Welcome to September! To start off this week’s mailbag, Mouse Tales author and MousePlanet columnist David Koenig answers some letters in response to his recent coverage of the accidents at Walt Disney World in his articles, “Carelessness Kills: Monorail drivers lay blame for fatal crash on sloppiness and short-cuts” (July 16, 2009) and “Deadly Parallels” (August 20, 2009).
Keith writes:
I’m listening to your podcast right now, and it was good up to the point that you speculated that the guests on Purple “got on the wrong monorail” at the Magic Kingdom. You seemed to realize your error–that it’s physically impossible, since the EPCOT line doesn’t run to the Kingdom, but only to the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) Concourse — but then you didn’t explain, and continued on with this impossible theory. I haven’t listened to the rest of the podcast yet, but I hope that if you don’t explain it there, you do take the opportunity to clear this up for your listeners. There is a lot of misinformation and speculation out there, and it does a disservice to all involved to perpetuate it.
Technically, you’re correct, although that wasn’t the point I was trying to get across. The guests on Purple couldn’t have boarded that exact train at the Magic Kingdom station. They likely would have taken an earlier train from the Magic Kingdom to Concourse, and boarded Purple there, since there’d be no reason for anyone to be boarding at Epcot station like 5 hours after the park closed. Now that scenario assumes investigators are correct when they say Purple had been approaching Concourse and had not yet arrived at TTC.
If Purple was instead already sitting in TTC Concourse when Pink started backing up, impact could still have been south of the station if Purple had tried futilely to out-race Pink. In this case, the guests on Purple most likely boarded at TTC Concourse to return to their car in the Epcot parking lot.
I’ve heard others speculate that Purple was either sitting in station at time of impact or was pulling north of station at impactoth far-fetched possibilities, since Pink would have had to push Purple all the way back through the station, which I’m sure witnesses would have remembered quite clearly.
Due to the lateness of the hour, all scenarios support the notion that the guests had spent the evening at the Magic Kingdom. Thanks for keeping me on my toes!
An anonymous Walt Disney World Entertainment cast member writes:
Beautiful writing, David, as always a pleasure to read. The urgent tone is captured. In the portal/hub today there is no mention of the accident at Indy. The (advisories) are all deleted from August 18. It is just all gone. No word on the attraction being open or closed, but assume it is closed until they tell us it is operational.
Harry W. writes:
Thank you for your excellent article regarding the deaths at Walt Disney World. I think you’re right-on. In the past I’ve lamented over the cut-backs at Walt Disney World noticing effects such as less than fabulous cast member attitudes or missing details in the parks or at restaurants. However, I agree with you that things are going too far. Obviously there is no way to prove that these accidents are a by-product of short-cuts, however, I believe they are. You’re doing important work!
I commend your sophisticated manner of reporting. It shows that you care deeply about the Disney legacy and you’re vigilant in pursuing not only the vacationer’s interests but the humanistic investment that is required to create the magic. I beleive that Disney is more than a theme park or resort. I feel that it’s an institution that needs passionate monitoring and protection from those who recognize it’s importance. Thanks again for sharing your investigation. I am encouraged to know there are people like you working to uphold what it so important to me.
And thank you for the kind words. It’s nice to know I’m not alone in my concern.
Tara K. writes:
I am writing you as just your neighbor and friend. A person who lives a city or two away from you. I am in Irvine. I am no expert in this area at all but let me just post this for you and then comment to you what I need to:
“They’ve just been freak accidents,” said Donna-Lynne Dalton, secretary-treasurer of Service Trades Council, a coalition of Disney’s labor unions. “You also have to consider that Walt Disney World is the size of a small city. When you look at the size of Walt Disney World — and I’m not dismissing the tragedy of any of these events — but I’m just thankful it’s not worse.”
This was taken from Yahoo and I cannot even recall at this point where. The relevence does not even matter. But, when we start saying we are thankful that having as many demises in one month due to the size of our community, something is wrong. You may think I am taking this out of context sir. But am I? When This all could have and should have beem prevented? In the history of Disney Florida, has this happened so closely together? These employees were newly working, in fact two of them were in their first week in that position sir, they were too young to have their lives taken at such a young age.
And for what? Entertainment for your and my children? Their dreams were just that sir. To live out their dreams to be entertainers. It just is not ethical or right. Is it? You tell me? What will you do about this? Or will you just let the people who work for you take care of all the questions and the media?
I challenge you. Not in a cynical or negative way. Thank you for listening.
I think the union leader was trying to make the point that while any number of fatalities, even one, is tragic, that for how large Walt Disney World is, statistically the number could be much higher. What would you like me, as a journalist, to do about it?
Greg writes:
The string of fatalities in Walt Disney World smacks of a similar problem in management that led up to the Columbia tragedy of 1998. If there is any difference that I can see between Walt Disney World of 2009 and Disneyland of 1998, it’s the degree to which the daily management has tipped the scale and put too much emphasis on running “Lean” rather than safe. At least in 1998 there was only one park to worry about and the occasion for a death in the park was still a shock. It seems these days the news is hardly unnerving, at least to most.
Great parallel. Let’s hope the parks re-prioritize safety and we don’t see incidents like this again for a long, long time.
Rhonda writes:
It makes me sad to think a place we love so much is taking risks with their performers and cast members to save a few dollars. They are a huge name in the world and one would think they would do all they can to make sure their employees are cared for and treated to safe working conditions and not become over worked and stressed, or worse — not trained enough. Sometimes it is hard to read these articles as my opinions of The Walt Disney Company are changing for the worse not the better. Will I still visit and enjoy the parks? Sure. Will it make me think twice about how hard these cast members work and may not be properly trained and cared for? You betcha. Let’s hope these deaths are a wake up call.
Thank you for sharing your heart.
Next staff writer Andrew Rich answers a question in response to his review of the new Pete’s Dragon DVD release (August 18, 2009).
Peggy M. writes:
I bought a copy of Pete’s Dragon today at a Walmart Store in Texas. It is of awful, dreadful quality and I am sure it is a pirated copy. Do you know who I can contact within the Disney organization to report this?
A little checking on Disney’s Web site found some information on reporting problems with Disney DVDs. They suggest you contact the Consumer Relations Department:
Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Attn.: Consumer Relations
PO Box 3100
Neenah, WI 54957-3100
(800) 723-4763
Some telltale signs of pirated DVDs are sticker-type labels instead of screen-printing directly on the disc, inkjet or laser-printed inserts instead of professionally printed, and of course poor quality on the disc. You could also just return it to Walmart and take your business elsewhere.
Finally, staff writer Jeff Kober answers a letter from reader Erik T. about his article on the revised Tiki Room at Walt Disney World (The Enchanted Tiki Room Under New Management – June 11, 2009).
Erik writes:
Aloha Jeff. As a former cast member who spent his first summer wearing the dreaded day-glow orange aloha shirt and white bell bottom polyester pants, I agree that Walt wanted Disneyland to change and evolve as the tastes and needs of the guests changed. He wanted a place that was always dynamic and fresh–to push the boundaries.
It has been fifteen years since I worked at Disneyland. Last year I saw the Florida version of the show and applaud the attempt to brighten up an old attraction. However, I found the new fancy lighting was in my eyes so much that I couldn’t enjoy the show, the volume of the soundtrack varied too much from the cleaned-up original and the newly recorded, and the attempt to force Iago and Zazu into the show… well, forced.
I agree that change needs to happen to the parks. I agree that the old show has needed some updating. However, after watching some several thousand performances of the stable and reliable (yes the Tiki room hardly never goes “101”) still works in much the same way that Pirates and the Haunted Mansion work.
What needed to change in the Tiki room was a fresh new execution of a strong show. The birds need updating in both their appearance and animatronics, the dialog needs to be freshened up. The entire audio track should probably be re-recored. I always thought that there should be a mixture of male and female voices of the MC’s and perhaps change out a two of the Macaws to be Cockatoos. The lighting needs to be a compromise between the traditional set up and the Under New Management configuration. Lighting in the Tiki room is damn near impossible to work because of the sight lines. No matter where you put a light, it will be in someone’s eyes.
Walt also designed in a certain amount of nostalgia to his little Mickey Mouse Park called Disneyland. He was most known for his ability to inspire artists and craftspeople to create cultural icons. Mickey Mouse has changed in his appearance over the years however, he is still two large circles with two smaller circles connected by appendages. Familiarity brings a sense of security to humans. It is best to not always throw the baby out with the bath water.
I just watched the video of the new version of the Electric Parade. Some favorite floats are missing while there are some new ones. Most of all I noticed a better use of technology to “plus” the show, not rewrite it. The basic show is still there, it just sparkles a little bit brighter. At the end of the evening, most guests will swear that is the exact same parade they saw twenty five years ago when they were children.
Yes Disneyland only has so much available real estate these days. Some attractions must go to make way for new ones. However, given the amount of space the Tiki room actually takes up and the number of guests per hour that can see the show, it still turns a fair amount of guests per hour. It provides a quality show that makes people happy.
One thing I learned while working at Disneyland is that it is the small quiet places where most of the magic happens. Management never understood that concept when I worked there and they seem to not get it today. All they think about is guest counts and dollars spent. I had the fortune to get to know some of the Club 55’ers when I worked at the park. They taught me that guests do not spend money when they are standing in line or have tired feet.
I do applaud your effort to help fans of Disney learn how to accept change. The parks change all the time. One day the flowers will be replaced. The next day the railings will be a slightly different shade of green. The next week Ariels Grotto will be Pixie Hollow. However, the guest will swear it was exactly the same park as it was when they went there as children–two bigger circles connected with two smaller circles.
Mahalo nui loa
(Thank you very much)
Thanks for sharing your insights, especially since they were earned in the throes of cleaning up left over Dole Whips and listening to endless cycles of Swisskapolka. It really underscores the fact that some of the best creativity Imagineering doesn’t take enough advantage of are the front line cast members who have to see the show day in, day out.
I saw many of the same photos and vids of the Electrical Parade. I liked what I saw, but I wondered why you couldn’t have both Pinocchio and Peter Pan and Dumbo and Snow White all in the same parade? Wasn’t that how it used to be? Add some twinkle lights on a few “we never see them anymore” characters like Aristocats, or Thumper, or Oliver and watch the crowd really come alive.
Any rate, those are my thoughts. I’ll probably forward this to the Mailbox team to add to our MousePlanet article that we usually run on Tuesdays.
Again, thanks for your contribution.
