Accessability for rides for the Handicapped!

I have noticed that there are a few rides at Cedar Point that are not accessible for the handicapped.  Corkscrew, Gemini, Iron Dragon, Disaster Transport, and White Water Landing.  I know Cedar Point has many rides that are Handicapped accessable, but why aren't these.

I am not handicapped and don't know of anyone handicapped, but I believe that the handicapped are just as entitled to ride the rides listed above as they do the Mean Streak, Raptor, and Millenium Force.  Some of the rides listed above are tamer then Millenium Force and Mean Streak, so I know it is not the intensity of the ride that mandates handicap entrances and exits. 

Lets face it, if someone in a wheelchair wants to ride Gemini, that person would need to be carried up some steps.  That in my opinion is not right.  I think that everyone has a right to ride rides at amusement parks, even the handicapped.

I just think that Cedar Point should redesign the entrances or exits on these rides so that the handicapped can get on these rides. 

I hate to think that someone in a wheelchair was unable to get on any of the rides listed above, just because there was not enough people there to carry that handicapped person up the stairs onto the ride. 

Yes, this would cost Cedar Point a little bit of money to make these rides handicapped accessible and they should do it. 

If I had a choice to select a new rollercoaster for next year or upgrading the ones they already have to be handicapped accessable, I would choose the handicapped accessible over the new rides.

Does anyone know if Cedar Point plans on doing anything about this in the future?

What are your thoughts about this topic?

I know for a fact that Cedar Point isn't the only park out there like this, I would guesstamate that most of the amusement parks out there have this problem.

I don't know, but I think if anyone should be able to ride all the rides it should be the handicapped, especially since they have much taken away from them already, and that includes Gemini. 

Whitewater Landing has a ramp near the exit for the handicapped to use. There was someone being loaded from their wheelchair into a boat one time when I was in line.

There is a handicap entrance(it may be a special entrance or a special ramp) for every ride. Cedar Point has a VERY GOOD handicap policy... I got walk around with a handicap person while I wrote my book and they were able to ride every ride they wanted. I belive on Raptor there is a wheelchair lift. Just because the entrance or exit is made for the handicap doesn't mean they can't ride... like mention above White Water Landings has a special entrance along with several other ride.

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Andrew Hyde
http://www.experiencethepoint.com
Author- Experience The Point: The Unofficial Guidebook To Cedar Point

*** This post was edited by Andrew on 9/9/2001. ***

There are handicap access gates for all of the coasters, and they don't involve just "carrying the people up the stairs".  The special entrance gates are either ramped, or in some cases they are elevators.  I know that there is an elevator for Mantis... not sure about the others.
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Steuks!!
VertiGo flights: 4
MF: 28

*** This post was edited by Majin Heero on 9/9/2001. ***

I went with someone in a wheelchair, I should know.  Mantis and Raptor both have elevators. Umm MF doesn't even have any steps anyways.

Yes, tell me how someone with a handicap gets on to the platform of the Gemini, Corkscrew, Disaster Transport, or Iron Dragon.  There isn't anyway.  I know there is an elevator for Mantis and Raptor, and that I missed the one for White Water Landing.  There is no special ramp what-so-ever for the other rides listed

Why?

All of those coasters were pre-1987, so special access laws may not have been in effect at that time. I do agree it would be easier for those unfortunate if they did install ramps on these rides. Just because a person is in a wheelchair dose not mean that can't stand at all though. Usually someone in there party helps them along. I don''t know if installing ramps would be worth it because as stated above, they still do get on the rides
Just to note, Gemini has a ramp on the side were you enter towards the front of the train.
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2001 Force-130   Magnum-402
Gemini- at least 100
"MF has broken down and still hasn't been fixed, consider kicking Joe out of the park"

*** This post was edited by Joe E. on 9/9/2001. ***

Just Coasting, some people with a handicap cannot ride the ride unless the can stand up. Trust me there is a way(if not there is a process for the ops to do) to get someone who cannot walk on to the ride. If you are really concerned about accessibility for the handicapped you should pick up the special guide on the subject... I will dig it my out of my achieves and I try to answer your questions(since it explains how to get on each ride).

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Andrew Hyde
http://www.experiencethepoint.com
Author- Experience The Point: The Unofficial Guidebook To Cedar Point

*** This post was edited by Andrew on 9/9/2001. ***

Also, keep in mind, anyone with any type of physical handicap does not necessarily "deserve" a ride on any particular ride at CP. As long time members of this site have heard me rant before..EACH AND EVERY ride at CP is "tested" by experts(and I don't mean people who play RCT for a living), to analyze the necessary phyiscal characteristics of each rider.

This infomation is then used to determine the availability of any ride to any guest.

For example a person with a single arm amuptee has a much greater ride availability than a person with a single arm cast. Why, because the person with the single arm amputee has "learned" to handle the ailment. While I don't know the current standards for ride availability I would venture to guess a rider of a coaster must be able to walk down from a lift hill if necessary. If a rider can't walk up the enterance, how can he/she walk down a lift hill?

The guidelines established are not meant to stop "physically challenged" riders as much as the guidelines are set to insure the SAFETY of ALL riders.

I've noticed one rule on some of the rides is if you have one arm in a cast you must have a sling.

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2001 Force- 130  Magnum-402
Gemini- at least 100
"MF has broken down and still hasn't been fixed, consider kicking Joe out of the park"

On Magnum, an arm cast is not allowed to go past the elbow.  In other words, you must be able to bend your arm in order to ride.  People with full-arm casts are supposed to be turned away at entrance.  Sometimes, they sneak through, and are caught at turnstiles or on the platform, or maybe not at all.  That's what the rule is there though.

I also agree with OTT.  Not being able to navigate stairs would seem to present a problem if there were to be a walkdown or something like that.  CP does its best to be accomidating to people with disabilities.  I'm sure those elevators on Raptor and Mantis cost a lot of extra money and they are there specifically for special access.

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-Matt
2001 Magnum Crew

I was wondering about this myself.  I look at a lot of rides at CP and you have to go up stairs to get to them.  At some other theme parks like Universal and Disney, it's all mainly ramps.  MF is obviously handicapped accessible with the ramps.