8 people hurt at WDW ferry accident........

[ncligs]

This was in todays Orlando paper (12-29).........


8 hurt in Disney ferry crash

LAKE BUENA VISTA -- Several people were hurt in a ferryboat crash Friday night at Walt Disney World.

A worker docking the boat put the engines into reverse too late, and the ferry slammed into the dock, Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Polak said.

Eight people received minor injuries and were taken to Orlando Regional Sand Lake Hospital and Florida Hospital Celebration Health. Polak said Saturday that six of the injured had been treated and released and that Disney officials were still trying to learnthe conditions of the remaining two.

The crash happened around 11 p.m. aboard a ferry that takes people to and from the Magic Kingdom across the Seven Seas Lagoon.

The boat was ferrying 400 people to the front parking area.

The worker has been a ferry captain at Disney since September, Polak said.

Officials are still investigating the crash and said it was premature to say whether the worker would face repercussions.

 

[SplshMtn99]

But isn't this why they tell you to stay seated until docked? (This comment comes from YEARS of boating experience -- not aimed at WDW or passengers.)

Hope everyone gets well & has no long term injuries.

 

[helenabear]

That's too bad that this happened... but I am glad to hear that there were no serious injuries.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I was just discussing that, banging into the docks, while on a Friendship boat earlier this month, as to whether it ever or often occurs. Good to hear the injuries were not too bad. As far as being seated, I think on the ferry there are more people standing than seated. There is probably room for fewer than 200 to sit. Just an observation.

 

[SplshMtn99]

There is probably room for fewer than 200 to sit. Just an observation.

Thanks for pointing that out Dan. You're probably right.

But I can tell you from experience boats normally "bump hard" into docks -- especially here on the Cape with winds. It's common to loose your balance if you aren't expecting it.

They do an exceptional job at WDW with docking.

 

[C.Ann]

Yikes! We ALWAYS stand! May have to rethink that in the future..

So glad the injuries weren't serious..

 

[Gail T AGAIN]

I am brutally honest and some may get mad at me saying this but HERE COMES SOME LAW SUITS. Hope everyone is ok

 

[DaisyDebbie]

During Dis-Con hubby and I were on a ferry from the Yacht and Beach Club to MGM. The capt. was an older gentleman and everytime we docked he slammed the ferry into the dock. His co-pilot just shook his head. I think it might be time for that particular capt. to retire

 

[Blondie]

While on the Friendship boat in February, as we were docking at the Yacht & Beach Club, it banged rather hard into the pier, and the Capt. made a little joke about "get off now while you can" and everybody laughed (it was meant to be a joke.) Everyone was sitting, and nobody was hurt.

Is the ferry that had the accident the one that travels to and from the Wilderness Lodge? I wasn't aware that they could hold 400 people, yikes!

 

[Pin Wizard]

Originally posted by SplshMtn99
But isn't this why they tell you to stay seated until docked?

It had 400 passengers on board? If it's like their buses, people were standing!

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by Blondie
Is the ferry that had the accident the one that travels to and from the Wilderness Lodge? I wasn't aware that they could hold 400 people, yikes!

I think it was the big one that travels from the TTC to MK.

 

[Kermit]

It sounds like it was the big ferry that takes people from MK to the TTC. I'm pretty sure that's the biggest one on property, and people do have to stand during peak times. And at 11:00, it would most likely be very crowded.

It's been my experience that boats run into docks a lot of the time. That has to be a really hard job, since there's no way to really stop a boat, and the speed and direction of the water movement is constantly changing. I was on a dinner cruise once off of Galveston Island, and the boat took off a significant piece of the dock while trying to dock.