New Iron Dragon Height Requirement

Captain Bob said:
Bob and Zoë think that Kylah rocks. Zoë will be writing a letter as well.

Kevin and Kylah think Zoe rocks (sorry, not sure how to get the umlaut on there).

I would encourage all of you with kids to send them.

In the words of Ghandi, "be the change you wish to see at Cedar Point".

Oh I am the change that I wish to see at CP - I have been sending in a letter per day asking them to increase the height for ID to 48". Guess my work is done.

Just kidding.

For a park that has been lacking all-inclusive family rides, and seemed to be slowing making a step in the right direction with new attractions this year... this is indeed a head scratching decision.

You want a real head-scratcher? Check out the seat belts on Diamondback down at Kings Island.

Oh, and when they say they're going to have belts on all rides, ask why they were removed from two coasters last year.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

"Inconsistency of Operations".

I just wanted to comment in regards to some of the changes on Magnum XL 200. Due to the design of the station and the close proximity of ride attendants to moving trains, there were incidents where guests in the train would grab a ride attendant as the train was dispatching. Out of concern that a ride attendant would be injured or dragged, they now stand on the red dots clear of the train. As well, it kind of brings it into consistency with how other coasters operate (ie. standing in a safe zone) so there is that too.

I do agree that the front load side standing behind the pillar was kind of crazy, not sure if that is still the safe zone for that position or has been changed.

Btw, the main entrance signs list Iron Dragon at 46. This does not surprise me.

That is funny in a bad way.

CoasterFan83 said:
For a park that has been lacking all-inclusive family rides, and seemed to be slowing making a step in the right direction with new attractions this year... this is indeed a head scratching decision.

I couldn't agree with this anymore. It's still very disappointing and I wish they would reconsider this decision.

I know how the parents of the 46" kids feel, only my 5 year old isn't into the big coasters yet, but he's already planning on riding the Bumper Boats that were on the Gemini Midway. I have to find a way to break it to him easy that they are gone. He's even built a cardboard boat to practice riding in. (But I totally understand why the ride is gone)

A Cedar Point employee (who shall remain nameless) shared a perspective I had not yet thought about with Iron Dragon.

As many of you know, the price goes up at 48" (from junior to senior) because of all the new things a child can do.

This year, with the addition of Pipe Scream and L. E. Eagles , there are two more rides someone under this height can do.

What if the illogical jump in height requirement has something to do with kids paying only a "junior ticket price"? That is, the height was increased to make Iron Dragon something only someone paying a more premium ticket or season-pass price can do? The park used to have "X" number of rides for junior ticket/pass holders, and now that they added two more rides, they eliminated Iron Dragon?

I am in no way saying this is the reason, but it sure makes a lot more sense to me than "consistency of operations", which makes no sense at all. Don't get me wrong, it would still be a terrible reason, but at least it provides a "reason".

That doesn't actually make sense, because a 44" kid is still 44" even if they enter the park on an adult ticket.

The funny thing is, it actually made sense to my brain for a moment as we discussed this, and now it does not.

So what you're saying is that it still doesn't make sense?

:)

4 days at the park with the kiddos apparently drains my reasoning.

Never mind. Nothing to see here folks...

I have to wonder if ID's height requirement was originally 42" back in the day. Anyone here able to confirm/deny what it was at opening?

I'd bet if Ninja is 42" and BBW was 42" at closing, 42" is most likely the height requirement set by Arrow. CF is notorious for having the highest requirments in the industry.

I was thinking about Top Gun/The Bat and thinking how unlikely it is that Paramount actually had it set at 48". Was thinking CF probably bumped it up. Does anyone know what it was under Paramount?

Same thing goes for Mine Ride, I'm pretty sure all non CF Arrow Mine Trains are either 42" or 36" (Hersheypark).

Having recently been to the park with a child over 48" and one under 48" it's tough to find much to do as a family. And even harder to do things in certain areas such as Frontier Town. Where if the older one wants to ride, the younger one can't do anything besides the Antique Cars.

Now back in the day in this area we would have at least had WWL to ride together, but now that's gone and everything new back there is 48" or higher.

Also greatly missed is PWE and Space Spiral. The Flyers and Pipe Scream are a step in the right direction, but the park still needs some quality family rides. Sally Dark ride maybe? Or just lower the requirements on some of what would be "family coasters" at most other parks like ID and Mine Ride.

Honestly at this point, I wouldn't bother with CP with kids under 48". HP and KW have a lot more "family stuff" Heck at 42" a kid can ride 3 major coasters at HP, but can't ride any at CP.

scraperguy99 said:

I was thinking about Top Gun/The Bat and thinking how unlikely it is that Paramount actually had it set at 48". Was thinking CF probably bumped it up. Does anyone know what it was under Paramount?

I was curious about this too.. used the Internet Wayback Machine and viewed pki.com in 2001:

http://web.archive.org/web/20010801151258/http://www.pki.com/visit_height.jsp

Top Gun is at 48"

Thank you, great work there! Surprised about TopGun...but then again it is more intense than ID and even BBW.

Also of intrest is Racer and Adventure Express were 44".

I also think Blue Streak is another ride that could have it's requirement lowered. Should be 46" tops.

After digging through my "archives" and other sites, I'm definitely able to confirm (via CP's 1987 Park guide) that ID's original opening year height requirement was 48" tall; but..the very next year (1988) it was lowered to 46".
Look at the "children must be this tall" section by maps. Here's some links for verification:
http://www.rollercoasterfreak.com/CP_Brochures/1987_pg_map.jpg
And the lowered height starting in 1988-2013:
http://www.rollercoasterfreak.com/CP_Brochures/1988_pg_mapoverview.jpg

Hope that helps!
ps: Thanks Jason H. for keeping this stuff available!

Wow, I'm surprised it was 48" on Blue Streak, Mine Ride, Wildcat and others back in the 80's. I guess Cedar Point has always been more strict on this than just about anywhere else.

Blue Streak's restraints were much different back in the 80's so on that particular ride I can see why it would have been higher then.

I find it more interesting that Witches Wheel went from 46 to the current 54 inches.

We did find it funny when our first reached 54. Hey, you can now ride Raptor, Mantis and.....WITCHES WHEEL WOO HOO!