DLR and Earthquakes

[AlexMouse]

So... does anyone know Disneyland Resort's actual policy regarding Earthquakes?

I was there on the 17th when they closed every attraction.

I've been there before when there have been earthquakes in the area (here in California we have earthquakes all the time... to the point where I don't even feel them anymore usually!) and they didn't close anything.

So I'm thinking there must be some set of criteria, like distance from Anaheim, minimum magnitude, or something like that, that closes all the attractions.

Does anyone know? (Or is this closing every attraction thing a new policy?)

I didn't feel a quake at all on the 17th, but I'm thinking that it may have occurred while I was riding California Screamin and just didn't notice it.

I'd far rather be safe, of course, but am just curious if anyone knows what the policy actually is.

 

[Burnt Toast]

When earthquakes higher then a certain magnitude happens (I don't know the threshhold offhand), the attractions automatically shut down (by the safety computers and/or Cast Members getting a call to do so). Then every attraction has to be inspected by the engineers and cleared of any structural damage before Guests are allowed back on the attraction. Higher profile attractions are obviously cleared first, but it's a slow process sometimes as there are very few people at the Resort that is authorized to clear an attraction.

Inspections are VERY throughout... it's all for Guest safety. I'd bet that Sunday's took longer (I read your other thread) because the earthquake was centered VERY close to the DLR, just a few miles south of LAX.

 

[mechurchlady]

It also depends on how they have to clear a ride. They can "cycle" the ride where they send out empty ride vehicles while exiting all current riders. Cycling is the easiest and fastest way to get guests off of rides.

The second method is for the ride to stop totally and the guests have to leave their ride vehicle and exit through the ride on foot. This might require ladders for rides like Peter Pan and can be very long and hard to do if some guests are disabled or petrified to where they do not or cannot cooperate. This is extremely rare though.

I know that at any time at any public spot nature could strike but I go without fear as I know basic safety and am not going to fear what probably will never happen. it could happen but considering the odds are a billion or million to one I am not afraid. In fact my worst evacuation of a ride was at Magic Mountain when a boat full of big football player type of dudes got stuck. I had to crawl out of one boat to another and then another. In that case it was dudes who were nurtured too much, lol.

 

[AlexMouse]

Definitely good to know, since we do have a lot of quakes out here in cali.

It does seem quite odd to me that I've just been lucky enough to never be in the midst of that before. Of course it would have to happen on my 1-day-only-visit-there-this-year.

You can't win them all, and like I mentioned, I'd far rather be safe.

Still, what a bummer to be at Disneyland with all of the attractions closed.

 

[mechurchlady]

My dad loved Disneyland and one time sat in gum. Out of all them times to the park and one time is all. All the times you go to the parks and the odds of even having an earthquake over 3.0 is rare. The odds of anything happening is very rare.

It just happens that God, natures or what ever you call it dealt you an earthquake. That also shows you that you were so engrossed in life experiences that you missed a good sized shaker.

 

[Burnt Toast]

Funny thing, I missed it too. I was at a wedding reception in Pomona (at the Pomona Valley Mining Company) that afternoon and didn't hear about the earthquake until I checked Twitter that night.

 

[AlexMouse]

I know that at any time at any public spot nature could strike but I go without fear as I know basic safety and am not going to fear what probably will never happen. it could happen but considering the odds are a billion or million to one I am not afraid.

HA! I think the odds are probably a lot better than that that there will be earthquakes in California!

I know there's been earthquakes in the area before when I've been at Disneyland and nothing closed down at all. We'd hear about it later on the news back at the hotel room or I'd see it on the news on my smartphone while in the park. But I'm guessing none of these were as big or as close as the one that occurred on the 17th.

I live near San Francisco... so we get 'em up here all the time. Once in a while I'll feel it, but usually the only way I know about it is someone tells me or I see it on the news later.

 

[AlexMouse]

It just happens that God, natures or what ever you call it dealt you an earthquake. That also shows you that you were so engrossed in life experiences that you missed a good sized shaker.

Heh, maybe... I theorized in the other thread that it's God's way of telling me that I shouldn't have spent the money when I'm unemployed.

Still, I had the free tickets and they were about to expire. We spent very little on the trip, going for just one day, but gosh, maybe I should have bought groceries at home instead

(We did get to ride: Matterhorn, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, California Screamin (twice), Orange Stinger, and Golden Zephyr, so the day was not a total loss!)

 

[mechurchlady]

The earthquake affected many. If God wanted to punish you or send you a message about wasteful spending he could have given you a flat tire the morning you were about to leave for DLR or caused the tie rod to fail. That or a very bad case of stomach flu.

Nothing wrong with going and having fun as long as you are trying to get the job. Some people believe that only those that work are entitled to movies, plays, football games, and amusement parks. I worked hard and inhaled a lot of dust one year to make money and now am paying for my work experiences like a dog that went one way as I was going the other way, back gave out.

Do not feel to guilty over this trip and savor the memories. Keep trying to get the job you need and I will say a little prayer tonight for you.

chin up
hugs
Laurie

 

[pixiedust519]

I just have to post a funny story about this... My boyfriend and I were there the night of the earthquake too. We had gone around DL all day collecting fastpasses to use late that night since DCA was open til 10 and DL was open til 12. It was my boyfriend's first time riding Tower of Terror and we used our fastpass and bypassed the 45 minute wait time around 8:30pm. While we're in the library room where they show the video and they're talking about "on a stormy night..." the whole floor starts shaking and the lamp by the tv starts swaying back and forth for a good 10-15 seconds. It was timed perfect to the video and my boyfriend thought it was part of the ride! He was like, "That was so cool! What an awesome effect!" Everyone else in the room seemed to think the same thing until we walked out by the elevators and the CMs told us they were evacuating the whole building due to a minor earthquake!! Imagine our surprise! For two Florida kids who have never been in an earthquake, it was actually kinda cool that we felt it! We're so used to hurricanes but weren't used to anything like that. We stuck around til almost 9:30 and then walked to DL to catch the end of the fireworks. (Noticed that Tink didn't fly so we were really glad we saw them the night before.) We hung out at DL for a long time and eventually Pirates and Small World opened so we rode those and then left -- sadly, without using any of our fastpasses. At least we still had 2 more days in the parks after that!!!

 

[AlexMouse]

Do not feel to guilty over this trip and savor the memories. Keep trying to get the job you need and I will say a little prayer tonight for you.

chin up
hugs
Laurie

Thanks for that. I was laid off at the end of last year and have really been discouraged lately with the job search. I keep telling myself that I'll find something before my unemployment runs out.

The 1-day disneyland trip was really the only day I've had to "go do something" since I lost my job... we just don't have the money to do anything.

I'm used to visiting Disneyland a few times a year, so it's been kind of like withdrawal without my Disney!

 

[AlexMouse]

At least we still had 2 more days in the parks after that!!!

Oh yeah, so why don't you just RUB IT IN!!!!

We actually didn't know what had happened right away. We got off California Screamin and went over to go and try to ride Grizzly River Run, which of course was closed. We then headed over to Tower of Terror since we had not been on it yet, and there was a multitude of people coming at us... at first I thought that the Aladdin show has just got out, but then figured out that it was way too late for that. "This doesn't look good" I said.

It was only when we went over to the other park that we actually heard cast members telling folks that all attractions were delayed due to the earthquake.

 

[pycees312]

Thanks for that. I was laid off at the end of last year and have really been discouraged lately with the job search. I keep telling myself that I'll find something before my unemployment runs out.

The 1-day disneyland trip was really the only day I've had to "go do something" since I lost my job... we just don't have the money to do anything.

I'm used to visiting Disneyland a few times a year, so it's been kind of like withdrawal without my Disney!

this time around the job search is different. you cannot sit at your computer looking for leads. you need to be out networking. talking to everyone you know.I work in the Career Transition field and more jobs are found networking than anything. treat your job search like your job get up dressed like normal and out the door networking and talking to people, attend seminars etc.. Good luck to you.

 

[AlexMouse]

this time around the job search is different. you cannot sit at your computer looking for leads. you need to be out networking. talking to everyone you know.I work in the Career Transition field and more jobs are found networking than anything. treat your job search like your job get up dressed like normal and out the door networking and talking to people, attend seminars etc.. Good luck to you.

What your saying is good advice in general, but it really depends. At some companies, you can really put them off by being too dressed up. I work in IT, and for the most part, I'v never worked a job where I was expected to be more dressed up than jeans and a polo shirt. That's not saying I wouldn't wear a suit when going for an interview... but it just depends. For example, going to an interview at Tivo I would NOT wear a suit to.

I know I'll find something soon... it's just not a good place and time. Here in cali there are thousands of tech workers out of work who all have the same skills that I do, so it just comes down to getting that interview.

The longest I've ever been out of work before was about 5 months, so this is kind of a new thing for me. I've really had to re-learn a lot of things, like how to eat cheaply, etc.

I do consider myself lucky that I was able to make it down to Disneyland for that 1-day trip. Heck, even if I didn't get to ride anything, it was still an opportunity to drive my mustang out of Highway 5 for a while... you have to look at the positive side when you're unemployed in this economy!

There's almost always jobs in my field posted at Disney... I'm still considering that, but I might need to save up some money to make that move to southern cali first.

 

[mechurchlady]

I think you should go for the job with Disney as they are always going to be in business. Once you have the job you can come down here and soon will be in DLR every chance you can. Do not put off trying for them jobs hun. God provides in mysterious ways, so it is said. In other words he has given you a job to try for but you must first take that leap of faith and jump while not knowing what will come next. you can do it, I know it.

 

[Shelebeen]

We were there as well that night. My girlfriend and I and her son were waiting for the fireworks sitting on Main Street - I felt it, couldn't figure out what was happening for a moment...then clued in (being from the middle of the continent I thought it was kind of cool).. My husband, her husband and the rest of the kids were on Jungle Cruise and didn't feel a thing - it was also not closed down.

I read that only the computerized rides get shut down automatically with a sensor. Stuff like Autopia, Jungle Cruise, etc are not effected.

 

[mechurchlady]

All rides are computerized except for Main Street vehicles probably and the train. Maybe it is because Jungle Cruise is out doors, who knows but I will wait for Albort or another CM to answer that question, very interesting.

Was the ride loading new guests? Cycling is where you get to ride the ride but nobody else gets on so it may seem like Mansion is running for example but on the other side of the wall nobody new is riding.

 

[wdhinn89]

How long did the rides shut down for? What is the normal shut down time?

 

[Huff]

I've been going to California for business and vacations 5-10 times a year for 30 years and so far have never felt a single earthquake on any of those trips.

I did feel an earthquake at home in Phoenix, AZ several years ago. Phoenix is not on a fault line so knew it must be a big California quake felt this far away. My furniture was shaking and doors and windows rattling. Next morning I checked the news. Sure enough a massive quake had hit the mountains outside of Los Angeles.

 

[heatherbelle]

Goodness me, I have just read this thread.

As you can see, I'm from the UK. We will be here in August.

Can someone tell me what you do it an Earthquake strikes. I'm use to visiting WDW, and all the hotels there are prepared for Hurrican's. I'm hoping even a little one doesn't murmer whilst we are there. But if I know what to do, I'll feel safer.

I'm one of those nutty people, who always has to have a seat on a plane within 5 rows of an emergency exit, and always read the safety instructions.