Crash on the Monorail (July 2009)

[CA Screamin Dude]

Discretion is Advised

As we approach the two-year anniversary of the WDW Monorail Crash, I have released an investigative project based on the fatal events of Independence Weekend, July 2009. The Crash on the Monorail program features actors, computer simulations, re-enactments, and representations of factual events. This objective analysis is the result of extensive research based on the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)'s public investigation of the July 5, 2009, WDW Monorail Accident, as opposed to any third party report or analysis. Based on a true event, the format of this educational feature was inspired by the former National Geographic series, Seconds from Disaster, and was produced in accordance with applicable US Copyright Law, 17 USC 107.

The program contains material some viewers may find unsuitable. Discretion is advised. This program is based on factual events and features a series of re-enactments with live action actors and computer simulations. This program is intended for educational use and is meant for future operators or controllers, who will hopefully use this information to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Click here to watch this 25-minute presentation.

[Freak]

I'll have to admit, after watching that, I do feel that this is something that could have and should have been prevented. It was a lot of small things that ended up turning into one big thing. That's a sad story.

[Main Streeter]

Made me ill just thinking of the incident. I can't even watch. The pain is still there.

[kurtisnelson]

Click here to watch this 25-minute presentation.

I'm sorry, but I find the treatment of this as pretty tasteless, with random footage dumped in. I know it's an amateur work, but I think this is a subject that should not be left to amateurs.

[Goofyernmost]

I felt that the overall presentation was tasteful but the use of the guy with the telegraph key was just confusing and distracting.

It would seem that they could have done something for a reenactment that was a little less 1920. It kind of took away from the credibility and it almost seemed like they were intentionally making light of technology. Understandable, I guess, when you figure how much of the entire event was human negligence and not technical.

Anyway, with such a serious subject that involved the death of a human being and the tragic life alterations to others...a little more seriousness could have been used in the story telling. I have to give it an overall thumbs down, but if the story was factual...it is a very sad set of circumstances leading up to the tragedy. Allowing someone to leave his post before an onsite replacement was in place, is unforgivable to me...yet the guy responsible for that is still an employee...how can that be?

[Freak]

@ DLR (at least as far as I know) we weren't allowed to take breaks/lunches off property...I can't believe he was allowed to do that.

[Big Wallaby]

Aaaaaaaaaaand...

To start, the narrator and his

In under five minutes, there were incorrect facts.

Still less than five minutes, and there were factors mentioned that didn't ever come into play.

Less than six minutes, and things are called wrong names.

Around six minutes, more incorrect facts.

Under ten minutes, many things mixed up.

Finding people from National Geographic videos to try to make them look something like the people involved, when there was no dramatization with the people being shown...

Second video, under 3 minutes: Again, a misunderstanding of how things are done on the radio means... more incorrect facts.

Thank you for not finding and using the "static" for the sound effect. You would have owed me a new keyboard as I threw up on mine.

Under four minutes, and the video gives us more incorrect facts. When you don't know the language of what is going on, it is difficult to explain it.

Under seven minutes, radio traffic explained in a way in which it never happens, and never has.

Not really sure what the activities of Red, Silver, Blue, Green (which I was driving at the time), Lime, Gold, Black, Orange or Yellow have to do with the events of the video.

Under 8 minutes, again. Incorrect, inaccurate facts.

Under 9 minutes, a statement that, having driven the bloody things, took me about a minute to understand what what being said. When I got it, it was something that would have nothing to do with the events of the video. Talking about people in certain positions not being able to do things that they couldn't have done anyway, and for reasons different from those given in the presentation.

Under ten minutes, things are happening differently, again, from the real life situation.

This isn't a video that really could be used for educational purposes. A new pilot would only be confused when they watched this and then got trained properly.

I agree with kurtisnelson, that this is something that should be handled by someone who can perform the reenactments, conduct actual interivews.

And I just love how everyone thinks Gilmore was doing something wrong that night. Two years ago, almost to the minute as I write this.

Viewer discretion is useful, but so is discretion in how you make something like this. I would not try to make a video about the crash of TWA800, no matter how educated I became on the facts of the matter, unless I was someone to know the ins and outs of THAT 747, that crash, that incident.

Sorry if this is strongly worded. It didn't strike a nerve because it was about the wreck. It struck a nerve because so many people assume so much. And this video will cause Monorail Pilots who still work on the system headache when guests come up and think they know exactly what happened. When they start talking about the Spur, it will be nothing but confusing, because when spur is said in this video, it doesn't always refer to the spurline. And that is the only clue I am going to give.

My suggestion? Take that video down before another guest sees it and wants to snuggle up to a Monorail pilot and discuss it.