What would you do?

[elvispursley]

I am in need of some neutral advice for an issue that happened this past Mon 9/2/24 on TBA. We had a LL and were using ECVs. Just as we were parking the ECVs, the skies opened and a down pour started. We shrugged and knew we were about to get wet anyway. As we approached to load, I heard several claps of thunder and thought to my self, “Oh great, they’re going to shut the ride down and we will miss our chance to ride”. The CM at the exit asked the CM operating the ride if they were going to still load, which they continued doing. We were loaded into the back of the log and off we went. After the first hill/drop as you are go outside around the bend, the ride suddenly came to a stop. There was one log in front that was just about to go up the next lift hill, our log, and a log behind us. The rain was really coming down and within seconds we were all completely, as in jumped in a swimming pool, soaked. They’re were several of the recorded announcements telling us to remIn in the ride vehicle and that it would rsu e “momentarily”. Eventually this progressed to an actual CM telling is that we should remain in our logs and we would be evacuate. This went on for 45 MINUTES during which there were lightening strikes over our head (T one point the storm was directly over us with no seconds between the lightening strikes and thunder). Then there was an announcement for “all CM take shelter immediately”


My insulin pump was completely in the rain, getting wet, the entire time. My backpack and all the contents were completely saturated. When the 2 CM finally emerged to help evacuate us, the tried to hand out ponchos to the first log, who were ALREADY WEARING PONCHOS! I was absolutely floored by this. Not sure what a poncho is going to do when you e been sitting in a FL thunderstorm for 45 min. And our log was never even offered one.

My mother, who is able to walk, just has some balance issues, nearly fell into the ride during the evacuation process because her glasses wear so wet and had no way to dry them off, impairing her site. If it wasn’t for the lovely guest from the UK who was in front of us, helping both of us, she definitely would e either hit her head on the rocks you pass under, or fallen in off the very narrow path.

Once we make it out of the backstage area and return to where our ECVs should be, the CMs thought the best remedy was to give everybody a MEP. By this point I’m. Thing because my insulin pump may be totally ruined and I was still having a panic attack after having sat out, in water, during a thunderstorm with lightening directly overhead. We were the last 3 logs evacuated, from a ride which should’ve been shut down as soon as there was rain and thunder.

I was eventually able to speak to a supervisor and explained why we were so upset and distressed. I was advised to go to guest services on main st. I had to ask for a poncho and she did give me.

Guest services was great at listening and gave me a number to contact to file a claim for my medical device (which is acting funny and the pump company won’t give me an answer as to whether it was damaged and keep referring me to the issues I’m having to the CGM company). They offered me a redemption pass for GotG the next day as we would not be back at MK. I was offered the option to get a shirt but I was wearing a tennis dress, soaked completely, and a shirt would do nothing in the way of drying me off or warming me up. We were given extra ponchos as my mom’s had torn.

Am I completely off the mark in thinking we should never have been boarded and the ride should’ve been shutdown? I feel like Disney had no concern for the safetly of us in the 3 logs that were sitting out in the middle of a thunderstorm. That there was nothing provided in the way of towels to dry off. And that not one CM or supervisor seemed overly concerned for our well-being. I’m now firmly in the camp, and was basically in it, that TBA needs to be shut down u til they can get it working without the many daily breakdowns. This attraction is worse the RotR was for the amount of breakdowns.

 

[Lou'sMommy]

I am so sorry that you had to go through this. It had to be terrifying sitting in a log on water during a thunderstorm. Also, very sorry about your insulin pump and CGM. Thank goodness you didn't go low during the time that you were trapped. My daughter has type 1 and stories like this make me glad that I insist she bring lots of sugary snacks with her anytime she is going on a ride. You never know what might happen or how long you might be trapped if a ride goes down or is stopped because of weather. It sure seems like they should have evacuated you all more quickly!

 

[Mle8308]

That sounds awful, sorry you both had to endure that. There is a procedure in place for shutting down an attraction when a storm with lightning is approaching (I was an ops manager for over 5 years at WDW in a few parks). I'm not going to go into too many details, but basically if it within a certain range, there is a person in the park (may be the Duty Manager) who is designated to make the call for all outdoor attractions to shut down. That is so it's a consistent closure of rides, not some in one land open and in another, closed for weather. It could have been the case that when you boarded TBA, the storm was not in the designated range but a few minutes in, it was, and no further guests were being boarded. They have to continue to cycle through the ride to get the remaining guests off. Once all guests are off, the ride is 101 (Disney's term for being closed for whatever reason). With all the problems TBA is having since reopening, I would not be surprised if they stopped the ride to help a guest get out, and then that triggered a ride stop, and eventually an e-stop, and then an evacuation. There should have been CM's sent into the ride a lot sooner to at least try and reassure guests. Your situation does not seem to have been handled properly.

 

[mistysue]

It really sucks, but it happens. I don't feel like I have a good answer to what "should" have happened, other than saying shutting down for weather is really not the ride itself's fault, they can't send CMs out to remove you from the ride if it's not a safe place to guide you walking through, and you did have the option to say before loading that you didn't trust the weather. We got stuck in a complete downpour like that for close to an hour, nobody did anything or communicated with us at all, and we were given a bottle of water as an apology.

For years (since we got stuck on slinky dog in that similar scenario) we ALWAYS pack our bag, and EVERYTHING in the bag is in a giant ziplock. Everything, especially medical devices, is kept inside a ziplock inside our bags - or has a cover available for it at all times. For example, we don't load a ride without a way to store the hearing aid. For your insulin pump - in the future do you have the waterproof tape, or a way you protect it for showers or swimming?

 

[elvispursley]

I am so sorry that you had to go through this. It had to be terrifying sitting in a log on water during a thunderstorm. Also, very sorry about your insulin pump and CGM. Thank goodness you didn't go low during the time that you were trapped. My daughter has type 1 and stories like this make me glad that I insist she bring lots of sugary snacks with her anytime she is going on a ride. You never know what might happen or how long you might be trapped if a ride goes down or is stopped because of weather. It sure seems like they should have evacuated you all more quickly!

I’m terrified of that happening as well. I did have cliff bars and jelly beans (which really bring up my blood sugar quickly) in a ziploc if I did run into problems.

It really sucks, but it happens. I don't feel like I have a good answer to what "should" have happened, other than saying shutting down for weather is really not the ride itself's fault, they can't send CMs out to remove you from the ride if it's not a safe place to guide you walking through, and you did have the option to say before loading that you didn't trust the weather. We got stuck in a complete downpour like that for close to an hour, nobody did anything or communicated with us at all, and we were given a bottle of water as an apology.

For years (since we got stuck on slinky dog in that similar scenario) we ALWAYS pack our bag, and EVERYTHING in the bag is in a giant ziplock. Everything, especially medical devices, is kept inside a ziplock inside our bags - or has a cover available for it at all times. For example, we don't load a ride without a way to store the hearing aid. For your insulin pump - in the future do you have the waterproof tape, or a way you protect it for showers or swimming?

The pump i have is supposed to be disconnected from the insertion site for swimming. It is water-resistant for up to 30 minutes. I’ve never had a problem with water attractions and it getting wet briefly as it was made for brief encounters with water, not being dowsed and immersed in water for 45+ minutes. However, removing it prior to the ride would e been very dangerous in the situation we ended up in.

My feeling about boarding was that the storm was probably far enough away that we were just hearing thunder and the brunt of storm was miles away. And as I mentioned we didn’t mind getting a little wet because we were going to get somewhat wet anyway. My issue was having those of us who are outside being evacuated last. I feel those guests who are sitting in the open, under inclement weather should be evac’d first (and there probably were logs further into the ride where they may have been outside as well).

 

[Rogue1677x]

I'm sorry that happened to you. When I was at HS a few weeks ago and after 45 minutes in line and still a ways to go, there was announcement of weather moving in that could affect operations, but they would run the ride as long as safely possible. Whenever something like that happens, I have my husband check aviation radars for distance and intensity of storms....well, this was no different, even though he was home in Boston. And sure enough, the rain continued, but no thunderstorms ruined the day for us.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Actually not seeing much fault on Disney here assuming they weren’t lying and the ride could not be operated safely. Your Mom accepted the risk of a difficult evacuation when she boarded a floating log, you accepted the risk of your medical device getting soaked by being outside in FL during summer.

 

[mistysue]

The pump i have is supposed to be disconnected from the insertion site for swimming. It is water-resistant for up to 30 minutes. I’ve never had a problem with water attractions and it getting wet briefly as it was made for brief encounters with water, not being dowsed and immersed in water for 45+ minutes. However, removing it prior to the ride would e been very dangerous in the situation we ended up in.

My feeling about boarding was that the storm was probably far enough away that we were just hearing thunder and the brunt of storm was miles away. And as I mentioned we didn’t mind getting a little wet because we were going to get somewhat wet anyway. My issue was having those of us who are outside being evacuated last. I feel those guests who are sitting in the open, under inclement weather should be evac’d first (and there probably were logs further into the ride where they may have been outside as well).

I have had that same issue before - not really understanding why they leave the people in the "worst" position for last. That happened to us on SDD too! They emptied all the cars but ours as the rain started, they paused us and the rest of the cars kept running to the exit, and they didn't load after us. Then they waited until the entire storm was over to let us off the ride because we had just loaded and gotten out of the building when they stopped us. It was terrible, and I don't think there is a "good" solution really because all the options are bad for someone.

I get there not being a good way to disconnect. I'm not saying any of these things to blame you in case I sound that way, but maybe in the future keep a poncho accessible in case you get stuck in a rainy spot again.

 

[pens4821]

While I do feel bad this happened, I also believe people need to take responsibility for their own actions. If it was pouring and I heard thunder I would personally question getting on a water ride. Especially knowing I had equipment that shouldn’t get wet. I do understand no one would think they’d be stuck in the rain for 45 minutes, but you still took that risk so IMO (and as harsh as this may sound) it’s on you.

 

[Lumpy1106]

We were in line for Everest one time when a storm was rolling in. There was not a party in line that did not have at least one person holding a cell phone with a weather radar app running. Monday morning QB'ing, but you were not exposed until you got in the log and you knew weather was on the way. Sit it out under cover and wait out the storm cell. You would have still gotten the MEP if the delay was too long and you wouldn't have had the drama of everything else.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

There are rides that will still operate in rain. Lightning is usually what will cause an attraction to close and until a lightning is within the distance determined to shut down an attraction they will continue to operate the attraction. We rode test track in the rain years ago that opened and closed and opened and closed and so on while we were in the line (I believe the total time halted for storms was about 45 mins) and the rain did hurt but that was our choice to go on the attraction when rain was there. Guests always have the choice to not go on an attraction but TBH I think there are enough people who actually would want to go on Tiana's while it's raining (lightning being different, just talking about rain), being that they assume they stand a high chance of getting wet anyhow.

OP I feel for you but I've gotten soaked before on Splash (especially DLR) and my assumption is Tiana is no different in the risk. That sort of attraction would be risky to bring a device that cannot withstand water for too long even if every other time you've been perfectly fine and nothing every happened it's a device that is sensitive to water. Also that among other water attractions have had to have evacuations where people are getting wet getting out of them because they are not at certain points that make it easier to get out without getting wet.

 

[kylenne]

Man I am so sorry you experienced that.

tbh though I’m not sure what else Disney could have done. It’s real easy to Monday morning quarterback, and I don’t want to come across as blamey, but like others I am always real iffy about getting on outdoor attractions I know shut down for storms when it looks like weather is coming. In your shoes I would have probably waited for the LL to turn into an MEP on its own, it should do that automatically if a ride you have booked goes down during your return window. If not then the blue tents can help.

I have yet to go on Tiana, but back in the Splash days I got evac’d right after the big drop, where you turn at, just before you go back inside for the big finale scene. It seemed like they were going in a specific order of logs and we were unlucky enough to be dead last. Luckily it was just a regular breakdown and not weather related, but it is pretty weird to me that people stuck out in the elements are just left like that.

 

[DodgerGirl]

Hello Elvispursley,
What I think Magic Kingdom should've done in the first place was close Tiana's Bayou Adventure for the day and reopen it as soon as the thunderstorms stopped and announced a message over the loudspeaker like they do at the supermarket saying this " ATTENTION ALL GUESTS TIANA"S BAYOU ADVENTURE WILL BE CLOSED DUE TO WEATHER AND WILL REOPEN AS SOON AS SUNNY WEATHER OCCURS. RIDERS WILL RECIEVE A LIGHTNING LANE PASS TO BE USED ON OTHER RIDES THANK YOU AND HAVE A MAGICAL DAY AT MAGIC KINGDOM THANK YOU" Because I can't figure out why Magic Kingdom would let people ride on a ride in a thunderstorm in the first place because that is to me a safety concern. What I think Magic Kingdom SHOULD do is close Tiana's Bayou Adventure completely and fix it's problems because in my eyes I think they rushed it too soon and they needed to fix any problems with the ride before opening Tiana's Bayou Adventure to Walt Disney World guests. I get that it's destined to be a very popular ride but I think with the problems Tiana's Bayou Adventure has been having I think it will not last long and close for good if they can't improve it and it will become like the 25,000 Leagues Under The Sea ride that Magic Kingdom had but was never put in operation. I also think that you should call Magic Kingdom and ask to talk to the manager and see what he/she can do about your insulin pump that was damaged and most likely they can help you pay for a brand new one that works
Good Luck and let me know what happens
Dodger

 

[jo-jo]

I'm going to have a foot of both sides of the fence.

Some things you could have helped yourself. Like having stuff in backpack in ziploc bag. Having your own poncho. Although with that much rain, I doubt the cheapy ponchos would have helped that much.

But I'm surprized the ride was still running if you were hearing thunder. So many times, a ride shuts down and the storm is still several miles away.

The thought of empting logs that are in the open first, makes tons of sense. But they probably go front to back to make sure ,no one is missed.

 

[Disneylover99]

I am in need of some neutral advice for an issue that happened this past Mon 9/2/24 on TBA. We had a LL and were using ECVs. Just as we were parking the ECVs, the skies opened and a down pour started. We shrugged and knew we were about to get wet anyway. As we approached to load, I heard several claps of thunder and thought to my self, “Oh great, they’re going to shut the ride down and we will miss our chance to ride”. The CM at the exit asked the CM operating the ride if they were going to still load, which they continued doing. We were loaded into the back of the log and off we went. After the first hill/drop as you are go outside around the bend, the ride suddenly came to a stop. There was one log in front that was just about to go up the next lift hill, our log, and a log behind us. The rain was really coming down and within seconds we were all completely, as in jumped in a swimming pool, soaked. They’re were several of the recorded announcements telling us to remIn in the ride vehicle and that it would rsu e “momentarily”. Eventually this progressed to an actual CM telling is that we should remain in our logs and we would be evacuate. This went on for 45 MINUTES during which there were lightening strikes over our head (T one point the storm was directly over us with no seconds between the lightening strikes and thunder). Then there was an announcement for “all CM take shelter immediately”


My insulin pump was completely in the rain, getting wet, the entire time. My backpack and all the contents were completely saturated. When the 2 CM finally emerged to help evacuate us, the tried to hand out ponchos to the first log, who were ALREADY WEARING PONCHOS! I was absolutely floored by this. Not sure what a poncho is going to do when you e been sitting in a FL thunderstorm for 45 min. And our log was never even offered one.

My mother, who is able to walk, just has some balance issues, nearly fell into the ride during the evacuation process because her glasses wear so wet and had no way to dry them off, impairing her site. If it wasn’t for the lovely guest from the UK who was in front of us, helping both of us, she definitely would e either hit her head on the rocks you pass under, or fallen in off the very narrow path.

Once we make it out of the backstage area and return to where our ECVs should be, the CMs thought the best remedy was to give everybody a MEP. By this point I’m. Thing because my insulin pump may be totally ruined and I was still having a panic attack after having sat out, in water, during a thunderstorm with lightening directly overhead. We were the last 3 logs evacuated, from a ride which should’ve been shut down as soon as there was rain and thunder.

I was eventually able to speak to a supervisor and explained why we were so upset and distressed. I was advised to go to guest services on main st. I had to ask for a poncho and she did give me.

Guest services was great at listening and gave me a number to contact to file a claim for my medical device (which is acting funny and the pump company won’t give me an answer as to whether it was damaged and keep referring me to the issues I’m having to the CGM company). They offered me a redemption pass for GotG the next day as we would not be back at MK. I was offered the option to get a shirt but I was wearing a tennis dress, soaked completely, and a shirt would do nothing in the way of drying me off or warming me up. We were given extra ponchos as my mom’s had torn.

Am I completely off the mark in thinking we should never have been boarded and the ride should’ve been shutdown? I feel like Disney had no concern for the safetly of us in the 3 logs that were sitting out in the middle of a thunderstorm. That there was nothing provided in the way of towels to dry off. And that not one CM or supervisor seemed overly concerned for our well-being. I’m now firmly in the camp, and was basically in it, that TBA needs to be shut down u til they can get it working without the many daily breakdowns. This attraction is worse the RotR was for the amount of breakdowns.

It was pouring rain as you parked your ECVs. You had no ponchos. You knew you’d get soaked. You knew the ride breaks down a lot. I hope your insulin pump is okay, but if it is damaged, I don’t think that’s on Disney.

Now. I would have been freaking out had I been stuck on the ride for 45 minutes with lightening above my head. So of course you feel upset. I get that.

Unfortunately, they were probably following protocol in terms of when exactly to shut it down and how to unload/evacuate. You were probably one of the last groups on before the ride was shut down, so probably last to get off.

This is a good lesson for all of us…..don’t go on an outdoor ride in the pouring rain when you hear several claps of thunder, even when the ride is still open.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I'm sorry this happened to you.

For future guests, the one thing to keep in mind is that TBA is a 13 minute attraction. If weather appears to be rolling in, it's good to take the length of the ride into consideration when deciding to board. I ask myself, am I willing to be stuck outside on this ride if/when this storm arrives and make the decision if we want to board or not.

 

[Debbie Jean]

Just a quick tip for ECV users and TBA. I know some folks like to park and walk. If the weather is the least bit questionable, this is one attraction you should drive it in… the inside scooter parking is completely covered so no need to cover it outside with ponchos.

OP, I understand your distress…. I would have been your mother! Whenever I’m asked whether I can evacuate and walk down stairs I always say “ yeah, but it won’t be pretty”! I hope you were able to salvage the day and enjoy the rest of your trip.

 

[Nancyg56]

I am so sorry that you experienced this. I am also on the fence a bit, but honestly, I would not have gotten on the ride. I am not a fan of rain in general, and thunder would have put me over the edge. I do believe that we all tend to give Disney a lot of "powers" that they simply do not have. Evacuating an attraction such as TBA must be complicated at best, and while I imagine that Disney has plans in place to speed things up if they deem necessary, I bet that a specific metric needs to be met.

 

[little tess]

"...I bet that a specific metric needs to be met...."

Diplomatically stated.

 

[Selket]

Am I completely off the mark in thinking we should never have been boarded and the ride should’ve been shutdown?

I'm thinking that whatever metric Disney is using to shut down for weather - it was just on the cusp when you got in that log. Some storms move faster than others and I'm not sure Disney can take that into account? It would be an interesting question to get an answer on how it's done. Watching livestreams on YouTube I see people get caught in torrential downpours (and probably lightning?) fairly often on rides.

I don't know the safety of sitting in a water ride getting wet outside during a thunderstorm but doesn't seem great to me.

One of my kids has T1D since he was a toddler (he's an adult now) and boy I totally get it. Hmm...I usually had something waterproof with me (ziplock if nothing else but usually also a smaller bag inside a bag) to put his pump in if needed. I had his low treatment in baggies too to keep them dry, as well as his set changes, and all the stuff. I think if he was still a kid and I was riding that with him, I'd would have had him bolus to cover his basal (if he wasn't too low - rather err on the side of going too high a bit) and remove his pump and put it in the waterproof bag. Of course as a mom honestly....and I know many t1D adults now... I was always WAY more prepared than them cause there's something different when it's your kid vs. yourself you know? lol! Does my son now carry waterproof bags with him? I'd bet money not!!

As for your mom - I have mobility issues with my knees and I can walk and go down stairs - very slowly. Would I be able to judge what an evac is like on TBA or other rides? No because you don't know exactly what they do and where you walk and such. I've evac'd off rides without issues. I've also had CM's running the evac - one time I was so slow the CM and group left me and I was just walking the TTA track by myself - no one near me....like ANYWHERE near me. I saw where they went so I kept going - but it was so weird. I'm not sure the poor kids (often CP's) doing the evac have the experience to do what they're doing in that situation sometimes. I kept hoping they knew I was still up there and wouldn't start the ride.