Disneyland accidents - who's to blame?

Added: 02/22/2006

Places of Family Amusement are not new in the world but surprisingly even there you are not safe sometimes. There have been many accidents and deaths that occurred at Disneyland parks. Most accidents are the direct result of guest stupidity. Some, however, are a rare exception where mechanical failure is at fault.

Disney and his creative team have always focused on the presentation of Disneyland, ensuring that it would be as controlled and predictable a fiction as their movies, records and television shows had been up to that point. It should be remembered that Disneyland was an amazing mess on its opening day in July 17, 1955. Many attractions weren't built yet, the Main Street asphalt was still soft, and technical difficulties were everywhere. But over time, everything was worked out, except for the occasional Disneyland accidents and even deaths on the property.
There have been several accidents and deaths at Disneyland, more than the company would prefer to admit. The possibility of getting injured or killed in the park is just something they would rather you didn't concern yourself with.
But most of us would rather be aware of what we?re getting into before setting foot on the Magic Kingdom?s property. It?s amazing after hearing about so many Disneyland accidents and deaths that occur there, that operators are still negligent about checking restraints on rides. Take the most recent Disneyland accidents for example. September 5, 2003, there was an accident on Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad roller coaster. One rider was killed and ten others were injured when one of the ride's trains derailed. The same train had been taken out of operation for routine maintenance on September 2, and remained idle until it was put back into operation, less than an hour before it derailed. Investigators believe that during the train's 12th circuit, two bolts securing the rear axle of the lead car loosened. The wheel assembly then fell off the car. The report found that maintenance workers had erroneously failed to tighten two screws properly. Disney officials admitted that the accident was the result of poor maintenance and poorly trained employees.
Among other Disneyland accidents on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is the July 8, 2004 accident in which two of the ride's trains collided, injuring five people. The report says that the ride operator, who had been working for the park for just three days when the accident happened, performed procedures out of sequence. In a report issued by The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA), investigators say that it was a ride operator's mistake coupled with a glitch in the ride's computer system. Disneyland officials agreed with the findings of the report and complied with a state order to retrain the operator and correct the software problem.
On March 17, 2005, a four-year-old boy severed thumb on Disneyland ride. The boy broke a finger and severed the tip of his thumb after an accident on the Storybook Land Canal Boats ride. Reports indicate that the boy's fingers got caught between his boat and the dock. State inspectors ordered that Disneyland lower and repair the rubber bumpers along the dock's edge, for the ride operators to tell guests to keep their hands in the boat while it docks.
It?s still to be revealed the affect Disney-related incidents have had on the public. Hopefully the park?s management gets the point.

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