Tiki Room July 2008-Earthquake Zone

[LovetheGoof]

Yes, I was in the Tiki Room at 11:40 ish when the earthquake hit. At first I thought it was from the sound effects, you know the thunder, but we weren't at that part yet. The birds had just woken up when I felt the back bench shaking side to side. Then I thought, "Hey new effects!" but realized that that wasn't it either. Finally I thought earthquake. I put my arm around my mom and said to her I think this is an earthquake. It all happened pretty fast but it felt like forever, kind of everything went in slow motion for a while there.
My DS was pretty shook up while it was happening he was holding grandma's hand the whole time.

After it stopped the lights came on, the birds stopped singing, and the kind CM told us we had just experienced an earthquake. He had us all exit the room and out we went. Everyone was very calm, no yelling or running hysterically. As we exited we noticed everyone had this look on their face, like what just happened? People were streaming out from the park, no one was allowed into the stores or restaurants and CM's were asking us to walk in the middle of the street. They didn't want us walking on the sidewalks next to the windows, and still everyone walked calmly out. You could tell some of the CM's were worried by their expressions but through it all they behaved very professionally. Kudos to all Disney CMs.

I went to the ticket counter and asked when the parks would open again and asked what should I do about me losing one of my days on my parkhopper as they had told me it was going to take several hours for them to check for damage on all the rides. The CM gave me 3 one day complimentary passes expiration date July 2010.

We went back in at about 9 p.m.
I was a little apprehensive about getting on anything when we went back to DL. Everytime I felt a vibration I would get goosebumps on my skin. We were waiting in line at SM and I kept feeling vibrations, but my DS said it was too regular to be another earthquake.

From now on the Tiki Room will have a special spot in my heart.

 

[Bread&Butterflies]

Wow! Thanks for your 1st hand report of your experience.
Glad everyone is ok.

 

[Sherry E]

Yes, I was in the Tiki Room at 11:40 ish when the earthquake hit. At first I thought it was from the sound effects, you know the thunder, but we weren't at that part yet. The birds had just woken up when I felt the back bench shaking side to side. Then I thought, "Hey new effects!" but realized that that wasn't it either. Finally I thought earthquake. I put my arm around my mom and said to her I think this is an earthquake. It all happened pretty fast but it felt like forever, kind of everything went in slow motion for a while there.
My DS was pretty shook up while it was happening he was holding grandma's hand the whole time.

After it stopped the lights came on, the birds stopped singing, and the kind CM told us we had just experienced an earthquake. He had us all exit the room and out we went. Everyone was very calm, no yelling or running hysterically. As we exited we noticed everyone had this look on their face, like what just happened? People were streaming out from the park, no one was allowed into the stores or restaurants and CM's were asking us to walk in the middle of the street. They didn't want us walking on the sidewalks next to the windows, and still everyone walked calmly out. You could tell some of the CM's were worried by their expressions but through it all they behaved very professionally. Kudos to all Disney CMs.

I went to the ticket counter and asked when the parks would open again and asked what should I do about me losing one of my days on my parkhopper as they had told me it was going to take several hours for them to check for damage on all the rides. The CM gave me 3 one day complimentary passes expiration date July 2010.

We went back in at about 9 p.m.
I was a little apprehensive about getting on anything when we went back to DL. Everytime I felt a vibration I would get goosebumps on my skin. We were waiting in line at SM and I kept feeling vibrations, but my DS said it was too regular to be another earthquake.

From now on the Tiki Room will have a special spot in my heart.

I also would have thought it was a new effect in the Tiki Room - or like the 'gods' were extra angry that day! That is great that they gave you the three passes good until 2010! That is generous of them, considering it was not their fault what happened. We were discussing that on another thread - what would happen if all the guests demanded money back or whatever? It would be a nightmare. But that is so nice of them to do that, especially since you did go in to the park again later on that evening. Anyway, I am glad you made it out of the Tiki Room in one piece! I probably would have panicked, but I hate quakes.

I always wonder how it will be handled at Disneyland if, God forbid, a really big quake happens. Lord help me, I hope I never find out. But I wonder if it would be complete pandemonium or if people would be calm and orderly. There is such a high concentration of people in one place at Disneyland that it could be very deadly if everyone started stampeding and acting crazy.

 

[PinkBudgie]

We considered asking about tickets for another day for our boys (DH and I have APs) but decided not to. We ate lunch while the rides were closed, went shopping at DTD for a couple hours, then came back and stayed until 10:30pm. Most rides, but not all, were going including Space Mountain and Matterhorn. So we felt like we got our money's worth.

 

[LovetheGoof]

Your right, it was extremely gracious of them to give us complimentary tickets. At the ticket counters people were not demanding refunds they were like me, asking for opening times and stuff. I asked because that was my last day there and wanted to come back in later. The CM went to the back area and came out with 3 comps. She said that since our last day would be interrupted they would give us the tickets for us to come back another day.

I did not notice any chaos or unrulyness at all. Actually, I think it was pretty quiet, people were not loud most everyone was in a type of daze. It was very weird to see.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Yes, that would be a disappointing last day. We were on Main Street getting our APs. No one crazy there either. Just a lot people talking about what to do now. After a minute, the CM called us back in to finish the AP process.

 

[Sherry E]

Your right, it was extremely gracious of them to give us complimentary tickets. At the ticket counters people were not demanding refunds they were like me, asking for opening times and stuff. I asked because that was my last day there and wanted to come back in later. The CM went to the back area and came out with 3 comps. She said that since our last day would be interrupted they would give us the tickets for us to come back another day.

I did not notice any chaos or unrulyness at all. Actually, I think it was pretty quiet, people were not loud most everyone was in a type of daze. It was very weird to see.

Yeah, that quake was nothing to get unruly about, but I always wonder what will happen when we get socked with a big 7.9 or higher quake close to Los Angeles/Orange county - like the one that we are expected to have in the next ten years. I wonder if people will just be sort of stunned or if there will be chaos. I tell you, I would hate to be trapped in a building during a 7.9. I would rather be outside, I think, but not in the path of stampeding crowds! If people could stay calm, then I think DL would be the best place to be to forget your stress! Well, I hope I never have to experience that.

 

[jennynoel]

I wouldn't worry about chaos - even in a 7.9. The kind of behavior you're describing is actually very typical.

Earlier this week I listened to a piece on Talk of the Nation about people's behavior in disasters - quite an interesting listen:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93033947

 

[Golfing Goofy]

Thanks for sharing your observations, LovetheGoof. I am glad that you were able to return and end your trip on a good note.

 

[puntagordabob]

Thank God no one was hurt...and it sounds like Disneyland did an outstanding job with everyone there that day.... Salutes to them! and Salutes to the many park visitors that day who were good about it too!

I am also Thankfull that Disneyland and of course Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room was unharmed!!! Obviously a great deal of care went into the construction of the park to protect against these acts of nature....of course I am sure God loves Disney too and that helps!

PS... Sure miss Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room here in Florida... But hopefully the rumors of eventual return in time for WDW Magic Kingdom's 40th are true!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Glad that your DL quake experience was nothing worse, and that DL did something nice for you.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Monica D]

Wow...how scary! I'm glad they handled it well as it could have been a nightmare trying to get everyone out.

 

[Gisele]

Tiki room - love it!

Earthquakes - an exciting but potentially scary performance by Ma Nature.

Three day passes - Sweet! especially seeing that they do not expire until 2010.

Disneyland - Still standing, thank god! and probably great engineering as well, and proper maintenance.

Thank you for sharing your experiences, and am very glad and happy that you and your family are fine, and so is everyone else that was there that day.