Gatorland – The Alligator Capital of the World
Gatorland in Orlando Florida is a great place to spend a day if you are looking for something different than the theme parks.
Gatorland has been in existence since 1949. They had a terrible fire in 2006 but they have rebuilt and the attraction is better than ever.
You could spend the entire day here watching the [...]
OSHA Preliminary Report reveals Chaos before Monorail Crash
OSHA has finished its investigation related to the July 2009 crash of the Walt Disney World Resort monorail that killed one employee and released a preliminary report. Details of the report listed on the Orlando Sentinel reveals how chaos reigned for the moments that preceded the crash.
While Disney’s internal investigation pinned the accident on the engineer who announced he had switched the track when he actually hadn’t, the OSHA investigation looked at the deeper reasons. For instance the company had never issued actual paper procedures to the employ, instead relying on verbal training.
This may be fine when you’re dealing with non guest related positions, but seems inexcusable to me when you’re dealing with any position that requires operating an attraction or system that interacts with guests who might be injured when something goes wrong.
Here is where long-time observers of the Walt Disney parks and resorts can draw a connection back to the string of fatal accidents at Disneyland. After the fatal Columbia accident, where a guest was killed due to a combination of poor maintenance and a cast member who was unfamiliar with the attraction procedures docking the boat, Disney reacted by with-holding their Standard Operation Manuals from day to day cast members, instead relying on on-site verbal training to communicate procedures. The theory being if there was no printed manual to follow, the cast member (and Disney itself) couldn’t be blamed for not following it. I had a feeling at the time that this would come back to bite them eventually, and sadly it has.
This also extends to Disney’s decision to move away from the recommended procedures of the Monorail’s manufacturer as far as not having a supervisor in the both and not having eyes in the back of the train when it was moving in reverse. Disney did have these procedures at one time, but moved away from them slowly in the name of efficiency and changing standard operating procedures that were there more for legal reasons than for safety.
It’s time for everyone at Walt Disney World resort to stand in front of the mirror and think long and hard about their responsibility for safety. If you’re a front line cast member who has never seen the actual procedure manual, safety operations, or evacuation plans for your attraction, stand up and refuse to run the attraction until you’re properly trained. If you’re a mid-level manager, do the research and make sure your manual is properly outfitted with the safety recommendations of its manufacturer and institute a review of all related procedures and training. Upper managers, take some time to reflect if your policies are impacting the safety of your cast members and guests and commit to doing everything you can from the smallest guest interaction to the largest mechanical operation to ensure a perfect safety record. Go back to basics if you have to.
As a resort, you are one major accident away from a string of bad Public Relations moments that will begin to affect guest attitude about your park. And once the shine is off the apple, it takes more than some spit and polish to get it back.
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OSHA Preliminary Report reveals Chaos before Monorail Crash
The Disney Blog - Disney News and Information -- by fans, for fans
Tiger Woods pic still hangs in ESPN WWOS
Tiger Woods pic still hangs in ESPN WWOS
Even Gatorade has dropped Tiger Woods, but his pic still hangs at ESPN Wide World of Sports complex in first floor of the Milk House. Woods is also featured in the American Experience film. I don’t expect them to edit films for a what is probably a temporary setback for Woods. But removing a picture or banners with his image that hold him up as a role model, that doesn’t seem too much to ask.
What do you think?
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Tiger Woods pic still hangs in ESPN WWOS
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“Green Carpet” event at the ESPN Wide World of Sports at Disney World
ESPN Wide World of Sports Grand Opening Green Carpet.
This video includes some or all of the following sports stars and ESPN personalities:
Monica Abbott, Mike Alstott, Nick Anderson, Juan Pablo Angel, Brandi Chastain, Brian Ching, Bobby Cox, Brian Dawkins, Dwayne De Rosario, Jennie Finch, Josh Freeman, Darrell Green, Garrett Hartley, Santonio Holmes, Shawn Johnson, Chipper Jones, [...]
Garrett Hartley opens ESPN Wide World of Sports at Disney World
New Orleans Saints kicker, Garrett Hartley, opens the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex at Walt Disney World.
A Visit to The Walt Disney Family Museum
On October 1st, 2009, the Walt Disney Family Museum opened its doors in San Francisco, California. My family was privileged to visit it recently.
People often wonder why the museum is located in San Francisco instead of Marceline, Missouri; Southern California; or Orlando. Of course we wondered this too and asked one of the museum’s friendly [...]
Harlem Globetrotters slam dunk ESPN WWOS reopening
The world famous Harlem Globetrotters capped off an amazing day of ceremonies for the re-opening of ESPN Wide World of Sports complex. The Globetrotters put on a funny and technically wizard show as only they know how to do, and of course, the Generals lost. But what made last night special was the special appearance by some of the sports figures at ESPN WWOS for the event.
Tim Hudson, Brandi Chastain, Garrett Hartley, Chad Ochocinco, and Mike and Mike all had featured rolls, In fact, Golic and Greeny made a bet which Golic lost and resulted in this moment:
Yep. That’s Mike Golic in a Tinker Bell costume.
The game was taped in 3D, which featured some amazing new innovative technology from ESPN. Let me just say that 3D technology is made for sporting events like this. It will be shown tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN2, no 3d glasses require, however.
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Harlem Globetrotters slam dunk ESPN WWOS reopening
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ESPN Wide World of Sports official re-opened
The ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex was officially rededicated today with a sports and ESPN celebrity filled event complete with a ‘Green’ carpet. I’ve got some celebrity photo highlights below along with a video of the actual ceremony, which I must say started everything off with a real kick.
Mike and Mike of the ESPN Radio morning show sign autographs along the ‘Green Carpet’
Chad OchoCinco gave a great interview and was very good with his fans.
Brandi Chastain, US Women’s Soccer star. A funny note, my first official Disney Media Event was covering the 1999 US Women’s World Cup Championship US Team at Disneyland. So this was sort of full circle for me.
Tim Hudson, pitcher for the Atlanta Braves. The Braves have spring training at WWOS every year since it opened.
Garrett Hartley, kicker for the New Orleans Saints, 2010 Super Bowl Champs.
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Jennie Fitch, Olympic Gold Medalist in Women’s Softball.
Maurice Jones-Drew, running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Finally, here’s a video of Garrett Hartley with special guest Minnie Mouse and a whole crew of helpers opening the ESPN Wide World of Sports with one amazing kick.
A big thanks to everyone involved in putting together this wonderful event. It was spectacular!
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ESPN Wide World of Sports official re-opened
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Drive like a champion at Walt Disney World
The cars look just like the real things on the track, but they’re specially built for the driving school.
This morning I had the absolute pleasure to participate in the Richard Petty Driving Experience at Walt Disney World Resort. The two and a half hour experience includes a driving school, photo session, and then actually laps driving on the track, the amount of which vary based on what package you purchase.
You can also just purchase a ride-along package, which is awesome in its own way since you actually get to go much faster than you would when you’re driving yourself.
The Walt Disney World Speedway was an actual operating race track for the few initial years after it was build hosting Indy Car and truck racing. These days it plays host to stock car and open wheel drivers who want to test their cars or get the feel for a new car model. Danica Patrick test drove her first Nascar Nationwide car at the track and Jamie McMurray, the winner of this year’s Daytona 500, did his final testing just a week before he won the big race.
Don’t worry about inexperience. Your instructor, like Derek here, will show you the ropes.
If you know me, I’m not a skinny man by any means, but they had a race suit that fit me and others who were larger. And my biggest fear was I wouldn’t be able to get through the window, but it’s a fairly large 15 inches and no-one in our group wasn’t able to get in our out easily.
I participated in the 8-lap Rookie experience. After a few laps getting up to speed, I was soon driving laps that averaged more than 120 miles per hour. Woo. That was a huge rush.
The car really does turn pretty much on it’s own. Just drive it down to the while line when you’re in the corner and everything takes care of itself. But you don’t even have to worry about that, as you’re following a lead car that shows you exactly where to drive and how fast to go.
It really was easy and it was a ton of fun. We had absolute beginners in our group who had never driven a stick shift before and before you knew it they too were zooming around the track.
Myself and the fabulous Laura Spencer, who coordinates the Disney World Mom’s Panel.
The Richard Petty Driving Experience has over 20 tracks, but the Orlando location is the only one open year round. Over 50,000 people a year participate in the driving school. You can learn more about the Richard Petty Driving Experience at its website.
Think this sounds like fun? If you have a Disney World Annual Pass you can get a free ride along experience now through the end of March 2010. The track is open from 9am-4pm and all you have to do is present your AP at the desk. If you’re a racing fan, or just like an adrenaline rush you can get even on the fastest roller coaster, I totally recommend you do it.
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Drive like a champion at Walt Disney World
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Captain EO returns to Disneyland
Since Michael Jackson’s death in June, fan sites have been buzzing with rumors and hopes that Disney would bring back the 3-D “Captain EO” movie to the theme parks. The fans have finally gotten their wish. The show re-opened at Disneyland today as the first day of a limited run in Tomorrowland’s Magic Eye Theater. [...]
