Your VMK Cards or Your Life?

[Zazu]

So much of the life we lead is about priorities, and so many of our troubles come from having those priorities out of proper order. Today offered an object lesson in this.

The WDW Railroad's trains travel at a brisk clip of about 12mph. This doesn't sound like much, we all drive faster every day (some of us in our driveway), but we usually stop our car before we get out. Trust me, despite 33 years as a railroad conductor, 12mph is faster than I can get on or off a moving train. Anything over about 4mph and even pros like me are asking for trouble. This is why we stop the train at the stations. (Duh!)

This afternoon, a guest with very peculiar priorities accidentally dropped something from the train. Not an unusual event, happens every trip. But instead of asking at the next station for us to fetch the stuff for him (which we gladly do), he decided that his priorities demanded another approach.

As the train rolled through Tomorrowland, this guest decided to step off the train to "rescue" his merchandise. True, not being anything like a professional railroader, he promptly went ass over teakettle in the grass in a way that had the other guests gasping and using phrases usually reserved for NASCAR wrecks.

Naturally, I stopped the train and ran back to him to see if he was okay. Apparently not injured too badly, he had already gathered his loot and stood back up.

"Are you okay? Do you need any first aid?" I began.

"Just a minute, I have to see if they're all here," he replied, and proceded to organize and count... four VMK cards. And yes, he moved his lips as he counted to four. Apparently he survived because he landed on his head -- a body part containing no functional organs.

I elected to skip asking him twice more if he wanted first aid. Instead, I sort of blew my stack at him for risking his life for a few cards. I pointed out that half the time, folks who fall off trains end up underneath them, losing limbs if not life in the process.

It had no visible effect on him, but I hope some of the younger guests within earshot took the lesson to heart.

"Come with me," I ended, and walked him over to the nearest gate back into Tomorrowland. "Step through here." He didn't say a thing, just kept looking at his cards and trying to brush the grass blades and smutz off them.

Funny part was, unlike every other time I've tossed somebody off the train, his family didn't protest that he was being left behind. My guess is that they were just as glad to see him go as I was.

[SRT_GB]

Isn't there an "Honorable Mention" category of the Darwin Awards for people like this who don't lose their life but probably will be killed by their stupidity at some point down the road?

And isn't that something that could've gotten the guy ejected from the park?

Funny part was, unlike every other time I've tossed somebody off the train, his family didn't protest that he was being left behind. My guess is that they were just as glad to see him go as I was.
Reminds me of the guest we had at Strollers who my lead had Security escort out of the park. Security was walking back to talk to my lead when the guy starts rattling the main gate floodgate. They ended up calling APD and had the guy escorted off property. All his family did was stand at Strollers, embarrassed. I don't think they even went after him - just went on with their day in the park.

[Mommytomjm]

Oh My Gosh! That is too Stupid for words! :eek: Hope he leaves before we get back there Sat!

[CerasiJ]

"Just a minute, I have to see if they're all here," he replied, and proceded to organize and count... four VMK cards.

I have a silly, off-topic question, what are VMK cards? o.O

[joanna71985]

I have a silly, off-topic question, what are VMK cards? o.O

VMK is the new virtual online game. Virtual Magic Kingdom. I can't believe someone could be so STUPID over a couple of cards. Well, ok; actually I can. But still. He could have gotten himself KILLED!!! :eek:

[MagliteL13]

Okay, that really takes the cake. I always thought it was bad enough when people would ask the questions, demand that we give them the answers rather than just tell them to ride the attraction. Cmon....Jungle Cruise isn't all that bad! Good thing it was a train and not a boat! --Can you imagine what would happen if it were the Liberty Belle (if the Belle were running)?

[saidthekat]

Okay, that really takes the cake. I always thought it was bad enough when people would ask the questions, demand that we give them the answers rather than just tell them to ride the attraction. Cmon....Jungle Cruise isn't all that bad! Good thing it was a train and not a boat! --Can you imagine what would happen if it were the Liberty Belle (if the Belle were running)?

no... but i want to.

[CerasiJ]

Good thing it was a train and not a boat! --Can you imagine what would happen if it were the Liberty Belle (if the Belle were running)?

Then he would have totally deserved whatever he got had he plummeted off the side!!!! :D: :twisted:

[hhsrat]

Can you imagine what would happen if it were the Liberty Belle (if the Belle were running)?

If nothing else, probably a trip to the doctor to be treated for falling in that water. I had a friend fall in (during one of the canoe races), and they sent him to first aid.

[IdiotsAreEverywhere]

Can you imagine what would happen if it were the Liberty Belle (if the Belle were running)?
The guest who jumped off would more than likely get a free park hopper and a sincere apology for having a river in a theme park. It's happened before. :D:

[BTTF4Life]

Isn't there a release of liability on the back of Disney tickets?

[IdiotsAreEverywhere]

Isn't there a release of liability on the back of Disney tickets?
For the Disneyland Resort park hopper it states:
Guest assumes the inherent risks associated with the operation of all rides and attractions. Read and obey all safety signage (90% don't), instructions and rules. Parks or attractions may change operating hours, close temperarily or may otherwise change or be discontinued without notice and without liability to the owners of the parks.

I wonder how many people have tried to sue Disney for a ride closure or a discontinuation of it. I'm sure at least a few money hungry people have. :cool:

[se8472]

I heard about this event the other day from peeps in t-land who watched it happen.

[leftcoaster]

For the Disneyland Resort park hopper it states:
Guest assumes the inherent risks associated with the operation of all rides and attractions. Read and obey all safety signage (90% don't), instructions and rules. Parks or attractions may change operating hours, close temperarily or may otherwise change or be discontinued without notice and without liability to the owners of the parks.

I wonder how many people have tried to sue Disney for a ride closure or a discontinuation of it. I'm sure at least a few money hungry people have. :cool:The only problem with that is the wonderful California State Supreme Court recently ruled that rides like BTMRR, etc are considered "transportation" and the riders of said "transportation" have a 'reasonable regard to safety' - even if they do not wear restraints. :eek: *brick

I could see "attractions" such as the monorail and the WDRR getting that designation, but BTMRR, SM? :confused:

[SRT_GB]

The only problem with that is the wonderful California State Supreme Court recently ruled that rides like BTMRR, etc are considered "transportation" and the riders of said "transportation" have a 'reasonable regard to safety' - even if they do not wear restraints. :eek: *brick


Could you please post or PM me a link to a credible website that says this? I'd like to read it.

[PirateJohn]

Can you imagine what would happen if it were the Liberty Belle (if the Belle were running)?Been there, done that.

I posted a while back about the Marine who, on a dare, took a header off the Texas Deck of the Mark Twain. Idiot is lucky he didn't kill himself, because he jumped not far from where the Fantasmic equipment lurks only a foot or so beneath the surface. If he had landed on that he would have been unavailable for Marine service for a long time.

[Le Poof]

I'm sure this type of thing happens all the time though right? When I was last at WDW and was riding the Haunted Mansion they had to stop the ride because some bloke (who was probably mentally challanged) apparantly got out of his buggy to get a closer look at the crystal ball. Then again you can't believe everything you hear off some random person coming out of nowhere in the exit tunnel and insisting on telling you about it.

[leftcoaster]

Could you please post or PM me a link to a credible website that says this? I'd like to read it.This link may be old. I cannot access here at work.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050617/D8AP45100.html

...
(I'm not sure if this is the same link as above)

California court rules on rides - State's theme parks now face a higher standard for ride safety - By Maura Dolan and Kimi Yoshino, Los Angeles Times, June 17, 2005

SAN FRANCISCO -- In a decision that could force amusement parks to redesign or remove some thrill rides, the California Supreme Court ruled Thursday that operators of roller coasters and similar attractions have the same duty to ensure safety as those who run buses and passenger trains.

The 4-3 decision, which found that thrill rides could be classified as "common carriers," said operators must use "the utmost care and diligence" for the safety of riders rather than mere "reasonable care." Most states require operators of amusement rides to use only "reasonable care," industry lawyers said.

The ruling, which deals only with parks in California, is expected to make it easier for people injured on rides to prevail in lawsuits against amusement parks. In response to the heightened liability, officials of California theme parks said Thursday that they may have to change their operations, although the exact nature of any changes has yet to be decided. Park officials insisted they already adhere to the highest safety standards.

About 20 million people visit amusement parks in California each year, generating $20 billion annually for the state's economy, according to the industry. In Southern California last year, 350 accidents at amusement parks were reported to the state, but none resulted in serious injury or death.

Thursday's ruling came three days after a 4-year-old Pennsylvania boy, Daudi Bamuwamye, died after riding the Mission: Space attraction at Walt Disney World in Orlando.

In its ruling, the California Supreme Court said riders are entitled to safety on thrill rides just as they are on trains and buses.

"Riders of roller coasters and other 'thrill' rides seek the illusion of danger while being assured of their actual safety," Justice Carlos Moreno wrote for the majority. "The rider expects to be surprised and perhaps even frightened, but not hurt."

Theme park industry leaders said the ruling could mean the demise of thrill rides.

"Under an extreme interpretation, it would take the thrill out of thrill rides," said John Robinson, head of the California Attractions and Parks Association, an industry group.

But attorney Barry Novack, who represents the family of a 23-year-old woman whose death in 2000 after riding the Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland was the subject of the high court's ruling, said the decision would make rides safer. Theme parks could reduce the threat of lawsuits by posting more explicit warning signs and designing better harnesses, he said.

Thursday's ruling sent the lawsuit back to a lower court for trial. The woman's family is seeking unspecified damages.

The state of Florida regulates and inspects rides at fairs and small attractions. Large attractions with 1,000 or more employees, such as Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld, are exempt.

In 2001, the major parks agreed to voluntarily report basic details of ride "incidents," or cases severe enough to require someone to be transported and admitted to a hospital. Cases where people are treated on site for scrapes, bumps or bruises are not reported.

(That's all that I can quickly find)

[Simba1]

I'm sure this type of thing happens all the time though right?

About a year ago a Guest jumped out off of the back of a Safari truck to retrieve his ball cap that had either fallen or blown out :eek:

[coldfire409]

I cannot belive that Disney puts that disclaimer on the back of their tickets, but then goes out of the way whenever a guest hits a CM. Disney is asking for a lawsuit. And I'm not saying that just because I'm an attorney. I really would love to see that suit come up though.

[PirateJohn]

I was on the Saw page at IMDb and, strangely, it made me think of this thread...


"Hello, stupid-guest. I saw how you treated your own life with such disdain that you hurled yourself from a train for the sake of VMK cards. So now I would like to play a game. As you may have noticed, your foot is chained to the wall. To free yourself, you will need the key. In the center of the room, you will find a glass-covered box containing five hundred VMK cards. Each card is unique and the virtual prize it contains will make you the envy of the online community. The key is underneath the box. If you uncover the glass lid, the key will be dropped into a vat of hydrofluoric acid and will be rendered useless, and you will starve to death chained to the wall. All you need to do to get to the key is lift the box, but if the box is disturbed in any way, an incendiary device will burn all the VMK cards to a crisp. So now you must decide what you value more -- your VMK cards or your life."

[CerasiJ]

Damn. That's harsh. [Mad props, man. :D:]

[BTTF4Life]

I was on the Saw page at IMDb and, strangely, it made me think of this thread...


"Hello, stupid-guest. I saw how you treated your own life with such disdain that you hurled yourself from a train for the sake of VMK cards. So now I would like to play a game. As you may have noticed, your foot is chained to the wall. To free yourself, you will need the key. In the center of the room, you will find a glass-covered box containing five hundred VMK cards. Each card is unique and the virtual prize it contains will make you the envy of the online community. The key is underneath the box. If you uncover the glass lid, the key will be dropped into a vat of hydrofluoric acid and will be rendered useless, and you will starve to death chained to the wall. All you need to do to get to the key is lift the box, but if the box is disturbed in any way, an incendiary device will burn all the VMK cards to a crisp. So now you must decide what you value more -- your VMK cards or your life."
That's awesome! :pirate1:

[Le Poof]

VMK Cards do indeed suck without a doubt. At the photo pick-up in Splash Mountain a few weeks ago this woman from behind the desk gave me one where I could get a free poster for my VMK Room or something. Of course, I binned it straight away. Later on while waiting for the fireworks I wondered into that Virtual Magic Kingdom place on Main Street, Magic Kingdom and randomly insulted people on the game. Ah, the memories!