Disney unveiled to the public and its stockholders this week its comprehensive 32-page Report on Safety for its Parks and Resorts division. The report re-iterates Disney's commitment to safety and highlights safety measures at the resorts, among the cast, through attraction design and at sea on the cruise ships.

Safety has been a major concern to amusement parks in general lately. Accidents at these parks make front-page news. Deaths seem on the rise. Terrorism concerns at public places make these destinations high-profile targets.

Reporting of accidents and incidents at theme parks make news today more than ever before. These horrific events have occurred in the past but were easier hid or the spin better controlled before it hit the wires. Today's reporters are looking for high-profile incidents to write about and safety at theme parks have become hot topics. The Internet has made the dissemination of these events much quicker as backstage talk finds its way to the general public much easier through dial-up phone lines and a computer. Legal filings are public records that are brought to light in greater numbers. And with all this extra disclosure is the growing perception that theme parks are more unsafe than ever before and that the companies that run them are the ones responsible.

Disney's Report on Safety is a fantastic proactive move to counter these concerns. It may be little more than positive public relations but this report will do a lot to help allay fears that its customers may have.

Litigation and legislation has forced Disney to improve upon its safety record. Many of its attractions are being re-evaluated and retrofitted with new features to minimize injuries. Additional security measures have been instituted. The parks now staff police and paramedics for quicker emergency response. Technology, such as defibrillators and air gates, have been implemented.

With all that has been reported and all that has been done to improve conditions, it begs the question - are we safe when visiting our favorite Disney theme park?

My answer would be an emphatic "yes." It has long been my opinion that persons have a greater chance for injury while traveling to the park than when in it. While accidents are bound to happen no matter how much pixie dust is shed in an attempt to prevent it, the percentage of visitors that encounter problems is very small. Disney theme parks host millions of guests each year. And for the numbers, very few incidents occur. And when they do, it is often something that the visitor does to cause it.

I'm not trying to dissolve Disney's responsibility in accidents. However, no amount of preparation is going to completely eliminate the chance for disaster. Just because procedures are in place in safety manuals, it doesn't mean that they will always be followed or enforced. And evil that exists in the world will mean that Disney theme parks will always be a target of terror or mayhem.

Trips to Disneyland by my wife and I have been curtailed this past year since the events of September 11. It is a subconscious decision, to be sure, but Kathy has been more reclusive of public places in general. It doesn't mean that we have lost confidence in our safety at Disneyland but psychologically, it probably plays on our minds. Which is where this Report on Safety comes in. If we read about the steps that Disney is making in creating a safer environment for me to enjoy my day, I'm more apt to enjoy it. The bag screeners at the front gates probably will not stop someone who wants to cause trouble inside the parks but their being there makes me feel that Disney is doing something to keep me safe.

In the grand scheme of things, safety reports aren't going to make me safer when I'm entering the Magic Kingdom. But they are going to make me feel safer. Safety warnings in multiple languages aren't going to make me safer. But they are a constant reminder that I need to watch my own actions to stay safe. Bag searches may be an annoyance when slowing me from entering the turnstiles but they send a message that Disney wants me to be safe while on their property.

It's in Disney's best interest to make its theme parks safe places to visit. It doesn't want to scare off its clientele. And it doesn't want the government to come in and try to legislate safety. By creating a document like the Report on Safety and the appointment of Greg Hale to the position of Chief Safety Officer, Disney is doing the right thing to boost consumer confidence and keep its designation as the Happiest Places on Earth intact.

In My Humble Opinion,
Matt

Posted June 6, 2002

E-mail Matt at matt@startedbyamouse.com, discuss this article in the StartedByAMouse.com Disney Discussion Forums or use the Talkback feature below.

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