Brawl at Test Track-Epcot

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

I feel like I'm repeating myself here: Is there an article indicating this employee got in trouble? I haven't seen one.

All aboard!!!!!

 

[declansdad]

But, this more than likely will be viewed by the powers that be as very grievous. This opens Disney up to liability issues whether any of us agree with it or not.

True but they would be opened up to liability issues whether they fired the employee or not. What I'm saying is that each incident is different and that should be part of the policy. In a case like this, the CM simply tried to split the parties up; it would be quite different if he started pummelling the guests.

 

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

True but they would be opened up to liability issues whether they fired the employee or not. What I'm saying is that each incident is different and that should be part of the policy. In a case like this, the CM simply tried to split the parties up; it would be quite different if he started pummelling the guests.

But they can mitigate some of those liability issues by revealing that the CM was fired due to their actions. It's the legal game being played. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but I have no doubt how it would play out if it were to become reality.

 

[Sue M]

I think the problem with test track is after you leave the testing room everyone is funnelled into the next holding area and it becomes a free for all before you get to ramp. Poor design. There's always going to be stupid guests who will try to worm their way closer, so they may make it on the ride a whopping 2 minutes earlier.

 

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

I'm wrapping myself in bubble wrap prior to getting in the line at Test Track next time I go! I'll show them!!!!!

 

[DeluxePrincess]

I feel like I'm repeating myself here: Is there an article indicating this employee got in trouble? I haven't seen one.

Post # 231 from a CM. I've no doubt there are investigations going on from Disney.

 

[LoveThatMouse!]

How 'bout a GoFundMe account for the CM if he gets fired? (Call me crazy, but I'd give a few bucks)

Kid needs some encouragement for trying to do the 'right' thing despite being against company policy. Gee Wilikers....
especially if CM's don't receive any proper training on how to deal with the lunatics.

 

[Capang]

I've spent more years working at inner-city schools than I care to admit. We are instructed to not break up fights. Ever. Call for the (armed) officer that works in our building and get out of the way. There have been times that staff has jumped in. One family came up to the school and got in by saying they needed to pick up their child early. Instead they jumped a different child that was in line with a class because the families didn't get along. You can bet we all jumped in. Officer, principal, teachers, counselors jumped in and pulled three people off that child. Could we have been fired? Absolutely. However there is no way any of us would allow a child to be hurt that way. Sometimes jumping in and breaking up fights is unavoidable or is just the right thing to do even if you do get fired. Using an umbrella as a weapon in a small enclosed space that is filled with children is so wholly unacceptable. The cm did a fantastic job and if he loses his job that would be awful. However, the bigger disappointment, aside from witnessing the breakdown of society via cellphone, is Disney security. Where were they? Why wouldn't Disney put their foot down and say you need to leave? Surely kicking out one or two families won't impact their revenue. I always felt safe going to WDW because I figured if anything truly terrible happened all those plain clothes security guards I read about would jump right in. Maybe those guys don't really exist...makes me second guess disneys ability to deal with critical emergency situations if they can't handle a small fight in a line.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

A good employer would only use a one strike and you're out rule on something truly grievous. If you have that has never had a problem, you should be not be automatically firing them without examining the circumstances of the incident.

I thought any one strike and you're out rule was stupid?

 

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

I've spent more years working at inner-city schools than I care to admit. We are instructed to not break up fights. Ever. Call for the (armed) officer that works in our building and get out of the way. There have been times that staff has jumped in. One family came up to the school and got in by saying they needed to pick up their child early. Instead they jumped a different child that was in line with a class because the families didn't get along. You can bet we all jumped in. Officer, principal, teachers, counselors jumped in and pulled three people off that child. Could we have been fired? Absolutely. However there is no way any of us would allow a child to be hurt that way. Sometimes jumping in and breaking up fights is unavoidable or is just the right thing to do even if you do get fired. Using an umbrella as a weapon in a small enclosed space that is filled with children is so wholly unacceptable. The cm did a fantastic job and if he loses his job that would be awful. However, the bigger disappointment, aside from witnessing the breakdown of society via cellphone, is Disney security. Where were they? Why wouldn't Disney put their foot down and say you need to leave? Surely kicking out one or two families won't impact their revenue. I always felt safe going to WDW because I figured if anything truly terrible happened all those plain clothes security guards I read about would jump right in. Maybe those guys don't really exist...makes me second guess disneys ability to deal with critical emergency situations if they can't handle a small fight in a line.

In my opinion the plain clothed security is not as large in quantity or as effective as everyone wishes they were. The area is just too large for someone to be able to respond to any situation at any time within seconds, or even minutes. I'm sure there are areas where a response time would be minimal. I doubt they plan for a heavy security presence in ride lines. It just wouldn't be a cost effective way to budget for such rare incidents.

 

[declansdad]

But they can mitigate some of those liability issues by revealing that the CM was fired due to their actions. It's the legal game being played. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but I have no doubt how it would play out if it were to become reality.

I agree with you, that's probably what would happen. My point is and always has been is that having rules such as those are stupid and will most likely cost you good employees and harm employee morale.

 

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

I agree with you, that's probably what would happen. My point is and always has been is that having rules such as those are stupid and will most likely cost you good employees and harm employee morale.

And I agree with you on this as well. Unfortunately, a company has to look at the legal ramifications of their policies and decide their importance. Also unfortunate is that they rarely worry about whether employees will be bothered by those decisions.

 

[declansdad]

I thought any one strike and you're out rule was stupid?

As I said before, one strike and your out is stupid if there is no ability to examining each incident separately. There are some legitimate reasons (theft, threats or assault for example) for immediate dismissal but not every reason should (trying to stop a fight so the combatants and possibly other guests) lead to a dismissal. There have been examples of employers telling employees to not administer and Epi pen, if an employee violated that rule to save a life they certainly shouldn't be fired.

 

[declansdad]

And I agree with you on this as well. Unfortunately, a company has to look at the legal ramifications of their policies and decide their importance. Also unfortunate is that they rarely worry about whether employees will be bothered by those decisions.

and we are back to where we started, that's a stupid way of treating employees.

 

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

and we are back to where we started, that's a stupid way of treating employees.

Lawyers don't get much HR training in law school.

 

[Capang]

In my opinion the plain clothed security is not as large in quantity or as effective as everyone wishes they were. The area is just too large for someone to be able to respond to any situation at any time within seconds, or even minutes. I'm sure there are areas where a response time would be minimal. I doubt they plan for a heavy security presence in ride lines. It just wouldn't be a cost effective way to budget for such rare incidents.

In today's day and age they better plan for heavy security and response times no more than a few minutes. Heck, we have had deescalation training, active shooter training, anti-terrorism training and the list gets longer each year. I would certainly hope a place like WDW would provide their CMs the same training and the security force to back them up.

 

[girlsmom]

I cant believe how these adults behaved, especially with children all around!

 

[DisneyPrince1982]

So essentially the CM was in damned if you do, damned if you don't. He's likely to be fired (I guess) by Disney for intervening in a fight. But if he had stood by and just watched people fight and those people ended up seriously hurt, I suspect he would have also been fired for just standing, eating some popcorn, and enjoying the show. And I guess some folks would also side with Disney because the employer is never wrong.

 

[DisneyPrince1982]

All aboard!!!!!

I'm not really sure why you find the speculation so amusing. I think I've seen at least a baker's dozen smart aleck replies from you.

 

[Dizlvr]

I have a feeling that if the CM just stood there talking to these women and they hurt anyone in line, people would be asking why he just stood there and did nothing...regardless of what he is told to do. Then we would have people who would say that if it was them, they would break the rules in the interest of public safety....

I really think the CM was darned if he did, darned of he didn't.