Lightning @ WDW

[WEDWDW]

A Giraffe was killed by Lightning at Animal Kingdom several years ago,but I have NEVER read a report of a Guest being struck at WDW.

After having "danced" around Lightning strikes during previous trips and again recently during my 4th of July trip,can the greast safety record for Guests be attributed to the HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of Lightning Rods all over WDW?

If you have never noticed,the next time you are at WDW,look at the rooftops of all the buildings.Lightning Rods are EVERWHERE!

 

[Robo]

Agreed.

Many may not know that the principle reason for using lightning rods is not to attract lightning.

 

[klj27]

We just returned and while we were at Epcot, noticed that the top right side of Spaceship Earth appeared to be dirty-looking. I asked a cast member at SE and she told me that it had been struck by lightning a few weeks ago. She went on to tell me that they depend on a few good rain storms to clean the black off.

 

[distrack]

Agreed.

Many may not know that the principle reason for using lightning rods is not to attract lightning.

True. The purpose of a lightning rod is to provide the least path of resistance for that lightning bolt to earth ground and dissipate all that hazardous voltage

 

[twokids0204]

Lightning @ WDW

We touched Lightning at DHS, and then we went over and got our pics taken with 'Mater.

 

[Poohbear123]

True. The purpose of a lightning rod is to provide the least path of resistance for that lightning bolt to earth ground and dissipate all that hazardous voltage

Than I want one, as I have almost been struck a few times...Lightning DOES NOT like me! Staying at ALL Star Sports a few years back, and saw Building 10 get hit by lightning...talk about RUN FAT LADY RUN...that was me!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

The lightning here can be very dangerous. The stretch between Orlando & Tamp is the lightning capital of the US.
Yes, Disney has all those rods to help protect its guests, as well as the CM's and everything else in the "world".

 

[Sammie]

We got close, thank god, we were not hit, but we were at Epcot and the storm just came up out of nowhere and we were near the World Showcase Lagoon and it struck a tree so close our hair stood up.

 

[ugadog99]

A Giraffe was killed by Lightning at Animal Kingdom several years ago,but I have NEVER read a report of a Guest being struck at WDW.

After having "danced" around Lightning strikes during previous trips and again recently during my 4th of July trip,can the greast safety record for Guests be attributed to the HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of Lightning Rods all over WDW?

If you have never noticed,the next time you are at WDW,look at the rooftops of all the buildings.Lightning Rods are EVERWHERE!

This is so funny. My daughter and I were discussing all the rods over our July 4th trip, too.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

At the water parks if there is any electrical storm activity within five miles we will shut down all the slides, the pool and the beach, as well as clear all stairs leading to the slides. We will maintain this status until the nearest electrical activity is at least five miles away and receding.

And my usual answer for people who ask why do we set the standard to five miles and not closer is: "Do you know how much paperwork is involved if a Guest gets struck by lightning"?

 

[fla4fun]

We were at Epcot back in the 80's and there was a bad lightning storm. Back then, they didn't have the canvas umbrellas over the benches - they were metal. You wouldn't believe all the people who were taking shelter under the metal umbrellas! We took shelter in one of the Communicore buildings and just watched them all through the windows and thought what idiots they were.

Seriously though, lightning is a big problem in central Florida. Two young teens were struck just about a week ago - they were running from one house to another, and as they passed under a tree in the front yard, ZAP! The best thing you can do if lightning is anywhere in the area is get inside and stay inside until the lightning passes. I'm actually surprised that the water parks use five miles as a safety measure - the way lightning is here, if I can see lightning anywhere in the distance, I'm staying out of the water.

 

[klj27]

I was surprised that typhoon lagoon wasn't closed this Thursday night. We saw lightening as we pulled in and assumed the park wouldn't be open. Nope, business as usual.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

We had been closed for about 1½ hours from about 3:35 to close to about 5:00 on Thursday (I was in Guest Relations). Then the storm cleared out. Unfortunately we do not close the gates during a storm, but we do warn people before entering the turnstiles that all the attractions and the beach are closed.

Personally I would like for us to have a policy that when we close the attractions for weather that we also close the turnstiles to any entry, but I am not the person who makes that decision.

 

[Robmom]

I saw lightning when I was there recently and it freaked us out. We were walking to the bus stop at POP, and and we saw that. I said to my DD that we are targets walking out in the open like this.

 

[GaRain]

During one of the Keys to the Kingdom tours I have taken, the guide pointed out the tops of buildings and things that are or act like lightening rods.
I think they have done a great job of trying to prevent this from being an issue with their guests.

 

[klj27]

We had been closed for about 1½ hours from about 3:35 to close to about 5:00 on Thursday (I was in Guest Relations). Then the storm cleared out. Unfortunately we do not close the gates during a storm, but we do warn people before entering the turnstiles that all the attractions and the beach are closed.

Personally I would like for us to have a policy that when we close the attractions for weather that we also close the turnstiles to any entry, but I am not the person who makes that decision.

Hi! We were at EPCOT that day and left right before the big storms hit. We were at the hotel napping during the time that you were closed. We didn't get to TL until 7pm and we saw big lightening on our way there. I didn't want to go once I saw the lightening, but my husband said as long as the park was open it was fine. Silly man! We got to enjoy the park for about 45 minutes before the deluge hit again.

 

[jsilvers]

A Giraffe was killed by Lightning at Animal Kingdom several years ago,but I have NEVER read a report of a Guest being struck at WDW.

July 27, 1994. Lightning struck near a tram in the TTC parking lot; seven guests were reportedly affected. See http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IpksAAAAIBAJ&sjid=h_wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3021,4869945.

 

[Eljay]

I was caught in a terrible lightning storm at Epcot once.
When the storm cleared, we were exiting through the IG and on the walkway approaching the Beach Club, there was a large tree limb that had fallen onto the pavement.
It clearly had burn marks where the lightning had hit.

 

[Symphony]

I remember when I was out on the ICP in '06, there was lightning one day that struck a tree in the treehouse villas where we were staying and knocked it over. One of the houses got struck and they lost their tv that day, they were devastated

I remember once when Splash Mountain went down for the lightning, guests were still wanting to go on it and there was lightning hitting the park 'it's okay we won't sue if we're struck'

 

[Doc CW]

Staying at Old Key West last June I was sitting on the balcony of our room and we had this view of what looked to be an island, about 30 yards away from where I was sitting, and I was out there relaxing watching the rain and whatnot when a huge lighting bolt struck the edge of the island and made the loudest cracking noise I've ever heard, it was really cool. There were several that hit that island and it was like a flurry of dancing lighting. It was by far one of the coolest things I've ever seen.