Explosion in toontown in Disneyland.

[TinkerbellT421]

There are reports flooding twitter that there was a small explosion in a trash can in toontown in Disneyland. Reports are saying it was a soda bottle filled with dry ice....


I have to ask how did that get in the park? I mean it's not like people bring dry ice to drink? Isn't that some kind of chemically imposed ice that causes third degrees burns and such?

Reports are saying the area was evacuated and no one was injured thank god. Freaks me it though, anyone else?

[Joannelet]

Just heard the same thing. Gets me so upset to hear anything like this to happen in Disney.

[BuddyL4]

I just got home from work and turned on my tablet to see a report on this on MSN. It's only natural to get that sinking feeling in your stomach when you here something like this, especially given current events in the world. Really all I can say is we are all concerned but also wait for the facts to come out.

[Capt_redshirt]

There are reports flooding twitter that there was a small explosion in a trash can in toontown in Disneyland. Reports are saying it was a soda bottle filled with dry ice....


I have to ask how did that get in the park? I mean it's not like people bring dry ice to drink? Isn't that some kind of chemically imposed ice that causes third degrees burns and such?

Reports are saying the area was evacuated and no one was injured thank god. Freaks me it though, anyone else?

Dry ice is used in shipping perishable items (omaha steaks i believe use that to ship products). It can cause third degree burns and frostbite instantly. I don't believe that it came from outside the park. any guard would see a bottle of dry ice a mile away (at normal temps it fogs. if they capped the bottle tight it would have exploded far far sooner because of the release of carbon dioxide... tho why a cast member would do anything like this is beyond me

[Dulcee]

It also could have been an innocent accident. Best not to jump to conclusions.

Dry ice is commonly used in the food industry and I'm sure Disneyland has large amounts on property at any time. We use it quite often in our lab and I often have inexperienced students accidentally enclosing it in a tube or bottle. Just a few small chips can cause an impressive pop.

[BrerGnat]

It is used in the mobile carts that CMs use to restock the ice cream carts. The ice cream carts themselves plug in, but when they need to be re-stocked, the ice cream is brought over in a cart that has dry ice to keep the treats frozen. I've seen them restocking and the CM that handles that ice cream has to wear heavy duty gloves due to the dry ice inside the cart.

I hate to think this was something a CM did, but it sure does seem like it, as they are the only ones with access to dry ice inside the park.

[TinkerbellT421]

Dulcee, I understand your thought. I'm not jumping to conclusions, just stating the facts. However, I find it hard to innocently believe "dry ice" accidentally ended up in a soda bottle with the lid tightly closed. But that's just me.

That's my fear as well BreGnat...can anyone just by dry ice like in a store? I thought that was kind of a controlled substance typically only available to companies who need it for keeping things cold such as the ice cream carts. Is it me? I wasn't very good in science class but I do remember it being pretty dangerous to someone if not used correctly.

[c&d]

I had heard this has happened around the area not just at DL in the recent past.

[mgmnut]

That's my fear as well BreGnat...can anyone just by dry ice like in a store? I thought that was kind of a controlled substance typically only available to companies who need it for keeping things cold such as the ice cream carts.

Anyone can purchase dry ice. There is a local ICE company to me that advertises dry ice for sale. As a previous poster has said Omaha Steaks uses dry ice in styrophone coolers to ship thier products. If you put dry ice in water it creates a dense heavy fog that moves low accross the floor. I put dry ice in water and put it up on my kitchen counter, the fog rolled down the cabiets and accross the floor. Really neat to see. Dry ice is just frozen carbon dioxide in solid form.

[BrerGnat]

You can purchase dry ice in most supermarkets that sell bagged ice. It's very easy to get. DH had to buy some a year ago for a military function, and he just got it at Safeway (supermarket).

[TinkerbellT421]

Ah thanks for the info! I can assume then someone may have brought it in for packing a lunch or something, and then maybe innocently threw it away not knowing what it would do? At least we can hope that is the case. Will have to see if Disney releases any further statements. I am sure they have the whole thing on camera somewhere

[Goofy4TheWorld]

I am sure they have the whole thing on camera somewhere

I would be very surprised if they do.

Of all of the incidence you have read about involving Disney over the years, have you ever seen surveillance video released (not cell-phone footage, but official Disney surveillance)? Even in incidents that led to a both Criminal and Civil trials, no surveillance video out there that I have ever seen, and once it gets to a trial they have no choice but to turn it over during discovery.

I think Disney depends much more on eyes and ears and less on cameras for monitoring the public areas of the park. I am not counting the cameras they have on attractions to monitor tracks and such, just areas like a trash can outside a bathroom.

Just my :twocents:

[brownie]

Sending this to the News forum.

[DizneyFreak2002]

Not sure how much of an accident this was... In order to explode dry ice inside a plastic soda bottle, water has to be added...

As for cameras, cameras are all over the place in all Disney parks.. You'd be surprised as to what areas are monitored (all of them basically)... yes, the person who dropped this bottle is probably on tape... And of course we won't see video of it.. Why should we? The proper authorities will review the tapes... How many incidents are caught on security cameras that the general public does not need to, nor do we ever see? 1,000s a day?

[NewDVCowner]

Disneyland employee arrested in dry ice explosion at California park
LOS ANGELES | Wed May 29, 2013 2:40pm EDT

May 29 (Reuters) - A Disneyland employee has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a destructive device following a dry ice explosion in a trash can at the California park on Wednesday night, police said on Thursday.

Christian Barnes, 22, identified as an outdoor vending cast member at Disneyland, was being held on $1 million bail, Sergeant Bob Dunn of the Anaheim Police Department said. (Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Cynthia Johnston)

[Goofy4TheWorld]

... And of course we won't see video of it.. Why should we? The proper authorities will review the tapes...

Because when incidents result in Civil or Criminal trials, there is rarely an exception made to the public's access to that evidence. There have been several cases where everyone assumes Disney had surveillance, but none was ever produced, even in trials where there was eyewitness testimony about two guys fighting, but there was no surveillance video offered, the best eyewitness of them all.

Just like with the feeling of security people feel from the bag checks at the gate, Disney relies too much on the assumption of security that is not really there, as illustrated today by the finding of a loaded gun at DAK just laying in a seat.

[BrerGnat]

As suspected, it was a CM The guy admitted he did it. Idiot.

[KylesMom]

My thoughts exactly, Nat. Grrrrrr :(

[Goofy4TheWorld]

Call me gullible, but I bet this young man thought he would make a little haunted mansion effect of fog coming out of the trash can (he was "plussing it") and failed to realize the consequences of trapping the dry ice in a sealed container with water.

Back in my youthful indiscretion days I once put a piece of dry ice in a toilet to freak someone out, and years later I realized that it could have cracked the toilet.

Maybe he is a terrorist, but I think he is just learning a high school science lesson with a million-dollar bond now attached to it.

[BrerGnat]

Call me gullible, but I bet this young man thought he would make a little haunted mansion effect of fog coming out of the trash can (he was "plussing it") and failed to realize the consequences of trapping the dry ice in a sealed container with water.

Back in my youthful indiscretion days I once put a piece of dry ice in a toilet to freak someone out, and years later I realized that it could have cracked the toilet.

Maybe he is a terrorist, but I think he is just learning a high school science lesson with a million-dollar bond now attached to it.

He's 22 years old. He knew what he was doing. There have been a rash of similar "dry ice plastic bottle" bombs in the vicinity recently. He might actually be responsible for those as well, considering he had access to dry ice. Probably why his bond was set so high.

[Goofy4TheWorld]

He's 22 years old. He knew what he was doing. There have been a rash of similar "dry ice plastic bottle" bombs in the vicinity recently. He might actually be responsible for those as well, considering he had access to dry ice. Probably why his bond was set so high.

"Barnes is cooperating with investigators and has indicated this is an isolated incident with unanticipated impacts," Anaheim police Sgt. Bob Dunn said Wednesday, according to the LA Times.

I think age 22 is still a good age for unanticipated impacts.

[Melanie]

I agree, and think it's a little extreme what he's being charged with and the bond set. I guess it's a sign of the times.

Is this really a bomb? The bottle burst, for sure, but a bomb? I think it was a very stupid prank gone wrong, by a young and immature CM.

Just my :twocents:

[ANG]

How could it have been on accident? I would hope that when he was trained for his job, they informed him of the dangers of misuse.

[BrerGnat]

I agree, and think it's a little extreme what he's being charged with and the bond set. I guess it's a sign of the times.

Is this really a bomb? The bottle burst, for sure, but a bomb? I think it was a very stupid prank gone wrong, by a young and immature CM.

Just my :twocents:

From what I understand of the law, bond is set based solely on the charge at first. So, the classification for a bomb is the same whether it is a pipe bomb or a piece of dry ice inside a plastic bottle. Once this guy appears before a judge, the judge will be able to adjust his bond down to a level more in line with the ACTUAL device he used. However, bombs are taken very seriously these days, so the high bond amount is set that way to keep potentially very dangerous individuals from being bailed out early in the process.

I don't believe this guy had sinister intentions, but what he did was very, very stupid. It is also quite possible that he did this as a "test", because everyone is "a good kid" until they do something very bad. The Newtown shooter was also called a "good kid"...

[Dulcee]

I think age 22 is still a good age for unanticipated impacts.

Totally and completely.

My inner neuroscientist would like to point out that at 22 your frontal lobe is just edging up on being fully developed (in men you've still got a few years to go) and thus biologically you aren't very good at weighing cause and effect.

Sad, but true.

Anyway, seems like it was a kid who screwed up. Hopefully he learns his lesson.

[joonyer]

Call me gullible, but I bet this young man thought he would make a little haunted mansion effect of fog coming out of the trash can (he was "plussing it") and failed to realize the consequences of trapping the dry ice in a sealed container with water.

Back in my youthful indiscretion days I once put a piece of dry ice in a toilet to freak someone out, and years later I realized that it could have cracked the toilet.

Maybe he is a terrorist, but I think he is just learning a high school science lesson with a million-dollar bond now attached to it.

Putting dry ice into a toilet bowl will not cause an explosion or crack the toilet. Putting dry ice into water only causes the dry ice to warm up and evaporate, causing the fog effect.

It's a small detail but an important one, but it's putting the cap back onto the bottle that makes this a "bomb". That act traps the pressure buildup resulting in an explosion. It wasn't an accident to but the cap back on. It may not be a "bomb" made with gunpowder or C2, etc. but it is still an explosive device.

This particular one sounds like it was small and only caused a loud pop and didn't result in any damage. But these things can be made very dangerous, with a 2 liter bottle and enough dry ice, they have been commonly used to blow up mailboxes, resulting in metal shrapnel flying about; and using a glass bottle could cause severe injuries. Sounds like this particular incident may have been intended only as a "prank" but it's still a very stupid act in a theme park. Try going through airport security with a "prank" bomb and see where that gets you.

[DVC2004]

Anyway, seems like it was a kid who screwed up. Hopefully he learns his lesson.

Agree.

Comparing this to Adam Lanza? Really? :(

I am glad no one was hurt, as I am sure everyone is.

[DizneyFreak2002]

I agree, and think it's a little extreme what he's being charged with and the bond set. I guess it's a sign of the times.

Is this really a bomb? The bottle burst, for sure, but a bomb? I think it was a very stupid prank gone wrong, by a young and immature CM.

Just my :twocents:

Watch youtube videos of punks exploding dry ice bottles... There is one where they put the bottle under a bucket... Watch how how the explosion causes the bucket to rise, and how far it flies.. And that is a bucket... Imagine what lighter more projectile items would do?

Yes, this is a bomb... cannot be classified as anything else... And while he may have thought it was a prank, it surely isn't... if someone was seriously hurt, would people be ready to classify this as a prank gone wrong? No...

As for his age... He is 22... Old enough to vote for the elected leaders of his city, state, and country... Old enough to drive... Old enough to drink.. Old enough to graduate college with a degree and join the work force... He is an adult who should have known better...

[Dulcee]

As for his age... He is 22... Old enough to vote for the elected leaders of his city, state, and country... Old enough to drive... Old enough to drink.. Old enough to graduate college with a degree and join the work force... He is an adult who should have known better...

Politically or maybe socially an adult...biologically, not quite. There are some fun science quips out there that your really an adult when you can typically rent a car or a vacation house (about 25). Darn us humans and our really slow brain growth. (Sorry the biologist in me can't help myself :blush:)

[BrerGnat]

Apparently this guy made TWO of these bottle bombs. The first one went off inside the ice cream cooler when a female CM came to relieve him. He took the second bottle and headed for the employee backstage area and decided to throw it away on his way there.

Again...idiot!

[DizneyFreak2002]

Politically or maybe socially an adult...biologically, not quite. There are some fun science quips out there that your really an adult when you can typically rent a car or a vacation house (about 25). Darn us humans and our really slow brain growth. (Sorry the biologist in me can't help myself :blush:)

Then if a 22 year old is not smart enough to realize putting an explosive devise in a garbage can is not dangerous and it is only a stupid prank gone horribly wrong, because I'm 22 and i am stupid enough to do these things, then we are not evolving as a species, we are devolving, and it is sad when we use their age as an excuse... If he is not biologically smart enough (and sorry a 22 year old IS smart enough to know right from wrong/smart from dumb) then we need to increase the voting age, take 17-18 years old from behind the wheel of a car and wait until they are 30 (is 30 the age we finally become biologically smart today????) and make these numbskulls stay in college for 8 years... or, you know, until they are biologically ready for the real world...

This ADULT is a world class moron... and no, his age is not NOT an excuse... He is just a world class bozo...

[BrerGnat]

Totally and completely.

My inner neuroscientist would like to point out that at 22 your frontal lobe is just edging up on being fully developed (in men you've still got a few years to go) and thus biologically you aren't very good at weighing cause and effect.

Sad, but true.

Anyway, seems like it was a kid who screwed up. Hopefully he learns his lesson.

Uh, sorry not buying that explanation. It might be biologically accurate, but come on.

By 22, my husband was in charge of other men, 18-24 age range who handled REAL explosives. He is a Marine Artillery Officer. Those are the "big guns" in the military...the ones loaded with huge shells...canons. Less than year later, he was leading a team of Marines firing their Howitzers in Fallujah, Iraq, at the start of OIF in 2003.

People MUCH younger than 22 have been entrusted with FAR more dangerous things than bottle bombs for decades.

There is no excuse for what this CM did. None.

[Dulcee]

I don't in anyway think its an excuse. Sure most 22 year olds will tell you its not ok to put something that may explode in a crowded area that will cause mass chaos. (Many 22 year olds would however tell you they'd do it if they knew they wouldn't get caught.) And there are plenty of 22 year olds who are highly responsible.

But, science does tell us that at 22 your brain is not as good at weighing decisions as it is at the age of 25. Your more impulsive, less likely to properly think through the cause and effect and less likely to consider consequences. Its why young adult men are the most likely group to be arrested. Combine raging hormones with a brain that doesn't do everything we expect it to do and your bound to have mistakes. We consider someone at the age of 18 an adult but reality is your brain is still not functioning at 100%. Its not a myth, its science.

And if you ask me something like fighting for your country should require a higher cutoff age because 18 year olds really can't fully process the consequence of that decision.

Should this kid be punished? Obviously. I never said differently. All I'm saying is odds are this guy wasn't looking to be a malicious sociopath. He thought up this idea, weighed the consequences inaccurately and screwed up.

[Melanie]

Should this kid be punished? Obviously. I never said differently. All I'm saying is odds are this guy wasn't looking to be a malicious sociopath. He thought up this idea, weighed the consequences inaccurately and screwed up.

Agreed!