Seeking a Safer Magic Kingdom

The decision by Disneyland to allow a permanent Anaheim police presence at the park is a step in the right direction, but it should not be the final step. Additionally, the support that park executives have expressed for legislation to regulate amusement parks is welcome as a start, but a commitment to real independent scrutiny of ride safety is still needed.

Disney deserves credit for its candor in revealing just how much the organization has been shaken by an accident in which a tourist was fatally injured last Christmas Eve. When company officials met with the press last week, Walt Disney Attractions President Paul Pressler offered a personal anecdote about Disneyland being a respite from the larger world. Once while standing in line for a ride, he noticed a family in front of him and a group of tough-looking bikers behind, both happily waiting in the queue. The point was the degree to which order and safety are understood by everyone to be fundamental to the Disneyland experience, and to its continued prosperity as a business.

In addition to a previously announced review of operations and training, the park now has Anaheim police officers permanently stationed there. So far, so good. Anaheim police already have acknowledged that they should have reached the scene of the accident earlier. They say they will take control of the scene in major incidents at the park in the future.

In the aftermath of a deficient response to the Dec. 24 accident, both the police and Disney now have said there is a need to do better. It will be up to these two parties to determine whether good intentions actually result in a safer environment for visitors. Disneyland and the police have long had a relationship in which the park could control the response when things went wrong. Putting new procedures in place is the easy part. It’s the culture of the Magic Kingdom, and the dynamic of established relationships with the city, that will be tested.

Finally, the question of reform raises the need to learn from other states, such as Ohio and New Jersey, in improving the oversight of California amusement parks. Here Disney is circumspect, though embracing an interest in change. It says it wants to see an entire package of proposed reforms.

The Florida model, in which parks like Walt Disney World merely file affidavits of safety, will not do the job for our state. California should have regular outside inspections of rides and required reporting of accidents.

It also should make injury records available to the public. These can assist park visitors in making informed decisions, and they can help inspectors spot problems while ensuring that inspections focus on the right things.