Safety, ride breakdowns, and understaffing

[xipotec]

The recent tragedy in Orlando has got me thinking.

Is safety being compromised at the parks due to staffing issues??

We have seen reports of overflowing garbage, consistently breaking rides, claims of major staffing issues. All this and one may wonder if like many preventable tragedies, will these all have been warning signs prior to major disaster?

Are you worried about safety at the park under the new management?

 

[DLgal]

Well, that tragedy has nothing to do with maintenance, so it's not made me think about Disney parks, specifically. We visit Disneyland every week and they are still very careful about safety checks on all rides, almost to an obsessive degree. In fact, when I told my husband about this free fall death, he said "well, glad Disney always makes us tug on the yellow straps."

If they have been slacking on maintenance and they are putting guests safety at risk to save a few bucks on staffing, I can only hope this tragedy shakes them out of that complacency.

 

[pens4821]

I agree with DL. Disney is very vigilant on pulling up on the lap bar/pulling the yellow strap. They literally stand there and make sure every person pulls the strap. When I rode test track the seatbelt was a little tangled around my midsection. I didn’t even notice when I put it on, and even when she said something I had no idea what she was talking about. But it just wasn’t completely straight across me, it was flipped (not sure if this makes sense, dont know how to describe it) The CM asked me to straighten it out before she let us go on.

 

[musicguy856]

I have a fear of slipping forward and falling out on Soarin and use the extra strap in the middle when I ride.

 

[FreeTime]

I have a fear of slipping forward and falling out on Soarin and use the extra strap in the middle when I ride.

Which may be a safety hazard in itself as I assume you are above the marker. Those are hard to get out of easily. Even harder to pull out of the loop the bigger the child gets. If a quick exit is needed because of a fire this extra step could risk others lives while you or CMs are pulling it out of the loop for you.

 

[bambialways4ever]

This discussion has come up a couple times lately specifically in relation to ride breakdowns.


So I'll say it again: ride breakdowns have nothing to do with the safety of the ride. Almost every time we've been stuck it's been due to an external circumstance like a sensor being tripped, a power outage, or technology issues. None of these compromise the safety of the ride.

 

[lockets]

No.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

The ICON park incident is not a maintenance issue. They allowed someone onto a ride who was too large for the ride's design. That ride was also designed with a single restraint and no failsafe measures which are usually found on rides of that type.

Not sure what the issue is with maintenance. Do we have any indication the new management is cutting ride maintenance or is it just "well they are cutting everything else, so they are probably cutting ride maintenance"

just because a ride goes down does not mean that it "broke." Could be any number of myriad things that could cause a stop. Software crashes, for one thing.

 

[The Foolish Mortal]

Am I afraid of dying at Disney because someone has posted a couple pics of full trash cans? No. No, I am not

 

[mickeyluv'r]

My thought is not immediately to ride safety, but pests like rats and insects. if there's food, pests will find it.

 

[DisneyOma]

Which may be a safety hazard in itself as I assume you are above the marker. Those are hard to get out of easily. Even harder to pull out of the loop the bigger the child gets. If a quick exit is needed because of a fire this extra step could risk others lives while you or CMs are pulling it out of the loop for you.

I have never had a problem pulling the seatbelt through the loop, or out again. The seatbelt is adjustable, the strap has a big loop, and once the seatbelt is unbuckled, it slides right through the loop in the strap. I sense a bit of hyperbole here.

 

[Princesca]

My thought is not immediately to ride safety, but pests like rats and insects. if there's food, pests will find it.

I killed a roach at the Morocco QS once. Just saw it and reflexively stomped it. The guy behind the counter raised his arms and smiled really big and said "YAY AMERICANS!" At first I was like proud, and then I was like, wait... should we be happy to be known for merciless violence?

 

[bambialways4ever]

My thought is not immediately to ride safety, but pests like rats and insects. if there's food, pests will find it.

I... Ok. I'm confused

 

[soniam]

That attraction is managed differently than the other big parks in Orlando. I view those rides at ICON like going to a pop up carnival. Maybe ICON is slightly safer, since the rides are not torn down once a week and then put back together. The big parks in Orlando have a huge image to uphold, so safety is a major priority. I don't think we have anything to worry about. I have heard Craig talk about his days at Universal and how riders fit into the rides was a huge deal.

 

[rdaky]

Icon park where this tragedy happened is a small tourist trap type of place and not even on the same scale as Disney and Universal.

No, I'm not worried.

 

[xipotec]

My point was that the obvious issue with the death on that ride was untrained, uncaring employees.

We cannot pretend that the CMs have been treated well the last years. They are also having obvious staffing issues , which the other issues highlight.

If they are desperate to staff, is it unreasonable to think they may get lazy on training and quality of staff also?

If they can become penny pinchers on sanitation, and we see the money grab of G+ and other cost increases, is it really so hard to extrapolate that mindset into an attitude of secondary safety in the interest of saving money?

This is what brought not one but two Space shuttles down. Cost savings and public pressure.

 

[popy]

Icon park where this tragedy happened is a small tourist trap type of place and not even on the same scale as Disney and Universal.

you give Disney just a little more time, with the way they are cutting, staff, costs and such , with the cheapest ways.
it won’t be long they are below that scale.

 

[Westerner]

If they can become penny pinchers on sanitation, and we see the money grab of G+ and other cost increases, is it really so hard to extrapolate that mindset into an attitude of secondary safety in the interest of saving money?

This is what brought not one but two Space shuttles down. Cost savings and public pressure.

I think it's too much of a leap from garbage cans and G+ to exploding space shuttles.

 

[soniam]

My point was that the obvious issue with the death on that ride was untrained, uncaring employees.

We cannot pretend that the CMs have been treated well the last years. They are also having obvious staffing issues , which the other issues highlight.

If they are desperate to staff, is it unreasonable to think they may get lazy on training and quality of staff also?

If they can become penny pinchers on sanitation, and we see the money grab of G+ and other cost increases, is it really so hard to extrapolate that mindset into an attitude of secondary safety in the interest of saving money?

This is what brought not one but two Space shuttles down. Cost savings and public pressure.

Astronauts are not as precious as a 5 year old girl. I'm not saying what happened with the shuttles was right; however, everyone knows that space travel is terribly dangerous. Theme parks are not considered dangerous. If they were thinking of skimping, I bet this accident was a wakeup call. If you think the theme parks are so dangerous, just don't go. I don't ride attractions at carnivals, because I think it's unsafe. However, other people are still free to go.

 

[FreeTime]

I have never had a problem pulling the seatbelt through the loop, or out again. The seatbelt is adjustable, the strap has a big loop, and once the seatbelt is unbuckled, it slides right through the loop in the strap. I sense a bit of hyperbole here.View attachment 658460

Nope. No hyperbole. Try pulling it out quickly. The metal part of the belt typically slows down and snags.

But looking at that picture, gross. There is some danger. All of that lice from those nasty, sweaty head stains.