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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Full NTSB Statement On Disney Monorail Crash
Safety Board Releases Factual Findings
WESH Orlando has the National Transportation Safety Board statement on Wednesday about the Disney World monorail crash. Click here to read the full text.
The NTSB’s findings also indicate that Austin Wuennenberg, the 21-year-old monorail pilot killed in the crash attempted to reverse Monorail Purple before the crash.
In exclusive interviews Wednesday, two sources told WESH 2 News the on-duty manager over the Disney monorail was off property during the Sunday morning accident.
To read more please click over to the WESH Orlando web site.
Funeral service set for Disney monorail pilot Austin Wuennenberg
According to the Orlando Sentinel, funeral services have been set for Austin Wuennenberg, the monorail pilot killed in Sunday’s terrible crash at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Services are at 2 p.m. Wednesday at First United Methodist Church in Kissimmee, said Twis Lizasuain, a Kissimmee Police spokesperson who is acting as a spokesperson for the Wuennenberg family.
Also check out the Orlando Sentinel article, Disney visitors remember monorail pilot Austin Wuennenberg with an e-mail from Diane Cimino of Briton, Conn. whose family on a recent trip had the pleasure of meeting Wuennenberg. She shared, what is now a bitter sweet video of the monorail pilot. In the video, he shares a memorable moment Cimino’s 4-year-old grandson Christyan, giving the young boy plenty of the Pixie Dust treatment.
Attempt to switch tracks may have caused Disney monorail crash
National Transportation Safety Board to investigate incident
On Monday in an unprecedented move, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated it will investigate the fatal crash of two Walt Disney World monorail. The federal agency is best known for probing airline crashes.
Initial reports from other investigators Sunday, indicated that the accident occurred from a track switch that never happened.
An Orlando Sentinel article from last night outlines the timeline of the collision.
The 2 a.m. Sunday collision occurred as one of Disney’s trains was supposed to utilize a transfer spur to move from the resort’s Epcot line to a Magic Kingdom line so it could return to the system’s maintenance bay for the night.
Instead the switch didn’t occurr and the train apparently moved in reverse back down the Epcot line. The onboard collision-avoidance system likely was set on override. The train slammed into a second train with a handful of passengers on board.
Austin Wuennenberg, 21, a monorail pilot on the second train was killed. He is being remembered fondly on various social networks, such as Twitter and Facebook. Disney has stated that none of the guests were injured. The pilot of the other monorail, who has yet to be identified, was not seriously injured.
Disney World will reopen monorail — with extra safety features
After the deadly Sunday 2am Walt Disney World monorail crash, the Orlando Sentinel is reporting that the Disney monorail has resumed operation. The publication cited a note to Walt Disney World employees this morning, stating that new safety sensors were added to monitor track switches. Per the note, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration “released” the monorail system back to the resort.
Investigators will continue their search into what caused a deadly crash early Sunday following Fourth of July fireworks shows.
The predawn collision occurred as one of the trains was being transferred off the system’s Epcot line, which ferries guests between the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, according to Disney’s note. Austin Wuennenberg, 21, was the lone fatality.
Wuennenberg described fondly his monorail pilot job on Facebook. He felt is was “running the highway in the sky.”
As the news broke Sunday morning, people rushed to social networking sites, like Twitter and Facebook, to discuss the sad event.
Austin is being remember on Twitter with people adding the hash tag #Austin to their tweets.
A Facebook Group was constructed to honor the memory for the Disney monorail driver. Click here to join.
