Staff writer and Mouse Tales author David Koenig answers letters in this week’s mailbag. First, David addresses readers who wrote in response to his July 16, 2009 article, “Carelessness Kills: Monorail drivers lay blame for fatal crash on sloppiness and short-cuts.”
A former monorail pilot writes:
Good article, and thanks for bringing it forward. The whole situation is just one of those things that we all agree has been simmering for far too long, and finally boiled over.
Bob T. writes:
Your expose into the monorail accident and what has happened was very well done. I’ve been saying for years that Disney’s focus is less about making magic and more about making money. While the college program is great for the kids who participate (including my daughter) it means cheap labor for Disney and a high rate of turnover.
I wish one of the large news organizations would run with your story because Disney needs to be pressured into making changes to their entire transportation system (yesterday’s bus accident is more evidence of this). Cutting corners in the areas of training and maintenance is reckless to their guests and their cast members. From your article it appears that the entire culture is rotten and needs to be rebuilt from the ground up with the right combination of going back to what worked in the past and some fresh ideas.
Bring back the retired managers who ran the system 25 – 30 years ago, and mix them in with outsiders with a background in urban transportation systems. Give them six months and an unlimited budget and I bet they can put new policies and procedures in place that will not only make the entire transportation system more efficient, but also safer and a better guest experience. However, if Disney does what they always do they will pay the fine, make a payment to Austin’s family and pay lip service to some minor changes.
I appreciate your suggestions. Let’s hope Disney is listening–and is willing to act.
Tom writes:
I have been going to Disneyland on a regular basis (several times a year), and make a many-day trip to Walt Disney World an average of two trips every three years for the last twenty. I want to give you two examples of the increasing lassitude of Florida Cast Members.
If you walk along Main Street, you may notice that one of the last buildings on the right-hand side is missing one of its finials. It has been gone since June 9, 1999. I can relate the date with certainty, as I am the person who picked it up and took it to Guest Relations when it came within inches of landing on me while I walked down the street while on my honeymoon. It had rusted through, and would NOT have missed hitting someone if it had fallen off during the parade an hour earlier. The Cast Member at Guest Relations’ response was an indifferent “Oh. Thanks.”
On a trip the following year, I had another potentially injuring incident at Animal Kingdom. I walk with the use of a cane. I had just gotten on “Countdown to Extinction” (Now called “Dinosaur”) had not yet sat down, when the vehicle started moving forward, causing me to bang my injured (and since replaced) knee into the vehicle. Again, the attitude of Guest Relations was “Oh.”
I have long-noticed that Walt Disney World has an attitude of “We’re ADA compliant, so we don’t have to pay attention” that Disneyland does not (mostly. They seem to have imported some of this into California Adventure when they brought in Florida advisors…)
Thanks for your experiences. Certainly that indifference can be deadly when you’re handling a 40-ton Monorail, but you show that it can also be dangerous in most every other area of the parks as well
Kelly writes:
I can see what they mean about maintenance. When we were there in October 2007, we were staying at the Contemporary and went to get on the monorail to go to the Halloween party at Magic Kingdom. When the monorail did come and we got on, it was incredibly HOT. There was no air conditioning. When we went to board, they said, “The air condition is not working on this train.” That was it nothing else was said. I do not know if it had just stopped working or they were running it without air?. We got on and rode, in the heat to Magic Kingdom, and it was hot. We got off and the monorail went on! At the time, I never thought anything about it. I just thought they would fix it and we were in a hurry to get to the park.
Tom S. writes:
Here is a response I posted to MousePad regarding your story about the monorail accident:
David Koenig is my favorite Disney writer and commentator. This story about Walt Disney World shows why he is the one Disney writer who could one day win a Pulitzer. I recommend all of his books, though his classic, Mouse Tales, about Disneyland would be the one to start with. I had the pleasure of meeting him at the NFFC show in Anaheim two or three years ago, and if you are a Disney fan, you really ought to consider going to the NFFC convention this weekend, if only for the show where everything Disney is for sale.
David’s justice detector is always on, yet unlike most commentators, Mr. Koenig always seems careful in his opinions — even his bold ones — as if he has carefully considered both sides and is properly reluctant to unnecessarily hurt anyone. When the most well known Disney commentator recently seemed a bit too happy about some Disney layoffs, David tactfully yet forcefully responded with specific stories. By being fair and sticking with the facts, David’s reply was stronger than the more common sarcasm that too many of us use when debating serious issues. And as this recent death shows us, many Disney issues are serious issues. Often, David’s stories about Disney are applicable to other large corporations and their millions of customers.
David is to Disney what the L.A. Times’ Dan Neil is to cars, what Roger Ebert is to movies, what Eric Schlosser and Michael Pollan are to food.
This comment isn’t David’s, but after reading today’s monorail article, I wonder if Jay and Bob really care about their employees. Monorail drivers are underpaid today, while Iger reportedly “earned” $30-51 million in 2008 — a year when Disney stock declined. In a D23 promotional video that’s all over the internet and shown at Disney Stores, Bob Iger demonstrates that he still has charisma on camera, and he looks like a handsome 29-year-old. I hope he will use his imagination and be bold in making Disney a role model for capitalism. Disney could be a shining corporate light and still increase profits to record levels.
You are too, too kind. Hope to see you at the show Sunday,
Brad R. writes:
Your post titled “Carelessness Kills” is irresponsible and heartless. To speculate on negligence and wrongdoing in the monorail based on nameless sources who were not involved is yellow journalism at its worst. I’m currently looking for my copy of “Mouse Tails” and the nearest convenient shredder.
Wow, sorry you feel that way.
But for me, the irresponsible thing to do would have been to have kept the lid on this situation, and risk another serious accident. This was not speculation; these are the words of a half-dozen experienced monorail pilots, trainers and managers revealing the existing culture of the monorail and pointing out the many ways this accident could have been prevented.
And you know as well as these sources did that if I didn’t protect their anonymity they’d be terminated immediately or have their rehire status destroyed.
We have an innocent young man dead. So while I feel terrible for the cast members involved, pussyfooting around the problems to protect their feelings is dishonest and isn’t going to get anything changed.
Next David’s June 19, 2009 blog entry regarding Royce Mathew‘s copyright infringement claims, “Pirate Lawsuit: Back from the Dead,” prompted Royce to write a response:
in regards to your posting and comments….
Just a few things for correction and other items
1) You are incorrect to present that Jason Surrell is being a new focal point in this matter – for as stated on page two on my site, as well as documented within the legal proceeding documents that since 2005, Jason Surrell was always part of the circle of people (Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Marty Sklar) who were putting out concocted facts and lies – with Jason Surrell following the direction and supervision of Marty Sklar.
2) June 2008 Mouseplaent did a podcast with Jason Surrell, promoting him and the Pirates of the Caribbean book, and then on June 5, 2009 there is the new Mouseplanet (Russo) interview with Jason Surrell that again promotes his book writing legacy. — Yet meanwhile, that despite what had been occurring over the years, Mouseplanet never did an article about my case and it certainly never had any interview with me – yet you make it seem that Mouseplanet is neutral in reporting and that I was in error for pointing that out on my website.
In closing, David, you don’t know me. You never even attempted to take the time to communicate with me. Why don’t you try to talk with me instead of telling your readers that I am worthy of a “delete” button. Hey, you’ll be surprised to find out that I am a human being.
I’m glad you wrote back, and apologize if anything I’ve written has given you a false impression of my feelings about you or your case. From the first time I heard about your claims, I’ve always thought there were amazing coincidences between your work and the movie, and have hoped that the truth comes to light.
To respond to your specific concerns:
(1) Although I don’t actually say Surrell is a new focal point in your case, his participation is new to me if only in the sense that when you first emailed me, some years ago, I wouldn’t have known who he was. And, in the interim, he has become a personal acquaintance.
(2) I as well as, I suspect, the others who write for MousePlanet are, in fact, neutral in your case. Surrell is an Imagineer with a new theme park project and an author who has become fairly high profile in fan circles, so is a natural interview subject. The other writers for MousePlanet do not cover “controversial” stories, as would be a story about your charges. That doesn’t mean they’re taking his “side” over yours, any more than are the hundreds of other media outlets that have interviewed Surrell over the years.
I’m the one contributor who regularly covers less “company-sanctioned” topics. Over the years I’ve been contacted by more than two dozen people regarding planned legal action against the company. Most have been theme park guests or cast members, but at least four, including you, have brought up charges of stolen intellectual property. I usually shy away from legal controversies, but recognition of Surrell’s name along with your nifty comparison of the Treasure Island concept art persuaded me to blog about it now.
(3) I make a point of replying to all emails I receive through MousePlanet, unless they’re foul, so I’m positive that I responded to any email(s) you sent me previously. I responded to these latest ones, as well. And I would never say that you are worthy of a “delete” button. The point I was trying to make in the article was that I was ready to quickly move past your email as something I’d read before. It was not a personal reflection on you. I have no doubt that you’re a human being, one who sincerely feels he’s been wronged. And one day hopefully justice will prevail, whatever that may be.
Finally, David’s mention of the marble ball in Tomorrowland, formerly known as Cosmic Waves, in his May 29, 2009 column, “Weight Gain vs. Wait Loss,” prompted William K. to ask:
I’m a faithful reader, but I’m unaware of the original purpose of the large marble that you referred to in your latest column, aside from being something kids got a kick out of rotating while playing around the water jets.
The ball’s original purpose was as a “wienie” in the middle of the water jets, to draw adventurous guests into the liquid maze, as they attempted to dodge the spray. Unfortunately, most guests missed the memo, and thought Cosmic Waves was a public bath. So the jets were eliminated, leaving only the rotating ball, sitting in the middle of nothing. Now, with the planters surrounding it, the ball should look as if it actually belongs there.
