Disney may get a "bad name"

[matt&jakesmom]

I woke up this morning and heard about the boy who died on RNR. I felt so sorry for his family.

It seems in the last year that is all we hear about is someone dying at WDW due to a ride. There are so many other theme parks in the U.S. and yet I don't hear anything drastic in the news about them. Is it the WDW name that the media is focusing on?

I just hope that WDW doesn't get a bad name from all of this or that people will second guess about taking a trip there. It really is the most "magical" place.

 

[JRawkSteady]

I think the majority of people realize that there ARE health restrictions and if people do not heed by them, it's going to be trouble. I don't think this will affect Disney...if it does, there will be even MORE cutbacks....

 

[NJBlackBerry]

No, Disney will not get a bad name. Only in the media and in worry-worts who persist in discussing the few injuries that actually occur there.

Now driving, smoking and DUI - those are things you SHOULD be worried about. Not Disney.

 

[mking624]

That fact that millions of people keep going to Disney shows that Disney is not getting a bad name.

 

[Sonno]

How many people die in Fords and Chevys every year? Do they get a bad name?

I wouldn't worry about it too much.

 

[donna93]

I maybe considered a "worry wart" but my family is going for the first time to disney in just 2 days and im extremely worried! I also found out yesturday that the airport were leaving at has bad safety b.c it is not air conditioned and it was 94 degrees! A girl passed out!! I feel very sorry for the family

 

[yanners]

I heard no details about the death. What exactly happened? I only heard that the boy died...

 

[kaytieeldr]

There are several active threads in this forum about the incident. Just scan the list of threads!

 

[oxfordcircus]

How many people die in Fords and Chevys every year? Do they get a bad name?

Wow. How to answer this one...




As for the OP, Disney's parks saw increased attendance last year vs. 2004. Universal's attendance was down considerably. Disney is reportedly up for the 1st quarter of 06 as well, even after the deaths last year.

 

[Mickey1122]

Disney isn't the only theme park with deaths. Because it is easily the most popular and well known, it is big news.

 

[NJBlackBerry]

So you are worried about the airport safety and temperature and worried about Disney.

Relax and have a great time.

It's hot. Did you know it's hot in Florida too? 88 and humid there.

 

[Bill From PA]

WDW is a big, tempting target for 'news' organizations which drive their sales via lurid headlines. A death at WDW? Juicy story. A death at a county fair in East Jesus Arkansas? You'll never hear of it.

Bill From PA

 

[SnwflkCts]

Yeah, my coworker (who hasn't been to Disney in YEARS) started going on and on about the deaths. He was reading some article on the fact there have been 14 since 1989. I said the park opened in 1971 -- so wouldn't that be 14 since 1971? ... and then on and on about safety this and that .... I said, but look at the amount of people that go and don't get hurt or die???

Not that I don't want rides to be as safe as they can be ... but I can walk out my door, trip on the step and hit my head on the concrete and die. It's upsetting but there are no guarantees in life!!!!

... of course from there went the discussion of how no one ever dies in Disney .... well, people rarely are pronounced dead anywhere but in the hospital where someone can legally make the pronouncement ... big deal ... I wouldn't want to advertise that someone died on my property either ....

 

[Miniefan]

WDW is a huge company of course they are focusing on somehing negative to report.....Headlines read, "Death at Disney" and millions of people tune in. Accidents happen everywhere all over the world you just don't hear about them. And, although it does seem like in the last year Disney has had its fair share of accidents and deaths, all of these accidents were due to the individuals health conditions or carelessness and not malfunction of the attractions at WDW. The other thing is that WDW sees a great deal more people on a daily basis than say Six Flags or other smaller theme parks across the nation, thereby increasing it's probability that an incident could happen. I do feel bad for the child's family but I doubt that this is going to hinder folks from traveling down there....maybe the lines for RnRC will be shorter but I don't really see anyone changing their travel plans because of this..... And, as far as a bad name for Disney, I am sure they'll find some way to recover.

Kim

 

[TSR6]

Disney is big national headlines. Almost everyone knows that Disney has two huge parks in the US.

Something happens at Six Flags, it's just local news. A lot of people don't even know where a Six Flags is other than the one closest to them - if they even know that!

Someone mentioned in another thread that he/she can search news articles with some software - and found more deaths in other parks than Disney - yet we don't hear about that on the national news!