An article in the Orlando Sentinel’s sports section focuses on one of the unique benefits that comes with sports training at ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World. It’s called cyrotherapy. It’s the same technology that cryogenic facilities use to quickly freeze a… Read More »Cryotherapy at ESPN WWoS Advances Sports Therapy
Well, this is cute, and a great idea. This morning, the Universal Orlando Resort surprised guests who attended the midnight film screening of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” at AMC Universal Cineplex 20 with exclusive, complimentary access to The Wizarding World of… Read More »Universal Orlando surprises Harry Potter Midnight Showing Guests with WWoHP visit
The monorail station could be looking like this a lot more when Disney institutes its new reduced hours for the trains.
One of my favorite Robert Heinlein short stories is “The Roads Must Roll.” Written in 1940, it speculates about a rapid transit system that would move people across the country in speed and comfort. The high speed nature of the rolling roads meant that maintenance was a huge deal. When the employees decided to organize for better working conditions, well, the shit hits the fan. In some ways it foretold the air controller strike of the Reagan era. These days there is an odd tie-in to the Walt Disney World monorails system too.
Walt Disney World just announced they would be reducing the operating hours of their monorail fleet. They used to run 1.5 hours after the parks closed or after the last scheduled event (extra magic hours, christmas party, etc). Sometimes these hours were stretched even further on the EPCOT line. Now they will all shut down 1 hour after the posted closing time for the park with no allowance for extra magic hours or other events. Guests will be placed on buses or water craft to be returned to their hotels or the TTC and EPCOT parking lots.
Initially, there was a lot of outcry directed at Disney for reducing benefits to resort and park guests at the same time they are raising prices, but soon word leaked out that there was an important reason behind the shift. The reason? The monorail fleet is just breaking down under the strain.
This lawsuit against the Walt Disney Company for allegedly failing to meet the minimum standards set forth by the American Disabilities Act required to accommodate blind visitors to its parks and websites has been working its way through the courts for a long time. However, the a Federal Judge has just certified a class action lawsuit against Disney clearing the way for the company to potentially face a lot more damages.
The chief complaints, mostly against the Parks & Resorts division are:
1) Disney does not provide schedules, menus and maps in formats which are accessible to blind persons, such as in Braille, large print, or electronic form;
2) Disney does not accommodate the needs of guide dogs;
3) Disney does not accommodate the needs of blind persons during live parades and shows;
4) Disney does not permit any discounted admission for sighted companions who must accompany and support blind persons in the theme parks; and
5) Disney’s websites do not accommodate blind persons who use screen reader programs to access information.
I’m not a lawyer, thus this is just my layman’s observation, so take it with a large grain of salt. I think Disney stands heads and shoulders above almost every other theme park in the USA. However, are they perfect when it comes to ADA compliance? No. As far as point #1, I think Disney can easily refute that (at least in Orlando) as they provide a great mobile tool that provides almost all of that (and there are definitely braille maps in the parks). For #2, while I’ve not had a guide dog myself, Disney has no issues at all with guide dogs in their parks, I see them all the time. There might be some safety reasons while a dog cannot accompany a rider on certain rides, but you have to put safety first. Plus certain rides will be grandfathered in where changes would change the nature of the attraction. As to #3, see #1. With regards to #4, if this is something the law requires, I would be surprised if Disney does not provide it. #5, this appears to be most valid complaint. But then again, it’s a complaint that’s valid against most every website. Targeting Disney is a high visibility move for the cause. I know Disney is rolling out an updated website for Disney.com, so perhaps that will be included then. So, yes, Disney does have room for improvement, but does it rise to the level of a lawsuit? I guess a Federal Judge thinks so.
The full text of the press release is below the jump:
Read More »Class Action Lawsuit Certified Against Disney for ADA Violations Against the Blind
Yesterday Orlando Harley-Davidson owners Steve and Anne Deli opened their newly expanded and interactive Harley-Davidson store at Downtown Disney West Side; moving from a smaller location in the former Pleasure Island area. The 3,635-sq.-ft. store was designed to create a unique interactive Harley environment featuring… Read More »New Harley Davidson Location open at Downtown Disney Orlando
After some political struggles, and a delay after visitor tax revenues declined during the recession, the city of Orlando will finally be getting a world class center for the performing arts. To commemorate the start of construction on the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing… Read More »Disney helps celebrate Groundbreaking of new Performing Arts Center for Orlando
The Vacation Lodge Motel, near Disney’s Animal Kingdom, on the 192 caught fire around 10:45pm last night and is still burning strong right now. All three wings of the sprawling motel have burned to the ground, displacing 150 guests. Although it was an operating motel,… Read More »Massive Motel Fire near Disney World Closes 192, Injures 12
Walt Disney World will illuminate the night on July 4 with special pyrotechnic shows, including a patriotic display at Magic Kingdom, a rock’n’roll spectacular at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and a laser light show at Epcot plus an Independence Day finale tag for IllumiNations. Here’s the… Read More »Disney World set for Fireworks Displays in Three of its Four Parks