Front of Monorail

[kevinscruising]

Do they still let you ride in the front of the Monorail ? I remember they use to give cards out to the children for sitting in the front section.

Thanks
Kevin

 

[s&k'smom]

No they don't, ever since the monorail crash several years ago. We knew but my DH asked last October when we were there just in case it had changed and the CM said they could not.

 

[wdwmagic]

I don't think you will ever see it return.

 

[horizons82]

The accident had to be an upsetting experience for those who worked on the monorail line at that time.

I'm sure any of the CMs who were working around the time of the accident must cringe anytime someone asks to sit up front...just because it reminds them of why that rule is now in place. I feel for them.

Obviously you can't be mad at the guests for asking because many likely don't know any better, but I'm sure it must have an emotional impact every time this question is asked.

 

[RandomPrincess]

They do still allow people in the front at Disneyland. If you ever make it out west you can try it there.

 

[Betsyboo]

One of my favorite photos from our WDW trips is one of my son sitting in the front of the monorail with the castle in the background as we approached MK. We were able to ride up front 2 or 3 times that trip and still have all the license cards they handed out. Sad to see that others can't participate but understand the safety issues.

 

[harryk]

Yes, I understand the safety issues -- but stopping it is an over reaction.
How many times have they had personal injury crashes since the park opened? How many trains have run since the park opened. Yes, it is an over reaction.

 

[Polydweller]

Yes, I understand the safety issues -- but stopping it is an over reaction.
How many times have they had personal injury crashes since the park opened? How many trains have run since the park opened. Yes, it is an over reaction.

No, no it's not an over reaction. There was a family on the train when the crash occurred and if they had been in the front they would have been killed as well. So, you have a situation in which you know there is a possibility of killing guests. You can prevent that completely by a very simple action, don't let them up there. Now, if you don't take that action and something occurs what do you think the chances are of defending yourself in a lawsuit. Yep, zero and you'd pay high penalties in fines and public opinion. What do you think the public reaction would be if the accident occurred again and a family was killed because you didn't do a very simple thing. Potentially devasting to the company.

So, a very simple action is absolutely the right thing as is changing procedures to protect employees as they have done. No, not an overreaction.

As for Disneyland, the track layout and resultant operations means that it does not have the same issues so can continue with front of car rides.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I seem to recall this policy being dictated by the government.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Do they still let you ride in the front of the Monorail ? I remember they use to give cards out to the children for sitting in the front section.

Thanks
Kevin

No. That ended following an accident.

 

[harryk]

No, no it's not an over reaction. There was a family on the train when the crash occurred and if they had been in the front they would have been killed as well. So, you have a situation in which you know there is a possibility of killing guests. You can prevent that completely by a very simple action, don't let them up there. Now, if you don't take that action and something occurs what do you think the chances are of defending yourself in a lawsuit. Yep, zero and you'd pay high penalties in fines and public opinion. What do you think the public reaction would be if the accident occurred again and a family was killed because you didn't do a very simple thing. Potentially devasting to the company.

So, a very simple action is absolutely the right thing as is changing procedures to protect employees as they have done. No, not an overreaction.

As for Disneyland, the track layout and resultant operations means that it does not have the same issues so can continue with front of car rides.

'if they had been' is the operable phrase. I remember a lot of 'ifs' in a movie.

 

[cw1982]

I hadn't realized that they stopped doing this! How sad... I have so many great memories of riding in the front as a kid!

 

[plutofan15]

While is was indeed fun and my son loved it, I certainly would hate to think what would have happened if a family was riding up front when a crash occurred. I have no problem with this being eliminated. This is a photo of my wife and son riding up front in December 2006 - and yes, he did get his monorail license.

 

[tmstephe]

Not to stir the pot, but I've ridden up there (3 days prior to the accident, actually) and I think it's too bad that it will "never" come back. Sure, there's potential liability, but there's also the potential for a train on Big Thunder or Space Mtn to derail and injure people (just for example... amusement parks carry inherent liabilities just like attending a MLB baseball game does). With new monorail safety practices and equipment in place, I think it's a magical experience that should be made available again.

 

[EOD K9]

While is was indeed fun and my son loved it, I certainly would hate to think what would have happened if a family was riding up front when a crash occurred. I have no problem with this being eliminated. This is a photo of my wife and son riding up front in December 2006 - and yes, he did get his monorail license.

Up until the accident I used to get my license renewed every visit. I have since let it expire as it doesn't help me on job applications. When I was there last week though they were giving out monorail pilot's wing stickers.

 

[Polydweller]

'if they had been' is the operable phrase. I remember a lot of 'ifs' in a movie.

Not sure what your point is. The incident showed that anybody in the cab would have been killed. Now that you know that you have to do the simple thing and not put people there.

My point about the family on the train is that Disney dodged a bullet. The accident was bad enough but killing guests would have magnified it many times and been disastrous. Disney knew they dodged a bullet and so did everyone else. "If they had been" is not the only important part of my message.

 

[cw1982]

I just remember one year in particular... I was about five. I had taken my Cabbage Patch doll with me into the parks that day, and I left her on the monorail. I was absolutely traumatized when I realized what I had done... that poor doll was my best friend lol. Luckily, the CM driving the monorail remembered that we were staying at the Contemporary, so he took the doll to the Concierge desk. I was so happy to get her back... but I YELLED at her and told her she was GROUNDED for the rest of the trip. That would show her to run away!

So, yes, I'm a little sad that kids can no longer experience this, but it's yet another thing that has gone to the wayside in the name of increased safety measures.

PS- I still have that doll to this day, and I'm now 31.

 

[kevinscruising]

I was not aware of the incident regarding the monorail. I totally understand the issue. It will be something that is missed but totally understand.

Thanks for all the input

 

[thomas998]

No, no it's not an over reaction. There was a family on the train when the crash occurred and if they had been in the front they would have been killed as well. So, you have a situation in which you know there is a possibility of killing guests. You can prevent that completely by a very simple action, don't let them up there. Now, if you don't take that action and something occurs what do you think the chances are of defending yourself in a lawsuit. Yep, zero and you'd pay high penalties in fines and public opinion. What do you think the public reaction would be if the accident occurred again and a family was killed because you didn't do a very simple thing. Potentially devasting to the company.

So, a very simple action is absolutely the right thing as is changing procedures to protect employees as they have done. No, not an overreaction.

As for Disneyland, the track layout and resultant operations means that it does not have the same issues so can continue with front of car rides.

The decision to stop it is an over reaction. The accident happened at night because someone switched tracks and someone in another monorail wasn't aware of that.... I can see banning people from sitting in the front at night or during times when you cannot see well... but there is not valid reason to ban it during daylight because if the trains were to crash at full speed whether you were in the front or somewhere else the odds are you would be toast.

 

[Tim Lohr]

My family and I rode in the front several times in the 1980's, I don't think people knew to ask back then because it was generally empty. They didn't hand out any kind of cards or licenses back then but it fun getting that view