WWoHP guest suffers from heat stroke

[MajorThomasina]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news/universal/Wizarding_World_guest_suffers_from_heat_stroke.htm

What do you guys think? Is Universal to blame? The woman? Both?

I thought both were in the wrong because Universal probably should've offered water or something to keep the guests cool. But I also think the woman is at fault because she expected Universal to provide her with everything she could've provided herself (such as water). No where did it say she had a bottle of water (or two) with her.

What does everyone else think?

 

[damo]

I've read other reports from opening day saying that Universal had people giving out free ice and selling water. I can't see where Universal is to blame here at all.

 

[Bradsdadg]

It's pretty darn hot down there in FLA. I don't blame Universal at all. Stuff like this could happen anywhere, and as adults we have to take care of ourselves with such basic needs as a drink of water. Sounds like she is trying for a lawsuit or some other half brained scheme to get something for nothing.

 

[Stitchnut]

Honest to goodness, you would think that people would know how hot it is and prepare themselves for the heat. She also should have thought ahead to how crowded the new attraction would be and realize a long wait was coming. IMO, she was too excited about the attraction and didn't take a few steps to take water, hat, etc. You can't blame the theme park for someone not taking care of themselves. I do feel bad that she got sick though.

 

[Lou Holtz]

It is zero percent Universal's fault. How are they in control of the outdoors? And how are they expected to suddenly provide shade over THE ENTIRE PARK so that people standing in the line don't get overheated? You're an AP holder, wait a month. Dumb broad.

 

[zackspal]

She is thinking about not renewing her annual Pass. Sounds like she knows how the heat can be. If she has an annual pass, she goes more than a couple times. Def all her own fault

 

[derekburgan]

I'm confused about the part which reads "When she realized she was starting to get overheated, she thought about turning around, but there were too many people behind her." What does that even mean? Is this the dumbest woman alive, or just a typical Florida scam artist? How is this possibly news?

Sounds like Universal had everything possible available for people to avoid heatstroke. At what point does personal responsibility come into play? Are travel agents responsible for people's vacations if it rains?

 

[MajorThomasina]

I've read other reports from opening day saying that Universal had people giving out free ice and selling water. I can't see where Universal is to blame here at all.

Then I take back my previous conclusions. I don't think I can really feel sorry for the woman now, especially since she's an AP holder!

You can't blame the theme park for someone not taking care of themselves.

ITA! Now that I know the Universal tried to take care of their guests by handing out water, the blame is all on the woman. It was really all they could do at last minute.

 

[MajorThomasina]

I'm confused about the part which reads "When she realized she was starting to get overheated, she thought about turning around, but there were too many people behind her." What does that even mean? Is this the dumbest woman alive, or just a typical Florida scam artist? How is this possibly news?

As a previous lifeguard, I've seen some cases of heat stroke. One can get pretty weak once it happens, so maybe she didn't have the strength to push her way through the people behind her. However, what the hell do you expect mid-June in Florida? Wear sunscreen, don't wear yourself down with a lot of baggage, drink plenty of water. It's all common sense and it should've been well-known to an AP holder.

This is what confuses me most, as quoted in another similar article; "Smith said she did file a formal complaint with Universal officials, but wants to stress that the actual care she received was excellent." And in the article I posted; "upset that Universal doesn't seem to care about guest safety." WHAT??

 

[francie57]

Unfortunately Smith just doesn't want to take any responsibility for the fact that she came unprepared for the crowds on that day. What did she expect for the opening day of Harry Potter. For someone with an AP she certainly has to know what the weather and heat are like at this time of year. If Universal was giving out ice and had water for sale they certainly did nothing wrong. She is just looking for someone to blame, and maybe trying to get something more out of it, instead of actually being responsible for her own well being.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

No sympathy here. She knew she was getting over heated, didn't have water with her nor a misting fan and then she states Universal is partially responsible. It happened due to her own selfishness and stupidity. She didn't want to give up her spot on that line.. she didn't come prepared.. wonder who she would blame had she been at a beach unprepared.. maybe the county or the life-guards...

 

[bouncy54]

Totally this woman's responsibility. Never, never go anywhere without water.

I learned the hard way about heat stroke and it was entirely my own fault.

I took my grandchildren to a concert in Idaho Falls with General Seating which meant we had to line up for about 8 hours to get decent seats. This was in March and no one expected the temps to reach nearly 80 degrees, but it did.

Anyway...I didn't eat or drink much the entire day and about 2 hours before the concert, I got so sick I couldn't even hold my head up. I wanted to throw up so bad, but there were no restrooms anywhere except inside the concert hall (and no-one around to let us in) and there were literally thousands of people lined up along the building. Everyone around me gave me their water and food, trying to help me, but I was too far gone by then. Luckily, my car was parked across the street. My grandkids helped me to the car where I turned on the air-conditioner and drank some very warm bottled water.

After cooling down for about 20 minutes, I felt a little better, so made my way back to our place in line. The doors opened a few minutes later and we made our way up 2 flights of stairs to front row balcony seats. I was only feeling about 50% of normal, but the kids had a blast and that was what mattered most to me.

When we got back to our hotel room, I spent about 30 minutes kneeling before the porcelain throne and felt like a new person right after. We went to another concert in Boise the next night (same singer) ... this time armed with both food and water and had an absolute blast. We even got to meet the artist after the show and get his autograph. Don't know who was more excited, the kids or Grandma.

 

[phamton]

Heat stroke happens every day in the summer at all of the Orlando, FL parks. Not sure why this was newsworthy. I can almost say with certainty that someone probably collapsed at Disney and Seaworld on the same day. It's certainly not uncommon at all.

 

[Planogirl]

I got over-heated at an outdoor concert once and it was totally my fault. I didn't drink enough fluids or stay in the shade. I was just a teen but I certainly knew that what I was doing was bad.

This lady probably wants something.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We visit from the UK most years and usually have to go in the summer due to the school holidays.
I usually manage okay with the heat but my wife struggles a little which is why we do the theme parks in short spells rather than spending all day there.

On our honeymoon she suffered heat stroke on Miami Beach and a few years ago also had the same problem in Orlando.
Neither were Harry Potter or Universal orientated problems.

Florida is a hot place.

 

[wilma-bride]

Whilst I feel sorry for the woman - it must have been extremely uncomfortable to have been stood waiting in the heat that day - I can't see how Universal can be held responsible.

Whatever happened to taking responsibility for your own actions. She didn't have to stand there for 2 hours

 

[micksterlee]

I have received bad sunburns at WDW, Universal and Sea World I wonder if with the right law firm I could get rich.Maybe I could get a lifetime supply of hats and sun screen or maybe at least a brochure on how to be a responsible human and avoid the perils of summer in Florida.

 

[Disney_Lover06]

On the 17th, they had a preview for people with vouchers. We started lining up at 11am for the noon preview. We were stopped in the direct sunlight with the sun driectly above us. I finished my entire bottle of water within 30 minutes. I couldn't move to get more water, so I stood there for another hour directly in the sunlight before they opened the gates for me. Though I felt dizzy from the heat, I went directly to the castle and rode FJ. When I got out, I was still really dizzy and had stopped sweating. I knew I had heat Exhaustion from lack of water. I spent the next hour drink water in the shade to cool off. I don't blame Universal for my heat exhaustion at all.

Unlike the 17th, Universal had carts selling bottle of water and giving out ice water on the 18th.

 

[FINFAN]

Heat stroke happens every day in the summer at all of the Orlando, FL parks. Not sure why this was newsworthy. I can almost say with certainty that someone probably collapsed at Disney and Seaworld on the same day. It's certainly not uncommon at all.

yep...we were at Universal 6/4-9, then WDW 6/9-16. We saw EMT's and stretchers 7 different days for a variety of reasons at at IOA, US, AK, MK and DHS. We know for sure the one at AK was heatstroke as my kids were just a few people ahead of the person while in line for Kali RR. The line was easily 100 minutes long ( we went late about 2, FP were gone) We were sittting by the exit bridge and saw the stretcher coming, called the kids to make sure they were ok, they were but had an idea who wasn't...anyway, my kids had cups of ice with them, and a phone, had left everything else with us so it did not get soaked, my DD sais she *thinks* the woman said something similar, that her water bottle was in her bag with her firends. Her BF was in line with her, we saw her being wheeled out, but knew to look as DD had called to give us the 411. The parks were really hot when we were there, it was 99 that day, heat index must have been 105 or higher and no rain. DS discoverd Vault icees at AKL that day, and the rest of us, we hit every stand we could to obtain cups of ice...many were running low or out. However, the YETI ran that evening! It wasn't too hot for him! We had ridden 4 times this trip and that was our last ride...his arm moved, not anything more than that so not in A mode, but there all the same, it was cool!

 

[pilesoflaundry]

As a previous lifeguard, I've seen some cases of heat stroke. One can get pretty weak once it happens, so maybe she didn't have the strength to push her way through the people behind her. However, what the hell do you expect mid-June in Florida? Wear sunscreen, don't wear yourself down with a lot of baggage, drink plenty of water. It's all common sense and it should've been well-known to an AP holder.

This is what confuses me most, as quoted in another similar article; "Smith said she did file a formal complaint with Universal officials, but wants to stress that the actual care she received was excellent." And in the article I posted; "upset that Universal doesn't seem to care about guest safety." WHAT??

She sounds like an idiot or looking to get 5 minutes of fame or some money out of it. She received excellent care but didn't?! What does that even mean.

And you have to be the dumbest person alive to not know standing in the heat of FL in JUNE for even half the amount of time she was without a hat or water and wall to wall people is safe. Being an AP holder means she is aware of the weather and heat issues so again, personal responsibility comes into play.

I would rather carry a bag of ice and wear a hat and look dumb then take any chances with heat stroke.