Posted on 03/27/2013 8:27:48 AM PDT by Huntress
A wheelchair-bound man was awarded $8,000 by Disneyland after the "It's A Small World" ride broke, stranding him for a half hour while the theme song played continuously, according to an attorney for the plaintiff.
Jose Martinez, who suffers from panic attacks and high blood pressure, did not medically stabilize for three hours after the ride broke down in 2009, attorney David Geffen said.
"He has panic disorder and that was really what started everything rolling," Geffen said. "What caused the court concern, as well, because Disney was alerted about his panic problem and didn't call for the fire department right away."
Disneyland spokeswoman Suzi Brown said the Anaheim theme park believes it provided appropriate assistance during the incident, and is disappointed that the court did not fully agree.
Martinez uses a wheelchair, and Geffen said the plaintiff's high blood pressure was aggravated by a need to urinate while he was stuck on the ride.
While the other riders were able to get off, Martinez was stuck until he could access his wheelchair.
Half the award ordered last week is for pain and suffering, and the rest is for a violation of disability law, Geffen said.
Brown told NBC4 the violation concerning the height of the counter in Disneyland’s first aid station has been corrected.
Oh, you’ll pay for that :)
But back in 1964 to 1965 the Sunday night Walt Disney show in color was a big deal for families. Kirk Russel did those dumb teen/kid movies in that era.
Remember Mutual of Omahas Wild Kingdom, and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea all on Sunday nights w Disney? I never got Monday's homework done
$8K is way too low for that.
We were stuck on Small World at Disneyland for 20 or 30 minutes the last time we went (September 12). The music stopped, IIRC, but the animatronic figures kept on moving, with a creepy clicking noise. And you really didn’t know how long you would be there, although I think they made an announcement about maybe needing to walk out, but they got it fixed before that was necessary.
A friend of ours who is a long time Disney employee said if they make an announcement like that, it is a major breakdown.
Maybe the ride needs some major rebuilding.
The ADA law needs a major revamp to stop ridiculous suits like this.
If he sued under the ADA, then the lawyer got most all the money.
No phantom experts, no dummy disability charities to be staw plaintiffs, and no ada mills.
I’ve been to Disney World three times, with various ensembles. I have three glow in the dark skulls from the Haunted Mansion.
He probably waited in line for two hours just to get on the ride.
I just read another article. This wasn’t inside at Disneyworld....it was outside at Disneyland. Here are photos of Jose Martinez and where he and his wife were “stranded.”
There isn't enough money in the world that can make up for the trauma this guy went through.
By Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman
It’s a world of laughter
A world of tears
It’s a world of hopes
And a world of fears
There’s so much that we share
That it’s time we’re aware
It’s a small world after all
It’s a small world after all
It’s a small world after all
It’s a small world after all
It’s a small, small world
There is just one moon
And one golden sun
And a smile means
Friendship to every one
Though the mountains divide
And the oceans are wide
It’s a small world after all
It’s a small world after all
It’s a small world after all
It’s a small world after all
It’s a small, small world
For your enjoyment.
As I said its almost 50 years old,
most rides and attractions at that 1960s world were destroyed afterward ~ 1966, Disney moved that ride from Queens NY to CA.
It looks to be either the beginning or the end of the ride. It's still inside the Disneyland park and on the It's a Small World ride.
The only difference is they weren't stuck in the enclosed part of the ride.
My thought exactly. And my guess is that the lawyer got at least 40% of that 8 grand. And income taxes now must be paid on these sorts of awards. At the end of the day, the guy probably takes home a little better than 3 grand. That won't even pay for another family vacation to Disney. This was a nuisance suit.
Sheesh after 3 minutes of hearing the Youtube of the ride I think I’ll sue.
They have actually updated the ride from the original. Disneyland has also updated the Pirates of the Carribean ride, too.
All the Medfield College movies:
I loved those movies.
-PJ
Some say "panhandler," others say, "extortionist."
I'm all for allowing access to many places and activities for disabled people, access should be granted (and attempted) in a reasonable manner. Neither Disney, nor should any other entity, have to pay exhorbitant costs to accommodate all people under every physical circumstance.
What about rides like Space Mountain, Everest, or their water rides? It would be impossible to accommodate wheelchaired rides on such rides--at least not without the costs of building a special car, just for them.
makes sense, do they still play that crappy song?
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