Fire Destroys a Disney Bus

[DC7800]

Originally posted by ztbz
to me I was not surprise that the bus caught on fire, it all comes down to the buses being properly maintained

There are far, far too many pararells between this incident and the tragic wreck on Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The "speculation" in that case centered on a lack of maintenance in causing what was an otherwise completely preventable "accident". Indeed, Al Lutz and other commentators wrote rather scathing articles on the problems with neglected maintenance at Disneyland. There was also the recent and sudden closure of DL's Space Mountain after serious track defects were uncovered.

Now we have this incident at WDW, also apparently a mechanical issue and, as such, also basically preventable. Of course, there are indeed those "one-in-a-million" incidents that are virtually impossible to forsee, but most of the time the problem can be traced to a specific cause - one that could have been remedied or discovered before the "incident" occurred, had the effort been made. Fortunately, in this case, no one was injured.

We all know maintenance and general upkeep has sometimes been neglected in WDW. Now, in Disney's defense, chipped paint in the United Kingdom (for instance) is a very different issue from mechanical inspections over matters of bus safety, but continung problems in this area could look very bad on Disney's part (even if they are completely random and/or unavoidable "accidents").

Unfortunately, in this instance Disney may be it's own worst enemy. A lack of full disclosure on this incident leaves observers with only a handful of facts, a ton of speculation, and no doubt a great deal of misconception. As Tyler suggested from the very beginning, without the full story people could assume that Disney may be trying to hide something. If this is truly an unavoidable event that in no way could have been anticipated no matter how extensive the maintenance, that knowldege would quickly put an end to stories of neglected maintenance. However, by not coming forward - coupled with tales of other neglected mechanical defects within the company - just serves to fuel the fire.

 

[crzy4dsny]

Don't you think someone in the media knew about this incident even before the fire was put out? I'll bet they knew about it even before the first firetruck got to the scene. Vehicles go on fire everyday. It's a common occurrance. No one was injured. If they felt it was news worthy it would have been on the news.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by SueM in MN
As for this thread having a high number of posts, about half are by the same poster.

Total posts so far =43
Total views so far=1230
Total posts by same person=13

I guess we need a recount.
Bottom line......the paying public(customers) have a right know.

 

[Geoff_M]

Many of the existing older Cast Members refused to sign it as it does restrict or violates the First Amendment of the US Construction on Freedom of Speech,...

It does no such thing, someone signing such an agreement is still free to speak whatever they want, but Disney is under no obligation to continue to employ them if they do. If such an agreement did in fact violates a CMs Constitutional rights, it could be challenged in court... But to my knowledge no such challenges have been successful.

A lack of full disclosure on this incident leaves observers with only a handful of facts, a ton of speculation, and no doubt a great deal of misconception.

Maybe I've missed it... But has anyone actually bothered to request information about the incident from WDW and been denied? Personally, I don't think the onus is on Disney to issue a pre-emptive news bulletin whenever anything goes wrong anywhere on the property.

 

[jann1033]

(I no doubt will regret even getting into this but....) isn't this a perfect display of why not only Disney but many companies do not make every incident that happens on their property public knowledge ?...this has gone from an simple and minor accident where no one was hurt to a big consipiracy cover up debate.. just to make sure I am not involved in a cover up let the record show I had a car blow up and totally disintigrate in my driveway last summer...I did not release a statement about it to the media! is that a cover up...? I'm sure the police knew about it since we called them along with the fire dept. and it was in their report but no one from the press came running out to my house. why? because no one cares! it was an accident, why make it a bigger deal than it was. same applies here.

 

[TDC Nala]

is the argument here that Disney was obligated to put out a press release saying they had a fire on a bus? What company would do that?

If anybody had been hurt, darned right it would have been all over the news anyway.

 

[linda8892]

Do ypu think that we hear about all the daily incidents involving aircraft across the world? I am sure that the general public does not hear about half of the engine fires on commercial aircraft or the number of aborted takeoffs and landings where lives are at stake.

Since Michael Eisner will be in town this week for the Press Event at World Disney World maybe Nick can request a private audience with him to find out all the details about the fire on the WDW bus.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by linda8892
Since Michael Eisner will be in town this week for the Press Event at World Disney World maybe Nick can request a private audience with him to find out all the details about the fire on the WDW bus.

linda8892
Since you are a CM of WDW if you arrange it.........I will be there.

Evidently a lot more people and posters are "wondering" what happen to that bus then just me....check the numbers below.

Pages=4
Posts=49
Views=1465

 

[phillybeth]

Evidently a lot more people and posters are "wondering" what happen to that bus then just me....check the numbers below.

Nope, not interested in the bus anymore. What got me was the 4 pages of bickering about it.
Did I ever tell you about the time I saw a doom buggy on HM go off the track and hit the wall inside the ride? Happened right in front of me. No one in the car, no one got hurt, and guess what? IT WASN'T ON THE NEWS! Imagine my shock and horror.
Is it on the news every time a mass transit bus catches on fire? No it isn't. So why is is SO important that Disney report a fire that happened on their mass transit? Are theme park guests lives more important than a bunch of people going to work or school?

 

[KNWVIKING]

***" So why is is SO important that Disney report a fire that happened on their mass transit? "***

A $100,000.00 bus full of people in the worlds busiest resort burns to the ground and that's NOT newsworthy because nobody got hurt ?

The average "population" of WDW is probably about 2-3 times the size of my hometown. If a school bus hits a mailbox it stands a good chance of being on the front page.

 

[PammyK]

Originally posted by KNWVIKING
***" So why is is SO important that Disney report a fire that happened on their mass transit? "***

A $100,000.00 bus full of people in the worlds busiest resort burns to the ground and that's NOT newsworthy because nobody got hurt ?

The average "population" of WDW is probably about 2-3 times the size of my hometown. If a school bus hits a mailbox it stands a good chance of being on the front page.

Exactly...anything that happens in a smaller town/city in Southern NJ is going to be front page news because it is NOT a major metropolitan area. Therefore, the local news outlet will consider this more newsworthy. Now, transplant your burnt bus with no injuries to a larger metropolitan area and you won't even get a 1/2 column inch behind the obituary page. Especially if the incident happens on private property.

And also keep in mind that a large portion of the local population just really doesn't care what happens at WDW. Having worked with many locally born folks I can tell you that most haven't been to WDW in ages. Now a Lynx bus on I-4 with a similar problem would be of much more interest because it would potentially have a much greater impact on the local population.

Finally, you all know that Robert Johnson of the Orlando Sentinel would be all over this if Disney really was trying to hide something. If there was any hint of negligence in this incident it would have been reported in the local media outlets.

 

[KNWVIKING]

***"...anything that happens in a smaller town/city in Southern NJ is going to be front page news because it is NOT a major metropolitan area. "***

The largest city in NJ with a population over 60k with Philly 30 minutes away isn't exactly the same as Cowpie, Montana

There was potential for great tragedy when this bus caught fire. The fact that no one was injured doesn't mean it should be treated as if nothing happened. I'm not looking to create a witch hunt or blow this out of proportion, but for Disney to act like nothing happened, ( if in fact that is what they are doing) just isn't right.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Nick@ VB+OKW
Is this Russia or the USA?

It is the USA and if you know the rules before you sign on to a company and you agree, it is a contract and I applaud Tyler for holding to it. If you don't like the rules, you don't have to sign on. I have worked for banks with the same rules.

I don't understand why everyone thinks they need to know everything that happens there.

The bus caught fire, that is very unfortunate. No one was hurt, that is very fortunate, in fact wonderful.

It is supposed to be a "magical" place, stuff like this spooks people and destroys the magic.

 

[PammyK]

Originally posted by KNWVIKING
***"...anything that happens in a smaller town/city in Southern NJ is going to be front page news because it is NOT a major metropolitan area. "***

The largest city in NJ with a population over 60k with Philly 30 minutes away isn't exactly the same as Cowpie, Montana

There was potential for great tragedy when this bus caught fire. The fact that no one was injured doesn't mean it should be treated as if nothing happened. I'm not looking to create a witch hunt or blow this out of proportion, but for Disney to act like nothing happened, ( if in fact that is what they are doing) just isn't right.

Hey, I'm from Central NJ originally and anything near Philly is considered the same as Cowpie, Montana. LOL To us, the only real city near the state of NJ is New York City. Just kidding of course....and anyway, the size/importance of cities in NJ isn't even the issue here so....

From what I've seen, no one has said that Disney has acted like nothing happened. I think Tyler mentioned that all buses were inspected to ensure that there was nothing wrong that would cause a similar incident. Besides, what is Disney supposed to do?? Call all the local media outlets and say, "Guess what...one of our buses caught fire today!! Won't you please report this on the news?!?! We'd just love to frighten all our potential guests"
I'm sorry but that would be ridiculous for any corporation to do. Just as I believe it is ridiculous to think that Disney is trying to hide something with regard to this incident. Unless they get a specific request from the news media, they're not going to issue a media statement, especially since there were no injuries. I don't think NJ transit or SEPTA or the NYC MTA gets news coverage every time a bus breaks down or has a fire. And I would venture to guess that these transportation systems are as busy, if not busier, than the WDW transportation system. Heck, I remember several bus accidents involving campus buses when I was at Rutgers but they never made the news (including some with injuries) - not even in the Targum. And unless the news media has reason to believe that this incident was anything other than an accident, they are not going to consider it a newsworthy story unless it is a really really slow news day. There are just too many other things happening in Central Florida that are more important in the eyes of the local media outlets and their readers/viewers.

 

[trishy]

The reason this is being argued is simply because Disney has a long history of "cover ups". The thing that Disney Corporate has not realized is that the story WILL get out - there are many forums out there, this one included, that will be sure to provide information on an incident at one of the parks or on Disney property. I'm understanding that Nick and others would like Disney to acknowledge that the information WILL get out; therefore, they (Disney) should make an effort to provide accurate information on an incident when it happens. My own opinion is I agree with Nick. There is an Excellent website HERE that will provide inquiring minds with loads of info on incidents/accidents such as the Thunder Mountain Railroad death. Now if I was Disney Corporate, would I want this information available to the public by way of internet message boards and independent websites? No way! You would want your own representatives to be providing the information (spin, though it would be - at least it's acknowledgment). That way the information given out by independents will be redundant - boring and old compared to the original Disney Corporate press release. As far as the employees required to keep Disney "secrets" ...well, this pretty much sums it up

 

[Geoff_M]

Again, I ask: Has Disney actually refused to provide information about the fire to those who have attempted to inquire about it, or attempted to deny it happened? If not, then why are so many people getting all wound up?

 

[DemoBri1]

I tried finding something out about this on the Orlando Sentinel site, but couldn't. Does this mean that Disney is witholding information, or that the Sentinel didn't deem it newsworthy enough?

To me, even if Disney was witholding information, the news media has ways of getting around it.

I work for a large national company, and there have been times where we have been "sworn to secrecy" on things because it could cause detrimental effects to the company. Yes, a bus fire is a serious thing, but...as many other posters have said here there are incidents such as a bus fire that happens every day.

Why are we here discussing this, and so much being made of it? One reason and one reason only...IT"S DISNEY. I can only imagine what is being said on the Disney bash board (e.g. the Rumors board).

You know some people have stated that this is the next in a long line of Disney "cover-ups". They have even referenced the BTMRR tragic accident a month or so ago as a cover-up. Excuse me if I am in error about this, but didn't TWDC come out with a statement about the accident? I'm fairly certain the investigation probably isn't over with either, so don't everyone jump down my throat as to why Disney hasn't come up with a statement as to the cause of the accident.

Also, I believe they also came out with a statement about the death of an animal at Animal Kingdom from a lightning strike. Do we now not visit AK when there is the threat of bad weather, or do we just go ahead, and throw a roof over the whole park?

Let's get real everyone...you just cannot please everybody all of the time. If this has you up in arms, a piece of advice to you...don't ride the busses. I'll bet that when I am down there in December that there will be people on the busses. I won't be one of them. I don't like being tied down to a schedule, so we rent a car, but if I had to, I'd take the bus.

 

[DemoBri1]

Originally posted by Nick@ VB+OKW
Total posts so far =43
Total views so far=1230
Total posts by same person=13

I guess we need a recount.
Bottom line......the paying public(customers) have a right know.

OK...we get your point.

 

[KNWVIKING]

***"Why are we here discussing this, and so much being made of it? One reason and one reason only...IT"S DISNEY. I can only imagine what is being said on the Disney bash board (e.g. the Rumors board)."***

Don't jump to any conclusions about the Rumor's board on this topic.

 

[Aisling]

Evidently a lot more people and posters are "wondering" what happen to that bus then just me....

I'm not "wondering" what happened to that bus. I keep reading all these posts just to be amused by you all.