David Koenig discusses the fatal monorail accident

MouseStation 332 - David Koenig discusses the fatal monorail accident

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On today's show, David Koenig talks with Steven Ng about the facts and contributing factors related to the fatal accident at Walt Disney World earlier this month.

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Feature: David Koenig discusses the fatal monorail accident

On today's show, David Koenig talks with Steven Ng about the facts and contributing factors related to the fatal monorail accident at Walt Disney World earlier this month.

David started by describing how the safety systems on the monorail work and how they should have prevented the accident. He continued with the cascade of failures led to the accident and he discussed how those working that night could have noticed that something was going wrong.

There were many changes that have been made to the technology and procedures of monorail switching over the years, and David talked about what changes were made and what effect they have had on the process. He also talked a bit about what happened with the location of personnel on the night of the accident.

David also discussed the actions of Austin Wuennenberg, the monorail pilot who was killed in the accident and why there were people on a monorail train heading from Epcot to the Magic Kingdom.

What do you think? Let us know by sending us an email or calling our toll-free feedback line (1-866-939-2278)!

Twitter/Facebook poll questions

Here are the responses to some questions that Mark was asking on Twitter and Facebook in the last week. If you'd like to get in on answering these questions in the future, you can follow Mark on Twitter or friend him on Facebook.

Have you (or do you plan to) visit a Disney park on your birthday this year to get your free admission, birthday FastPass or gift card?

20 respondents had at least one person in their family collect, many of those had multiple family members, sometimes on multiple trips

11 respondents had nobody in their family collect, just about all had either scheduling or financing reasons for not going for it

• Most likely not, but I wish I could. However, my sister spent her birthday this year at Disneyland!
• yes
• No. Husband's BD was during a blackout month at work (not allowed vacation time), and son and mine are during one of the very peak times of year, too crowded.
• No, with my birthday being on Christmas day, one of the busiest days of the year at WDW, I'll be staying away on my birthday. I will however be visiting a few weeks before my birthday.
• Were not going for my birthday but we will be there for my mothers
• My birthday is November 9 and the kids are in school, so I don't plan on it for quite a while!
• My birthday was January 8th. It was a Thursday and I'm a teacher so no chance of going.
• Yes. Seasonal pass members so we went on my birthday, my wife's birthday, and will go on my daughter's birthday because of the gift cards. Did not go on my son's birthday as it fell during the blackout dates
• he has my gift card. All in all, a good marketing ploy as during my daughter's birthday we will be spending 2 nights in a disney hotel and will attend the Christmas party - all because her birthday fell on a weekend.
• I went to Disneyland on my birthday to get my "Birthday Fun Card", which I have yet to spend. It was fun greeting everyone there who was also celebrating a birthday, which was many more than I expected.
• Visited and got the gift card which saved me A LOT of money during the Annual Passholder's sale. Best deal ever.
• No we will not be. Considering we already planned two trips for this year before they announced the promo, we were pretty much locked in. Besides, its hard to take the kids out of school these days, so we kinda have to work around their schedule. Personally, I think it would have been cool if they were able to tier it. Free park admit on your birthday. If within a couple of weeks of your bday, maybe an unlimited FP, if within a month of your BDay, a limited FP. But, yes, I do know that the logistics of such would be a nightmare.
• We'll be going to WDW for my sons 16th Birthday. We had thought about it anyway but the birthday offer sealed it for us. He has an AP and we haven't decided on what option to get.
• Yep! Gift card for me, even if I have to visit DL over Thanksgiving weekend. DH will get his next week, Friday after work!
• Yep, my b-day is always a blackout day for me, so am looking forward to it this year. Even booked an (off property) hotel despite living only an hour away.
• I wish I did but I was financially broke from Mousefest to do so.
• No--timing doesn't work for any of us. I am celebrating my 40th there in October, but I'll be 2 weeks early.
• Yep
• I'll be at Disneyland bright and early to get my gift card.
• I plan to get a Disney Birthday Gift Card later this year, and my wife already has.
• Yes
• On our trip to WDW in November, our first full day in the parks will be my birthday.
• No. But I would have taken the gift card!
• my daughter and i will take advantage of gift card at end of august
• I won't be able to, but @traceland did
• Yes we were there for my wife's B-Day as it coincided, as it always does, our normal trip. She opted for the Gift Card.
• sadly Not.
• we're getting the gift card for our youngest daughter's birthday!
• already missed mine!
• Since it's today and I'm not there...gonna say no. I had plans to.
• I was at Disneyland for my birthday which was this past Monday. As I'm an AP holder, I went with the gift card.
• I haven't used the gift card yet. Plan on some shopping during Friends of the Magic.
• plan on being there for my youngest daugther's bday. Getting gift card then off to Bibbity Bobbity botique.
• I did visit this year on my birthday! and we're going in November for my sister's bday!

Mark did not go on his birthday (missed it by less than a month), but Mike will be arriving on his birthday for MouseAdventure.

What do you think?

Again, if you'd like to get in on answering these questions in the future, you can follow Mark on Twitter or friend him on Facebook.

MouseAdventure at Walt Disney World, November 14

Don't forget that registration is now open for MouseAdventure Walt Disney World! Get your team ready and register now!

Also, don't forget to sign up for the MouseAdventure Newsletter, which will keep you informed as more details about MouseAdventure and the MouseAdventure on the High Seas cruise are announced!

Wrapping up

We've put together a new listener survey to help us learn more about you and what you like most about this podcast. This one is much more targeted than the old Podtrac survey. Please take a few minutes to fill it out and let us know what you think.

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Thanks to our audio engineer and sound editor Steven Ng and to announcer Andrew Rich.

Thank you for listening!

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