Teddi
06-19-2015, 10:46 AM
Few things- wondering if someone is at the parks and can confirm that today (and starting last night) that at least one of the elevator shafts is not running. Secondly, just a reminder to always keep safety in mind and never discount restrictions AND safety rules AND being able to evacuate a ride in an emergency. That's just as valid a reason to not ride an attraction than just being able to get on and off.
Anyway, my kids (now 10/10/15) are in DL with my mom and dad and their cousin (also 10). Yesterday evening around 7PM, they had a scary ride and complex evacuation from TOT. I believe the ride actually BROKE (mechanically failed). During the ride my son said as they shot up the entire platform started shaking very strongly. The ride stopped, twice they attempted to bring the platform down (it was basically stuck up at the top of the shaft). He said they could smell "smoke", he said (and sent me the chilling video) that the ride platform was actually TILTED to one side, and I could see that in the video when they attempted to bring the platform down, it shuddered violently. It twice slammed horizontally into the wall (that ride has no horizontal movement of course, so that's pretty bad). All but one of my kids was on the ride- Chloe (one with mild CP) now doesn't like that ride so she stayed off and didn't go (she was waiting alone, which I am OK with as I am a fairly free range parent, my kids know DL very WELL are follow directions, etc). They were stuck up for over 30 minutes. A few things to know (if you didn't already) - they have cameras and can turn on the lights AND have two way audio speakers- so CMs can both talk to you and hear you. I'm very grateful for that, it's very necessary. This way at least they were able to communicate to the CMs to please go locate my daughter who was alone and comfort her (because she was waiting at the exit but was worried why it was taking so long and then saw emergency responders), and bring her to wait in a place where she would be better cared for. I was disappointed that I called DLR and got a person, and requested to see if they could find her (until the whole group was reunited, I had no contact with her), and let her make a call to me (again, just knowing how afraid and worried she would be). Though the CM I spoke with was nice, he said he couldn't actually get the message but assured me CMs would know to look for her. (Again it was more like, I was concerned this could go on for hours and just wanted her to be able to talk to me for comfort). I totally get that as a normal course of action DLR can't/doesn't page guests or go looking to give messages, but this was actually a pretty out of the norm reason so ... I may follow up with the resort to suggest they please reconsider this policy when it gets to the point EMERGENCY crews are called. I was actually able to talk to my kids ON the ride as they had cell phones.
Anyway, they had to call for emergency services (everyone said they had DL Fire, Police, security, and ride maint). It was mentioned that this bad of a breakdown and protocol has never been used before, they've trained but never had this scenario actually happen. Fire Dept came and removed an outer WALL on the side of the tower, and then removed an inner wall/door on the cage of the elevator platform, then carefully have them evacuate on the side of the platform, walk outside on a semi-hidden walkway and use a normal elevator to take them down to the ground level.
It really seems to me it has a real, serious, mechanical breakdown failure. Which is scary. I'm really glad they were safely evacuated. I'm kinda hoping the whole ride is closed (I know they had the other shafts still going last night), just in case it's an issue of wear and tear/other mechanical failure that could happen on the other shafts. I'd not go on the ride right now, personally, unless I had spoke to someone high up enough to know they've done a full inspection. I sure as heck hope that shaft isn't in operation right now. Safety isn't a joke, it always bothers me when we can as human complain first and think later. Also, there was a time we were right ahead of a BTMRR breakdown and it really led me to reconsider what criteria *I* used in allowing my kids (and myself) to go on any given ride- you don't think about it, and while the parks have, we all do need to consider our ability to get OFF the ride in an emergency situation. I saw the BT train stuck on the highest park up and uphill area, with just a tiny and unrailed step narrow staircase to walk off. For about two years after that, I no longer let my CP daughter go on that ride if it was JUST me riding with her because she was still too affected with her balance to evacuate herself safely down that staircase and too big for me to carry (so Dad or grandpa could but not me). Just food for thought, even if it's not really pleasant thought.
Last night was their last in the parks, they are off to do some other stuff today.
Anyway, my kids (now 10/10/15) are in DL with my mom and dad and their cousin (also 10). Yesterday evening around 7PM, they had a scary ride and complex evacuation from TOT. I believe the ride actually BROKE (mechanically failed). During the ride my son said as they shot up the entire platform started shaking very strongly. The ride stopped, twice they attempted to bring the platform down (it was basically stuck up at the top of the shaft). He said they could smell "smoke", he said (and sent me the chilling video) that the ride platform was actually TILTED to one side, and I could see that in the video when they attempted to bring the platform down, it shuddered violently. It twice slammed horizontally into the wall (that ride has no horizontal movement of course, so that's pretty bad). All but one of my kids was on the ride- Chloe (one with mild CP) now doesn't like that ride so she stayed off and didn't go (she was waiting alone, which I am OK with as I am a fairly free range parent, my kids know DL very WELL are follow directions, etc). They were stuck up for over 30 minutes. A few things to know (if you didn't already) - they have cameras and can turn on the lights AND have two way audio speakers- so CMs can both talk to you and hear you. I'm very grateful for that, it's very necessary. This way at least they were able to communicate to the CMs to please go locate my daughter who was alone and comfort her (because she was waiting at the exit but was worried why it was taking so long and then saw emergency responders), and bring her to wait in a place where she would be better cared for. I was disappointed that I called DLR and got a person, and requested to see if they could find her (until the whole group was reunited, I had no contact with her), and let her make a call to me (again, just knowing how afraid and worried she would be). Though the CM I spoke with was nice, he said he couldn't actually get the message but assured me CMs would know to look for her. (Again it was more like, I was concerned this could go on for hours and just wanted her to be able to talk to me for comfort). I totally get that as a normal course of action DLR can't/doesn't page guests or go looking to give messages, but this was actually a pretty out of the norm reason so ... I may follow up with the resort to suggest they please reconsider this policy when it gets to the point EMERGENCY crews are called. I was actually able to talk to my kids ON the ride as they had cell phones.
Anyway, they had to call for emergency services (everyone said they had DL Fire, Police, security, and ride maint). It was mentioned that this bad of a breakdown and protocol has never been used before, they've trained but never had this scenario actually happen. Fire Dept came and removed an outer WALL on the side of the tower, and then removed an inner wall/door on the cage of the elevator platform, then carefully have them evacuate on the side of the platform, walk outside on a semi-hidden walkway and use a normal elevator to take them down to the ground level.
It really seems to me it has a real, serious, mechanical breakdown failure. Which is scary. I'm really glad they were safely evacuated. I'm kinda hoping the whole ride is closed (I know they had the other shafts still going last night), just in case it's an issue of wear and tear/other mechanical failure that could happen on the other shafts. I'd not go on the ride right now, personally, unless I had spoke to someone high up enough to know they've done a full inspection. I sure as heck hope that shaft isn't in operation right now. Safety isn't a joke, it always bothers me when we can as human complain first and think later. Also, there was a time we were right ahead of a BTMRR breakdown and it really led me to reconsider what criteria *I* used in allowing my kids (and myself) to go on any given ride- you don't think about it, and while the parks have, we all do need to consider our ability to get OFF the ride in an emergency situation. I saw the BT train stuck on the highest park up and uphill area, with just a tiny and unrailed step narrow staircase to walk off. For about two years after that, I no longer let my CP daughter go on that ride if it was JUST me riding with her because she was still too affected with her balance to evacuate herself safely down that staircase and too big for me to carry (so Dad or grandpa could but not me). Just food for thought, even if it's not really pleasant thought.
Last night was their last in the parks, they are off to do some other stuff today.