Reports have surfaced Disney Central Plaza today about an incident on the final lift hill (where the earthquake is simulated). One of the moving rocks allegedly came loose and hit a train with guests.
There's no concrete information yet, but I expect an official statement from Euro Disney SCA soon enough.
Hope nobody is injured.
Information is still vague, but first reports say guests are ok, with one person getting a check up at the nearby hospital.
According to another forum 5 people were injured including 1 person being evacuated in a helicopter
But according to disney central plaza facebook everyone is ok and 1 person is still being examined at hospital
[strike:270gr6ds]All topics concerning the incident have disappeared from Disney Central Plaza.[/strike:270gr6ds] Ignore... posts were moved to a dedicated topic (like we're doing here).
Some information here.. (en francais)
http://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/d ... 422331.php (http://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/disneyland-paris-cinq-blesses-dont-un-grave-dans-le-train-de-la-mine-25-04-2011-1422331.php%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)
I hope everyone's OK, it appears the rock was made from fibreglass and wood and hit someone on the head which I imagine could hurt a lot.
ON a personal note, having never been on BTM and going next week after 8 years, I'd love it for it to be open but I wouldn't be surprised if they closed it for a while for a check up. Hope it is open next Saturday.
Here is a link to TF1: (in French)
http://lci.tf1.fr/france/faits-divers/2 ... 08187.html (http://lci.tf1.fr/france/faits-divers/2011-04/cinq-blesses-sur-une-attraction-a-disneyland-paris-6408187.html%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)
According to Mrs Pot on Micechat.com one man has been seriously injured, suffering from a traumatic brain injury. My French isn't the best anymore, but I think that's what the article on TF1 says.
They will have to close it for a while, so now could be a great chain to repaint BTM
this has been posted on reuters
* One person seriously injured, four lightly
* Park operator Euro Disney unavailable for comment
PARIS, April 25 (Reuters) - The Disneyland Paris theme park closed its "Thunder Mountain" train ride on Monday after a piece of scenery fell onto one of the carriages and injured five people, one seriously, a state official told Reuters.
"A piece of scenery made from fibreglass and wood broke off and fell onto one of the carriages. There were 25 people on board," said Thierry Bonnet, deputy prefect for the Seine-et-Marne region where the park is located.
The ride was closed but the rest of the park stayed open after the accident, he added.
A spokesman for the park's operator, Euro Disney (EDLP.PA), did not return calls seeking comment. Disneyland Paris was France's top attraction in 2009, bringing in 15.4 million visitors, according to the national statistics bureau INSEE. (Reporting by Elizabeth Pineau and Lionel Laurent; editing by Andrew Roche)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/ ... GJ20110425 (http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/25/france-eurodisney-idUSLDE73O0GJ20110425%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)
Disneyland Paris' reputation is already bad and this accident will definately not help the company. Hopefully the man recovers soon!
Here's a summary of reports I've been updating on DLRP Today: http://www.dlrptoday.com/2011/04/25/inc ... -reported/ (http://www.dlrptoday.com/2011/04/25/incident-decorative-rock-element-falls-on-guests-riding-big-thunder-mountain-injuries-reported/%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)
QuoteFive injuries are now confirmed, including one guest "seriously" injured — a 38-year old man who was apparently struck on the head by the resin element and has been taken to Beaujon hospital in Clichy-sur-Seine (Hauts-de-Seine) with a head injury. Initial reports had suggested this was merely a precautionary measure and a spokesperson later appeared to downplay the seriousness of the injury in a statement given to the AFP, clearly stating it was not life-threatening. According to Le Parisien, his family will be accommodated and looked after by Disneyland Paris tonight and for any duration he may remain in hospital. The four other guests, with only minor injuries, were treated on the spot and returned to the park.
The prop rock is said to have fallen in the final lift hill scene ("Lift C"), where the train climbs amid a simulated rumbling earthquake as the faux rockwork creaks and moves overhead. As is procedure, the attraction remains closed until further notice pending a full investigation.
Extra note: The ride was already due to be closed from 9th to 27th May for that complete repaint of the mountain.
What a horrible thing to happen. I hope he recovers quickly.
Heard over at themepark.nl that they read on twitter that the ride will remain closed for three months. Haven't found a link yet.
Quote from: "mehdi5"Heard over at themepark.nl that they read on twitter that the ride will remain closed for three months. Haven't found a link yet.
That smacks of pointless gossip. We need to wait and see. Idle speculation about re-opening times inflames bad opinions and clouds a very simple situation.
Something broke, a team needs to check everything, it will take as long as it takes. However it is unlikely to take too long as there is a great track record when it comes to safety at DLRP.
My thoughts are with the injured people. However as is often the case it seems that the situation is less serious than was first reported.
Calm assessment is better than panicky doom mongering.
Quote from: "mehdi5"Heard over at themepark.nl that they read on twitter that the ride will remain closed for three months. Haven't found a link yet.
Here's probably the source of that (//http://twitter.com/#!/InsideDLParis/status/62601679878623232) but as ford prefect says, I wouldn't read much into it.
Terrible news to hear, but the important thing no one is in a life threating condition. My thoughts are with the injured people involved and I hope they all make a full recovery. As for the closure I can't see it being 3 months, but as said this will mean everything is going to have be checked and rechecked, possibly for all attractions in the park too? (but not in as big as scale as BTM)
Just wait and see tomorrow's tabloids blowing this way out of proportion tomorrow in their papers, "Terror in the Happiest place on Earth" etc making headlines :?
This news really concerned me, as i have family visiting Disneyland Paris at the moment. My prayers go to the man in Hospital and his family. Disney should be ashamed of themselves.
Quote from: "disneyparkfans"This news really concerned me, as i have family visiting Disneyland Paris at the moment. My prayers go to the man in Hospital and his family. Disney should be ashamed of themselves.
i don't think that is fair, for guest safety, dlp has had the least incidents out of all disney parks, and chances are this had nothing to do with something disney has done.
compare the number of incidents at dlp to the number at disneyworld and you will see. only a couple of years ago, disneyworlds BTM derailed, that put a couple of people into COMAS.
besides, now is not the time to point and blame, now is the time for us to hope this man survives.
i expect the man will be ok - over on micechat a certain member ( ex member on here and fan of tokyo ) is already slating the upkeep of attractions in Paris and saying they will never have the effect working again! Im sure the man was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.
Quote from: "disneyparkfans"This news really concerned me, as i have family visiting Disneyland Paris at the moment. My prayers go to the man in Hospital and his family. Disney should be ashamed of themselves.
That is a little harsh, things like this happen all the time and human error does occur. Sorry to say, but even in a Disney theme park problems do happen and Disneyland is not always to blame for them. As for BTM, I find it interesting that all these incidents seem to occur on them all over the world, Disneyland a few years ago and now this. Obviously this being the minor of the incidents, for no one has died. However in terms of theme park operations this is a minor problem that has injured one person majorly, though does not seem to be life threatening. These things happen all the time and scenery will fail and have problems from time to time; it is the art of technology, it will not always function properly. I hope he is well, but it is great to see Disney pulling along and making sure the family are also cared for.
On a more annoying note, I can see it now in tomorrow morning's Sun newspaper when I visit the supermarket: 'Man near fatal injury in EuroDisney', yes they will use EuroDisney I have no doubt and their sources will be un-credible, as is the art of the British tabloid, not exactly the image Disneyland Paris needs currently, but oh well tis the wonder of the British press.
Oh, god. I hope that everyone is going through a quick and healthy recovery. :)
Hopefully DLRP will get things fixed so the ride is once again safe.
Quote from: "Patrick"Quote from: "disneyparkfans"On a more annoying note, I can see it now in tomorrow morning's Sun newspaper when I visit the supermarket: 'Man near fatal injury in EuroDisney', yes they will use EuroDisney I have no doubt and their sources will be un-credible, as is the art of the British tabloid, not exactly the image Disneyland Paris needs currently, but oh well tis the wonder of the British press.
Perhaps the fact that the only British paper who seems to have picked this up is the Telegraph will comfort you. I'm assuming that the people involved were not British, in which case the tabloids won't be all that bothered. :?
Accidents happen in all public places. Sad, but true. Hope the people involved in this one get well soon and the problem can be fixed quickly.
I hope everyone will recover very soon.
it was just a matter of time that something like this will happen, its all about maintaining.
Disney World didnt refurb attractions for years and bad incident happend, but most happend
because of the bad health, the people have. I hope this will bring the management to think and
spend more money on maintenance. my safty is more important than new attractions or being sad
attractions will be closed on my visit..
Quote from: "lil-shawn"I hope everyone will recover very soon.
it was just a matter of time that something like this will happen, its all about maintaining.
Disney World didnt refurb attractions for years and bad incident happend, but most happend
because of the bad health, the people have. I hope this will bring the management to think and
spend more money on maintenance. my safty is more important than new attractions or being sad
attractions will be closed on my visit..
Well said
Quoteit was just a matter of time that something like this will happen, its all about maintaining.
Disney World didnt refurb attractions for years and bad incident happend, but most happend
because of the bad health, the people have. I hope this will bring the management to think and
spend more money on maintenance. my safty is more important than new attractions or being sad
attractions will be closed on my visit..
I guess it is still far to early to blame it on anybody. You know, sometimes sh*t just happens, no matter how well you try to avoid it. A prop failed and hit the train, that should never have happened, so it is clearly the responsibility of the park operator, but if it was neglect or just a case of bad luck remains to be seen.
You're probably refering to the BTM incident in 2003, that was in Anaheim and not in Walt Disney World by the way. In that specific case, Disney admitted they performed improper maintenance. That's not the same as not refurbing an attraction for years.
This is quite a shock, especially since we were there this weekend- not Monday though. It is much too soon to tell what actually happened, but accidents happen. I very much doubt this is due to negligence on DLP's part since their reputation is very important to them and shoddy safety reports would be very damaging to them.
While we were there RnRc broke down for about 30-40mins, the staff were very thorough in their safety checks even though alot of guests were moaning after about 10 minutes of empty cars being sent round the track. I was impressed with them.
I hope the man recovers well and that DLP quickly get to the cause of the acident and sort it out quickly.
These things happen. You can't have a park full of fast-moving rides and other physicalities without someone getting hurt every now and then, no matter how tight your health & safety procedures are. People who expect to live in a risk-free world have fallen prey to the bizarre modern-age notion that corporations control the universe. They don't. Gravity still wins from United Airlines every so often, winter still manages to beat the railway companies a few days per year and Disney still hasn't got a hold on all the many elements that try to loosen the nuts and bolts holding up the props hanging over its guests.
things like this do happen, and considering it has been open year round since 1992, the relatively low number of incidents should be congratulated.
if you think about it, at least dlp does think about safety. i was at thorpe park last july and one of the coaster trains had derailed from the track when it was looping, yet after 20 minutes they started running as if nothing had happened!!!
A few of those media reports:
[youtube:5m71kpd5]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2AYqsSgLLQ[/youtube:5m71kpd5]
Daily [strike:5m71kpd5]M[/strike:5m71kpd5]- Fail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/artic ... -ride.html (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-1380639/Disneyland-Paris-injured-Big-Thunder-Mountain-ride.html%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;) First states the scenery fell onto the track then hit the train, then states it fell onto the carriage. Relates the Californian Big Thunder Mountain accident to Disney California Adventure.
Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... ident.html (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/8472926/Disneyland-Paris-closes-ride-after-accident.html%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)
De Telegraaf: http://www.telegraaf.nl/buitenland/9625 ... _in__.html (http://www.telegraaf.nl/buitenland/9625930/__Attractie_Disneyland_Parijs_stort_in__.html%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;) This must have been updated -- PhotosMagiques posted on Twitter earlier: "Dutch newspaper @telegraaf wrote this morning that Big Thunder Mountain collapsed and guests were struck by glass..."
Le Parisien: http://www.leparisien.fr/seine-et-marne ... 423560.php (http://www.leparisien.fr/seine-et-marne-77/accident-a-disneyland-les-jours-du-blesse-ne-sont-pas-en-danger-26-04-2011-1423560.php%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;) Talks about the fake boulder hitting the track after the passage of a first train?
Le Figaro: http://www.lefigaro.fr/societes/2011/04 ... bourse.php (http://www.lefigaro.fr/societes/2011/04/26/04015-20110426ARTFIG00365-disneyland-l-accident-n-a-pas-d-incidence-en-bourse.php%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;) Useless article!
Also mentioned on the official Disney_ParisEN twitter account this morning: http://twitter.com/#!/Disney_ParisEN (http://twitter.com/#!/Disney_ParisEN%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)
Can I just add there is some link going around on Facebook saying if you like and click the link its a video of the accident. I just want to remind people that they shouldn't click on these sorts of things as its more likely a virus or a survey scam.
This has not put me off riding BTM in October with my Daughter. I hope the man in hospital makes a full recovery.
The daily mail one was rubbish. Since when was the park 20 last year!!!!
Quote from: "peter"...i was at thorpe park last july and one of the coaster trains had derailed from the track when it was looping, yet after 20 minutes they started running as if nothing had happened!!!
Don't post BS like that, its not funny :|
Anyway, this is obviously terrible and I hope the man recovers, with conflicting reports it hard to know how serious this actually is.
Quote from: "SM:M3"Quote from: "peter"...i was at thorpe park last july and one of the coaster trains had derailed from the track when it was looping, yet after 20 minutes they started running as if nothing had happened!!!
Don't post BS like that, its not funny :|
Anyway, this is obviously terrible and I hope the man recovers, with conflicting reports it hard to know how serious this actually is.
I'm not kidding!! When we asked afterwards, they told us one of the braking pads had malfunctioned and pushed one of the wheels out of place
I don't lie about things like that, and I don't appreciate being told that I'm lying
I hope everyone recovers quickly.
And I also hope they dont remove this feature from the ride, it is great, and always seems to get the little ones scared!
(are they really going to be repainting the mountain again? Wasn't it only done a couple of years ago?)
Quote from: "Martyn"(are they really going to be repainting the mountain again? Wasn't it only done a couple of years ago?)
It was last painted from 26th August to 13th October 2006 (here's an article from then (//http://www.dlrptoday.com/2006/10/16/big-thunders-big-re-opening/)), but they missed out the "Rainbow Arch". This time it's meant to cover everything.
Quote from: "peter"Quote from: "SM:M3"Quote from: "peter"...i was at thorpe park last july and one of the coaster trains had derailed from the track when it was looping, yet after 20 minutes they started running as if nothing had happened!!!
Don't post BS like that, its not funny :|
Anyway, this is obviously terrible and I hope the man recovers, with conflicting reports it hard to know how serious this actually is.
I'm not kidding!! When we asked afterwards, they told us one of the braking pads had malfunctioned and pushed one of the wheels out of place
I don't lie about things like that, and I don't appreciate being told that I'm lying
A rollercoaster "derails" if the axle fails (see Expedition Geforce), causing the wheels to leave the track completely, if you've seen a coaster wheel assembly, you'll see they can't just 'derail' or be pushed out of place. Also, no trim brakes would be placed on an inversion, magnetic or friction. Anyway were going way off topic now and this is far less important than what has happened.
This was also briefly mentioned in Tuesday's metro (london)
Im guessin the attraction was still closed today as it is still so soon?
Quote from: "gldc"This was also briefly mentioned in Tuesday's metro (london)
Im guessin the attraction was still closed today as it is still so soon?
Big Thunder Mountain won't be reopened until after its scheduled refurbishment, read more about it here. (//http://www.dlrptoday.com/2011/04/27/big-thunder-mountain-wont-reopen-until-after-planned-may-refurbishment-more-incident-detail/)
i thought they might do this, but will they be allowed to paint it while the investigation goes on? especially because its the police who are investigating.
when you think of it, the park has had no incidents like this EVER, so unfortunately it was just a matter of time.
you know what sh** happens,no matter how much health and safety procedures are in place who knows what lies ahead.everytime we ride anything at disney or any other park who knows what will happen.we all expect to be safe,same as driving a car,taken a train or aeroplane but who knows.it's just one of those things.if someone is to blame for the accident it will be sorted and i'm sure disney put in 100% to making sure nothing like this happens again.
hope all involved are recovering well.xx
Here's a picture of BTM:
(//http://www.images-squish.net/users/VDR/49897.JPG)
http://www.disneygazette.fr/rehabilitat ... s-505.html (http://www.disneygazette.fr/rehabilitation-chateau-vieux-moulin-colonel-hatis-accident-big-thunder-mountain-merchandising-moments-magiques-earl-of-sandwich-photolocation-rc-racer-phare-newport-bay-club-news-505.html%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)
Quote from: "dagobert"Here's a picture of BTM:
(//http://www.images-squish.net/users/VDR/49897.JPG)
http://www.disneygazette.fr/rehabilitat ... s-505.html (http://www.disneygazette.fr/rehabilitation-chateau-vieux-moulin-colonel-hatis-accident-big-thunder-mountain-merchandising-moments-magiques-earl-of-sandwich-photolocation-rc-racer-phare-newport-bay-club-news-505.html%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)
Good Job. That industrial-strength plastic tape should stop any runaway locomotives from entering 8)
But isn't that the tunnel that takes the train back to the mainland? Why is that blocked off?
Maybe it's to make sure when they paint the mountain, no workers stray in to it, perhaps it's health and safety
For those following the news; Check out our latest update on what happened on our newssite BTM Accident - More information (//http://www.dlp.info/News/2011/05/big-thunder-mountain-accident-more-information-or-just-rumors-2/)
Thank you for visiting and see you on the boards
interesting stuff on dlp.info, so that is because of damage
The riders said that the train was stopped in a tunnel, in pitch black. Where woud that have been, and what would have triggered it?
The cast members stopped it in the tunnel, if that is what you're asking? :)
Where abouts would it have stopped though? I guess there is a block section just before you drop in the dark?
From Twitter
@Disney_ParisEN
Disneyland Paris
QuoteBig Thunder Mountain will reopen for our guests tomorrow, Saturday 21 May. The attraction has been closed since the accident on April 25th.
That's good, but I bet that in september it will close again. From pictures etc., it looks like any moving theming piece that is over the track has been removed. Maybe they are doing individual checks for each piece,
There were no rocks moving on the last lift hill, but it wasn't looking like there were parts missing.
On Sunday the coaster feeled slower and less wild as in march, but that may of course be just a feeling of our group.
Around noon there was a waiting time of 50 minutes announced and only three trains running. Is that the usual number for that many people waiting or is it lower?
And what we found out in the evening as the sun was setting: In that moments the last part of the last tunnel is visible and showing the unthemed concrete. Bad, bad sun ;)
We were onboard saturday. At 14.00 hours, the line was 80 minutes!! The park should be open untill 22.00, but the ride closed at 20.30, even denying people the ride, eventhough they were waiting in line!! I find it strange, that many rides closes at 20.30 when the park is open untill 22.00. The only open rides where childrens rides.
I found the ride a bit faster at the end than normaly.
Quote from: "EnClair"We were onboard saturday. At 14.00 hours, the line was 80 minutes!! The park should be open untill 22.00, but the ride closed at 20.30, even denying people the ride, eventhough they were waiting in line!! I find it strange, that many rides closes at 20.30 when the park is open untill 22.00. The only open rides where childrens rides.
I found the ride a bit faster at the end than normaly.
They closed BTM before the park closed!! It's getting worse and worse. When we have been last year some attractions in Fantasyland and Discoveryland opened and closed at different times. Hopefully many people complained, because that is really a bad show. BTM is the most popular attraction at DLP and it should, like EVERY attraction, be open until the park closes. Maybe they had already a new problem with the coaster.
Maybe it had broke down? Its not exactly un-common for BTM to break down now is it?
Exactly. If they turned away people waiting in line it indeed means that the ride broke down... as it often does, nine times out of ten caused by guests rather than actual technical problems.
Quote from: "DGRavenswood"Exactly. If they turned away people waiting in line it indeed means that the ride broke down... as it often does, nine times out of ten caused by guests rather than actual technical problems.
Maybe that's a stupid question, but what can guests do to break down the ride? I can imagine that throwing something out of the vehicle or bad behaviour at the loading area could cause a shut down.
In a nutshell -- apart from general misbehavior and acts such as standing up during the ride (happens a lot), the most common cause is guests taking too long to board or to leave their trains... The downside of having five trains on the same track is that they have to maintain a certain rhythm, otherwise the attraction detects two vehicles too close to one another and shuts everything down.
What people can do wrong?
I've seen it with my own eyes. Most stupid thing ever.
:shock: :shock: :shock:
After leaving the train, a group of about 5 students went straight down the tunnel which leads directly under water and to the island.
Castmembers where running after them, to get them back.
Quote from: "Reiana"What people can do wrong?
I've seen it with my own eyes. Most stupid thing ever.
:shock: :shock: :shock:
After leaving the train, a group of about 5 students went straight down the tunnel which leads directly under water and to the island.
Castmembers where running after them, to get them back.
I have never thought such things can happen. Did they jump on the track? Stupid students!
Thanks DGRavenswood for the infos.
Did they jump on the track.
Thank godness, no. There is a very small walkway at the side of the tracks.
They where goofing around and running straight into the tunnel. After about 30 min, after this incident everything went back to normal. Of course they hat to check the whole tunnel for more runaway students.
We had to wait until this students where out of BTM. During that time everything came to a complete stop, only the loading spiel was playing.
That's really a stupid behaviour and should not be tolerated. In my opinion Disney should have called security to kick them out of the park.
Don't know what happend to the students after the castmembers escorted them out of BTM . Likely nothing :?
It's funny, it was so unbelivable for us, everytime we step out of the BTM train, we remember this students and wonder how many people do the same stupid stuff.
Maybe only even by accident.
Quote from: "Reiana"everytime we step out of the BTM train, we remember this students and wonder how many people do the same stupid stuff.
You'd be surprised at what people will do at Disney parks on a daily basis... I'm pretty sure that most Cast Members could fill books with stories about our fellow visitors.
What happens to them depends on the case. Particularly unreasonable guests will find themselves escorted out of the park by security... or by police, in "special" cases.
I know. There are so many weird/strange/crazy things people can do. But I'm afraid, I'm not crazy enough to imagine them. Btw I don't even want to
:lol: :lol: :lol:
Quote from: "DGRavenswood"You'd be surprised at what people will do at Disney parks on a daily basis... I'm pretty sure that most Cast Members could fill books with stories about our fellow visitors.
I read a funny anecdote in an old Cast Member magazine about a couple who had a raging argument near the Rivers of the Far West that ended in one of them having to be fished out of the water, so I don't doubt that!
I've merged and then split the several Big Thunder Mountain topics into two distinct topics for the April and October incidents. Please follow and discuss the latest incident here: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=12251 (https://forum.dlpguide.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=12251%22%20onclick=%22window.open(this.href);return%20false;)