Walt Disney World - Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista, FL
Post 2 of 2 - This post will focus on the parks, as well as the shopping/dining area known as Disney Springs.
Before describing the systems, here’s some general information about how the fire alarm systems in Walt Disney World attraction and theater buildings are configured.
These SAE IAV-series strobes are part of the fire alarm system, even though they’re orange. They can be found at the attraction entrance, loading area, and other locations.
In these buildings, if a smoke detector activates, it causes a silent alarm where these orange strobes flash. After a few minutes, the main signals activate. If a second smoke detector activates, the main signals activate immediately. The sequence is only for smoke detectors - if the alarm is activated in any other way (e.g. a manual pull station), the main signals activate immediately. In other buildings at Walt Disney World (e.g. standalone shops/restaurants, resorts, etc…), there are no orange strobes, and any activation causes the main signals to sound immediately.
Here’s a video I found with this setup in action.
Now that I’ve explained this, let’s detail the systems.
General notes:
- Many buildings have similar/identical setups, so I’ll refer to these with type codes.
- Several systems were initially installed with horn/strobes but were later converted to voice-evacuation.
- The best way to tell whether the panel is an MXL or XLS if the system installation date is unknown or ambiguous (early 2000’s) is to check the address labels on initiating devices. The MXL has a limit of 60 peripheral devices per loop. If you see labels like 22-10 (loop 22 device 10), you’re definitely looking at an MXL system. Conversely, if you see labels like 1-107 (loop 1 device 107), you’re definitely looking at an XLS system.
Non-Voice Type 1A
Panel: Siemens FireFinder XLS or Desigo Fire Safety Modular
Pulls: HMS-S’
…and rebranded RSG RMS-1T’s in outdoor areas where present.
Detectors: FirePrints
Signals: Gentex Commander 2 or 3 horn/strobes…
…and the weatherproof version where applicable. (Interestingly enough, I remember reading somewhere that the weatherproof covers were actually designed by Disney!)
Non-Voice Type 1B
Panel: Siemens/Cerberus Pyrotronics MXL
Pulls: MSI-10B’s
Detectors: FirePrints (the MXL-compatible version)
Signals: Gentex Commander 2 horn/strobes
Non-Voice Type 2
Panel: Siemens FireFinder XLS or Desigo Fire Safety Modular
Pulls: HMS-S’
Detectors: FirePrints
Signals: Wheelock ZNS horn/strobes (rebranded)
Non-Voice Type 3
Panel: Siemens FireFinder XLS or Desigo Fire Safety Modular
Pulls: HMS-S’
Detectors: FirePrints
Signals: Wheelock AS horn/strobes and ZRS strobes (rebranded)
Non-Voice Type 4
Panel: Cerberus Pyrotronics MXL
Pulls: MSI-10B’s
Detectors: FirePrints (the MXL-compatible version) and/or ILP-1’s
Signals: MC-series horn/strobes
Non-Voice Type 5
Panel: Cerberus Pyrotronics MXL
Pulls: MSI-10B’s
Detectors: FirePrints (the MXL-compatible version) and/or ILP-1’s
Signals: Gentex SHG horn/strobes
Non-Voice Type 6
Panel: Pyrotronics XL3
Pulls: MSX-2’s
Detectors: PEX-3000’s and/or DI-X3’s
Signals: Wheelock EHS-DL1 horn/strobes
Non-Voice Type 7
Pulls: EST SIGA-278’s
Detectors: SIGA2’s
Signals: Genesis horn/strobes
Voice Type 1A/1B
These use the same panel types and initiating devices as their non-voice counterparts.
Some of these systems were originally non-voice and were retrofitted in the mid-to-late 2010’s. Systems converted to voice before 2018 kept the MXL panels, as evidenced by the evacuation message used.
Signals: Wheelock E50 and E60 speaker/strobes (rebranded)…
…some E50 remote speakers…
…and ET70WP’s outside, where applicable.
Voice Type 2
Panel: Siemens FireFinder XLS or Desigo Fire Safety Modular
Pulls: HMS-S’
Detectors: FirePrints
Signals: Wheelock E70 and E90 speaker/strobes (rebranded)
Voice Type 3
Panel: EST3
Pulls: SIGA-270’s (and rebranded RSG RMS-1T’s in outdoor areas where present)
Detectors: SIGA-PD’s or Signature Opticas
Signals: Genesis speaker/strobes, and Integrity speaker/strobes outside.
Voice Type 4
Pulls: Cerberus Pyrotronics MSI-10B’s
Detectors: ILP-1’s or FirePrints
Signals: MC-series speaker/strobes
Now I’ll explain what can be found where.
Magic Kingdom
Non-Voice Type 1A:
Haunted Mansion
Space Mountain (exception: last portion of exit corridor has Wheelock ZNS horn/strobes)
Splash Mountain (exception: gift shop has an HMS-D pull instead of HMS-S… also: RIP)
Non-Voice Type 1B:
Most buildings in Magic Kingdom that are not specifically mentioned
Voice Type 1A:
All buildings in the “New Fantasyland” area
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Cinderella Castle (well, sort of. Since MXL parts had been discontinued by the time the castle got the voice-evacuation upgrade, the panel was replaced. However, the MXL-compatible initiating devices were kept using the MLC card.)
Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe (however, the adjoining Mickey’s Star Traders gift shop has the Non-Voice Type 1A or 1B setup)
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
The monorail station
Voice Type 1B:
Fantasyland “East” show building (except Winnie the Pooh, which has Wheelock NS horn/strobes and RSS strobes)
Main Street Bakery/Plaza Restaurant
Main Street Confectionery
Town Square Theater
Unique systems:
Fantasyland “West”/Liberty Square show building (Yes, this is all housed in one building. It’s not obvious from a guest’s perspective, but look on Google Maps and you’ll see.)
Panel: Siemens/Cerberus Pyrotronics MXL
Pulls: MSI-10B’s
Detectors: FirePrints (the MXL-compatible version)
Signals: U-MMT-MCS horn/strobes in Mickey’s PhilharMagic, Wheelock E50 speaker/strobes (rebranded) in Peter Pan’s Flight, and E70 speaker/strobes (rebranded) in the Hall of Presidents.
Epcot
Non-Voice Type 1A:
Most buildings in Epcot that are not specifically mentioned
Spaceship Earth (exception: the VIP lounge area has Siemens S-HPMG-MCS speaker/strobes. I found this out via online pictures. No rules were violated in the creation of this post.)
Morocco Pavilion
Non-Voice Type 3:
International Gateway area Guest Relations location
Italy Pavilion
Voice Type 1A:
Connections Cafe/Creations Shop/Club Cool (old Innoventions East building)
Epcot Experience pavilion
Germany pavilion (Except for some shops which have the Non-Voice Type 1A or 2 setup)
Norway pavilion (Except for Akershus which is Non-Voice Type 1A)
The monorail station
The Disney Skyliner gondola station
Voice Type 1B:
Test Track (exception: there are several remote speakers, and there are also some E70’s in the queue. Before the 2012 refurbishment this had Gentex SHG horn/strobes in most areas and SPK4 speaker/strobes in the post-show areas.)
Voice Type 3:
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
Space 220 Restaurant
Unique systems:
France pavilion - old portion e.g. Boulangerie Patisserie
Panel: Siemens System 3 or SXL-EX
Pulls: MS-151’s or MS-51’s
Detectors: PE-11’s
Signals: Wheelock ZNS horn/strobes, along with some MC-series horn/strobes in Les Chefs de France.
Gelateria Toscana (the Italy pavilion’s recently-added ice cream kiosk)
This building’s interior isn’t accessible to guests, so only limited details can be seen from a guest’s view. I’m going to assume this is a Notifier system as a local Notifier distributor’s website states that they were recently awarded their first fire alarm contract for Disney. They mentioned this at the very bottom of a case study for an unrelated project. EPCOT Harmonious Electrical Bonding System | Sciens
Signals: L-Series horn/strobesMission: SPACE
Pulls: EST SIGA-278’s
Detectors: SIGA’s
Signals: Integrity horn/strobes in most areas…
…and Genesis horn/strobes in the gift shop.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Non-Voice Type 1A:
Most buildings in Disney’s Hollywood Studios that are not specifically mentioned. Rock n’ Roller Coaster (which now has this setup) had a rather short-lived MXL system when it first opened in 1999, as in the loading area near the control booth, there’s a gutted MXL annunciator cabinet.
Non-Voice Type 2:
Mickey Shorts Theater
Most of the shops on Sunset Boulevard
Non-Voice Type 3:
Tower of Terror
Non-Voice Type 6:
MuppetVision 3D
Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater/ABC Commissary/BaseLine Tap House (although some of the old EHS-DL1’s have been replaced with Commander 3’s)
Stage 1 Company Store
Voice Type 1A:
The Disney Skyliner gondola station
Star Wars Launch Bay
Non-attraction buildings in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Toy Story Mania
Voice Type 2:
Star Tours
Voice Type 3:
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
Most buildings in Toy Story Land
Unique systems:
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Panel: EST3, located near a service corridor by the first preshow room.
Pulls: SIGA-270’s
Signals: Integrity speaker/strobes in the first half of the queue…
…and a mix of Genesis (wall) and Integrity (ceiling) speaker/stobes in other areas.
The standalone restroom near the bus drop-off area
Pulls: RSG RMS-1T’s rebranded by Edwards
Signals: WG4 horn/strobes and Integrity remote strobes.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Non-Voice Type 1A:
Rainforest Cafe
Non-Voice Type 2:
The standalone restroom in the east end of the Pandora: The World of Avatar area
Non-Voice Type 3:
DINOSAUR (Exception: there are a couple ZNS’)
Non-Voice Type 4:
The standalone restroom near Kali River Rapids
Non-Voice Type 5:
Many of the original buildings in the park (built in 1998), such as guest relations
Voice Type 1A:
Most buildings in the Pandora: The World of Avatar area
Voice Type 4:
Conservation Station (this building has live animals so I’m guessing the signals are speaker/strobes.)
Unique systems:
Expedition Everest
Detectors: Siemens OOHC941’s
Signals: Wheelock Exceder LED speaker/strobes (rebranded), in the queue, along with E60’s in the loading area and ET70WP’s in the ride areas.
Disney Springs
I didn’t spend much time here, so there are some other systems here too.
Non-Voice Type 1A/1B:
Most buildings in areas other than Town Center
Non-Voice Type 2:
Most buildings in the Town Center area and some buildings in other areas
Non-Voice Type 4:
Some of the older buildings in the Marketplace area
Non-Voice Type 7:
Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ Restaurant
Voice Type 1A:
Some buildings with larger occupancy, including some restaurants
Cirque de Soleil
Parking garages (all 3 of them)
Voice Type 3:
Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante/The Edison (Exception: pulls are SIGA-278’s)
Paddlefish Restaurant
Splitsville Luxury Lanes
Voice Type 4:
Rainforest Cafe (there’s also at least one Wheelock E70)
Unique systems:
AMC Theatres
Panel: Simplex 4100
Pulls: 2099-9795’s
Detectors: Older TrueAlarms
Signals: 4904 strobes throughout, and a mix of 4902 and Wheelock E70 speakers, and some 4903 speaker/strobes here and there. An outdoor balcony near one of the entrances has Wheelock WM3T-24 strobes and ET-1010 speakers.Boathouse Restaurant
Panel: Notifier NFS-320 or NFS2-640 (a guess, could be either)
Pulls: NBG-12S’
Detectors: FSP-851’s
Signals: SpectrAlert Advance speaker/strobesT-Rex Cafe
Panel: Siemens FS-250 (there’s an annunciator at the entrance)
Pulls: HMS-S’
Detectors: FirePrints
Signals: SpectrAlert Advance horn/strobes. Very unusual for a Siemens system.