Disney Skyliner Accident

[hereforthechurros]

This is the one in question, there are a few others similar to it from other folks. Looks like it rolled backward and smashed into the one behind it, shattering the glass. I wouldn't expect the skyliner to be open tomorrow or probably for a while.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1180682003764649985

So either the power failure line from Disney’s mouthpiece isn’t true OR power failures can cause crashes. Either way, bad look WDW.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

Disney is so so so so lucky this happenned at 9 pm in October and not at 3 pm in July. I admit I don’t completely know the science behind the glass they have on these things, but someone explain to me how being stuck in something like this in the July heat for this length of time doesn’t lead to fatalities for children and the elderly.

Here’s a study that showed that a car parked in the sun in the summer reaches temperatures that are fatal for a 2 year old in 1 hour: https://time.com/5291550/cars-dangerous-temperatures/

My understanding is that when these monorail cars are not moving they have no ventilation, is that correct?

 

[Disneylover99]

I think for some people $100 and a park ticket would be fair and reasonable compensation. For others, it won’t be. It really depends on what’s happening inside each gondola. Some gondolas may be full of calm people who have spent the time quietly chatting, while other gondolas may have sick or hysterical people on it. Imagine dealing with hysterical people for 2-3 hours that you don’t even know.

 

[Steph15251]

So either the power failure line from Disney’s mouthpiece isn’t true OR power failures can cause crashes. Either way, bad look WDW.

Yes with the safety system a crash can cause the line to lose power

 

[Spaceguy55]

 

[orangecuse]

I would hope that ticket and $100 also comes with a voucher for a new pair of pants...

 

[Takket]

yeah there is no way in heck $100 is adequate compensation for 3 hours trapped on a system you told people was safe, and the traumatic experience of a FD evacuation from 60 feet in the air. Comping a room for the night and a park ticket for that day is a bare minimum.

 

[jbehr12]

OK I’ve seen the video now and it looks pretty legitimate. Were there people in the blue car?

At this point I don’t think anyone was questioning the legitimacy...

 

[DLgal]

Disney is so so so so lucky this happenned at 9 pm in October and not at 3 pm in July. I admit I don’t completely know the science behind the glass they have on these things, but someone explain to me how being stuck in something like this in the July heat for this length of time doesn’t lead to fatalities for children and the elderly.

Here’s a study that showed that a car parked in the sun in the summer reaches temperatures that are fatal for a 2 year old in 1 hour: https://time.com/5291550/cars-dangerous-temperatures/

My understanding is that when these monorail cars are not moving they have no ventilation, is that correct?

They do have heat reflective glass and that stuff really does work well. We have it on our house windows and they literally never get hot to the touch, even in direct sun. Our home stays very cool in high temps. We also have a heat repelling roof, so there are materials that can accomplish this quite well, as well as special types of paint that can do the same. So, it seems from anecdotal reports, the ventilation combined with the heat reflective materials make the inside of the gondola very similar to the outside air temperature when stopped, much like sitting in the shade. It's not like a closed car that has materials that generally absorb and trap heat and glass that works much like a magnifying glass under the sun.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

yeah there is no way in heck $100 is adequate compensation for 3 hours trapped on a system you told people was safe, and the traumatic experience of a FD evacuation from 60 feet in the air. Comping a room for the night and a park ticket for that day is a bare minimum.

A one day hopper is worth more than a day on a lot of people’s multi day tickets, and then the extra $100 GC of course.

Not mind blowing, but not terrible IMO. Truly I wouldn’t have been surprised if they handed out stacks of anytime FP unless people went out of their way to ask for more.

 

[EmJ]

I’m sorry but if I’m told to take a #2 in a bag in front of strangers as I’m suspended in a swaying metal box 80 feet in the air and trying to comfort my preschooler, while also wondering what in the h-e-double-hockey-sticks is going on while Disney pipes in prerecorded blah blah non-updates, $100 and a $100 park ticket for a trip I’ve already fully paid for and don’t need tickets to ain’t cutting it. They’re trying to defense it, but I’m very doubtful that the people taken away on stretchers are going to feel adequately compensated.

 

[KMarston]

I think for some people $100 and a park ticket would be fair and reasonable compensation. For others, it won’t be. It really depends on what’s happening inside each gondola. Some gondolas may be full of calm people who have spent the time quietly chatting, while other gondolas may have sick or hysterical people on it. Imagine dealing with hysterical people for 2-3 hours that you don’t even know.

I’m definitely not on the comped trip team but I’m assuming most of the people there have tickets and $100 won’t even buy a party ticket. I just hope no one had a truly terrifying experience. I can’t imagine no updates and leaving the audio loop on. My husband said, “well, I guess you’re for sure not riding it now!” I was for sure not riding it before now!

 

[jbehr12]

I’m sorry but if I’m told to take a #2 in a bag in front of strangers as I’m suspended in a swaying metal box 80 feet in the air and trying to comfort my preschooler, while also wondering what in the h-e-double-hockey-sticks is going on while Disney pipes in prerecorded blah blah non-updates, $100 and a $100 park ticket for a trip I’ve already fully paid for and don’t need tickets to ain’t cutting it. They’re trying to defense it, but I’m very doubtful that the people taken away on stretchers are going to feel adequately compensated.

I don’t think they asked anyone to go #2, and I didn’t see anything about people being taken away on stretchers?

 

[ChimneyJim]

A Disney spokesperson said they were aware of the issue and called it "unexpected downtime."

 

[DLgal]

The $100 gift card and ticket are the pacifier for now. Guests are reporting that Disney collected their contact information and told them they would be in touch at a later time.

These are a PR tactic to keep people from literally rioting onsite. It's a goodwill gesture. There will be more compensation, you can be sure of that. My gut says, a free all expenses paid future trip if you sign a release waiver that you won't sue. Most people will probably take whatever is offered because they don't want the hassle of hiring a lawyer and suing. I suspect those guests taken away in stretchers may have a different opinion.

 

[EmJ]

I don’t think they asked anyone to go #2, and I didn’t see anything about people being taken away on stretchers?

“Waste bags” were provided in the emergency kits for individuals feeling ill or who needed to relieve themselves. Hopefully no one did. And there have been photos of people being taken away on stretchers.

 

[SG131]

I try to face and overcome my fears so my daughter can do the same. When the
gondolas are moving as normal it’s a quick trip and I’m okay, when they stop and start swinging all bets are off.

I totally get it. I’m not afraid of heights but Ia claustrophobic. If it’s moving and a short ride I’ll be fine. If I was stuck in a car with only 4 people I might be able to keep myself calm for an hour. If I’m in a packed full car I’d lose it in no time. But either way at the three hour mark I’d be a wreck.

 

[metzgardesign]

Now Disney can just re-classify the mode of transportation as an "exciting new thrill ride for the whole family!"

 

[OSUZorba]

Looking at something and saying "I don't think that's gonna work" is not equal to being a "hater", which implies an irrational hatred of something that doesn't merit such a strong emotion.

A lot of us looked at the Skyliner system and asked "What if this happens? What about this? What about this scenario, how are they going to deal with it?" I did that was called a Debbie Downer and a Chicken Little. IMO though you HAVE to envision every single bad scenario, because asking those questions after something goes wrong is too late.

Disney should have asked, "If the entire line stops, how long would it take to evacuate every gondola?" and when they were told "3 and a half hours" should have said, "That's not acceptable, in midday Florida summer heat that's too long." and those involved should have either come up with an evacuation plan that was considerably less than that, or said "You know what? This idea isn't going to work for Walt Disney World. We can't put our guests in potential danger like that."

They didn't, and this the result. The Skyliner will probably be completely shut down until the engineers figure out what happened. It's a shame because it looks like a fun system to ride, but the method of transport is just too unreliable to be safe.

Maybe this is when everyone will start believing the Fire Fighters that they are massively below proper staffing levels. Also seems that they should have some reservists other than the FD that can use buckets and/or rope evac. I'm sure Disney wants to use just the FD to shift the liability over to the "city" though.

 

[DGsAtBLT]

Now Disney can just re-classify the mode of transportation as an "exciting new thrill ride for the whole family!"

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