3/9 fire cruise

[mom2buzzandwoody]

I can stay silent no longer - I've "lurked" on these boards for quite some time now and found them to be a valuable source of information in planning our cruise. We were on the 3/9 "fire" cruise and so much has been said about it already - It was a very serious fire (as I'm sure any fire aboard a cruise ship is serious) and those of you on the boat deck that night can attest to this as well. It may not have seemed as serious to those of you in the Theater or Animators Palate - but we could see all the smoke, hear the crew undoing the lifeboats above our head and see a cruise ship all lit up in the distance turn and come toward us - both a comforting sight and a disturbing sight as I really did think we were going to have to get in the life boats. As I recall that night one of the captain's announcements was that the fire was in the engine and went all the way through all the decks. Later that day, a member of the concierge team told us we were running on 4 engines (FYI - the Magic has 5 engines) I am somewhat skeptical of the story of it being trash that was caught on fire - and I do not think that teenagers could have done it from the deck somehow - this was a large fire and it took them quite some time to put it out. The crew perfomed wonderfully with only a few exceptions - one - lied to us and told us we were a few miles from Miami and another told us - don't worry this happens all the time. It certainly put a damper on the remainder of the cruise for us - for one thing I really couldn't sleep well thinking it might happen again - for another - Disney really didn't say anything about how or why it happened - just here's $100 onboard credit - sorry we woke you up in the middle of the night. I really would have preferred the truth - like what really happened. I think we all did expect that it would make the national news anyway (which it didn't seem to). My kids - die hard Disney fans were a little cynical after that - My 10 year old son said they should sell t-shirts that said "burnt ship" instead of the ones in the shop that said "burnt duck" showing Donald with a sunburn. And, my four year old said "next time, lets do a different ship". It is a wonderful vacation - however, after this experience I don't think we'll be cruising again any time soon.

Mom2buzzandwoody

 

[Matty02]

well regardless of the damage to the ship, im sure it is safe to be on or else Disney, as well as the USCG wouldnt allow it back on the ocean. The experience must have been scary, I am sure, and hard for young children to comprehend. I can't imagine being there, and I remember that my assembly station was on deck 4... so I can only imagine seeing what you saw... and how scary that must have been.

I think that with all that is on this board... I just wish people would let Disney handle this. They cant share everything, but in all honestly Disney isnt stupid enough to put people in danger. The experience must have been a definite "experience" but i dont think it would stop me from sailing on DCL, and I will be back on the Magic as soon as I can

I dont mean to downplay the seriousness of the fire, but if there is one thing i hate... it is gossip. One person says teens started the fire, others say it only burnt the funnell... and some say it is damaged all the way down to the engines. my main point is if you were on the cruise, the experience may have bugged you, but Disney will handle it the best that they can, without putting passengers or DCL in danger. MY MAIN POINT: TRUST THEM.

 

[mikeymars]

Originally posted by Matty02
the USCG wouldnt allow it back on the ocean.

Right on the money. While I agree with those stating Disney has a well known history of being very good at limiting the "broadcast" on news on accidents and problems at their properties (there was a major -- I repeat, MAJOR riot at Pleasure Island back in 1994, and to this day every time I mention that I inevitably hear back "what riot?," which makes my point: Disney did an incredible job at covering up that unfortunate event; only the witnesses ever know what I'm talking about) there is no way on earth the USCG was going to allow the Magic to continue to sail if there was any remaining safety issues regarding the damage from the fire.

 

[gary in florida]

I remember the old saying - if your friend is having an operation, most likely it's a minor operation, if your having the same operation it's major surgery! So for us not on the ship, it was a minor incident, on board, a major fire! I can understand the people on board being upset.
As for Disney trying to make the incident small, they are in business and don't need any more "bad" publicity then a lot of people love to hit them with.

 

[4megs]

Your ordeal must have been overwhelming. If I was holding my daughter's hand while seeing what you described I know it would affect me...

But news does get around...Yesterday my family in Toronto sent me this link from the Miami Herald:

www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/2002/03/15/news/2866974.htm

In fact, while waiting outside school for my daughter to get out one of the parents mentioned the fire (they're on the March 23rd Magic & we're on the March 30th)...

Like the previous posters indicated - the good thing is that safety is paramount, and thank goodness crews are prepped regularly (they were doing lifeboat drills on our last cruise) and safety procedures are carried out to the letter. Guess that's what reassures us about our cruise!

I hope the next holiday replaces this one with better memories for you and your family!

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by mikeymars


Right on the money. While I agree with those stating Disney has a well known history of being very good at limiting the "broadcast" on news on accidents and problems at their properties (there was a major -- I repeat, MAJOR riot at Pleasure Island back in 1994, and to this day every time I mention that I inevitably hear back "what riot?," which makes my point: Disney did an incredible job at covering up that unfortunate event; only the witnesses ever know what I'm talking about) there is no way on earth the USCG was going to allow the Magic to continue to sail if there was any remaining safety issues regarding the damage from the fire.

Was it really that long ago that they had the riot on PI? Or am I thinking of another MAJOR riot at PI that I thought happened in 1998 or so... Neither ever got any media atention, and the one I'm thinking of ended up with SWAT being called in...

Anne

 

[dijid]

mom2buzzandwoody - please talk with your children and make sure that they are coping ok with everything. I know all too well how traumatic it can be to stand and watch something burn at a young age. When I was almost 4 I stood with my parents watching the apartment building next to ours burn. Luckily no one was hurt (that I knew of at least) but I was *terrified* of fire for years. It didn't help that my parents put all the important photos together and talked about how they would grab certain stuff on their way out the door in the event of fire! I'm sure to your family this was a major fire and I hope you all are able to cope with the lingering memories. {{{Hugs}}} to you and everyone else who was on the ship.

 

[DisneyKids]

Like the others have said, not being there certainly makes it seem like less of an incident. I, too, would have wanted an explanation. But, people talk. Ever take a line of school kids and have them whisper something to each other down that line? What the last one heard and the first one said are usually totally different. I think, in this case, DCL has to protect itself and tell the public only what it needs to.

All that said, I wasn't there. If my family was, I too would have been affected in a different way. But, I would at least hope that I could find a way to explain to my kids that this can happen and that there are people ready to help that are trained to do so. Again...easy for me to say...I know.

All of that said, I'm glad everyone was safe!

 

[dizneykids]

...you feel, mom2. we, too, were on board with our three boys (9, 8 and 3). our 8 yo got sick from the smoke (our assembly station (D) was port side, deck 4). but, we have experienced much worse from dcl and still go back. every trip is different, and disney really does a lot internally to learn from their problems and mistakes.

it is infuriating, though, to get the "sorry you experienced that" pat answer from senior management. following disneyana in 2000, my dh and i (thankfully, we left our boys at home) were on the wonder when (due to our slow speed and lack of wind) the diesel exhaust was sucked back into the midships ventillation system. i was sick for a week. the response to my letter of concern: "sorry you experienced that." i'm still angry (in case you can't tell!). but we love dcl and know that they have fixed whatever the problem is so it doesn't happen again.

we have already booked our next 7-day cruise! i just hope the old saying, "things happen in 3s," isn't true!!

 

[mom2buzzandwoody]

Thanks for everyone's encouraging words - It was not my intention to "bash" Disney in any way. The crew could not have done any better than they did in this emergency - they were wonderful. I know that many of them then had to go work regular shifts and were probably exhausted by the end of the day. My husband said that if anything this would make him cruise with Disney next time - seeing how they handled an emergency - however, it is worth noting that he does not want to go on a cruise any time soon ;-) My criticism of Disney is in the "spin" on the size/nature of the fire and the fact that I do not feel $100 onboard credit could in any way compensate for what we went through and the fact that this severely diminished the remainder of the cruise for our entire family.

 

[warrot]

Actually I never heard that teenager started the fire rather they SPOTTED the fire and could not get anyone to take them seriously that there was a fire..... I am wondering if hey ever got Mickys pool up and going this cruise. THey really should offer some incintiveto come back on the ship 100 is simpy not enough when you spend the kind of money you do to get on the ship in te first place. One other complaint....That STUPID drink mug....UUGGHH

 

[dizneykids]

...teens did spot the fire and were not taken seriously when they tried to report it. we spoke with the father of the teen in question and he said that the teen (an 18 yo) and another teen had to literally drag the crew member to the site of the funnel to convince him.

yes, they re-opened the mickey pool monday or tuesday. sounds like things are getting back to normal on board.

i agree about the $100 being lame, but i expect that's about all we'll see. i just rebooked for next year and my reservationist (who knew we were on the "fire cruise") didn't say anything about a special deal. i imagine that if there were to be an incentive to rebook, we would have heard about it while we were still on the ship.

okay...i'm game....WHICH stupid drink mug? the soda one or the one from ESPN?

 

[mikeymars]

Originally posted by ducklite


Was it really that long ago that they had the riot on PI? Or am I thinking of another MAJOR riot at PI that I thought happened in 1998 or so... Neither ever got any media atention, and the one I'm thinking of ended up with SWAT being called in...

Anne

Anne, I'm not familiar with any 1998 event (perhaps again evidence of just how good the PR controllers at Disney are!) The one I was referring to happened in 1994, when PI allowed the BET club to host a special rap concert. That event attracted a huge number of local Orlando teens, and things spun out of control when PI tried to shut down entrances. Bottles started flying, etc., and things quickly spun out of control. So much so that yes SWAT teams were eventually called in. Amazingly, the story never made the media, and there was talk for years implying that was because Disney literally controlled the local papers.

 

[jjgarv]

Speaking of mugs....has anyone bought the refillable beer mug for 10$. DOES THAT INITIAL PURCHASE COME FILLED? CAN YOU GET THEM ANYWHERE ON BOARD? cAN YOU TAKE THEM INTO THE RESTS?

 

[vickiered]

The beer mug (glass) is $10.00 plus $3.25 to fill first and all other times. Your best bet is to bring your own. The in room cooler is pretty slack, but we iced some down in the extra sink.. Our stateroom hostess was very good and kept our sink iced down. We got the beer mug at the bar at the Goofy pool, but I imagine they are available at all the bars. I did not notice any in the dining areas, but I am sure you could take them in.

 

[plutospup]

During the Navigators series (earlier in the week)we were told that the Disney Magic does have 5 engines. However, only 4 are operating at any given time. This is due to routine maintenance on one of the engines.
As for the captain's announcement, he said the "funnel extends from the engine room all the way past deck ten". As a result of a fire in the funnel, alarms went off on every deck adjacent to the funnel (i.e all passenger decks as well as crew quarters, etc.)

 

[randytenn]

Disney is a master of keeping things out of the press. You have to be in that business.

In college, I worked for another theme park. We had a major accident involving the parking lot tram going off an embankment, injuring several guests. It was my job to keep the press away. I had one newspaper guy run to his car to get his camera. I actually got an "attaboy" from my boss for the way I kept this reporter (and all reporters) away from the accident scene. Needless to say, it never made the papers or news. Nowadays, with cell phones and camcorders, I doubt we could be as successful.