Shorties not allowed in line for coasters

Several weeks ago, I attended CP with my two sons -- one 54" tall and the other 49" tall. I was NOT permitted to take the 49" son (who is 6 years old) in line for the Raptor, Mantis, or Wicked Twister. The ride attendant told me to leave him with another adult. Unfortunately, the other adult (my wife) was approximately 135 MILES away in Columbus. Therefore, my options were to NOT ride (not an option), have him sit in an area where I could not see him for parts of my wait in line or sneak him in line with me after we got past the initial employee. While I did not relish the latter option, it was the only one I found to be reasonable. I had NO desire to allow him to ride any of these rides -- at his size, they are clearly not safe for him to ride. I merely wanted to have him stand in line with me and cross over the ride and wait for me. I found this procedure to be foolish. If a parent did ride alone (which I would not recommend by any means, but no intelligence tests are given prior to entering the park) and the child were kidnapped, CP would be sued out the wazoo -- and would most almost certainly LOSE!!! They already have at least two more "height checkpoints" for these rides beyond the initial employee -- at the top of the platform and at ride embarkation. Did anyone else run into this problem? Does any one else have an opinion??? I tried to e-mail CP from their website, but the feedback function did not work with either of my browsers....

I'm not convinced they'd be liable. After all, the parent is perfectly free to choose not to ride the coasters. It's not like CP is dragging you on the ride. On the other hand, if a kid snuck by the height checks and got on the ride, and later got hurt, they are liable.

For my part, I have two kinds of trips to the point. One with other tall coaster nuts for the express purpose of dropping/spinning/looping myself silly. The second with my family for quality time at the point. Except for morning ERT and possibly during nap time, I wistfully walk by all coasters other than Woodstock and Jr. Gemini when with the family. In exchange for behaving myself on family trips, my wife lets me abandon her to two preschool children for an entire day while I go on my coaster trips.

As the kids get taller, the difference between family trips and coaster trips will lessen, but probably never disappear completely, since my wife won't ride anything that is really fun. :-)

I'm no lawyer, but I don't buy the notion that the park would be responsible for your decision to leave your kid somewhere.

Regarding your problem, while I certainly appreciate your situation, the park's policy is the right thing to do for several reasons. First is that when you get up to the platform, your only choice is to go on the platform, passing the last height check. Once you're up there, the only way off of it is passing through the train. How many kids do you think would end up on the train given the chance? I'm not suggesting you're that kind of parent, but there are far too many that are.

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP
"There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, when it's all in your mind. You gotta let go." - Ghetto, Supreme Beings of Leisure

I understand what you are saying, but the reality of the situation is that there are way too many people who WOULD put their child on the ride even if they say they aren't going to. CP would have an even better chance of getting their pants sued off if this were to happen so because of this, they don't take chances.

CP does offer a parent swap which works quite nicely as long as you have another adult (or someone who can watch the child) while you ride. You didn't say if you would have felt comfortable leaving both of them on the midway, but the parent swap would have let you both ride (albiet by yourselves) while the other one watched your 49" son. If you are uncomfortable letting your older son watch the younger one while you go up and ride (probably 5 minutes max) or letting the 54" child go through the line by himself, then you are in a tough situation and one in which very little accomodation can be made by the park. The parent swap would have been perfect for you if you had another adult, but I'm not so sure about it helping the situation you describe (which in all honesty is probably pretty rare in the whole scheme of things although I do remember a single mother saying something about this a while back).

See here for details of the parent swap policy on CP's website.

-Matt
2001 Magnum Crew
*** This post was edited by MDOmnis 10/15/2002 4:47:22 PM ***

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needless quotation removed. -J

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I can't believe I agree with Jeff. :)

Also, for any who might say it. Yes, they will stop the train from going if they see someone who might be too small. But they cannot always catch it.

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"Sit down right, hold on tight, and enjoy your flight on Shivering Timbers!!"
*** This post was edited by Jeff 10/15/2002 7:29:27 PM ***

Many people who come to CP are used to the policies at other parks and expect CP to be the same. It's not though. It's safer, and their policies are all on the websites and you could also find out about them if you call the park or request a brochure. And while intelligence tests are not given at the door, I would argue that they should be! ;)

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2000 - Mean Streak/Magnum
2001 - Mean Streak ATL
2002 - Magnum TL

I appreciate the many opinions that my post has generated. While I tend to agree with a number of the comments made, the bottom line is that the Cedar Point policy in this area is inherently discriminating against single parents -- whether it be for the day or for a lifetime. The "parent swap" program is great -- IF you have another parent with you. Riders are tested for the heighth requirements THREE times getting through the line. In order to better accommodate this evergrowing segment of the population -- single parents -- the park should be able to allow the "small non-rider" past the FIRST checkpoint for the purpose of being able to stay united with his/her parent. Most platforms have space for a small "holding area" (Six Flags has this facility on a number of their rides at a number of their parks -- even though they are clearly more lax about the heighth requirements overall). The "small non-rider" could be immediately placed in the "holding area" (by crossing through the train) as soon as he/she arrived on the platform PRIOR to the adult assuming a position in a queue on the platform. This would enable the parent to ride with peace of mind. (It has always been my experience that the ride operators at CP are by far the most diligent at watching for undersized riders at the top of the platform and at ride embarkation time. I just think that it is disappointing that CP does not have enough confidence in the final two layers of inspection to help out CUSTOMERS in the same situation as I). Without such an accommodation, single parent customers would be far less apt to make the trip to Cedar Point.

In reality there are only TWO checkpoints - the ride entrance and the ride turnstyles. The height stick only appears next to the train if someone on the crew notices a child that they think is too small. I can tell you we probably whipped out the stick next to the train 10 or 20 times all season last year. If they're going to let your child past the entrance then they have to let everyone past the entrance. This makes it sort of pointless to have an entrance person at all. It sucks having to make someone turn around at turnstyles and walk back down through the crowd or worse off - make everyone wait to come onto the platform while the turnstyles person makes sure that the shorty crosses through and doesn't ride. As far as saying they're discriminating against you - that is pretty ridiculous! Yes it is a tough situation and one that is very difficult to accommodate, but I believe that the way the park does it is as fair and safe as it can possibly be. The two layers are done for reasons of safety and liability and by eliminating one of them, they would be reducing safety and increasing their chances of having a shorty get on the ride and get hurt.

While the employees are usually good about keeping an eye on someone waiting, it is park policy that employees are not responsible for anything or anyone left behind by anyone. This includes stuffed animals left at entrance, children left at entrance, articles or children left on the platform (normally kids are booted at least to the exit ramp since we can't have them running up to a moving train to greet mommy or daddy when their train returns), etc. The dangers of leaving your child behind on a ride platform during your ride are probably as great or greater than leaving them on the midway. Afterall, you're still going to have 72 people walking right by them in close proximity and you're also going to have a heavy piece of machinery (a coaster) being operated a few feet from them. Just some things to think about...

-Matt
2001 Magnum Crew

As has been said many times before in this thread, the number of parents who recognize the safety risks inherent in the rides for children shorter than the height requirements is proportionally very small when compared to the number of parents who HAVE kids who are too small. What this means is that since we cannot trust the word of every single person who has a kid who's too short and wants to take them through the line anyway, we can't trust anyone's word on it.

It may sound discriminatory, but in actuality, it isn't. Know your kid isn't going to be tall enough for a few rides? Take someone else with you, a friend, grandparent, aunt, uncle, I'm sure you get the point. Make it a family/friends big outing! Especially now since you know our policies. It's what my (single parent) family did until my sister and I were tall enough to go on everything and wanted to (my sister was chicken until about the age 13).

Once you get up to the platform on many rides, as Matt mentioned, it is tough to leave. I know on MF it usually holds up our loading a bit when a child has to be measured and sent off the ride. And when we send a child off on MF, we send them to the exit, where they have to stand for 2/3 trainloads of people coming down before you will. Especially if you're sneaking them into line after you've already passed entrance, even when you know it's not the right thing to do. Then the entrance person tends to get blamed, even though it is obviously not that person's fault, and the situation degenerates.
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Natalie
Mine Ride '99
Thunder Canyon '00
Millennium Force '01

As a parent of a 52” son and a under 48” son, it would be more convenient for me to have the CP rules changed, but I sure wouldn’t recommend it.

I have seen way too many parents trying to get around the safety rules. (And I feel SO sorry for the employees that have to stop the stupid parents.) Even though most wouldn’t want their kids to ride if they’re not tall enough, that’s certainly not the case with everyone. Earlier this season, when my 52” son wasn’t yet 52”, he wanted to get measured by Power Tower entrance. He wasn’t tall enough, and a parent walking by said softly, “Just put some toilet paper in his shoes.” No thanks.

And if they did change the rules, who would watch my child while I rode? I wouldn’t let him out of my sight that long, and it’s not a CP employee’s responsibility to watch him. No thanks.

Conversely, I wouldn’t want to subject my “not yet 48” ” son to stand in line for a ride that he couldn’t even enjoy. He’s already bummed that he can’t ride the “big rides”.

CP is great for the GP family that goes once a year. It’s the best for a season pass family with all kids over 48” tall. It’s tougher on the family with season passes with a child that’s not 48”. Even with the Parent Swap policy (which is an awesome idea).
*** This post was edited by CoasterMama 10/16/2002 9:27:38 AM ***

Something I have not seen mentioned yet is the large number of under-height children that could end up on the platform/exit area while their parents rode if this rule were changed.

It's difficult to call this a case of discrimination, though. There are many establishments that have rules forbidding children, not to be mean, but for the safety of the children. This is just another of those cases.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead

"Cedar Point policy in this area is inherently discriminating against single parents"... I am really shure they would try to do that. Its the rules..and trust me it's there for a reason
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Kelly aka TazMaster
CP@LE RR 2000
White Water Landing 2001
Wicked Twister/Kiddy Kingdom 2002
Season Pass Holder 2003+
"What...what do u mean he is to tall to ride?"

Going back to being sued for liabiality, I agress with Brian Noble on this one. Technically you could be sued for neglect. For you to leave your young child un-attained at the entrace, or anywhere in the park, would not be Cedar Point's responsibility.

As far as the situation regaurding the "holding areas" that are located at other parks, the reason that Cedar Point has the reputation of exceeding other parks is that we care more about everyone's safty than anything else. Cedar Point is well aware that the lines are not designed for single parents. They have worked hard to overcome the barriers that younger children might represent. The situation that you are in is a very difficult one. But letting small children stand in line is neither fair, nor safe, for your child. And having "holding areas" would prove to be more problematic than you realize. Bringing another adult or responsable person on your trip with you is the most reasonable alternative to your situation. Cedar Point is not discriminating, they are considering everyone's safty in the matter, even if it means that no one gets to ride the ride.

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~Sabrina~
2001 Gemini
2002 Gemini/Corkscrew/Live E: Hooray for Hollywood

What ever happened to "Chicken Exits"? There used to be a wonderful staple @ large amusement rides called a chicken exit of chicken chute where someone could bail out on a ride just prior to boarding.

Personally, I do not like the current policy @ CP. I will not argue which policy is "better" or "worse", but I prefer the policies of say SFGA (both of them) where the child is able to walk through the line with the parent. Even with the child swap program that Matt linked us to above (thank you) the children would still have to be alone for an extended amount of time; either both of them or the one taller child.

However, at the SFGAs, all persons could enter the line and even the platform. However, shorter children are "caught" right before boarding @ the airgates by a staffer armed with a height stick. The "too short" person (not to be confused with Too Short the rapper) then is made to exit down the ramp. In this case, the child is alone for the three minutes it takes to ride. Risky? C'est possible, but less risky than being left 30min-1hr.

Of course someone is going to bring up something about capacity. But I'm going to ask those who have been to Great America and Great Adventure have *you* seen capacity problems @ these parks? Especially due to height checks? I'd proffer that, in the hands of a properly trained staff, things like this would be a non-issue as fas as capacity is concerned.

But hey, that's just my take.

lata, jeremy

The idea of the parent swap program is to prevent the child from being alone. Parent one goes through the line and rides, parent two waits with the child. Parent one comes back and goes to the child, parent two rides without waiting in the line. The child is never alone.

As far as the SFGA policy, I consider that very risky. It's too easy to miss something in the hectic environment of the loading platform. Capacity isn't even the issue, it's keeping kids safe that is most important.

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Florida may have Disneyworld and Key West,
but Ohio has Cedar Point and Put-In-Bay.
It's great to live in Ohio!
*** This post was edited by Pete 10/18/2002 11:02:34 AM ***

On a ride like Magnum, where you have 36 people exiting every what 20 seconds or so, you have a large number of people able to walk off with anything or anyone such as a small child. In my opinion, this would be easier if CP had "pens" like King's Island or other parks. When there are more children waiting at one time I think it would be easier for someone to walk off with a child that isn't theirs. Ride Operators are not responsible for watching who leaves each child and then releasing them to the proper parent. As we used to say..."The Magnum Daycare is now closed" Of course there was the time a mother who was waiting for a parent swap decided to bring her 2 year old daughter up the exit to wait for her husband riding the ride. The girl, however, ran way ahead of her mother and ran right up to the platform and finally stopped inches away from the train that was pulling into the station. Her mom was scared, but didn't understand why I asked her to go back to the bottom of the exit ramp to finish waiting.

As far as other parks are concerned, I realize that some of their policies are more desirable for some. That's probably why they have consistently been ranked one of the highest..... in terms of safety.....Wait a minute.....

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2000 - Mean Streak/Magnum
2001 - Mean Streak ATL
2002 - Magnum TL

About three years ago (or four) I was about 53inches tall, and they wouldnt let me stand in line for raptor. Fortunatly for my dad we had two adults.

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Life is a rollercoaster... ride it.
~*kP

I started this "mess" of a thread, there have been many solid reasons why CP does things the way they do. Now allow me to suggest a couple of possible solutions. First of all, while the "waiting pens" have been panned by some employees, they do work quite well at the Six Flags Parks. While this is not a "free solution", it is a solution nonetheless. Perhaps a matching wristbands solution could be used to get the shorties out of the pen. (Not free, because the pen would have to be manned). Perhaps a better and cheaper solution would be to combine the Parent Swap Concept with the Fast Pass Concept. In other words, have the "single parent" come to the entrance to the ride and get a timestamp on their hand that could be used exactly as the Parent Swap second parent would ride. The child could wait in the exit queue for the few minutes the adult would ride. This is NOT a viable solution for a small child, but a 6 - 8 year old could be left in this situation rather safely. Perhaps, the matching wrist bands could be used for release of the child. It just seems to me that CP should be able to come up with a plan to fully include the "single parents" in all of the thrills of the park.

Old Coaster Guy. While it would be nice to find the "perfect" solution to this, the fact is, nothing is 100% safe.

My 52" daughter and I visit SFGAm frequently throughout the season. I know going into the park with my daughter that I will not be able to get on 6 of the coasters.

Heck, you should be happy that your 49" son can get on 12 of the 15 coasters at CP. If I was in your position, I could live without getting on Raptor, WT, or Mantis.

Just be patient, cuz he will be tall enough before you know it.

No offense to the matching wristband idea, cause I think it could be a good one, but the majority of the guests do not even understand how to use the Parent Swap as it currently exists. I think the idea of getting a time and then going to the exit would be a little confusing and people would find it too difficult so they would just sneak their kid in line anyway.

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2000 - Mean Streak/Magnum
2001 - Mean Streak ATL
2002 - Magnum TL