Death at CR 06/05

[mking624]

There are a couple of things that come to mind when reading about this...

The first is my honeymoon. When we were there, there was an incident going on and we had no idea what it was. It was at the Boardwalk and many of the guests had been asked to stay away from there temporarily. They had no idea what was going on. We saw several of them ask CMs all over what was going on. Pretty much all of them were clueless (since Disney only shares info on a "need to know" basis...so park CMs wouldn't have been considered "need to know"). It wasn't until after the incident had been settled that we discovered what was going on...it was a hostage situation. A disgruntled husband (possibly ex) was holding his kids hostage at the Boardwalk where his wife worked in housecleaning. We weren't staying at BW, but we only knew there was something going on because of the BW guests that kept pressing CMs about what was going on. Most of the WDW guests had no clue.

The second incident that comes to mind is not Disney related, but the scenario is similar. My MIL used to work for this one high school outside Chicago. At a graduation party, something happened at a hotel where a young graduate either jumped or was pushed off a high balcony at a known hotel. I am not familiar with the entire story, but I do know that it wasn't covered by ANYONE and the hotel made no statements or anything to be released. The entire thing was kept incredibly hush hush to the point where even most of the school employees who had been chaperoning the party didn't have many details. This happened about 3 or 4 years ago.

My point is that no matter where an incident occurs, Disney or otherwise, places know very well how how to keep it quiet, even from those who are riht in the area.

 

[Beachangel]

FirstNo, I don't watch it, But my wife does.


ExPirateShopGirl, I have posted here for years. I created a new identity because I don't want my main identity assosiated with this. The other "surviving" male occupant of the room was much larger and stronger than me.

I didn't read thru this whole thread, but based on this OP's remark, I'm skeptical of the story.

 

[Luv2Roam]

No reason to be skeptical. I have no reason to doubt what the OP posted. It sounds plausible since the suicide did occur.

 

[Laurabearz]

I am so sorry your vacation will have this memory in it.


As far as Disney covering things up like this... I can beleive it. Heck, someone died on Castaway Cay on Disney's West Coast Panama Canal crossing and not a word in the press about that..... not even a thread here on the DIS about it.....

 

[C.Ann]

I didn't read thru this whole thread, but based on this OP's remark, I'm skeptical of the story.

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Why would you make a remark like that without having taken the time to read through the entire thread to see if the incident had occured?

 

[dzneprincess]

I am so sorry your vacation will have this memory in it.


As far as Disney covering things up like this... I can beleive it. Heck, someone died on Castaway Cay on Disney's West Coast Panama Canal crossing and not a word in the press about that..... not even a thread here on the DIS about it.....

There were many threads about it over on the cruise boards, but I still do not think an official word has been sent out on exactly what happened on CC.

 

[littlegreydonkey]

re the hostage incident above, we were in Orlando at the time, staying down on 192 and that one was on TV live, hmm at last a benefit of staying offsite.

 

[yensid2005]

One more quick "Thank You" to all the
Helpfull" post's.

As for the skeptic's... Please keep in mind that no one here know's wat we heard or saw. From our point of view, I INITIALLY had a difficult time with the "Suicide" theory. I now believe that I was wrong. I only came here for information and I recieved all that I needed to piece everything together.

AS far as this tragedy being newsworthy.. I am a product of a very small community. I have lived in my home town for my entire life. EVERYTHING is newsworthy here. As an example, Last weekemd there was an OLD, EMPTY, SINGLE CAR garage that accidently caught fire and burned to the ground. It was front page news with a large picture, full story and an interview with the police stateing that no charges would be filed.

I assumed that this tragedy would be newsworthy.. It would have been in my community, but I now know that it is not reported in larger communities.

Thanks to all.....

 

[Beachangel]

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Why would you make a remark like that without having taken the time to read through the entire thread to see if the incident had occured?

After I posted I did go back and read thru the entire thread including a post which included the blog entry regarding a love triangle gone awry. I guess the remark that the OP made on page 2 about hiding his identity from "the other man" odd and I reacted.

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

As far as Disney covering things up like this... I can beleive it. Heck, someone died on Castaway Cay on Disney's West Coast Panama Canal crossing and not a word in the press about that..... not even a thread here on the DIS about it.....

There were many threads about it over on the cruise boards, but I still do not think an official word has been sent out on exactly what happened on CC.

Sorry for going off topic, but I have tried to search other cruise boards (I usually only use this one, so not sure how many others there are) and I cannot find any information about a death on Castaway Cay. If someone could pm me a link or starting point, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks, Tink

 

[MickeyCrazed]

I understand why people initially thought your story was fake. There always seems to be someone trying to stir things up on these boards.
I hope you don't take those comments personally, and I sure feel for you.
What you witnessed would be really distressing and definately put a damper on the Magic.
I don't think the OP was being unreasonable by saying the CR staff wasn't really helpful. I'm not saying I would expect a free vacation or anything, but I would expect a little attention and understanding about what I witnessed.
It wouldn't have been unreasonable to offer to allow the OP the opportunity to to change resorts instead of just moving to another room.

 

[yensid2005]

MickeyCrazed, Thank You very much.. These are my thoughts exactly.

 

[disneygoof]

I work as a news editor at a 24 hour national television news service. We never broadcast suicides - doesn't matter where/when. There's a jumper weekly in the Toronto subway system - it's not even in the paper anymore.

I do remember learning somewhere that this is considered unwritten policy in most news media outlets due to the problem of copycats or serial suicides occurring, especially with the young. It does seem private to me as well.

Also, I'd venture a guess that there are cameras in the lobby of the CR and that would provide some pretty conclusive evidence as to whether it was suicide or foul play.

I don't think you'll be summonsed back, yensid2005, and I'm sorry for the trouble you witnessed.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

what an awful situation
i also soemthing a couple of days ago on another board but was like wow i would have thought it would be everywherelinks have been provided here and CM's have confirmed it so if you still think its a fake story i dont knwo whats wrong with you
an some people owe the OP a sorry
you know who you are

 

[Acklander]

I don't think the OP was being unreasonable by saying the CR staff wasn't really helpful. I'm not saying I would expect a free vacation or anything, but I would expect a little attention and understanding about what I witnessed.
It wouldn't have been unreasonable to offer to allow the OP the opportunity to to change resorts instead of just moving to another room.

While I don't think it's unreasonable to offer the OP the opportunity to change resorts we have to remember it was probably a bit of a trauma for the staff as well. Between dealing with police, investigators, family/friends of the victim, erecting/taking down tents, plus filling out their own witness statements, incident reports etc.... I can understand where a few things get over looked. Aren't many of the CM's college kids? I'm sure this was a first for a lot of people.
If I was the OP, what I would do is contact Disney and explain out the whole situation and see if Disney can help in anyway so that the family can have their vacation at a future date. Since the OP has to pay for travel expenses to/from Disney all over again, maybe Disney could help with a discounted room or something? It couldn't hurt to ask.

 

[Disneyjosh229]

Sorry if this has allready been posted, but was this during gay week? Ive heard of many "drug" problems, and I wonder if the "altercation" was about drugs or $$$?

 

[yensid2005]

While I don't think it's unreasonable to offer the OP the opportunity to change resorts we have to remember it was probably a bit of a trauma for the staff as well. Between dealing with police, investigators, family/friends of the victim, erecting/taking down tents, plus filling out their own witness statements, incident reports etc.... I can understand where a few things get over looked. Aren't many of the CM's college kids? I'm sure this was a first for a lot of people.



I think this is true to a small extent. The only person I saw working the front desk was a young looking girl. Maybe college age, maybe a little bit older. She was visibly trembling and was having a difficult time talking. The gentleman from security that kind of "took charge" of the scene until the Police arrived.... appeared kind of nervous as well. At one point when I was giving him my version of the events leading up to the death... We actually got into a little debate regarding what floor my room was on. I kept pointing to my room on the 7th floor and he insisted repeatedly that the room i was pointing to was on the 8th floor, not the 7th. I finally reminded him that on the Magic Kingdom side of the tower the occupied floors started on the 6th
floor. He thought that the Magic Kingdom side was the same as the resort view side. The resort View side of the tower.. the occupied rooms begin on the 5th floor. The Magic Kingdom side 5th floor is the Monorail Station.. so there cannot be any rooms on the 5th floor of the Magik kingdom side.

I hope I explained that correctly.. My point being that he was very nervous and I got the impression that he wasn't all that familiar with the resort.

But, None of the management that showed up as the morning progressed looked the least bit "upset" or "nervous". In my opinion they started "damage control" immediately upon their arrival. During the course of the morning in between waiting for the Police and giving repeated statements. I found myself being introduced to the "night manager" of the resort. He knew who I was, he called me by name and he "thanked me" for being "a long term CR repeat guest". He suggested that I return to my room and "go back to sleep". I explained to him that the police asked me to remain available to them, that there was an investigator "on his way" to talk to me. The manager said "nonsense, go back to your room and continue to enjoy your vacation". He said I "wouldn't be bothered any more". I returned to my room.. about 30 minutes later there was a homicide detective knocking (very softly) on my door.

Through it all, it became very apparent to me that the management of the resort was very well versed in how to handle "incidents" at the resort.

They insisted that I change rooms before I even had a chance to think about it. I think they wanted to get us out of that room and into another ASAP. I am not sure why, but I believe that our move was to benefit them, not us.

Thanks once again.....

 

[yensid2005]

Sorry if this has allready been posted, but was this during gay week? Ive heard of many "drug" problems, and I wonder if the "altercation" was about drugs or $$$?

Yes.. It was Saturday night/Sunday morning during Gay Week.

 

[snyderla]

I'm sorry for what you have experienced! I go to WDW to completely escape reality and I would have a very hard time dealing with something like that. I am glad that Disney does such a good job of shielding guests from the details of such things. Of course horrible things happen at Disney, just as they do all over the world, but I don't want to know about them while I am there, since I go there to escape and forget the problems/troubles of the world! It's none of my business, unless I'm a witness or involved directly or in danger personally. JMO

It would seem kind of eerie to have witnessed such a thing and then have it hushed as if it never happened though!

Lori

 

[Lil_Tink]

I believe this story got less coverage as of the MS insodent.. What is up with disney and death recently...