclusion to come to (just not using those exact words though, I'm not a complete idiot). There's an inherent risk in everything really, sometimes you just have to weigh it up and try to come to the safest and most practical conclusion by factoring in all possibilities.

Ah, that explains it. It certainly is not based in logic, more emotional. Having been a professional driver, I have seen the results of big vehicles vs small vehicles. Math always wins. A car against a bus is a losing proposition.

Like I said she has many fears, all apparent on the vlogs. But, she is an adult and she adult however she wishes.

 

[Incomudro]

Not always though, I was stuck in traffic for hours in a snow storm. Believe me there was very little chance of me getting out without making the scenario far worse.
[/QUOTE

Yes, stranded in s snow storm could prove fatal.

 

[Heppenheimer]

No. She said they were in their car one day and a Disney bus nearly 'side swiped' them, she therefore will no longer use Disney buses. She's a grown adult who gets to live her life how she wants, making her own decisions. That's how it should be, however sometimes people make decisions without thinking them through properly imho.

Let's address her bus concern for a moment. There was an incident where she was in a car and a bus nearly hit them, but didn't hit them. Had it hit them it would my guess that in most cases the car and it's occupants would come off worse in such an impact as the car is lighter with less force behind it (there may be incidents where the bus comes off worse, but it's generally unlikely). Chances are had the collision happened she'd have been safer in the bus than in the car especially as it was the bus hitting the car and not vice versa.

She takes from this scenario that it's dangerous to ride in buses but cars are safe, or safer. Again that's fine and it's her choice but if it were my wife saying that then I'd try to explain to her that it's not the most logical conclusion to come to (just not using those exact words though, I'm not a complete idiot). There's an inherent risk in everything really, sometimes you just have to weigh it up and try to come to the safest and most practical conclusion by factoring in all possibilities.

Humans are remarkably bad at assessing relative risk. There's another on-going thread right now where a poster raised concern over the risk of alligator attacks along the proposed Grand Floridian-Magic Kingdom walkway. Without looking it up, I'm going to assume that the yearly incidence of severe injuries from alligator attacks in Florida is orders of magnitude less than from automobile accidents. And how many Floridians will continue to drive every single day despite that risk?

 

[mdcpr]

If you figured that every human weighed 150 pounds and there is space for 10 people on each gondola that 1500 pounds minimum. I'm sure a lot more then that, so aren't we glad that is one less thing to worry about. We won't have to remain vigilant and be upset if someone appears overweight.

I have a feeling 150lbs is not the average weight at WDW. Not fat shaming, I’m 20 lbs over that. Just stating a fact.

 

[monothingie]

you all let the troll win with these last pages... Remember Smokey the Bear says... Only you can prevent forest fires...

I missed the last couple of pages, are gondolas responsible for wild fires now?

 

[Heppenheimer]

I have a feeling 150lbs is not the average weight at WDW. Not fat shaming, I’m 20 lbs over that. Just stating a fact.

Well, at least not the average adult weight...

 

[Incomudro]

Well, at least not the average adult weight...

150 is not the weight of the average adult American, let alone the average Disney guest.

 

[Heppenheimer]

150 is not the weight of the average adult American, let alone the average Disney guest.

The point of the comment being that a significant portion of Disney guests are young kids. So, 150 lbs average, with a very large standard deviation, might not be far off.

 

[Victor Kelly]

I would bet those gandolas could handle 2500 pounds easily.

We humans make decisions badly. Not always. But many make decisions based on emotional responses. No way around it.

 

[Incomudro]

A couple of more things about being stuck in traffic in one's automobile vs being stuck in a gondola.
One can exit the enclosure of the automobile - step out onto terra firma, maybe open the tailgate and sit in the hatch - even lie down.
One also has climate control and music, so long as fuel is sufficient to start the vehicle and run it often enough.
An automobile is one's possession, it's your own personal space and it's unlikely to be shared with anyone other than someone that you the driver enjoys being in the company of.
Matter of fact those are some of the big reasons for the popularity of the car.
It's the idea that it is your personal conveyance - your personal space.
Being stuck in that space is less unpleasant than being stuck in a small enclosure shared with strangers.

 

[mergatroid]

A couple of more things about being stuck in traffic in one's automobile vs being stuck in a gondola.
One can exit the enclosure of the automobile - step out onto terra firma, maybe open the tailgate and sit in the hatch - even lie down.
One also has climate control and music, so long as fuel is sufficient to start the vehicle and run it often enough.
An automobile is one's possession, it's your own personal space and it's unlikely to be shared with anyone other than someone that you the driver enjoys being in the company of.
Matter of fact those are some of the big reasons for the popularity of the car.
It's the idea that it is your personal conveyance - your personal space.
Being stuck in that space is less unpleasant than being stuck in a small enclosure shared with strangers.

In most cases absolutely. My point was more whether calling 911 was appropriate rather than not being able to listen to Green Day or having some stranger discussing her upcoming hysterectomy to me in far too much detail (this happened to me once on the London underground)

 

[Victor Kelly]

In most cases absolutely. My point was more whether calling 911 was appropriate rather than not being able to listen to Green Day or having some stranger discussing her upcoming hysterectomy to me in far too much detail (this happened to me once on the London underground)

Oh good god. That much detail?

I am in solid agreement on the 911 calls. It is not an information line. Common sense would dictate that, but there is a severe shortage of that now.

 

[GoofGoof]

Now I’m legit confused. I thought the cabins did have call buttons.

I should have clarified...call boxes that actually worked

Two-way call-boxes that ceased working properly when people freaked out about seeing the Reedy Creek emergency services teams and too many were trying to use them at once.

Based on the 911 calls released guests were only receiving automated messages.

If the narrative that is being pushed here is true and the stuck guests had no choice but to call 911 because they weren’t getting updates from Disney then they need to improve the process and/or equipment to make sure people can get through to someone on the ground and have an actual conversation not just an automated message. It shouldn’t be too hard to do.