Comments on: List of Changes Disney’s Made Since Monorail Death

By: Chuck Burger

Chuck Burger — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:15:15 +0000

I have been going to Disney for the last 18 years, sometimes 3 times a year. I have been twice this year one of the times at the end of June. My wife and I have noticed a change in Disney unlike we have seen in the past, lack of training thru out the park, I am sure this is due to the economy with cut backs etc. Disney needs to look close at the operation and how a lack of training could have caused some of the recent accidents. Disney is a first class operation and they need to keep it that way.

By: DEAshton

DEAshton — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:34:31 +0000

Having spent my vacation at Disney over the July 4th weekend, I was surprised and relieved to hear that, other than the operator, no one else was in the nose cone. I agree that people WANT to ride with the operator but I also agree that they have no business being there.

“One mistake after all these years” is not a reasonable argument to allow ANY distraction to the operator.

Way to go Disney. Safety MUST ALWAYS take precedent over guest preference.

By: Renee

Renee — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:38:00 +0000

Guests were not allowed in the cab with the pilot to allow the pilots to do their jobs without thousands of people asking them questions about the accident. It also allowed them a chance to grieve without guests watching them. It was a decision made out of respect for the pilots. Guests have now been allowed to ride up front again, as I understand it. Disney did NOT “get all pansy,” they simply were looking out for the emotional well being of the family of cast members.

By: John Frost

John Frost — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 03:06:23 +0000

Thanks Ryan, btw, you drive a mean race car. :_)

By: Ryan Newman

Ryan Newman — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:53:53 +0000

To BobHereYo’s comment,

Note that Adam Wuenneberg (who was not a “college intern”, but a part-time castmember who attended college) was not at fault. He followed all procedures and even tried backing the monorail up.

The person driving the other monorail that hit Adam’s was a 60y/o man and not a college program intern. The manager on duty who was at Denny’s when this happened was not a college program intern. The maintanence worker who failed to switch the track was surely not on the college program.

Thus, the people who made the errors were not college program interns (nor anyone involved in the incident).

So I think it’s safe to say that Disney guests are pretty safe in the hands of the college interns, wouldn’t you say? ;)

By: BobHereYo

BobHereYo — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:16:27 +0000

I wonder if Disney is still going to let these college interns work the Monorail and other important guest safe areas.

Is it me or is just about every employee position, especially in retail areas appear to be a college intern. I realize that is a great way to keep costs low but how much is too much given a college intern was driving the Monorail Purple?

By: jerlev

jerlev — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 23:58:36 +0000

I would ask why would they not have a cast member in the FRONT and BACK of a monorail that will go forward, then reverse over a switch. That only seems to make sense. It was one of the first things I pondered when I heard of this tragic accident.

By: John Frost

John Frost — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:49:38 +0000

It’s my understanding that guests are now allowed back up front, at least on the resort line.

By: bildo

bildo — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 16:58:11 +0000

Guests can’t ride with the pilot anymore!? That’s garbage. One mistake after all these years and Disney gets all pansy. Guests WANT to ride in that car. Why not let them? I mean, it’s safer than being in the front seat of your car!