What would you do?

[goofyernmost]

Completely neutral opinion here. It seems like a lot of mistakes were made by many people. The evacuation sequence should have started with those that were outside of the show building. As someone has said before, we don't know what the parameters are that Disney uses when it comes to weather. At the time you loaded the position and direction of the storm might have shown a different direction. Weather has a bad habit of changing quickly and without warning, so I don't think Disney would have taken the chance unless they either didn't know what was about to happen or it hadn't reached the shutdown parameter when it was loaded.

Now I will get to the part that you will not like to hear. It's a gamble to take an even a part time outside ride when you know there is a storm in the area. What makes it worse is that you were traveling with someone with a mobility problem and you have a piece of medical equipment that should not be exposed to heavy rain and according to you it was raining already. Also not taken into consideration was that it's a log ride and some people get very wet just with splashdown on a sunny day and all the same personal restrictions arise just for that alone.

Last spring I went to Dollywood and because of my mobility problems I also had an ECV. Shortly after we got there it started to rain lightly, just a sprinkle but we also could hear distant thunder. We immediately searched for at least some partial shelter. No sooner had we gotten to one and it was like someone had dumped a full swimming pool from the sky. I was 75 at the time and I had never, not even during the monsoons in Vietnam, seen that much rain that fell that quickly. I knew my limitations and knew that I couldn't run to shelter so I was proactive and made it priority #1 to find shelter.

I'm sorry I would have liked to fully support you because it must have been miserable to be stuck out in the heavy rain like that, but I don't see where Disney is 100% at fault here. You need to share in that particular lapse in judgment. It is common knowledge that a major downpour is possible within any given second of even a clear sky in Florida. I've gotten caught many times in one of those high wind, heavy, heavy rain and lightening events in Central Florida and was not on a ride. Within seconds and without sufficient warning I was as wet as I was ever going to get and that is on Main Street USA. There was no sense in running because it was like falling into a pool. It was that quick. I've even had the good fortune of sitting in the wrong spot on Kali River Rapids in Animal Kingdom and was completely head to toe saturated after just one drop. First ride of the day. My clothes dried quickly but I walked around all day in shoes that made squishing noises with every step. Just part of the experience.

 

[katilac]

I wouldn't do anything. Sometimes sucky things happen and it's no one's fault. You got soaking wet and you got stuck on a ride, two things that are hardly unknown to happen at a theme park in south Florida.

The rain would have soaked you through on the ride or off, and the ride itself can get you completely soaked, not just wet.

My guess is that Disney uses basically the same weather app that everyone uses for baseball games and so forth, and there's a specific point at which you call off the game, shut down the ride, etc., and I'm sure sometimes the weather moves more quickly than anticipated.

If you thought it was obvious that they shouldn't have boarded you, then you shouldn't have boarded. You didn't think it was obvious at the time, though, you were just glad you got onto the ride before it shut down. And they can't shut down every outdoor ride every time there's rain and thunder, it's south Florida!

I'm sure that evacuation procedures are expected to be followed step-by-step for safety reasons. They also don't go straight to evacuation, instead trying first to fix the issue (which would have been great had it worked, you would have been done much more quickly).

I know we all love some Disney magic, but you can't expect them to have hundreds of towels on hand for guests who get wet. That's not reasonable. They can't help that your mom's glasses got wet in the rain, and they don't know who has balance issues - that's something you need to tell them! When they come to evacuate you, you have to tell them if members of your party can't safely evacuate on their own. The fire department will come evacuate you (which, yes, does mean waiting longer).

I'm sure it was really scary to be stuck outside while there was lightning, but Disney does do a lot to mitigate the danger of lightning, including general design of the park and buildings, and a number of lightning rods (they try to make these blend in, but maybe they shouldn't!).

 

[DodgerGirl]

The problem with Tiana's Bayou Adventure was as I mentioned in my earlier post was they opened it too soon and Disney should've worked out some of the problems first before officially opening for guests and I can't figure out why Tiana's Bayou Adventure is having many problems since it's opening and like I also mentioned in my earlier post if Tiana's Bayou Adventure continues to have so much breakdowns and troubles it's gonna end up like the 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea ride that Magic Kingdom never ever put in operation. By the way Elvispursley did you by chance call Magic Kingdom and talk to the manager about what happened to you and what did they tell you to do?
Dodger

 

[HopperFan]

I wouldn't do anything. Sometimes sucky things happen and it's no one's fault. You got soaking wet and you got stuck on a ride, two things that are hardly unknown to happen at a theme park in south Florida.

The rain would have soaked you through on the ride or off, and the ride itself can get you completely soaked, not just wet.

My guess is that Disney uses basically the same weather app that everyone uses for baseball games and so forth, and there's a specific point at which you call off the game, shut down the ride, etc., and I'm sure sometimes the weather moves more quickly than anticipated.

If you thought it was obvious that they shouldn't have boarded you, then you shouldn't have boarded. You didn't think it was obvious at the time, though, you were just glad you got onto the ride before it shut down. And they can't shut down every outdoor ride every time there's rain and thunder, it's south Florida!

I'm sure that evacuation procedures are expected to be followed step-by-step for safety reasons. They also don't go straight to evacuation, instead trying first to fix the issue (which would have been great had it worked, you would have been done much more quickly).

I know we all love some Disney magic, but you can't expect them to have hundreds of towels on hand for guests who get wet. That's not reasonable. They can't help that your mom's glasses got wet in the rain, and they don't know who has balance issues - that's something you need to tell them! When they come to evacuate you, you have to tell them if members of your party can't safely evacuate on their own. The fire department will come evacuate you (which, yes, does mean waiting longer).

I'm sure it was really scary to be stuck outside while there was lightning, but Disney does do a lot to mitigate the danger of lightning, including general design of the park and buildings, and a number of lightning rods (they try to make these blend in, but maybe they shouldn't!).

I agree with this. WE have to make good decisions for ourselves based on weather, wait times, how we feel, what we are willing to deal with etc. Much of what happened; wet, equipment etc wasn't on Disney at all. A choice was made to get on an outdoor ride in the rain. If one feels "protocol" was not followed then, yes, I would be emailing. I had to do this once, I had a few conversations and the issue was escalated to Park President. Even though the incident was costly to me, all I wanted was "protocol" addressed in the future.

It sounds like Disney heard the issues and offered more than I would have expected.

"... 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."

 

[Ursula J]

OP, it's terrible that this happened. I'd have freaked out completely. I feel some folks are being kind of hard on you. I always go to WDW thinking they're cautious and aware of conditions, so if they didn't shut the ride down, I'd assume they know what they're doing and it's safe to ride. Sitting exposed like that in a storm sounds terrifying even without your legitimate medical concerns. I'm surprised they didn't do better--but then again, I heard a podcaster (WDW NT) telling a story about his botched evacuation from TBA recently. His story was pretty funny because no one was in danger, but essentially their whole log ended up abandoned and just told to follow the exit signs which were not terribly helpful. Maybe the ride needs some more time? But either way, I personally feel you're right to expect more from them. (sorry, folks, don't yell at me!)

 

[LaurenT]

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.

Sounds like it was a very unfortunate confluence of events. Not sure what advice you’re asking for though - Disney is offering to replace anything that was damaged - I always carry a zip lock bag for my phone so that if it starts raining, my phone won’t get wet.
They shut rides down when lightning is detected within a certain range - but there’s no way to perfectly predict it. I can assure you - after being in Disney when my husband had a medical emergency - that they very much care about the well being of their guests.

 

[BalooFan]

I am all for personal responsibility and being prepared for whatever might happen in the parks. In your place, I would have at least had a poncho (probably already wearing it because I’m a wimp who doesn’t want to get wet on the ride).

However, when I board a ride, it is with the understanding that Disney has determined that guests can safely cycle through the ride without significant interruption.

Yes, breakdowns and evacuations occur, but in my many trips to WDW, I have been evacuated from a ride exactly once. I don’t board rides expecting to be stuck for 45 minutes in the rain.

 

[lampshadehead]

The lightning storm while stuck outside, is the issue for me. The other stuff about towels, wet clothes, the pump, it does stink. That is uncomfortable and inconvenient, but can be remedied later on. Getting struck by lightning, not so much. They can't just get up and leave if the lap bar is down, they are trapped there if they can't manage to wiggle out of it. How scary that must have been.

 

[Keladry84]

The lightning storm while stuck outside, is the issue for me. The other stuff about towels, wet clothes, the pump, it does stink. That is uncomfortable and inconvenient, but can be remedied later on. Getting struck by lightning, not so much. They can't just get up and leave if the lap bar is down, they are trapped there if they can't manage to wiggle out of it. How scary that must have been.

I'm with you on the lightning storm while being stuck outside. For me, that is quite a big issue and I don't understand why people would not be evacuated off the ride right away that are outside - if the ride is stopped because of lightning being dangerous, why would they then leave people to sit outside in the storm with lightning? It makes no sense..

On all the other issues I tend to agree with the other posters that the OP could have mitigated and/or took the risk themselves. But I think most people with logic would assume that Disney would not leave you on a closed ride outside with lightning ongoing and wouldn't have known to factor that into their risk if they chose to board at that time or not.

I also did not know that in a weather delay they literally just stop you where you are on the ride - I would have thought they would stop boarding people but let the people who are already on the ride finish to exit the ride.

 

[lampshadehead]

OP, I know you were upset about the other stuff. But you (and it sounds like people in two other logs?) were outside, trapped on a water ride for 45 minutes during a lightning storm. A storm where there was an announcement for CM's to take cover. That is where you need to keep the focus. Someone higher up the chain of command should know about this and it should not happen to anybody ever again.

 

[Narcoossee11]

Sorry for your experience.
The Strom you were caught in was TOTALLY unexpected that day.
The radar showed quick moving ; then on its way. It just STOPPED .
Many in ORL were caught off guard. Roads and houses in a dozen neighborhoods were flooded.

It really is impossible to truly figurine out our weather.

 

[vadersprincess12]

OP ~ sorry this happened to you, but you said yourself that you heard thunder so I think this one is on you. Common sense says that it was going to storm, you are in Florida after all. There is something called personal responsibility and especially since you have a medical device that could be damaged by the water.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I don't understand why people would not be evacuated off the ride right away that are outside - if the ride is stopped because of lightning being dangerous, why would they then leave people to sit outside in the storm with lightning? It makes no sense..

It could well be more dangerous for people & CMs to be clambering around outside on raised exposed (metal?) walkways to evacuate in lightening / reduced visibility than to remain in the log.

A storm where there was an announcement for CM's to take cover.

This makes me wonder if they started evacuations elsewhere on the ride, and that announcement was to tell CMs to pause in those evacuations.

I also did not know that in a weather delay they literally just stop you where you are on the ride - I would have thought they would stop boarding people but let the people who are already on the ride finish to exit the ride.

Must either be ride specific or there was a simultaneous breakdown. I have been on coasters definitely that close down for rain - but if you are started, you finish (at full speed).