Small Danger at EPCOT

[Timekeeper]

Make sure that you are logged in so that you can view the images posted below:

This lamp at EPCOT (which is obviously broken) is in the open, in the path of people walking, near a children's play area (water fountain), and has exposed wires and electrical components which is dangerously adjacent to the water fountain which is a popular play area for children. It seemed as though, if the fountain was fully active, this lamp and exposed wiring would be within reach of excess water run-off that is not absorbed into the ground.

As you can see, there is no barracade or warning to alert guests of this danger.



<img src="http://photoalbums.wdwmagic.com/data/500/437epcot_lamp_1.jpg">

<img src="http://photoalbums.wdwmagic.com/data/500/437epcot_lamp_2.jpg">

Timekeeper

 

[imagineer boy]

I guess no cast members noticed it at the time. I bet it was due to some pranksters.

 

[crazygirley]

I can't believe things break even at WDW.

 

[SirNim]

Good grief!

 

[Heyyall]

I'm sure it happened recently and Disney CM didn't see it yet. I'm sure it was fixed within an hour though...

 

[BeachClubVillas]

I bet you walked by right after it broke, and someone reported it and it was blocked off within minutes and fixed by the next morning. Disney would never leave something that obviously dangerous out in the open like that!

 

[SpongeScott]

So, did you use the same energy and effort of taking at least two pictures of the broken lamp to contact a CM and report the broken lamp since it was such a danger?

 

[mkt]

Knowing Disney as well as I do... they didn't fix it immediatly. They pulled it out of the ground and put something there to block the gaping hole that was left behind. While it is determined if it is cost effective to fix it and who will benefit.. once that's decided, management will then clamor for a day or 2... or a week... to decided which department will be responsible for fixing it. Once that's decided, the deparment will then have to find the money in its budget to fix it and who will do the work. When that's done, the work order will be given to the CM('s) responsible for the repair, which knowing the average US teamster, will mean the work WILL be done....

eventually, but within the time constraints issued by the employer.


Give it 2 weeks or so..

 

[PhotoDave219]

Originally posted by Timekeeper
Make sure that you are logged in so that you can view the images posted below:

This lamp at EPCOT (which is obviously broken) is in the open, in the path of people walking, near a children's play area (water fountain), and has exposed wires and electrical components which is dangerously adjacent to the water fountain which is a popular play area for children. It seemed as though, if the fountain was fully active, this lamp and exposed wiring would be within reach of excess water run-off that is not absorbed into the ground.

As you can see, there is no barracade or warning to alert guests of this danger.

Anyone wanna place a bet it was an unruley child who broke it?

Just out of curiosity, did you go over to it and try to put it back together yourself? just wondering.

 

[Timekeeper]

Broken Lamp

Originally posted by BeachClubVillas
I bet you walked by right after it broke, and someone reported it and it was blocked off within minutes and fixed by the next morning. Disney would never leave something that obviously dangerous out in the open like that!

Actually, I walked by it twice. The first time was when I heard the loud "thud" - that got my attention (so I know it wasn't done on purpose). The second time was after I got done watching the Christmas light show at the adjacent canopy of lights.

Originally posted by SpongeScott
So, did you use the same energy and effort of taking at least two pictures of the broken lamp to contact a CM and report the broken lamp since it was such a danger?

Sponge,

I am flattered that you feel my photography utilizes energy and effort, as it often does. But in this instance, I was already in the process of photographing the Christmas light display (that performs in sync with music). So you see, averting my camera to the broken light for a brief moment did not require as much effort as you assumed.

I did not contact a CM for two reasons. First, it's not my responsibility. Period. Sure, you may be the kind of person who likes to go around pointing out other peoples' problems for them, but unless it's more of an immediate danger or I feel so moved, I have no reason to do so. Their property = their responsility, not to mention that I was already pre-occupied with the light show.

Before you start passing character judgements - Second, and more importantly, if you're familiar with EPCOT's layout then you'll know that there are merchandise/sales areas immediately adjacent to the lamps and water fountain. What I *did* notice was that a CM *did* see the overturned lamp. If I were a CM, I would have quickly taken 20 steps to stand by the lamp and alert guests (or try to fix it.) This CM did not. So you see, even though I didn't personally alert a CM, I was aware that a CM had already noticed the situation.

What surprised me was how long it took them to respond.

Tk

 

[mkt]

By recognizing the problem but not taking any steps to correct it or notify an involved party, you were no better than the pranksters behind it. Furthermore, by not notifying anyone that you were aware of the potential danger, if a guest were to trip and hurt themselves, you could find yourself an accesory to ANY lawsuit that could arise.

If you see something wrong, YOU FIX IT. Rather than go through the trouble of documenting it, TELL SOMEONE... at the very least. Personally, if I had seen it, I would have lifted it up and told a manager in the park (not hard to find... business attire, blue ID on a lanyard).

Originally posted by Timekeeper
What surprised me was how long it took them to respond.

I wonder why it took them so long to respond...

 

[monorailmike]

I recall something like this on a prior visit. The busted lamp was roped off, and it appeared a CM was there to divert people away. He indicated a repair crew was on the way. Sure enough, things were fixed and the kids were back in the fountain later in the day.

 

[Timekeeper]

Re: Re: Small Danger at EPCOT

Originally posted by PhotoDave219
Anyone wanna place a bet it was an unruley child who broke it?

Just out of curiosity, did you go over to it and try to put it back together yourself? just wondering.

Actually, it *was* a child (or two) that knocked it over, but from what I saw they were behaving like regular kids and not engaging in any inappropriate horseplay.

What I did notice while approaching the Christmas lights was that the lamp was already in a "leaning" position to begin with. I wasn't aware that all the lamps should be completely "upright," I just assumed this tilting was the intentional design; I never paid much attnetion to the children's play areas. So it probably only took a small brush or knock to tip it over. Those things look heavy, so I'm glad it didn't land on their foot, etc. Since wires were clearly exposed (and the light was still lit - meaning live electrical current) I didn't think about touching that thing. I guess it all goes back to mom saying "don't touch the hot stove." And like I said, those things look heavy. So, having realized that a CM had already noticed the situation, I left them to do their job and continued to enjoy the light show.

Tk

 

[Timekeeper]

Originally posted by mkt
By recognizing the problem but not taking any steps to correct it or notify an involved party, you were no better than the pranksters behind it. Furthermore, by not notifying anyone that you were aware of the potential danger, if a guest were to trip and hurt themselves, you could find yourself an accesory to ANY lawsuit that could arise.

If you see something wrong, YOU FIX IT. Rather than go through the trouble of documenting it, TELL SOMEONE... at the very least. Personally, if I had seen it, I would have lifted it up and told a manager in the park (not hard to find... business attire, blue ID on a lanyard).

1) It wasn't pranksters. It was an accident. (See posts in this thread.)

2) Accessory to a lawsuit? Remind us what ABA approved law school you graduated from...? Let me guess, you can list the four requirements needed to establish liability in a tort action, right? If so, you'll quickly realize that zero of those for requirements would be applicable to Timekeeper in this situation. Even if I were to handicap you one of those points, you'd still be at a loss with the remaining three.

Under your philosophy, I should have tracked down that lady that spilt hot McDonalds coffee on herself and notified her that the coffee was hot, right? After all, I do have knowledge that coffee is hot. Yet no one came after me in their legal petitions. And I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that no one came after you either.

3) "If you see something wrong, YOU FIX IT"??? You can't tell me that you really live life this way, do you? If you stopped to fix everything that you saw wrong on your way to work, you'd never make it to work ...ever.

And let me guess, if I had taken your advice and gone over to the light, and upon touching the metallic exterior suppose I had electricuted msyelf, and if I posted that story on here and said that I was going to sue WDW, you'd probably post something about how stupid of I guest I was to go and touch property that wasn't mine - that I'm not qualified to fix - and that I have no professional knowledge as to the workings of.

You would probably say that "Timekeeper should have known better than to go touching things that could obviously be dangerous."

It's okay to be defensive about Disney - I understand that - especially if you work for them. But to say that I'm the same as the children who knocked it over or that I could be sued - give me a break.

 

[lebernadin]

Re: Broken Lamp

Originally posted by Timekeeper

I did not contact a CM for two reasons. First, it's not my responsibility. Period. Sure, you may be the kind of person who likes to go around pointing out other peoples' problems for them, but unless it's more of an immediate danger or I feel so moved, I have no reason to do so. Their property = their responsility, not to mention that I was already pre-occupied with the light show.

:lol: But its your responsibility to take pictures and try and get a Disney messageboard all in a fury? Your premise in posting it was to point out how dangerous you felt this was and it was worthy of a few pics. Yet now you've determined it wasn't an immediate danger? How many sides does this fence have?

Before you start passing character judgements - Second, and more importantly, if you're familiar with EPCOT's layout then you'll know that there are merchandise/sales areas immediately adjacent to the lamps and water fountain. What I *did* notice was that a CM *did* see the overturned lamp. If I were a CM, I would have quickly taken 20 steps to stand by the lamp and alert guests (or try to fix it.) This CM did not. So you see, even though I didn't personally alert a CM, I was aware that a CM had already noticed the situation.

I don't know the facts with re to how many CM's were/are at this merchandise location, but that looks to be the area where kids can play in the water going towards the world showcase and if i recall those aren't large merch locations. I would assume that only one or two CM's are at this place, and its a busy place, so given that assumption, would a CM by themself leave their merchandise location and stand next to this thing?

If that were the case, would you be posting pictures of an un-manned merch location and why can't you get any service?

 

[raven]

Re: Broken Lamp

...I did not contact a CM for two reasons. First, it's not my responsibility. Period. Sure, you may be the kind of person who likes to go around pointing out other peoples' problems for them, but unless it's more of an immediate danger or I feel so moved, I have no reason to do so. Their property = their responsility...[/B]

If it was such of a concern for you to make a separate thread about the problem, then yes, you should have told a CM. Also, you said yourself that it was near a childrens playing area and a fountain. That is, in my opinion, an "immediate danger." It looks as though it is in a place where there aren't any CM's to notice it right away.

Would it have been so hard to simply point it out to a CM instead of taking pictures and posting it on the net for people to pick about?

Please people, use common sense next time.

 

[mkt]

Originally posted by Timekeeper
2) Accessory to a lawsuit? Remind us what ABA approved law school you graduated from...? Let me guess, you can list the four requirements needed to establish liability in a tort action, right? If so, you'll quickly realize that zero of those for requirements would be applicable to Timekeeper in this situation. Even if I were to handicap you one of those points, you'd still be at a loss with the remaining three.

Dad- Harvard Law
Uncle- Yale Law
Sister- U-Miami Law
me... U-Miami Law.. eventually... I'm resting.

Originally posted by Timekeeper
Under your philosophy, I should have tracked down that lady that spilt hot McDonalds coffee on herself and notified her that the coffee was hot, right? After all, I do have knowledge that coffee is hot. Yet no one came after me in their legal petitions. And I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that no one came after you either.

had she known the coffee was hot and still chose to drink it, that would make the lawsuit even more frivolous than it already was.

Originally posted by Timekeeper
3) "If you see something wrong, YOU FIX IT"??? You can't tell me that you really live life this way, do you? If you stopped to fix everything that you saw wrong on your way to work, you'd never make it to work ...ever.

if I can, I do. Yes I do live my life under this philosophy. Help others.

Originally posted by Timekeeper
And let me guess, if I had taken your advice and gone over to the light, and upon touching the metallic exterior suppose I had electricuted msyelf, and if I posted that story on here and said that I was going to sue WDW, you'd probably post something about how stupid of I guest I was to go and touch property that wasn't mine - that I'm not qualified to fix - and that I have no professional knowledge as to the workings of.

did you see sparks? were you wearing shoes with a rubber sole? was there a safe surface with which that pole could have been grabbed without risk of electrocution. Nothing you do is without risk. You have no more of a chance to hurt yourself by at the very least, moving that pole in to a safe position than you do by driving, eating, and living life. We all take risks, obviously some more noble than others.

Originally posted by Timekeeper
You would probably say that "Timekeeper should have known better than to go touching things that could obviously be dangerous."

till it happens, don't you put a single _________ word in my mouth.

Originally posted by Timekeeper
It's okay to be defensive about Disney - I understand that - especially if you work for them.

I don't work for Disney. I'm probably one of their most critical fans out there.

Originally posted by Timekeeper
But to say that I'm the same as the children who knocked it over or that I could be sued - give me a break.

I stand by what I said.

 

[nicholas]

3) "If you see something wrong, YOU FIX IT"??? You can't tell me that you really live life this way, do you?

For your sake, I hope the people you surround yourself with in life DO live their lives this way. It would be terribly unfortunate if they saw something dangerous and life threatening in your home and did nothing about it because it wasn't their property or their responsibility.

 

[Timekeeper]

Lady and the Lamp

Originally posted by mkt
Dad- Harvard Law
Uncle- Yale Law
Sister- U-Miami Law
me... U-Miami Law.. eventually... I'm resting.

Well, that's sweet. There are a number of professionals in my family as well. I do not, however, profess to be any kind of expert in my dad's profession, my uncle's profession, or any other family member for that matter. But with a parent that participated in the ivy league, that mentality is probably partially inherited. So I don't hold anything against you.

One question though, in your comment:

"till it happens, don't you put a single _________ word in my mouth."

Please inform us as to what word is missing; what is supposed to be in that blank?

Regards,

Timekeeper

 

[1stStarIC2nite]

Uh-ooooooooooooooooooooh, someone's in trouble!!!

Hope it was reported! That could have been serious if a kid got shocked and that would have meant a big law suit for Disney probably.... and I also hope they take care of it soon.