Jim Hill article about new safety cutbacks at WDW

[lodgelady]

Also for someone who mentioned it, each park and downtown Disney does have an on site EMT/Paramedic team with a well equipped golf cart. Usually these are the first responders and transport the patient to the nearest backstage area where a Reedy Creek Ambulance can access the park.

If this will still be the case I will feel much better. How do you know that these teams won't be eliminated when the bases are eliminated?

 

[DancingBear]

Originally posted by lodgelady
If this will still be the case I will feel much better. How do you know that these teams won't be eliminated when the bases are eliminated?

Why would one follow the other? The article only describes their role as a dispatcher. And, in fact, we've heard here that (1) the article is incorrect in that CMs are trained to call 911 directly, and (2) the Reedy Creek responders are familiar with the park entrances.

 

[momof2inPA]

Does the base unit only dispatch medical personnel or also maintenance personnel? Will the base unit consolidation also result in the consolidation of maintenance jobs; i.e., will mechanics who once worked solely at MK now be expected to work at either MK or AK?

If this is the case, there should be safety concerns, especially early on in the learning curve. If workers who once had to understand the mechanics of five rides intimately, now need to be familiar with ten rides, there could definitely be problems.

 

[Another Voice]

"But, trying to vaguely link this change with the tragedy at BTMRR is disengenous."

Not in the least. Disney has decided that saving a few pennies by having a couple office workers share a printer is more important than the possibily that a guest may need quicker or better service.

That is exaclty the thinking at Disneyland - "this won't change a thing!!!!"

 

[OnWithTheShow]

The bases referred to are central bases for MAINTENANCE dispatching, not for emergency services. If for some reason they were to be the first to hear about a medical emergency (for instance a mechanic was injured while working on a attraction) they probably have a direct link with Reedy Creek. While Reedy Creek certainly is a puppet government of Disney, there are Federal and State regulations concerning 911 and the dispatch of emergency services.

For those who are interested there is a duty manager for each department (merchandise, operations, showkeeping, food and beverage) and a park duty manager. These are the people who are in charge of the park at any given time.

 

[llrain]

I dont mean to pry or anything...but if you are a current cast member(or is that just an old pic)...Arent we giving out a little too much information about Disney World than you should be.
Just noticed that you seem to be quite open with all of your information amongst these boards.
Aren't you in the least bit worried that the Disney internet police are gonna see this happening..WHere I used to work we could not make a single reference to anything company related on message boards, I.E. what network company used, internal databases used, etc....
My significant other, ex dis CM said that there is strict company confidentality.
You seem to be quite open about all of this stuff....Im sure that Disnye is out there watching, so be careful...Im not trying to scare you but Ive seen many people get fired from their positions next to me for this reason itself.

 

[Chuck S]

Originally posted by llrain
I dont mean to pry or anything...but if you are a current cast member(or is that just an old pic)...Arent we giving out a little too much information about Disney World than you should be.
Just noticed that you seem to be quite open with all of your information amongst these boards.
Aren't you in the least bit worried that the Disney internet police are gonna see this happening..WHere I used to work we could not make a single reference to anything company related on message boards, I.E. what network company used, internal databases used, etc....
My significant other, ex dis CM said that there is strict company confidentality.
You seem to be quite open about all of this stuff....Im sure that Disnye is out there watching, so be careful...Im not trying to scare you but Ive seen many people get fired from their positions next to me for this reason itself.

I don't see as this CM has given away any company secrets. The association between Reedy Creek and Disney is public record, and has been since Walt was given "control" over the Disney property. Nor is the CM saying they are doing a "bad thing". And the fact that each park and DtD has a medical golf cart also is obvious to anyone who has witness any sort of medical problem. Consolidation of these Central Bases was NOT first reported by this CM but was quoted in a Jim Hill article, the CM is simply pointing out that this has no direct effect on guest safety. Redy Creek Improvement District was set up to handle all the utilities and buidling codes and other items normally handled by local governments, and is also a taxing agency. DVC members pay taxes through their dues to Reedy Creek.

 

[OnWithTheShow]

I share only rumors and matters of public record. I certainly wouldnt disclose anything that would cost me my job. It is an old picture though. Maybe I should put up a recent one.

 

[DancingBear]

Well, whaddya know. Mr. Hill is having second thoughts.

Do you remember that four alarm story that we ran on this website back on Monday? The one that talked about how -- now that Disney World's theme parks are changing their "Central Base" set-ups -- guests' safety may be compromised?

Well, maybe we'd better rethink those four alarms. Perhaps ratchet this story down to just a two alarmer. Or maybe even just a one alarmer.

http://www.jimhillmedia.com/main/index.htm

Scroll down to March 11.

 

[WDSearcher]

It's really too bad he doesn't do a little research BEFORE he puts stories like that up in the first place. It sure doesn't add to Jim Hill's credibility to have to backtrack like that. And it would save time and trouble, not to mention panic and worry, among his readers.

 

[YoHo]

I'm sure one of his sources gave him the info. He's no worse then any news organization.

 

[WDSearcher]

Yeah ... probably. Still doesn't make it right though.

 

[DancingBear]

Originally posted by YoHo
I'm sure one of his sources gave him the info. He's no worse then any news organization.

Standard news stories don't include phrases like:

...it allows the Mouse to potentially gloss over or even ignore some of the more pointed questions that have been coming its way lately....

...how's this for a truly frightening peek at how the Walt Disney Company REALLY feels about safety-related issues at its theme parks...

...A cost savings measure that could -- due to the additional response time now involved here -- eventually wind up costing someone their life...

...One that could potentially comprise the safety of the tens of thousands of guests who visit the company's four Central Florida theme parks each single day.

This wasn't a news story, it was a poorly researched opinion piece, one which Hill himself admits was alarmist.