Was the height requirement for Troika changed during 2007?

This has been bugging me since June 2007. My son has gone on Troika without an adult since 2005. Last year he was about 53" tall. He rode Troika on opening day and and a couple other days, the most recent was on Memorial Day. When he went to ride Troika four days after that, he was told he needed an adult. He's 9, but he pleaded his case to the ride host to no avail. When he told me I couldn't believe it. He's been on that ride probably 30 times. We went to the Operations Office and asked if they changed the requirements and they said it has always been this way. They really didn't want to hear when I said he'd been on it four days ago. So, we left.

I find it hard to believe he slipped through the cracks all of those times. It was obvious he was either a single rider or riding with another child of similar age and height. He is now over 54 so it's not an issue anymore, but i'm curious.

I was reading the "Unusual Guest" thread where the measuring devices were discussed and that triggered this. I found inconsistances with those too. There were some rides/locations where he was 54 at the end of 2007 and some where he was under. These measurments were taken within minutes of each other as he wanted to test various locations. He can be a stubborn kid, but I understand where he's coming from. Try to reason with a 9 year old that he is 54" at Mantis but he isn't at Raptor. We weren't trying to beat the system, I always tell him he must follow the rules. That gets tougher when there are inconsistancies.

Anyway if anybody knows if they changed the Troika requirements let me know.

In 2006 the height requirement was "at least 48" tall or accompanied by a responsible person to ride." In 2007 the height requirement was "Guests between 42" and 54" tall must be accompanied by a responsible person to ride," inferring that you must be at least 42" to ride at all, 54" to ride alone.

DBCP thanks for your reply. If those were the requirements for 2007 (and I do not doubt you), how did he get on Troika on those first three days at CP up until when they wouldn't allow him to ride. I imagine they checked his height on those occaisons. Any idea?

Hi,

I would recommend that if you want to make your time a little faster with your son, you can go right into park operations and they can messure him for you and give him a wristband that way the ride operators know that he is 54 inches. The ride hosts at entrance might still stop just to double check but it might help you. :)

We have gone the wrist band route numerous times and yes they still checked on most rides so we decided to not to do that anymore. Right now he's 55" so it probably won't be an issue this year.

Other then getting a wristband, another way you can help to ensure yourself an accurate measurement is by requesting to be measured on one of the metal measuring stands. They are the most accurate measuring source.

Another thing to consider are the shoes he was wearing. They might make for the smallest differences in height. Further more, your children, just like adults, do shrink as the day goes on. They might be 54" in the morning, but only 53" in the late afternoon. Unfortunately, this will not work to your benefit. If he's not 54" when he's being measured, even if he was that morning, he's not 54" and he cannot ride. These both play a huge role in borderline children, which it sounds like your son may have been at the time.

Clevelandkid said:
We have gone the wrist bandroute numerous times and yes they still checked on most rides so wedecided to not to do that anymore. Right now he's 55" so it probablywon't be an issue this year.

Ride Operators are required to check a child's height even if they have a wristband. A wristband is only the tie-breaker if they are borderline.

He was measured at a metal stand each time, plus he had the same shoes. The measurements at Mantis which he was tall enough was about 30 minutes before the Raptor measurement where he wasn't, both were in the morning. I have heard about being taller in the morning so that's when we tried this. Gravity I guess.

In the morning, the kids are usually standing up taller. The day is fresh, everyone is excited, and the child is able to stand up taller. Later in the day, fatigue starts taking over and the child (and everyone else in the group, naturally) aren't going to be able to stand up near as straight and tall as they could earlier in the day.
I'm not sure why your child was allowed to ride alone the first few visits, unless the ride host wasn't trained properly and/or was being too lenient. While we want to make everyone happy and allow everyone to enjoy as many rides as possible, we do have to follow the rules set upon us by the park, the law, and the manufacturer. Unfortunately, changes do occur between years and that will cause inconsistencies.

It sounds like he's tall enough this year, though, so be sure to enjoy everything. At 55", there isn't much in the way of stopping you in the height-department at Cedar Point. Once you hit 54", you are king. :) Since you say he is 55", though, I would HIGHLY recommend getting officially measured in Park Operations right as you get to the park (so he's standing as tall as possible). Being that he is so close to that 54" mark, some ride operators will (rightly) question his height and have to double check. As Doug said, the wrist-band is there for us to use as a fail-safe at the entrance to rides. If we measure someone with a height-stick and see that they are borderline, we'll measure them on the metal stand. If, at that point, it is still too close to call (and we see the wrist-band), we'll let them ride. If the metal stand is too close to call and we don't see a wrist band, the best we can do is direct you to park operations. The reason those wrist-bands aren't an automatic "Hey! I'm tall enough to ride, you don't have to measure me!" device is because, honestly, some people do try to cheat the system. At the end of the day, it's all in the name of safety, whether we all agree on the policies or not. There are policies out there that guests don't agree with, and even some policies that employees don't agree with, but the fact of the matter is...we have to follow them. Someone felt strongly enough to see those policies put into place and my little red name tag can't change that. ;)

Kirk06 it's the Troika thing that leaves me scratching my head. As I mentioned he'd been on it on three different days that same year. I usually never question these things. I just say those are the rules, end of story. It seemed to me something had changed in those 4 days since our last visit, so in this case I went to operations which of course is close by.

As for the wristbands operations always had him remove his shoes before measuring him.

The reason people get shorter is because of the compaction of their vertebrae due to Gravity as the day goes on.

Clevelandkid said:
Kirk06 it's the Troika thing that leaves me scratching my head. As I mentioned he'd been on it on three different days that same year. I usually never question these things. I just say those are the rules, end of story. It seemed to me something had changed in those 4 days since our last visit, so in this case I went to operations which of course is close by.

As for the wristbands operations always had him remove his shoes before measuring him.

As I said, it was probably a very unfortunate case of confusion since the policy changed this year (and/or it was a new employee). It really is unfortunate when something like that happens because, for one, someone is not following the rules and could be jeopardizing someone's safety, and two, this sitatuion happens wherein you come back another day and are suddenly presented with a completely different policy. You have every right to be upset as there was no reason for the confusion, but unfortunately, people do make mistakes. If something like that happens, just be sure to get the employees name and make Park Operations aware. They will be sure to correct the employee as they deem necessary.

I always felt that the height checks are the hardest part of the job. Telling a kid they can't ride is hard. Sorry for your trouble.

DBCP said:
The reason people get shorter is because of the compaction of their vertebrae due to Gravity as the day goes on.

And the G forces pushing down on the said person can't be great for keeping the vertebrae un-compacted.

I am sorry to hear about your problem. I remember when I was at the in-between heights. I remember being denied riding Raptor, and being very upset. But when I was finally tall enough, it was such a joy to be told I was tall enough to ride. It is fun watching my little sister grow and meet height requirements.

raptorTDC said:

DBCP said:
The reason people get shorter is because of the compaction of their vertebrae due to Gravity as the day goes on.

And the G forces pushing down on the said person can't be great for keeping the vertebrae un-compacted.

I thought about that too... and it would seem to me that Mantis might have a bigger impact than Raptor based on how your body is positioned, and thus could have really played a role in this incident.

There is no difference based on wither you are sitting or standing on forces affecting your spine because your spine is still in the same position weither you are standing or sitting. The only thing that changes is that your weight is being bared on pelvis when you sit or your feet when you stand.

Sounds like a case of the park changing yet another rider rule in the name of "safety". I remember riding the Troika dozens of time when shorter than 54" without an adult without a single issue. It's like the changes made to the Corkscrew. Something ran fine (to the best of my knowledge) for years, why go and change it now? Frankly only those under 54" can ride it without getting sick ;)