Loose Article Policies

With SFOT instating a no loose article policy (in line) on several of their most popular coasters for their upcoming season it got me thinking, so what are peoples' opinions on Cedar Point returning to their old policies? I started working at the Point in 2006, which (from what I head) was right after a lot of the coasters in the park began to let guests come in line with loose articles. Millennium Force and Dragster still don't allow loose articles in line (obviously because of the separate load/unload stations) It makes total sense for some coasters to have this policy reinstated: Raptor, Magnum, Mantis, Maverick to name some. It is next to impossible for some rides (Raptor especially) to hit their interval when loose articles are allowed in line. These rides are popular enough, and have long enough lines that I think it would be worth it to make the lines move as fast as possible. Any thoughts?

I think the key to solving the issue would be to offer free lockers, much like Universal does.

Guest reaction played a big part. People really didn't like the idea of having to leave all their things in a locker. To a certain extent, I can't blame them. The lockers aren't always in the most convenient locations, especially the all-day lockers. Basically, it forced the guests to either be seperated from their belongings by a potentially large distance, or pay $1 for a locker for each (or most) major rides (and then still possibly not be very close to their stuff).

I'm not saying the policy, in and of itself, was a terrible idea. It definitely led to faster dispatches, greater capacity, less station clutter, and fewer incidents of lost, damaged, or stolen property. It's the logistics that need to be improved in order for it to be feasible...for example, using a magnetic card to access any of the "one time use" lockers in the park for a flat fee and/or installing a bank of lockers at the entrance to each major ride.

I miss the no loose articles policy. Having the bins on the platform not only hurts capacity but creates an unnecessary traffic jam when unloading. I never carry anything on me in the park anyway so the policy really had no effect on me.

I think I've made it known many times that people are out of control with all of the crap they "need" to carry around. It annoys me to no end. It's like they take on the baby mentality, caring around everything their toddler might need in a day. It's ridiculous. Somehow I manage to get through a day with my wallet, keys and phone. Ditto for every woman I've been married to or dated.

It does make the lines longer, and it annoys me.

That said, I'm all for Universal style free lockers.

The thing is that if SF parks are starting to do it - Universal does it, Busch does it... why not the park that takes such great pride in being the best capacity park in the world? It makes little sense to me. If people complain that the lockers are too far away or that they don't want to pay that much to do it, then adjust some things - add more lockers closer by - make the first hour free. It's like they try one thing, and it doesn't work and some people complain, but they don't try to fix it and just get rid of it altogether.

^^ And are we sure that Raptor has always allowed loose articles? I head from several employees in the two years that I've worked there that Raptor used to have it instated.

And there was never a problem the first ten years of operation.... its the gosh darned bins that drive me batty.

Free lockers would be fabulous. Unfortunately I dont see it happening in the near future.

Why offer free bins, Jeff, because they hate money?

Are you allowed to use cameras while in line?

The guests are completely out of control......everyone wears back packs anymore....why?
When I go to an amusement park I leave my sh*^ in the car and keep my phone, keys, small camera and wallet in my cargo pockets. That seems to work for me and I don't know why it won't work for others.

I thought it was great when CP decided to have that no loose article policy, we were loading faster because all the sh*^ was being caught at the entrance. Not to mention, it was a lot safer for the guests also.

The bins on the platforms slowed the operation down all across the board. According to Oz there is more stealing going on also because of those platform bins. I vote for no platform bins and no loose articles in line for 2008. As a guest I will be more than happy to comply because the lines will move quicker.

PKevin2004 said:
From 1994 to mid season 2004, the policy was the same as it is currently. Mid season 2004 - mid season 2005 was no loose articles in line at all. Now its back to loose articles in line, but in the bins.

And the reason they don't add universal-type lockers - $$$.

Back before 2004 (I think that was about the time frame) they allowed loose articles on the coasters. I would regularly carry a small back pack with water bottle, snacks, wallet, hair brush, etc and take it on every single ride I went on. I would either loop my arm thru the strap and wedge it between me and the harness (for open floor rides) or loop my leg thru the strap and put it on the floor. I never was sneeky about it, I just did it and never had it questioned by a ride op.

That could be why in the past allowing loose articles in the line still didn't affect load times but now it does. Now you've got to scramble of people getting to the bins and then going back to their seats combined with ride ops having to play loose article police before letting a train go.

When they required all loose articles go in bins I stopped bringing the bag into the park. I would be all for not allowing any loose articles into the lines again. People would eventually adapt although having convienent all day lockers or locker passes would help.

I just don't get it why some people, especially teenagers, HAVE to bring their entire house and bathroom vanity with them to the park shoved into a huge backpack. And the moms with babies who lug the whole baby department store with them and push those huge strollers the size of trucks around the midways and run over people's feet. I'm a girl and I can get along fine without taking all my makeup, shampoo, lotion, 20 purses, brushes, pretty lip glosses, 10 cell phones, coin purses, hair dryer, etc, etc, etc.

^ Crazy new loading procedures??? Do tell... however, I am very afraid. So afraid...

Some rides, however, I mean give me a break - Mine Ride... let people take their crap on with them. There is no reason for loose article bins for Mine Ride. If you can do it on Disaster Transport and Iron Dragon, then why not? Blue Streak, Mean Streak and Gemini are three more coasters that I see no reason why people can't bring their crap on with them. They're NOT going to fall out - PERIOD. Maybe this is just my mindset now that I've worked at Disney and spent a semester at Rock 'n' Rollercoaster where you have to take everything on with you - backpacks... everything. And guess how many people lost their valuables? ZERO. When I was at unload and a guest came to me and said that they lost something, I would always look in the bottom of the car... and there it was! Nobody lost anything the entire time I was there, except for hats on the launch. To some extent I feel the same way about Corkscrew, but that bunnyhop before the loop is pretty powerful.

The other side of the spectrum, however... Mantis obviously no loose articles because where are you going to put them? People would lose 30 backpacks a day if they were allowed on Maverick. I also wouldn't feel good about guests bringing their stuff on Raptor. Magnum is probably out of the question, although you used to be allowed to bring everything on with you... I don't know how often guests lost items, though (probably pretty frequently considering the number of cell phones I found every day on track walks lol ). The best answer for these rides are lockers.

Rider said:
Fun Fact: Only one coaster in the park INSISTS you take all your things on the ride: Disaster Transport.

Doesn't Iron Dragon also insist you take all your belongings as well?

I dont know, you're the one who worked there. :)At least at Iron Dragon you aren't left with an awkward situation where the guests will never see the things they left again.

When you start saying that loose articles can be brought on this, this, and this... but not this or this I think people will get more frustrated. Just instate a no loose articles on anything.

Any coaster with any airtime and/or loops should not allow loose articles. They will fall out, DT, ID, and the Mine Train is probably the only coasters I would consider allowing loose articles on.

^but then you're counting on what a lot of guests leave at the gate: common sense..

The issue of free lockers for CP seems to be the same problem they tend to have when it comes to spending money on anything that doesn't have a profeit attached to it. They are the greatest amusement park in the world without it. So why spend the money? Do I think they should have it? Yes, I think if they had free lockers they would see an increase in guest spending in the Merch. and Games departments. I have worked in the games department for the past 2 seasons and one of the biggest reasons people won't play is because they don't want to pay for a locker. So offer a free locker while in line and people will be less inclined to think about where they are going to take it while on the ride.

They are the greatest amusement park in the world without it. So why spend the money?

Just because they are already the greatest amusement park in the world, doesn't mean they can't improve on anything.