NEW Policy with MF seatbelts?

Thanks for that link Ralph. I can't believe they have the wrinklies to write something like that last paragraph. That is about the rudest thing I have ever read.

Walt posted a couple of articles in the news section here on Pointbuzz. I found it interesting that the Blade article mentions that there can be no slack on the seat belts. Okay, it's an editorial and I'm going to give the benefit of the doubt and hope that they are correct about that detail. However, if this detail is correct then we've got quite a back and forth going on from CP, et al. over the amount of belt required.

Laura

A good idea could also be have an attendant at the test seat and have them give you a wrist band that you are "ok to ride" if you are able to buckle. to their silly requirements.

They do that for the kiddies with height. They get a wrist band that certifies them a certain height so there not turned away at certain rides because an attendant measures them wrong. Some are comparing this situation to that, so they should accomodate it in the same fashion. Have an official MF fit test and give riders a wrist band. I only say wrist band since a stamp could wash off and a certificate could easily be handed off to another person that does not qualify. That could help a little for now but I still stand behind meself and everyone who feels a train modification is in order to solve this problem for ALL interested parties.

Still hard to believe, I thought when they built MF they considered NO seat belts? Claiming that the lap bar design was all that was needed. It's been 4 years so I cannot remember if that was fact or rumor.

I don't think a wrist band would fly with the bigger guests. People feel humiliated now if they don't fit in the seat, imagine how someone would feel walking around the entire day marked as someone big enough to be borderline.

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Ralph Wiggum said:
An editorial from Monday's Blade praises the park for "not taking any chances with safety" while at the same time blasting fat people for complaining about a problem their habbits created. The last paragraph is particuarly hateful toward overweight people.

Then again, I wouldn't worry about this editorial holding too much water. I haven't met a person yet who wasn't convinced that the Blade's editorial staff is on crack.

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I'm not a fan of editorials in papers that don't post a contact to the author. Especially if it is one of their writers, not a letter to the editor type thing. If you can make the statement, have the balls to be contacted by those that disagree.
I also don't agree with the people who have tried to compare it to the height requirement and saying that they have waited to become tall enough to ride. The height requirement is a black and white issue, either you are over or you are under. Not to mention there isn't a way to check your fit on a seat before purchasing tickets, at least with height you know when buying the tickets which rides you can and cannot ride.

John

Parents are notorious for attempting to cheat the wristband system by removing a band from a child who measured tall enough and placing it on the wrist of another who may be a few inches too short. They then complain when the employee at the ride's entrance refuses to let the child ride because he or she doesn't measure up properly. Employees are told to trust their own measurement over that of a wristband and only use the band as a deciding factor in close-call situations.

Who is to say the same wouldn't happen with a large guest who has his or her friend try the test seat and obtain a wristband for them?

Most wristbands now (the expensive ones) must be broken to be removed. Then, the policy would be, you must have a wristband that is intact to ride. That is also why usually you are not allowed to put the wristband on by yourself. I don't think its easy to "change" it from wrist to wrist.

I like what Rideman said about a freeway pass to Dragster but with the amount of people getting booted from the ride Dragster may be getting to many people with freeway. A freeway pass from MF and the regular freeway stamps would add up after a while. Has Intamin or Cedar Point said anything other than blame the incedent on Superman. How did these millions of people make it on off these rides in the first place. Mystery isn't it??

swimmerkev-

What you would like to think is how things ideally happen and what is actually witnessed in the real world when working at a park are two totally different things.

...and I am still talking about the "expensive" bands that must be broken to pull apart and are usually applied by someone working for the park. *** Edited 5/25/2004 9:48:15 PM UTC by LustyLil***

What I don't get is why did they have to do it to Millennium Force which has had a safe record. The only thing bad that has happend to Millennium Force was that Cable snap back in 2002. Why couldn't they just make the adjustments for Superman? I mean to me that would make more sence than punishing or ruining another Intamin Coaster. I think Intamin should've just messed with the coaster that had the accident not Millennium Force.

...and I have it on good authority that the hoisting cable separation was the fault of that guy with the pink mohawk... :)

(That incident is the reason I always sound my horn when I drive past the service gates on the Perimeter Road. I drove past Millennium Force a few minutes after the incident happened and nearly flattened Dan Keller! That would have been a Bad Thing™ and besides his suspenders would probably have caught on the undercarriage...)

Seriously, there are four roller coasters in the United States that have that particular seat and lap bar design. Three of them are called Superman: Ride of Steel. The fourth is Millennium Force. On Cedar Point's coaster, there are some changes in the seating configuration, but the seats and lap bars are the same as on Superman. In other words, Millennium Force does have a lot in common with the ride that had the accident.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Hey everyone! Long time no see, great looking new website.

I read this entire thread tonight through tear stained cheeks and sweating to death after an hour of vigorous excercise. I understand that my comments here will mirror many others, but I can't help but to express my full opinion. I am a 30 year old mother of two who has been to cedar point and a true blue fan of cedar point and especially millenium force for the past MANY years. I am for the past couple of years what would be considered borderline in the ability to ride, but have never been told that I cant ride, a few close calls though. I take my children with me when I go, and with my daughter just last year meeting height requirements for all CP rides bought a total of 5 CP season passes and averaging at least $150+ per bi-monthly visit to the park in purchases. I live appx 4 hours away from the park and still considered it viable entertainment for my family, until this year. I am a few pounds heavier than last year and knew that I wouldn't get in for any early season rides on MF but now I will be lucky, with hard work and effort if I will be able to ride at all this year. I am 5'3" and in my whole life, since I was in high school I have NEVER worn size 18 or smaller. How fair is it to now tell me or ppl like me that we won't be able to ride? I am simply flabberghasted that I will be unable to share the joys of MF with my son as he attains height requirements and I know for one that this policy will keep me out of the park entirely until I have lost sufficiently to ride with my children. (Even though I know that my regular visits to the point helped me in maintaining my weight) I LOVE these coasters more than any other recreation on the planet, and because of that, I can assure that I will lose as necessary, however I will NOT give CP my money in any way shape or form until then. I hope that CP is prepared for many other people to voice the same opinions, and for a year of record losses.

For those of you small enough to ride I salute you, I for now have only memories of the greatest ride on the planet, and my son and daughter, will have to keep asking when can we go? For that, I will keep you posted, I'm thinking no coaster smiles this year.

If anyone has any suggestions for a more weight friendly park, I would appreciate them. Thanks.

This question just came to my mind. Does anyone believe that Cedar Point will lose some business because of this? My theory is that heavier people will not want to take that chance, and spend $40 to be turned down for rides.

Will Cedar Point lose some business? Obviously it will lose some, but this will be small, very, very small, to the point it will not be measurable. Cedar Point isn't the only park with weight restrictions, all of them have some. So looking for a weight friendly park may not be that easy. I'm not trying to insult anyone, I'm more than likely not going to be able to ride MF. I don't blame Cedar Point, I blame Six Flags. I live in Houston so I'll boycott Six Flags Astroworld. Of course it is such a fine park that even though I am a big park fan, have a large video and book collection, other park collectibles, have an HO scale amusemnt park, am a member of ACE and Napha, I've been there twice in the last fifteen years.

Those shirts sound like a pretty funny idea.
As for a park that accomodates larger people, just look for a park who's signature rides are not made by Intamin. It seems that by far the Intamin restraints are the least accomodating. B&M and Arrow coasters seem to have restraints that are much more friendly to larger riders.

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Chasity Buehrer said:

I am 5'3" and in my whole life, since I was in high school I have NEVER worn size 18 or smaller. How fair is it to now tell me or ppl like me that we won't be able to ride?

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Chasity, your height and build sounds very much like that of the people that have fallen out of Intamin restraints, specifically, the woman in the Perilous Plunge incident. A roller coaster ride isn't worth risking your life on, even if the chances of anything happening to you are small. I don't agree that you are being treated unfairly, the rules are there to ensure that you remain here with us.

In regards to coasternut69, I was having trouble finding the new Millennium Force shirts. Another note too. People who have been turned down from riding I doubt will want to buy a T-shirt. I think they would be too mad at the park.

I was wondering how long it would take before someone came up with a T-shirt. I think I'll get one and hope I don't have to wear it when I get there.

I was reviewing the trip report section and somehow it got me to thinking about all of the "Cedar Point is going to lose a lot of business" and "shareholders should write in stuff".

Here is a typical trip report from us coaster freaks:

"got to the park early made a quick trip to the Raptor, after that went to TTD, had to wait two hours, got a rollback though, went over to the Magnum and rode it twice, then the Gemini, after that went to the MF where the trains were stacked somewhat because of the seat belts, then to the Mean Streak it was riding smoother.....etc.etc."

Now here is a trip report from a customer that Cedar Point is more concerned about losing:

"checked into the Breakers for three nights, kids were screaming for ice cream so had some before going into the park., took the train to Frontiertown where the kids had to eat and then played guess your age a couple of times. Rode the Cedar Creek Mine Ride then walked up the Frontier Trail purchasing many items along the way. Rode the antique cars then on to the Pagoda Gift Shop, kids were tired so back to the hotel where they played in the arcade for an hour trying to win a stuffed dog that costs 49 cents."

Pete,

Thanks for your concern. I however am working toward fitness goals in my life, in the mean time saddened by the fact that what I have always been able to use as a fitness motivational tool, and great leisure activity has been stripped from me. NOT MY FAULT. Also, I have nowhere near enough slack on MF or TTD to come out, never have, never will. I am not of the same oh well philosophy that you seem to be. By the way, what is your size, do you fit this year? Even if I was the same size as last year, I don't like the fact that I have never been turned away before, I have always been safe, so why am I so unsafe now? It really doesn't compute, and sounds very discriminitive to me.

By the way, doesn't it matter that they put him in a seat that had an 11" longer seatbelt than what we have on our coasters at CP? Seems like there are ppl that were looking for a way to discriminate, and have found it.

I will use this, as I previously posted as a reason to change my lifestyle, however this still seems terribly unfair for this to happen in a park that has the safety record that CP has.

I think a better t-shirt idea would either be:

" I rode MF for 4 years before they decided it was not safe for me to ride! "

or something along those lines...

Or even better sadly...

" I already rode MF today, but now later in the day, due to my size which remains unchanged, they won't let me ride it again. "

You get the idea.