From 64.185.144.48 on July 25, 2011 at 9:33 AM
Not really a news story. They do happen on a daily basis. I am a CP alumni from WDW and I was apart of many evac's. Nothing note worthy and no one was ever hurt. Just sometimes it happens. Why give the Parks press when it's not needed, they have enough to worry about without some idiot not saying you are the idiot) online blabbing about something they dont know or understand. people on get online everyday and when they see that stuff. the Drama flies.

Kjane
Johnson City, Ny

From cynthia henisey on July 25, 2011 at 9:54 AM
Participated in an In Show Exit from Thunder Mountain at Disneyland. Everything went smoothly, got to walk through the bat cave and got a free fast pass. No big deal for us. We kept an eye on the young boy who was riding by himself. Offered to let him call his mom as we waited to be exited but he didn't know his mom's cell phone number.

From Tyler Stover on July 25, 2011 at 9:58 AM
Hard to believe it was a slow news weekend, especially with the tragic events in Norway, but sometimes media outlets feel the need to make a story out of nothing, and I imagine "Firefighters called to evacuate people at the happiest place on earth" is a good commercial teaser headline for the local news outlets.

From Ashley McChesney on July 25, 2011 at 10:07 AM
As a fellow Theme Park blogger I feel like it is so easy to get a sort of tunnel vision when it comes to park news, grabbing and sharing every scrap that seems note-worthy. Sometimes I have to take a step back and decide if it is something everyone really wants to hear, or if it's just interesting to someone like me that sees nothing but Disney/Universal Studios/etc all day long. In the end I feel like ride evacuations sound much more scary and atypical than they really are, and mostly people aren't interested.

From Tim Odom on July 25, 2011 at 10:21 AM
I think it depends on the evac.... err, I meen in-ride exit. All in-ride exits are not the same, particularly those occuring on coasters. Due to the larger profile for rollercoasters, when something happens outside of the norm, it is newsworthy. Remember, the news media, by and large, has no care about the latest dark ride opening, but a huge rollercoaster will get all the reporters out.

Yeah, part of it has to do with a slow news day, but I do think there is a bit of merit to California Screamin' having an in-ride exit being news. E.T. on the other hand, I really don't see...

From Carrie Hood on July 25, 2011 at 10:33 AM
Anymore with so many rides using advanced computers the slightest little thing can trigger sensors and cause a ride stop. It's truly boggling, anything from someone being ill on a ride to an honest malfunction, the employees all have guidelines on why to stop a ride. It happens daily and I can't imagine it really being "news" other then employee gossip at the lunch table. With the parks anymore, the slightest thing seems to make the news.

As for personally being "evacuated" from rides as a guest, it happens to everyone from time to time. Although I have to say the best happened at Hershey park when over half the park lost all power for over an hour due to a severe car accident that knocked out the lines. I'd never seen a coaster valley in person, it was a sight to see!

From 98.155.74.151 on July 25, 2011 at 10:52 AM
In-ride exits are just about a daily event at JTA at SeaWorld San Diego. All e-stops require an in-ride exit. Takes only 20 minutes as long as the handicap car is not on the ride or is stopped in an inaccesable area and handicap lifts are not required. Even if a simple zone stop is made, based on the amount of time to fix the issue ( dropped camera, purse, kid in the water etc) an evac will occur. Ooips I didnt say the E word did I LOL. Riders can feel assured that the staff is very professional and practice this event and take very difficult written exams dealing with these events often.

From Tony Duda on July 25, 2011 at 2:24 PM
I think most local media outlets have a junior news reporter assigned to the local theme park(s) and any time anything remotely sensational happens that they hear about is looked at as their latest ticket to fame and notoriety. As said elsewhere, it makes a great tease for the local news and gets them face time. I accept it as just the way things are as long as the report is truthful and accurate.

From Anthony Murphy on July 25, 2011 at 8:13 PM
Yeah, they both sound pretty dull.

Maybe its a slow news week besides the debt talks.....

From M. Ryan Traylor on July 25, 2011 at 8:50 PM
Tweeting news link is good enough. The CA Screamin one made me raise the thought of will this change the baggage policy. Clearly the train was dispatched without the bag stowed properly in the center pouch.

From Raymond Sydowski on July 26, 2011 at 9:55 PM
I'm glad to see that my "in-show" legacy lives on.

I really think it depends on the nature, length and position of the stopped vehicle. When it stops upside-down, then it should hit the news. I want to know if there's a ghost of a chance that I'll be stopped with my head pointed at the ground for three hours.

From Brandon Mendoza on July 27, 2011 at 5:59 AM
While I do agree that there's nothing exciting about these evacs, I do think there needs to be contrast to the "10 people injured on (insert ride name here)" instead of constantly hearing someone got hurt or injured. As long as the media doesn't sensationalize calling in the fire dept I'm ok with it. It's always good to hear that no one was hurt. I actually prefer to hear that.