Disney Reorganizes WDW Transportation Management
Disney announced that Jim Vendur will oversee both operations and maintenance of the Walt Disney Word transportation system that includes the 15-mile monorail, ferryboats and a fleet of about 300 buses, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Vendur is a vice president who was previously in charge of the transportation maintenance.
Disney stated that this restructuring was already in the works before the system encountered a turbulent summer, with much publicized incidents.
In July, two Disney monorail trains collided, claiming the life of monorail driver Austin Wuennenberg, 21. The crash appears to have been due at least partly to human error, but is still being investigated by two federal agencies.
Two weeks later, two Disney buses crashed and about a dozen passengers suffered minor injuries.
Last Thursday, Disney brought 300 buses to a halt for several hours after a suspicious device was found mounted under one bus. It was eventually determined to be harmless.
Fantasyland Expansion Rumors at Walt Disney World Are True!!!
Disney executives are planning the largest expansion in the history of Walt Disney World in central Florida.
The development will nearly double the size of Fantasyland and include a new, lavish ride based on the Little Mermaid. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Jay Rasulo made the announcement Saturday.
Analysts predict it will re-ignite travel to Orlando, which has lagged in the global recession.
Disney also plans to update Star Tours, the Star Wars-themed ride in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It will debut in 2011. The Fantasyland overhaul will be complete by 2013. Disney declined to say how much it will spend on the projects.
Mitchel Musso to appear at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and House of Blues
Mitchel Musso, who plays Oliver Oken on Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana will be signing autographs of his new, self-titled (and debut) album at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Sept. 18 from 1 pm to 2 pm. He’ll be in town for a concert at House of Blues that night with guest KSM and Jimmy Robbins.
Regular theme park admission is required for the Disney’s Hollywood Studios appearance.
Terrance to Join Faires in Pixie Hallow at Magic Kingdom
Terrance, the fairy who “hands out the pixie dust to other fairies each day so they may do their magic” is now joining Disney Faires at the Pixie Hollow meet and greet area at the Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Tinker Bell, Iridessa, Fawn, Silvermist, and Rosetta already are available to guests for a meet and greet. Which is a very fun and immersive experience! If you haven’t visited Pixie Hollow, you must try it on your next visit to the Walt Disney World Resort! Be advised that Pixie Hollow is VERY popular and wait times can exceed 75 minutes during busy times. I recommend going right when Pixie Hollow opens (generally at 10am) or right before it closes.
Terrance addition to Pixie Hollow coincides with the release of Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure, due out on Disney DVD and Blu-Ray on October 27, 2009.
Welcome Foolish Mortals…Walt Disney Records Celebrates the 40th Anniversary of The Haunted Mansion with Two CD Releases
On September 9, 2009 Walt Disney Records celebrates the 40th Anniversary of The Haunted Mansion with two CD releases — The Story and Song From The Haunted Mansion and The Haunted Mansion. Both CDs were produced, fully restored and compiled by Grammy®-winning producer Randy Thornton.
Forty years ago, 999 happy haunts took up residence in Disneyland at the
personal invitation of Walt Disney himself, who built an elegant mansion and
promised his ghostly guests creaking doors and creaking floors, replete with hot and cold running chills. One of the most beloved attractions at Disney Theme Parks, The Haunted Mansion gates and crypts creaked open in New Orleans Square at Disneyland on August 9, 1969. The Story and Song From The Haunted Mansion was a Disneyland Records Storyteller released the same year to commemorate the opening of the attraction. Although intended as a promotional album, the recording has become a cherished childhood memory for many Disneyland guests.
The release includes original scenes and effects that never made it into the
final attraction as it follows the story of two teenagers (voiced by Robie
Lester and a young Ron Howard) who take refuge inside the eerie mansion during a mysterious rainstorm. The CD includes a bonus track, “Grim Grinning Ghosts,” the theme song to the attraction written by X. Atencio, with music by Buddy Baker.
The enhanced CD also includes a Digital Image Gallery (which can be accessed by inserting the CD into a computer) of high quality images from Collin Campbell`s original paintings for the album.
The Haunted Mansion CD, exclusively available at Disney Theme Parks, guides the listener through the attraction as it appears in its current…incarnation on Track 1. Randy Thornton recreated the full audio experience of The Haunted Mansion for the track. This meant layering ambient sounds and sound effects with the score, character voices and songs found in the attraction. The result is an immersive audio experience, as if you were actually riding through the attraction in your doom buggy. Tracks 2 through 6 are highlights from the attraction and/or from original recording sessions: Ghostly Music Box – “Grim Ginning Ghosts” played from an authentic Porter Baroque music box; Otherworldly Concerto – Assembled from recording sessions for the Haunted Mansion`s famous pipe organ, which included many variations of the famous theme; A Swinging Wake – The unearthly score from the rollicking graveyard scene; The Graveyard Band -
The philharmonic phantoms perform their own version of “Grim Grinning Ghosts”; 999 Happy Haunts – The graveyard inhabitants come out of their creepy old crypts for a rousing reprise of their favorite song. The CD concludes with Track 7, Phantom Manor Suite from renowned composer John Debney. His sweeping orchestral interpretation of Buddy Baker and X. Atencio`s classic score is from the Disneyland Paris attraction.
The Story and Song From The Haunted Mansion will be at Disney Theme Parks on 9/9/09 and available nationwide on 9/22/09; The Haunted Mansion will be available exclusively at all Disney Theme Parks on 9/9/09.
Walt Disney Records Media Relations
Maria Kleinman
818-238-1089
maria.kleinman@disney.com
Walt Disney World returns to 180-day booking window in October
Starting Oct. 27, 2009, guests can start booking their Advanced Dining Reservations, Recreation Activities and Tours at the Walt Disney World Resorts up to 180 days prior to their arrival at the Magical vacation destination.
Not too long ago – and those that travel to WDW regularly remember that the booking window was 180-days out. Then earlier this year, Disney decided to switch it t0 90 days. Well, now it’s back to the old way: 180-days!
I think I’m fine with the 180-day booking window. We don’t always know that we’ll going 6 months in advance but we’ve generally made what ever ADRs we want.
Phone lines open 7 a.m. eastern time daily.
To make your dining reservations call 407.WDW.DINE. To make your recreation reservations call 407.WDW.PLAY, 407.WDW.BASS (fishing) or 407.WDW.GOLF. To make your Walt Disney World tour reservations call 407.WDW.TOUR. For additional information about Walt Disney World visit www.disneyworld.com.
Is this good? Is this bad? Tell us your reaction to this booking window!
Pembe Savanna Opens Today at DVC Kidani Village
The newest guest room wing of Kidani Village is a Disney Vacation Club property with a stunning view. The new Pembe Savanna, adjacent to the expansion, treats Kidani guests to a rare look at okapis, a typically shy animal closely related to the giraffe. The distinctly marked okapis, along with red river hogs, impala, waterbuck, blue cranes and spur-winged geese, claim Pembe Savanna as their new home. The new six-acre savannah anchors the Kidani Village expansion featuring 160 two-bedroom equivalent vacation villas. The additional rooms complete the build-out of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas for a total of 449 two-bedroom equivalent vacation villas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
(Gene Duncan, photographer)
Disney performer fatally injured in Hollywood Studios accident
Walt Disney World stunt performer Anislav Varbanov, 30, was fatally injured during a rehearsal for the ” Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. He was doing a tumbling roll after 7 p.m. Monday when he was hurt.
Disney workers dialed 911 at 7:34 p.m. to report that a cast member sustained a head injury. Varbanov was rushed to Florida Hospital Celebration Health, where he was pronounced dead at 8:53 p.m., Orange County sheriff’s deputies said.
Varbanov is the the third cast member in seven weeks to die after sustaining injuries while working.
On July 5, monorail driver Austin Wuennenberg, 21, died when another train backed into his own.
On August 10, Mark Priest, 47, died from complications he experienced after a bad on-stage fall at the Magic Kingdom.
Out of respect for the deceased cast member, Disney spokeswoman Zoraya Suarez says the Indiana Jones show was not performed Tuesday.
Want to Join the Disney Mom’s Panel?
Disney announced Monday on their Twitter Page that the Disney Moms Panel will be accepting applications for new members in September!
Very exciting news for sure.
These “Moms” have been selected to be panelists because they have demonstrated an excellent knowledge of Walt Disney World® Resort. Being familiar with the Parks, Resort hotels, dining and entertainment, shopping, and recreational activities, they can offer the help and tips you need to make your vacation planning a snap.
I keep saying I’ll apply and forget to do so. UGH! Don’t let your chance slip by. Keep alert because details will be posted next month.
NTSB Agency Says It Could Be 6 Months Before Final Report on Disney Monorail Crash
The Federal agency said Wednesday they have received most of the documents they requested in the investigation of the July 5th Disney World monorail crash that killed monorail pilot Austin Wuennenberg.
The National Transportation Safety Board said in an e-mail to the media that “the documents that will become part of the investigation are employee records showing training, work history and work hours; monorail standard operating procedures; and mechanical maintenance and inspection history of the trains and switch mechanism.”
The e-mail also said that interviews have been completed with “the switch control operator, the pilot of the striking monorail train, and the monorail coordinator that was on duty on the night of the accident.”
The next report, per an NTSB spokesman, won’t likely be released for about six months.
Disney World Tests Centrailized FastPass System at Animal Kingdom
Under the current system, guests must go to each individual attraction that participates in the FastPass system to gain a ticket. Last week, Walt Disney World is experimenting with a new system that would centralized the FastPass distribution method. This test began at Disney’s Animal Kingdom where guests can visit vending machines at the centralized location of It’s Tough to Be a Bug for the theme parks’s three most popular rides: Dinosaur, Expedition Everest and Kilimanjaro Safaris.
Passes are still available at their normal location of at the attractions as well.
The Walt Disney World Resort always strives to improve guest experience. Disney spokeswoman Zoraya Suarez said the resort wants “to make it even easier for guests to utilize FastPass during their visits.”
What do YOU think of this proposed change? Do you think it will improve guest experience? Are you tired of walking all over the park to get your FastPasses? Do you have suggestions on how to further improve this system?
What is Disney’s FASTPASS® Service?
Take advantage of Disney’s FASTPASS® service. You can enjoy the rest of the park while FASTPASS® saves your place in line.
To use Disney’s FASTPASS® service:
Disney World Releases AP Discounts For Most Nights October 4 through December 24 2009
The Walt Disney World Resort has just released amazing Annual Passholder (AP) discounts for the stays most nights October 4 through December 24, 2009!! This is occuring during some wonderful times at WDW, including Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival, the eerie Halloween season and the most magical Christmas season! Also during this time you have the hard-ticket events of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
Are you an Annual Passholder? If not, now might be a good time to purchase a WDW AP. This is one of the reasons why, for the past several years, we’ve purchased an AP.
Here are the room rate deals:
Select Disney Value Resorts
- Standard Room $69 per night, plus tax*
for stays most nights from 10/4 – 11/24/09.
That’s 34% Off – A Savings of $36 - Standard Room $54 per night, plus tax*
for stays most nights from 11/29 – 12/17/09.
That’s 34% Off – A Savings of $28 - Standard Room $89 per night, plus tax*
for stays most nights from 12/18 – 12/24/09.
That’s 34% Off – A Savings of $46
Select Disney Moderate Resorts
- Standard Room $99 per night, plus tax*
for stays most nights from 10/4 – 11/24/09.
That’s 41% Off – A Savings of $71 - Standard Room $89 per night, plus tax*
for stays most nights from 11/29 – 12/17/09.
That’s 40% Off – A Savings of $60 - Standard Room $124 per night, plus tax*
for stays most nights from 12/18 – 12/24/09.
That’s 40% Off – A Savings of $85
Select Disney Deluxe Resorts:
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Standard Room type
- Standard Room $169 per night, plus tax*
for stays most nights from 10/4 – 11/24/09.
That’s 41% Off – A Savings of $121 - Standard Room $139 per night, plus tax*
for stays most nights from 11/29 – 12/17/09.
That’s 42% Off – A Savings of $101 - Standard Room $229 per night, plus tax*
for stays most nights from 12/18 – 12/24/09.
That’s 40% Off – A Savings of $156
Select Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts:
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa and Disney’s Old Key West Resort
- Studio Room $189 per night, plus tax*
for stays most nights from 10/4 – 11/24/09. - Studio Room $169 per night, plus tax*
for stays most nights from 11/29 – 12/17/09.
That’s 42% Off – A Savings of $126 - Studio Room $249 per night, plus tax*
for stays most nights from 12/18 – 12/24/09.
That’s 41% Off – A Savings of $176
* The number of rooms available at these rates is limited. Savings based on the non-discounted price that a non-Passholder pays for the same room. Additional per adult charges apply if more than two adults per room.
Please see the Walt Disney World Resort web site for more details.
Tyler Perry to Send 60 Philly Day Campers to Disney World
Media mogul Tyler Perry will send sixty Northeast Philadelphia children from the Creative Steps day camp to Walt Disney World July 31 to August 3, 2009. The children were recently disinvited from the Valley Club in Huntingdon Valley earlier this month.
What a heart-warming end to a bad situation! Tyler Perry is proving to be a great role model and philanthropist. It’s rewarding to see celebrities use their money and status to help others in need.
Click here to read the full story on the Philadelphia Inquirer web site.
Don’t Miss Out on Walt Disney World Free Dining Offer – Ends July 26
Get FREE the Disney Dining Plan with the purchase of a specific 5-night/6-day Magic Your Way hotel and theme park ticket package. Travel dates are between August 20 and October 3, 2009 and must be booked by July 26.
Hurry! Because rooms fill up and availability is limited!
Go to disneyworld.com/freedine for more details.
Don’t forget to book your Advance Dining Reservations! You can do so at Disneyworld.com/dining
Twelve hurt when 2 Disney buses crash
At about 2:40pm today, a rear-end crash occurred, involving two Walt Disney world buses, reports the Orlando Sentinel. Twelve people were injured and taken to area hospitals. This accident comes 11 days after the deadly monorail crash that killed 21-year-old monorail pilot, Austin Wuennenberg. People quickly took to the social networks, such as Twitter, Plurk and Facebook to discuss the incident. Some people reported renewed worry about the safety of Walt Disney World Resort transportation.
We’ll be going soon to WDW and we still plan to use WDW Resort transportation.
What do you think of WDW Resort transportation? Do you feel safe riding it?
Disney Mononrail Crash Triggered by Employee Mistakenly Radioed He Activated Track Switch
The Orlando Sentinel has spoken with multiple sources with knowledge of the accident’s investigation. The publication reports that a maintenance bay employee radioed incorrect information. This combined with a shift change when a sick employee was granted early dismissal lead to events to the deadly 2am July 5 crash which killed 21-year-old monorail pilot Austin Wuennenberg.
Investigators still have work in piecing together the entire picture, including what roles everyone played. The investigation is looking to whether Alan Rubino, the driver of the second monorail, should have realized he was traveling down the wrong track. It has been determined that the maintenance bay worker’s mistake is not solely to blame.
Mother of Deceased Monorail Pilot Expects to Sue Disney
Christine Wuennenberg, mother of the Austin Wuennenberg, the monorail pilot killed in the July 5 crash, has filed a petition in Orlando state Circuit Court, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The petition filed July 9 is to preserve crucial crash evidence in Disney’s possession that she feel may be destroyed, erased or altered. She is also asking the judge to grant her access to this evidence, which includes audio and video recordings. The Orlando Sentinel reports that she expects to sue the Walt Disney and Resorts.
Disney World Suspends Policy of Guests Riding in Monorail Front for Now
Not a surprising change in wake of last Sunday’s monorail accident. Had guests been in the front of the monorail with pilot Austin Wuennenberg when the accident occurred, more lives would’ve been lost. Though I’m saddened by this policy change, as riding in the front of the monorail is quiet a magical experience. Watch the video Diane Cimino of Briton, Conn. shared with the Orlando Sentinel about the memorable experience Cimino’s 4-year-old grandson Christyan had riding in the front of the monorail piloted by Austin Wuennenberg. It’s memories such as these that make Walt Disney World special.
Hopefully this is a temporary change. I agree that Disney needs to make monorail procedural changes in the aftermath of this deadly crash. Truthfully, though, this change is more about minimizing than prevention.
Vigil Held For Disney Monorail Crash Victim
Family, friends and coworkers gather in Celebration for a vigil to celebrate his life.
Four Facebook groups have been created dedicated to Wuennenberg’s memory.
The Facebook group, One Rail, One Family vigil for Wuennenberg organized the vigil. Former and current WDW Monorail Operations cast members created this group and have openned it publically for anyone wishing to celebrate the Wuennenberg’s memory.
Suspended Disney monorail pilot releases statement
Distraught, surviving pilot from fatal monorail incident is under doctor’s care.
Alan Rubino, 62, piloted the reversing monorail that crashed into the train driven by 21-year-old Austin Wuennenberg, killing the young man.
Rubino’s friend Dennis Pickering read a statement from the pilot to local media.
“Alan wishes to extend to family and friends of Austin his deepest and heart-felt condolences. Given the current investigation, it would be inappropriate for Alan to comment,” said Pickering, who is also a part-time monorail pilot.
According to Pickering, Rubino was following instructions when the collision happened. He states that monorail pilots don’t take any action with the monorail unless they’ve instructed to do so.
Read the full story, with a video, at the Orlando Sentinel.
WESH: Ex-pilot says Disney monorail supervisor routinely off-site
Disney’s monorail procedures changed in years leading up to accident
Walt Disney World now requires drivers, when switching off the resort’s Epcot loop, to operate their trains from twin controls in the rear cab. This policy change comes as a result of the pilot in last weekend’s monorail collision remaining in the front cab, while attempting to make the loop switch.
The Orlando Sentinel spoke with former monorail pilots, who stated that this new policy was once the standard procedure but changed to save time. No one could pinpoint the time frame as to when this policy change occurred. Per those pilots interviewed by the Orlando Sentinel, though, the procedure the pilot followed in last Sunday’s crash has become common during the past decade.
The process of switching tracks requires the monorail pilots to manually override the automated anti-collision systems on the trains. Without this computer assisted system, pilots thus must remain extremely vigulant and cautious during the track switching operation.
Disney would not comment to the Orlando Sentinel as to why the procedure changed over the years.
The publication did receive the opinion of two monorail pilots that worked at the resort within the past five years. They believe the change occurred to ferry guests quicker along the Epcot loop.
3 Disney World monorail employees on paid leave during deadly crash investigation
Updating an earlier report from WESH 2 News, Walt Disney World has placed three Disney World monorail employees, who were working during the Sunday 2am accident, on paid leave, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
WESH 2 News quickly updated the earlier article of two Disney employees on unpaid disciplinary leave, to reflect the statements coming from Disney spokespeople.
The Orlando Sentinel quotes Disney spokeswoman Kim Prunty as stating that’s it’s “part of the investigative process” and “not a disciplinary action.”
This now calls into doubt this “source inside Disney” that WESH 2 News had cited earlier. WESH 2 News reporting style has already come under fire from some Disney Cast Members over how the news outlet showed a recreation of the monorail crash. (See Disney Cast Members express outrage over TV monorail crash re-creations using children’s toys)
Disney declined to release the names of the employees on leave. They did state that it was a monorail pilot, a worker in the monorail’s maintenance shop, and a transportation manager. When the accident occurred, these three had crucial responsibilities in two train monorail operation.
Disney Suspends 2 Employees After Monorail Crash
The on-duty manager and coordinator at the time of the deadly crash have been suspended without pay, reports WESH Orlando. Citing a source within Disney, the two Disney employees believed to be responsible for the switching of the two monorail trains during the 2am collision Sunday are facing disciplinary actions.
This action is not surprising after WESH Orlando released information that linked the on-duty manger at an off-site restaurant during the time of the fatal crash that took the life of 21-year-old monorail pilot Austin Wuennenberg.
The National Transportation Safety Board still needs to complete their investigation. So we don’t have all the facts. The federal agency did determine the crash was not the result of a mechanical failure but the NTSB still is unsure what or who is responsible. Unfortunately, it’s sounding more like human error and maybe a break down in monorail operational procedures. There are supposedly multiple people that have the ability to witness and react to these types of problems. Two people that have this ability would be the two monorail pilots involved. One of the pilots, Wuennenberg, according to the NTSB report react. He stopped his train in an attempt to reverse course.
The social networks continue the Austin tributes and discussions. Disney fans wish for Disney to erect a permanent tribute to Wuennenberg on the Walt Disney World Resort, with the hopes one of the monorails could be named after him.
Family, friends remember Austin Wuennenberg as more than a Disney monorail pilot
Most people know Austin Wuennenberg as the Walt Disney World monorail pilot who died in the Sunday 2am crash. During the Wednesday memorial service, his uncle Bill Shanahan reminded everyone that there was more to the 21-year-old than his death.
A brilliant student. A thoughtful companion. A skilled computer programmer. A devoted family man. Someone that always made his friends smile.
Click here to read the full Orlando Sentinel article about this well-loved young man and remember to celebrate the life of Austin Wuennenberg.
