NEW Policy with MF seatbelts?

I suspect that it's a matter of time before CP gets this fixed. I'm willing to bet that it's high on the list of priorities, as it's undoubtedly going to cost them a great deal of money to not fix it.

That said, it's going to be some of my money that it will cost them. Right now, my June 26-29 trip is hanging on whether or not this problem is solved by June 19. And it's not just me, but it's a block of 6-7 rooms at the Breakers and 30 or so of my family members also considering making alternate plans. And, as has been said - that's before the story hits the general public.

Despite the distance, there haven't been many summers that I've not made the trip. But I don't go to CP to ride the Carousel and the Sky Ride.

If this can be fixed, it will be. I hope it's before I decide to take my money to Kennywood. Or Hersheypark. Or Knoebels. Or Busch Gardens. Or Kings Dominion. Or King's Island. Or Holiday World. You get the idea. I hope CF does.

I hope it isn't a "matter of time" before this is fixed. I don't want to see the park in June when it is inundated with guests ignorant of this topic (or informed poorly due to misleading/just-plain-bad newscasts). The lines/stacking on Millie will inevitably become worse, the line of people waiting to complain will be a mile long, etc etc...

I'm somewhat relieved to find through the latest new articles this policy was in effect on Opening Day. My coasterbud was able to ride then, and should be able to continue to ride.

BUT, if she gets turned away on our next trip, I will be at park op complaining. A difference between last season and this season is one thing. A difference between a couple weeks when it's been stated this policy was in effect on May 8 is an entirely different situation.

More from The Plain Dealer.

Note that it wasn't me that said "don't mess with my ride." I was just summarizing the feeling of you people. :)

... And by that Jeff we do appreciate.

I don't really like those kind of articles because they seem to fail to mention (or they make it unclear) that some riders who could ride Millennium last year are now no longer able...Or that some riders have both been able to ride and turned away in the same day this year (under the new policy).

Article from The Toledo Blade. I made a very clear mention of people who could ride before not being able to ride now.

-Chris Woodard *** Edited 5/21/2004 3:05:38 PM UTC by Ralph Wiggum***

I am someone who may very wel be affected by the new policy. I rode last year, and the belt buckled easily. I'm sure I had an inch or better of slack, but if they have repositioned the belts this year- who knows?

The coment about them doing it so the belt is held by the adjuster rather than by the stitching at the end of the belt DOES make sense. What once seemed totally assinine now does make sense to me

However, if that IS indeed the case, then safety vs rider size has NOT changed. It's not so much a case of rider size, but rather a case of belt length. The fact that belt length from seat to seat is not consistent tends to back this thought up. It's starting to sound to me like they need to make belts just a bit longer, and then the people who rode in the past (assuming their size has not changed) will still be able to ride.

I DO think CP is dropping the ball on this one, though. As I said, the reasons for the rule now are sensible to me, but CP needs to communicate this better to it's guests. They also need to address the problem to avoid the stacking problems they are having.

I realize that Intamin is a European company, but they're not stupid. They should realize that their product is sold more in the US than any other country, (I am assuming) and therefore, they should tailor it to fit this audience.

I'm guessing a better solution is in the works. CP took some flak in the PR department last year with the unreliability of Intmin's TTD. I imagine that they are probably leaning on Intamin pretty hard about now. But, Cedar Fair could make a lot of people happy by letting us know about this.

As for me, I am currently very undecided about this year's trip. Do I go to CP and risk not being able to ride one of my 2 favoritre rides there, or do I take my money elsewhere? It's been 7 years since i went to PKI, and that WAS where I learned to love coasters. Also, PKI would be cheaper than CP for me. I could even work in a trip to HW or IB, too. Decisions, decisions

Let's sum up:

Some say the belts are exactly the same as last year and some say they have been changed, with most media reporting (for what that's worth) that CP says the belts are changed.

Some are insulted or embarassed or outraged and some say safety above all.

Some say that the big fat lamos should go on a diet or be skinny like "me" and this is an inditement on American society.

Some are saying they will boycott CP while others say there are still a "billion" things to do there.

Some are saying they will use this as motivation to lose weight.

Some question the physics of one inch of seat belt slack be any safer than no slack.

Basically a lot of bad feelings, with two questions remaining: A. Will Cedar Point change this policy or make engineering adjusments? B. And who do we blame?

A. It may not be soon enough but I think that the CP will get with Intamin and make some sort of adjustment.

B. Six Flags, who have no problem at all screwing up their own pakrs, but looks like they found a way to screw up part of ours.

Who is this Sanderson person from ACE? She seems like a real peach! (sarcasm). I'am assuming she is still able to ride MF which makes it easy to dismiss those that cannot. Yeah, there are alot of other things to do at CP and I have done them all. My main reason for continuing to go there is MF (plus I would like to try Dragster) and I know alot of others share that opinion. Its a very odd statement coming from a coaster enthusiest. To me, it looks like she is towing the corporate line in order to suck up to CP. I could be wrong, just an observation. I do applaud Jeff (I wasnt last year LOL) for speaking his mind on this and not going with the fanboy, corporate line approach.

I think the major issue is that people that could ride for the last 3 years, suddenly cant and its a significant percent of CP's customers. That is what is causing this problem. If what they are saying about the slack rule is true, they can correct the problem by making the belt a little longer. That is an easy, quick fix. So why is it not being done?

The BIGGEST issue isn't that people could ride for the past three years and suddenly can't.

The biggest issue is that people can ride in the morning and can't in the afternoon because there is no consistency.

Why is the seat belt on the test seat apparently longer than the belts on the ride?

If there is a specific dead-end length requirement (it isn't really "slack"; "slack" means the belt is loose, which you DON'T want...) then why is the belt not marked in some way so that there is no judgement call on the part of the operator?

These are things that could be fixed very quickly, very easily, for little or no cost. Eliminate the problem of people getting completely secured in the ride and then turned away, and a number of the complaints will go away.

The other issue is that someone who sits in the test seat and is OK, then waits in line, sits in the train, fastens the belt, pulls the lap bar down, and is then told he's too big to ride...that person ought to be compensated somehow. How about an 'instant freeway' pass for TTD or something to make up for wasting time in the Millennium Force queue?

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

But if they fix the consistency issue, there are still questions:

1) Why does Intamin seem to have a problem with this, but other manufacturers don't? (tighter restraints on Wicked Twister vs. Raptor, lack of rider ejection problems on B&M or Arrow coasters)

2) Is Intamin saying that those who could ride last year, but can't now, were unsafe last year?

*** Edited 5/21/2004 4:06:52 PM UTC by Walt***

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RideMan said:
The BIGGEST issue isn't that people could ride for the past three years and suddenly can't.

The biggest issue is that people can ride in the morning and can't in the afternoon because there is no consistency.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

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Hey, its the major issue for me. I was never even concerned whether or not I could ride previously. Now I'am. Most of the people that have commented on this thread havent even been to CP yet this year. So, based on the people here, I think it is the major issue. If I could never ride it previously, I wouldnt expect to be able to now. So i think my point is a major issue. It may not be the only one, but from a PR perspective it certainly is. To just dismiss it entirely is ridiculous. What you are saying is true also and is bad. But I dont think its anymore significant than my point.

Ride Man, I did go into detail with the Blade reporter about how people who rode in the morning couldn't ride in the afternoon due to inconsitancy amongst the ride ops with this policy. However, it didn't end up in the article.

-Chris Woodard

I'm new to the "buzz". I have not been to CP for a least 3 years now. I had no problem riding anything. I'm thinner now than I was 3 years ago. I'm planning on make the trip this year, but I'm now having second thoughts. I really don't want to spend all that money to go if I can't ride anything. I know if I'm feel this way, you can bet there is alot of other people thinking the same thing.
CP is cutting their throats! I forsee for the first time in a long time a drop in revenue for cedar fair. This new requirement should be made public and posted on the website for Cedar Point. Is it not false advertising to get a person into the park, collect the admission and then say "sorry you are to big to ride". Yes there are lots of other things to do, but what does Cedar Point market themselves as, "rollercoaster capital of the world". That IS the draw to the park, period!! I sorry, tell if I'm wrong, but I smell class action lawsuit by seasons end!

Does anyone else see potential problems with riders going up the exit and seeing if they can fit on the ride?

I'd like to try this, especially if the test seat isn't accurate but frankly, I'd be too embarassed.

People are supposed to go up the exit and expect the ride ops and all the people waiting in line to have patience and be understanding? Why do I feel like this will contribute to longer waits and more humiliation?

Sanderson is just giving the ACE party line of safety first. This is a big issue after someone (I think an ACE member) fell out of a coaster because she was standing.

I won't be selling my Cedar Fair stock just yet, not being able to ride one or two rides won't stop 99.9999% of the people from going to Cedar Point. I still go after they closed down the Surf Lounge!

e- You can bet that I'll be marching up the exit to try out the TRAIN seat. I feel the test seats are totally pointless if they aren't accurate. Had the same problem on Wicked Twister last year. Hopped into the test seat, pulled down the restraint, buckled the belt, no problem. Got into the station, pulled down the restraint, and BARELY got the buckle snapped. It was a really tight fit! Of course I later found that I should just lose the sweatshirt before I get on, but thats another solution for another ride. ANYWAY. I'll be the leader of the parade up the exit ramp if anyone feels too embarrassed to try it out themselves. Beats waiting 90 minutes only to be turned away...

It's interesting reading this thread and looking at the spin people put on things. Some people are saying they won't go because they can't ride ANYTHING. Let's not forget that only MF has new restraint requirements, even Dragster is the same as last year.

Based on riding MF about six times this year, my thoughts on the issue are that if you had a very tight seatbelt fit last year, then you probably won't be able to ride. But, if you didn't have to suck it in last year to buckle the seatbelt, you will probably fit this year by yanking hard on the strap and sucking it in a little. Butt and thigh size plays a much bigger part in this than waist size, from what I've seen.

I don't think the seatbelt length or even the position has changed much if at all, it's the requirement to pull the belt tight an inch that gives some people problems.

im a 38 to a 40 can i still ride