2006 Getaway Guide Pictures...

Has anyone else noticed that EVERYONE in the pictures of the 2006 Getaway Guide has their hands firmly on the ride handles? Its obvious that all these pictures were "staged", since I've never seen that in person.

I was checking out the online guide to see if the coupons were in there and that's what I first noticed while scanning through the thing.

Obviously that's done for legal reasons, but its interesting to say the least.

That is the "official" riding position. Technically, putting your hands up is illegal, although its rarely enforced.

I have noticed this for the last several years. Ride On = Hold On.

I have no problem with that.

MrScott

They also do this so there are no faces blocked in the picture. I know thats what they do when filming commercials.

I haven't checked every picture online, but it looks like they all have the same thing. That's very comprehensive on their part. I wonder if all of their parks are like this?

JuggaLotus said:
That is the "official" riding position. Technically, putting your hands up is illegal, although its rarely enforced.

Rarely? I've never seen it enforced myself. Has there been an instance where you have, John? Kinda curious.

I said rarely because I figured if I said never then someone would come on with a time that it has been. Plus, if you hit your hand on something (like I have on DT with arms straight up) there's nothing you can do because the rules, and therefore Ohio law, say you have to hold tight to the grab bar.

And I have a pretty good feeling that "blocking peoples faces" is not near the top of the list for why hands are down during commercial shoots.

*** Edited 5/26/2006 4:40:52 PM UTC by JuggaLotus***

Putting your hands up is the oldest coaster tradition in the book and I dont think some rules will stop anyone. I wonder if anyone has ever falled uff for having their hands up. I dont see any saftey reason for holding them down.

The safety reason is what Juggalotus mentioned above with regard to hitting his hand on DT. Though, John is tall, so it serves him right.

;)

I only put my hands down during the turn around for MF and the head chopper on Gemini. Actually, I duck on Gemini.

Chicken. ;)

Well, since the safety spiel says "keep your arms and legs inside the train at all times", I'll take the word of the company that owns and operates roller coasters.

does anyone know where they get the people who are pictured in the guide? are they employees or family members of employees? the old guy in the front seat of the jr. gemini and in the peanuts 500 car cracks me up, id love to get my pic taken with him in the park. hes better than mr. six!

Back in '94 you had to "audition" month's before the park opened for that season's television commercials. They paid us for a day's work as CP employees. Now I understand they just use regular CP employees who are off for the day and want to make a little extra $$. I have also been used for brochure/ marketing photos and they instructed us to hold onto the restraints during the entire ride. They're not going to use photos to market the park with everyone breaking the ride policy rules. It also just "looks" better with everyone's hands down and on the restraints.

Cedar Point.com
Face forward and remain seated in an upright position with your back and shoulders against the seat back and hold on until the ride comes to a complete stop.

Cedar Point.com
Section 1711.551 of the Revised Code requires that riders must obey all warnings and directions regarding rides and behave in a manner that will not cause or contribute to injury to themselves or others. Failure to comply is a misdemeanor.

*** Edited 5/26/2006 5:53:52 PM UTC by JuggaLotus***

They used employees to shoot the Skyhawk commercial this year. The millennium force picture you see in EVERYTHING the park put out this year was shot last May. It features Pointbuzz's own Tony. I believe they were hand chosen by Marketing.

I know Betsy (I forget her Pointbuzz name) is still featured in a lot of pictures for the park, and she took those in '99 while she was an employee on a day they were taking pictures.

It's completely a liability issue. They can't tell you to hold on and then have promotions where the riders are not following the rules. It's been like this for a long time, and you'll see it in every ride photo the park puts out.

The park even puts it in their jingles....

"You WANNA, You GOTTA, You HAVE TO HOLD ON.....Cedar Point, HOLD ON!"

I don't know about the "wanna" part... but other than that, it seems as though we have to hold on... ;)

If they were to seriously enforce the rule, imagine how many people would be kicked out of the park......or whatever they do as punishment. :)

Their just protecting themselves... who can blame them for it.... :)