48" height when did it change?

What year did MF go to the lower 48" height requirement? Were the belts shorten then for the first time?

The height requirement went to 48" after the 2000 season.

What was it before?

The requirement was 54" for the ride's first season.

Are you sure that is was 54" Walt? I was positive that it was 52" I suppose i could be wrong though. You would probally know better then I would. If I am wrong what was 52" I know there was one that stood alone.

Personally, I don't understand why they changed it. A lot of 48" (read: 4 feet tall) youngins are probably too terrified to ride. I mean, it's not like it would decrease ridership dramatically. I was tall enough to ride Raptor at it's 54" height requirement the year it opened when I was only 9.

^Before (I know this for a fact) it was 54 inches. That seems like a major height change, how come they discovered that they could put the height at 48 inches?

Power Tower and Top Thrill Dragster are both 52".

Alright my mistake. After a little checking I realized that it was Wicked Twister that has a 52" height requierment. I knew that there was one on the board that was apart from the others. Why would Dragster not be the same as Millennium Force I wonder? Is the difference in the seats that dramatic?
*** Edited 6/2/2005 7:37:45 PM UTC by Phil Bernard***

Millennium Force opened with a green candy-cane (54"). My understanding was that the "freak-out factor" was a big part of the decision to go with the higher height requirement (the three Supermen all opened with a 48" height requirement).

Also, my understanding is that they actually dropped the height requirement at the end of the 2000 season. I don't remember if they actually did, but I remember hearing that the plan was to go with 48" in time for Millennium Mania.

It was most definitely 48" for the 2001 season, though. And no, they didn't shorten the seat belts that season, or if they did, it wasn't a significant change. They DID change the seats a little for 2001, but again it wasn't a huge change.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I remember a lot of talk about a change by Millennium Mania, but I don't think it happened. There's probably an old thead around here .... yep.

Millennium Mania....those were the days.

I immagine Power Tower, MaxAir and Wicked Twister will always stay at 52" due to the OTSR systems on the rides. Is that sound logic?

CPL

Dragster will probably always be 52'' because of how much of a freak out factor that has. There would be a lot more little kids getting off the ride slowing it down.

My little brother is 6, and he is just tall enough to ride Millennium and the ride doesnt phase him one bit, he loves it and wants to go on Dragster too.

my first ride on MF was with my 7 year old neice. It was her second ride. She loves it and had gone on Dragster when she was 8. I see no reason to have the height requirement any higher than 48" on MF. Let's face it, the scariest part about your first ride is BEFORE you actually ride.

Yes, well, remember that the height requirement on Millennium Force was set at 54" BEFORE they knew that they had built the World's Tallest Kiddie Coaster. :)

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I have an original "ticket to ride" pass from opening year for Millennium Force and it states; "Height requirement of 54 inches to ride."

Why did it change?

I think the manufacturer and CP were playing it safe on the height requirement, after all, MF was the FIRST coaster to go 90+ mph, 300+ feet tall. Plus to be able to unload on the lift hill into a cart if need be was a bit uneasy. I imagine they were doing it to be safe but after studying it a bit, they decided to drop the 54 inch height and make it 48 inch.

I guess that's what happens when you set the standards for roller coasters! lol