No cell phones... at all

A bit of good news - news on the Internet is that somebody spotted a pouch on one of Twisted Timbers’ seatbacks, perhaps as a test. It’s not being used yet, but if they implement it, I could see it spreading to CP (considering SV was quick to follow TT’s lead in banning phones), once again bringing phones and perhaps small cameras back into the lines of SV and TT while ensuring guest safety. Let’s hope it turns out like that!

Excellent news! Now all I need is a hook to hang my hat on and a cup holder for my souvenir bottle.

Well, if it’s on the internets it has to be true.

I'm a little confused where they'd put a pouch for the front row of each car. The only surface in front of you is the back of the car in front of you and that's not really within reach when you are sitting down. Unless they were to attach a pouch to the lapbar itself somehow, I don't see onboard pouches working out for these rides.

I feel as if pouches will still cause problems. Anybody can zip a pouch open on their way up the lift and pull their phone back out. I’m curious where they would put these pouches.

Went yesterday with a coworker. When I was asked if I had a phone I said no. The guy looked at me as if I was lying and I kept walking. I am perfectly capable of going without my phone for the hour and 15 minute wait, but did feel a small amount of anxiety. Both of our phones stayed in our pockets the whole time. We had a very pleasant conversation with the couple in front of us. My problem with the policy is that it's an inconvenience to me as a responsible rider to get the locker. In my opinion the policy is just a deterent to limit the chances of phones coming out on the ride. If the policy is lightly policed in the que keeping people off their phones for an hour or having to exit the line, then it feasibly will hammer the message into these other peoples heads not to get it out on the ride. Which to me is the problem.

MDOmnis said:
I'm a little confused where they'd put a pouch for the front row of each car. The only surface in front of you is the back of the car in front of you and that's not really within reach when you are sitting down.

That’s perfect. Stash your crap in a place where it will be secure, and will stay that way until the ride is over.

—Dave Althoff, Jr.

redsfan said:

If the policy is lightly policed in the que keeping people off their phones for an hour or having to exit the line, then it feasibly will hammer the message into these other peoples heads not to get it out on the ride. Which to me is the problem.

Of course that's the problem. They have no interest in frisking people or making things weird, they're just trying to make a loud enough statement to 1) reduce the odds, and 2) have the responsibility fall solely on the rider if someone is caught with one or god forbid someone gets injured by one flying around.

The pouches seem like an easy solution. Heck, it would be nice not to have to always have to wear cargo shorts to the park. I am the designated holder of all loose items on the rides....now I could have fun and be fashionable!

RideMan said:

That’s perfect. Stash your crap in a place where it will be secure, and will stay that way until the ride is over.

—Dave Althoff, Jr.

Good point! I guess I was only thinking it'd be a pain to get stuff into and out of. Still possibly better than a bin though because that would definitely slow things down.

GigaG said:

news on the Internet is that somebody spotted a pouch on one of Twisted Timbers’ seatbacks, perhaps as a test.

Six Flags was testing that on Twisted Colossus back in January. Did anything ever come of that?

Edit: Today KD Food Blog said pouches were spotted on TT, though strangely the accompanying picture doesn't show them.

That would be swell if the pouches work out.

People forgetting crap in the pouches is gonna be a PITA.

I think most things would be found quickly by the next person sitting in the seat using the pouch.

I take it you trust the next person to not pocket those things in their um...cargo shorts.? 🤣

I love the pouch idea. I’m a firm believer that the vast majority of phones lost on rides fly out of riders’ loose POCKETS and not from individuals taking photos/videos. Your hand might just be the safest place for your phone (I’m not condoning it). But if there was a simple, convenient, FREE place to store your phone, people will use it. Sure, it’s not a perfect solution, but it’s a far better solution than the cell phone ban currently in existence.

Today me and my friends tried putting our phones in the lockers. It was tough not having a phone, but we interacted well without it and with each other. Plus I made it interesting in line. I was also doing push-ups and stretches in the queue. I heard people laughing behind me but I didn't care. I also picked my nose like I suggested before.

The old Tomb Raider ride had zippered pouches to store stuff in. As I had clothing to secure my stuff I didn’t need it, but it was a convenient option.

That ride also took like 3 days per cycle to load.

Disney manages with pouches on several rides without everyone forgetting/losing all their **** at every turn.

(Re: Tomb Raider)
80 seats in three rows and little or no clearance for the attendant to walk through and check all the bars. The ride was designed for visual checks and had an interlock loop for the bars, but PKI opted for the whole push-n-tug thing, and that alone took a day and a half per cycle.

This was before IROC was a thing.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Not that the device doesn't have its flaws, but my cellular capable Apple Watch 3 worked great last week to stay in contact with my wife (non-rider) while the line was moving much slower than I expected and I needed to coordinate a group meet-up after the ride. I asked the entrance staff if it was allowed and they said that it was allowed and it was not a problem. Anyway, I just wanted to throw this idea out there in case it's helpful to those in need of a way to externally communicate.