Question regarding deaths?

This is a general discussion. If your topic doesn't fit anywhere else, put it here.
Tropter
Wide-eyed Newcomer
Wide-eyed Newcomer
Posts: 9
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2004 2:44 am
Location: Knott's TMLR

Question regarding deaths?

Post by Tropter » Fri Apr 09, 2004 3:28 pm

Ok for all you disney people out there I've got a question. "Did someone die on this ride?" What is the disneyland PC answer because I hate getting that question at my park and never quite know what to say.


I'd give my right arm to be ambedextrious

User avatar
Zazu
Permanent Fixture
Permanent Fixture
Posts: 4133
Joined: Sat Feb 08, 2003 3:00 pm
Park: WDW
Position: retired
Location: 8 miles east of Spaceship Earth
Contact:

Post by Zazu » Fri Apr 09, 2004 4:26 pm

That would depend on which ride they asked me about. If it was PoC, I'd probably blame it on maurading pirates. For Big Thunder, the occasional dynamite accident. Admit everything, but admit it in theme, and put it so far over the top that they won't believe the truth.

Subtlety has never been one of Disney's strong points -- why fight it?


Zazu

Tropter
Wide-eyed Newcomer
Wide-eyed Newcomer
Posts: 9
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2004 2:44 am
Location: Knott's TMLR

Post by Tropter » Fri Apr 09, 2004 7:03 pm

Wish I had it that easy. Perilous Plunge doesn't have any themeing and Knott's has never given us a clear answer to give.


I'd give my right arm to be ambedextrious

BirdMom
Seasoned Pro
Seasoned Pro
Posts: 815
Joined: Wed Feb 12, 2003 12:42 am
Location: California

Post by BirdMom » Sat Apr 10, 2004 2:47 am

I suppose you could always refer the guest to CalOsha...like they have wireless access to the internet while inside a theme park, but OSHA is supposed to have the real statistics somewhere... although I was under the impression that a department like guest relations is supposed to have the statistics on hand for the guests as well on demand.

There is always being honest with guests in a conspiratial tone of voice..."I really shouldn't tell anyone this, but..." Of course, when people were being idiots on some of my e-ticket rides, I'd be more than happy to scare the daylights out of them with true stories of injuries suffered by more unfortunate idiots who were caught by the heavy machinery while doing whatever it was that they weren't supposed to be doing...always good to see the blood drain out of some fool's face after you've caught them running around, jumping boats or whatever... :twisted:



User avatar
Zazu
Permanent Fixture
Permanent Fixture
Posts: 4133
Joined: Sat Feb 08, 2003 3:00 pm
Park: WDW
Position: retired
Location: 8 miles east of Spaceship Earth
Contact:

Post by Zazu » Sat Apr 10, 2004 1:41 pm

Tropter wrote:Wish I had it that easy. Perilous Plunge doesn't have any themeing and Knott's has never given us a clear answer to give.
Why not just remind them that the full name of the place is "Knotts Berry Farm and Calico Ghost Town"? Ask them where they think the ghosts came from. :twisted:

Just because Knotts' management doesn't understand the concept of "theme park" doesn't mean you can't rent a clue.


Zazu

goose
Regular Guest
Regular Guest
Posts: 165
Joined: Sun Jul 27, 2003 7:25 am
Location: CA

Post by goose » Mon Apr 12, 2004 9:15 pm

Zazu wrote:That would depend on which ride they asked me about. If it was PoC, I'd probably blame it on maurading pirates. For Big Thunder, the occasional dynamite accident. Admit everything, but admit it in theme, and put it so far over the top that they won't believe the truth.

Subtlety has never been one of Disney's strong points -- why fight it?
I think that's kind of tacky. Would you want an employee joking about how your dead relative died? That's just my opinion.

I've only been asked a few times. I say that yes it happened. If they want more details, I tell them that it isn't my department and I know very little about that day, which is the absolute truth.



User avatar
Zazu
Permanent Fixture
Permanent Fixture
Posts: 4133
Joined: Sat Feb 08, 2003 3:00 pm
Park: WDW
Position: retired
Location: 8 miles east of Spaceship Earth
Contact:

Post by Zazu » Mon Apr 12, 2004 11:36 pm

goose wrote:
Zazu wrote:That would depend on which ride they asked me about. If it was PoC, I'd probably blame it on maurading pirates. For Big Thunder, the occasional dynamite accident. Admit everything, but admit it in theme, and put it so far over the top that they won't believe the truth.

Subtlety has never been one of Disney's strong points -- why fight it?
I think that's kind of tacky. Would you want an employee joking about how your dead relative died? That's just my opinion.
My opinion too. I guess I didn't express myself very clearly. Redo?


At Big Thunder I tell a story about Young Prospector Periwinkle. "You know the saying, 'There's old powder men and bold powder men, but no old, bold powder men?' Periwinkle was a young and dashing powder man. Only he wasn't dashing fast enough.

"You see, the dynamite he set in the mine went off just fine, but when he tossed his match away, it lit the fuses on the dynamite left in the box ... strapped to the back of his mule. She was a good and loyal mule, too. The faster he ran, the faster she chased him.

"Caught up with him in a flash....."


By this time, the guests aren't thinking of a real death, and the smart ones (and there are a few ... or so I hear) have figured out I'm not going to give them a straight answer.

It's like I said, Disney isn't particularly known for subtlety, so take the bit in your teeth and run with it!


Zazu

goose
Regular Guest
Regular Guest
Posts: 165
Joined: Sun Jul 27, 2003 7:25 am
Location: CA

Post by goose » Tue Apr 13, 2004 12:28 am

Well, that sounds better than what I first thought.



tacoboy
Regular Guest
Regular Guest
Posts: 168
Joined: Sat Sep 02, 2006 11:17 am

Re: Question regarding deaths?

Post by tacoboy » Wed Sep 06, 2006 4:41 pm

One day i was directing guest towards rides and a guest came up to me and asked how to get to a certain ride. I informed him that the ride was closed because of technical difficulties. To this he replied: "Who died?" and proceeded to laugh.

I replied: "Sir, an accident of any kind at this theme park is no laughing matter. Do you think it would be funny if something happend to you or a loved one on a ride?"

Then he said: "Hey buddy lighten up, its only a joke"

I replied: "I don't think death is that funny. Have a nice day"


"Do human beings realize life as they live it? Every... every minute?"

"No. Walt Disney, maybe, but that's about it."

BirdMom
Seasoned Pro
Seasoned Pro
Posts: 815
Joined: Wed Feb 12, 2003 12:42 am
Location: California

Re: Question regarding deaths?

Post by BirdMom » Wed Sep 06, 2006 6:46 pm

tacoboy wrote:Then he said: "Hey buddy lighten up, its only a joke"
Probably the same sort of moron who says "bomb" in the screening tents at Disneyland or in the TSA line at the airport, then expects not to be searched extra hard, lectured or kicked off the plane because it was only "a joke."

I hate passholes like that...


:flamethro :whip: :flamethro


[font=Palatino Linotype]Veni, Vidi, Velcro...[/font] [font=Comic Sans MS]I came, I saw, I got stuck.[/font]

Post Reply