Walt Disney World recently introduced a new line of exclusive Starbucks mugs that are designed to represent the different theme parks. They just hit store shelves within the last week, but the Epcot Starbucks mug has already been pulled and it was all due to the design of it, which included a Monorail with a purple stripe.
It isn’t that Disney doesn’t like the purple Monorail, but there is a tragic story associated with it.
As My News 13 reported, Disney’s Monorail Purple was officially retired after it was involved in a fatal crash with Monorail Pink back in 2009. That crash led to the death of 21-year-old Austin Wuennenberg, who was piloting the purple monorail.
Since then, both of those monorails were pulled from the fleet and officially retired.
When Disney introduced their new line of Starbucks mugs about a week ago, they had designs for all four Walt Disney World parks and the two out in California. A tumbler and travel mug were also introduced, per the Orlando Sentinel .
The mugs are all part of the “You Are Here” Collection from Starbucks that showcases locations around the world. Once Disney introduced Starbucks into their parks over the last two years, it was only a matter of time until they got mugs of their own.
Epcot’s Starbucks mug design features the main icon of the park in the Spaceship Earth attraction. There are numerous other Epcot landmarks featured, such as the Japan Pavilion, the Land, and the France pavilion.
There was also the Monorail going along the bottom of the mug. It may not have intentionally been Monorail Purple that was to be featured on the mug, but the color scheme of it had things turn out that way, as with the other parks.
Disney has indeed confirmed that this is the reasoning for pulling the Epcot Starbucks mug off of shelves. It is expected to be redone, but a date for it to be released again has not yet been announced.
Ever since the retirement of Monorail Pink and Monorail Purple from the 12-train fleet in 2009, Disney has had Monorail Peach and Monorail Teal run in their places. A number of new safety features have also been added to the trains, docking platforms, and beams.
For those that will be visiting Walt Disney World soon and wishing to get the Epcot Starbucks mug, you will have to simply wait a bit longer. You could also try ordering it online once it is released again.
[Images via Amazon/ Orlando Parks News ]