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Worker tosses gas in fight at Disney hippo pond
- Thread starter PhotoDave219
- Start date
MickeyTigg
New Member
Yeah...a down plane means only one thing....hippos.
Hippos...the other other white meat.
spoodles
Member
I always find it interesting how people seem more concerned with animals than with people when it comes to news stories.
Not to mention the guy who was on fire.
JikoMarie
New Member
:ROFLOL: 
iheartdisney91
Well-Known Member
oh maybe thats why the hippo in "it's a small world" has a lazy eye! (or eye twitch):ROFLOL: :lol:
lol sry i just couldnt resist, love the hippos
lol sry i just couldnt resist, love the hippos
Disney hippo pond fight was over card game, police say
Employee of contractor charged with aggravated assault
April Hunt and Scott Powers
Sentinel Staff Writers
March 1, 2007, 3:00 PM EST
A tussle about a card game between two workers in the hippo pond at Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom overnight ended with one man doused in gasoline and the other in jail, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
The two men, employees of a Disney contractor, got into an argument while cleaning the pond at about 3 a.m., the police report states. One worker, 22-year-old Brandon Hoffman, accused the other of cheating in a card game about two weeks ago.
The man he accused, Stephen Kim, poured gasoline on Hoffman and struck a lighter at a distance, said Sheriff's Commander Lester Allen. Hoffman backed away, but then Kim dropped the lighter and picked up a shovel, holding it like a baseball bat and threatening Hoffman with it, according to the police report.
Hoffman then fled and called the sheriff's department for help. He was not injured.
Kim, 34, of Melbourne, was booked into Orange County Jail on an aggravated assault charge.
Both men work for a specialized contractor, which provides divers who can clean out the ponds throughout the park, said Walt Disney World spokeswoman Kim Prunty. The company, which was not named, has worked for Disney for "many years," she added.
Disney officials have suspended the contractor's work, pending a review of the situation. "Obviously, this type of behavior is not tolerated on our property," Prunty said. "We expect that they will take care of this matter appropriately."
This morning, a union official who represents some Disney World employees was quick to charge that the Animal Kingdom incident could be an example of why the unions are challenging Disney World's recent efforts to turn over cleaning jobs, and other jobs, to outside contractors.
In recent months, in federal unfair labor practice complaints and in public protests, Disney World unions have charged that the company's outsourcing efforts risk eroding worker quality at Disney World. The issue is a major negotiating point in the current talks for a new contract for the 21,000-member Service Trades Council Union. The outside contractors normally are non-union companies.
"This is an example of the kind of problem that Walt Disney World opens itself up to when it doesn't hire and train and supervise its own employees, but rather outsources work to outside vendors who may not have the same kind of commitment," said council president Morty Miller.
Prunty said the incident was not related to any outsourcing for cost savings. The job was given to subcontractors because of the specialized nature of the work, cleaning underwater.
"These guys are industrial divers. It wouldn't make sense for us to do this kind of work," she said.
Disney World has argued that it needs to subcontract work in some areas for efficiency. The company also stated that it is insisting that such outside contractors follow the same rules and standards for hiring and supervision that Disney maintains for Disney employees. Disney World also has pointed out that, to date, less than 1 percent of the company's 60,000 jobs have gone to outside contractors.
Employee of contractor charged with aggravated assault
April Hunt and Scott Powers
Sentinel Staff Writers
March 1, 2007, 3:00 PM EST
A tussle about a card game between two workers in the hippo pond at Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom overnight ended with one man doused in gasoline and the other in jail, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
The two men, employees of a Disney contractor, got into an argument while cleaning the pond at about 3 a.m., the police report states. One worker, 22-year-old Brandon Hoffman, accused the other of cheating in a card game about two weeks ago.
The man he accused, Stephen Kim, poured gasoline on Hoffman and struck a lighter at a distance, said Sheriff's Commander Lester Allen. Hoffman backed away, but then Kim dropped the lighter and picked up a shovel, holding it like a baseball bat and threatening Hoffman with it, according to the police report.
Hoffman then fled and called the sheriff's department for help. He was not injured.
Kim, 34, of Melbourne, was booked into Orange County Jail on an aggravated assault charge.
Both men work for a specialized contractor, which provides divers who can clean out the ponds throughout the park, said Walt Disney World spokeswoman Kim Prunty. The company, which was not named, has worked for Disney for "many years," she added.
Disney officials have suspended the contractor's work, pending a review of the situation. "Obviously, this type of behavior is not tolerated on our property," Prunty said. "We expect that they will take care of this matter appropriately."
This morning, a union official who represents some Disney World employees was quick to charge that the Animal Kingdom incident could be an example of why the unions are challenging Disney World's recent efforts to turn over cleaning jobs, and other jobs, to outside contractors.
In recent months, in federal unfair labor practice complaints and in public protests, Disney World unions have charged that the company's outsourcing efforts risk eroding worker quality at Disney World. The issue is a major negotiating point in the current talks for a new contract for the 21,000-member Service Trades Council Union. The outside contractors normally are non-union companies.
"This is an example of the kind of problem that Walt Disney World opens itself up to when it doesn't hire and train and supervise its own employees, but rather outsources work to outside vendors who may not have the same kind of commitment," said council president Morty Miller.
Prunty said the incident was not related to any outsourcing for cost savings. The job was given to subcontractors because of the specialized nature of the work, cleaning underwater.
"These guys are industrial divers. It wouldn't make sense for us to do this kind of work," she said.
Disney World has argued that it needs to subcontract work in some areas for efficiency. The company also stated that it is insisting that such outside contractors follow the same rules and standards for hiring and supervision that Disney maintains for Disney employees. Disney World also has pointed out that, to date, less than 1 percent of the company's 60,000 jobs have gone to outside contractors.
MouseMadness
Well-Known Member
In this case it seems to make sense. :shrug: The hippos weren't exhibiting extreme stupidity.
Kadee
New Member
Well put! It is amazing just how stupid some people can be. Who would even think to pour gasoline on someone?! Crazy! Seriously disturbed!
hcswingfield
Active Member
For a potentially serious incident, this has turned into a genuinely funny thread. Thanks for finding the humor, and for several good laughs. Now I have to wonder what the difference is between passing gas and throwing gas. Is it a matter of distance?
fizzle75
New Member
I remember reading somewhere awhile back about some new "light" parade at Animal Kingdom and couldn't figure out what it was, now I know...it's just a bunch of idiots who set themselves on fire and run around the tree of life. Maybe they were just doing a run through for the parade. Man, Disney really IS cheap!
PlutoInOrlando
Active Member
- In the Parks
- Yes
Just curious -
What would they need that much gas for in the hippo pond???:shrug:
And why would it be in such an "open container":veryconfu
What would they need that much gas for in the hippo pond???:shrug:
And why would it be in such an "open container":veryconfu
Kadee
New Member
My guess (this is JUST A GUESS...please don't jump on the flame wagon if I am wrong) is that they would need it for a generator for the cleaning equipment. I don't know what they use, so who knows the real reason.........
CBOMB
Active Member
I have to say this is a strange story. Kind of sad that it had to lead to that. Disney was quick to point out to the Union that this was a specialty job, and I have to agree with Disney on this. Does anybody remember if that's what they said when they outsourced Bell Service, just curious. Anyway that contractor should be happy it was gas thrown on him, and not Texas Pete Pepper Sauce!
BiggerTigger
Well-Known Member
It is funny the the media would say a subcontractor for Disney and not list the subcontractor. Like many people point out, the media goes after Disney in a strange way.
Couldn't the media have said, a ABC Company, a subcontractor for Disney, instead of just saying Disney subcontractor over and over.
Couldn't the media have said, a ABC Company, a subcontractor for Disney, instead of just saying Disney subcontractor over and over.