Why are you no longer allowed to bring items on GK?

3snoH un=l said:
...that is not what I was told by a Cedar Point staff member nor does it explain that on their website.

According to you, CP said loose articles are not allowed on the ride because it presents a safety issue:

I was told you cannot take loose articles onto the ride. "Oh, no, loose articles will fly off on Gatekeeper.
...
She had no explanation except it is unsafe to take loose articles onto the ride.

Loose articles are not allowed on the ride for safety reasons; therefore, they do not allow them in the queue for capacity reasons (because everyone putting stuff in bins prior to riding hurts capacity).

Nor does the capacity argument explain why Maverick doesn't have that policy.

Maverick has a different policy because it's a different ride. You're not owed any explanation beyond that, and in fact there may be no explanation beyond: different ride = different policy. Perhaps the park's view on capacity changed in the 6 years since Maverick (or Corkscrew or whatever other ride with a different policy) was built.

...including letting people stay hydrated while waiting in an hour+ line...

Unless the policy has changed since my last visit, you're allowed to bring beverages into line, just not souvenir cups.

^That policy has indeed not changed. Drinks can come in, but they must be finished by the time you get to the platform.

djDaemon said:
Maverick has a different policy because it's a different ride.

Anyone else think we'll see this policy changing for rides like Maverick? I could see that really boosting capacity since the only "personal" items that would have to be binned would be hats and sunglasses.

I think Maverick's policy may change, if the park is confident doing so would noticeably improve capacity, especially considering what FL seems to have done in terms of impacting "standard" queue throughput.

That said, I'm a proponent of customer satisfaction above the complaints of a few enthusiasts. If guests prefer to be able to carry stuff in line with them at the expense of capacity, then I think it's appropriate to have bins for rides that can accommodate them. Of course, determining which benefit guests find more value in (line length versus carrying crap with them) might be difficult.

What if everyone has a backpack? That's why they have rules...just don't bring it. It's that easy...Take it to the car. Put it in a locker...so many ways. Not on the rides.

^^ I am not sure if Maverick's station lends itself to the same ease that GK's station offers. With GK you enter/exit the train all from the same side. With Maverick (and every other coaster at the park) you enter/exit the train on opposite sides. To me, having the enter/exit on the same side makes the bins much more efficient than having to walk through the train to get to the bin. However, the same side arrangement could lead to a huge traffic jam at the bins as those entering the ride as well as exiting are all trying to get to the bins at the exact same time. I always thought that this possible traffic jam was the reason that GK severely limits what can be put into its bins. Fewer people putting things into the bins means less congestion at the bins.

Diamondback has a station setup much like Maverick (except single train). Enter, pass through train, use bins, return to train.

Only difference is, DB capacity rocks. Sure, the restraints are much simpler, but I also think they have a better crew down there (for years now) and since there are more locals (and less tourists), most people "get it".

You are kind of comparing apples and oranges when comparing the capacities of Maverick and Diamondback. Diamondback can easily accommodate 1400 passengers an hour; where Maverick can maybe do 950. Diamondback can depart another train once the first goes over the lift hill. Maverick can't embark on the first launch until the preceding train goes through the mid course launch tunnel. If the Maverick crew moved much faster, the trains would be sitting on the front hold block.

I would be happy if all rides had a no loose article policy that is enforced like they have been all year on GK. Stuffed animal, take it to the car. Souvenir cup? locker or leave it with a non-rider. (What if you grabbed someone elses cup and didn't realize it?) The bins on all rides should only be for personal items ie glasses, keys, hats, flip flops, etc. There is no need to bring stuffed animals, basketballs, souvenir cups etc in line with you.
The saying we were told in the 90's and I'm sure they told employees for over a hundred years still rings true and always will. "When the guest locks their car they lock their brains in there too."

DB's crew this year sucks btw...some of you need to get out more :P

Maverick moved very well this weekend as I watched the ride, even with ride prides running around on it.