Wicked Twister station

If the gates on Wicked Twister are monitored by the ride controls, a small crowd in the station does make sense. It makes it less likely for people to push on the gates as the ride is running and possibly shut it down. I know it's probably not very likely, but people do push and shove.

Thank you Pete. Yes there have been times where a guest has pushed on the gate and caused the ride cycle to stop. I never understood the fascination of people tugging and pulling on the gates like that.

For some reason it's been mans nature to put something in his hand and tug on it ;)

You still haven't explained how it's more dangerous. People are never pushed up against the gates, rock concert style, ever, even on a crowded platform.

I don't know the answer...but could it have to do with a potential evacuation? If there was an accident or incident with the train itself and the station had to be evacuated then it would be more difficult with a larger crowd, particularly if there was only one way out. (Say they couldn't cross to the actual exit.)

I was at the Big Dipper at Geauga Lake after a crash and I remember the platform being jammed with guests. I was more focused on the trains and the injured riders but I'm sure it would have been easier to evacuate the station had there not been so many people in it.

I just assumed it was to fill up the trains. If they allowed 3 trains worth of people into the station the front and back of the train would be stacked way deep. while the middle cars would be empty. If they only allow a small amount of people into the station then these seats get filled. I have been told on more than one occasion that I had to fill one of the middle seats. This is when I get in the line for the 1st or last car until the cycle ends then jump out of line into something closer to the front or back. If you sit in the middle you don't really get to twist on the towers and do go up very.

Jeff said:
You still haven't explained how it's more dangerous. People are never pushed up against the gates, rock concert style, ever, even on a crowded platform.

You're asking me as if I made that rule. And you're dead wrong about never being pushed up the gates. On many occasions I have been pushed up against Raptor gates by guests who lacked personal space due to a crowded station.

It prevents the ever dreaded circle pit on Wicked Twister's platform.

I guess you could say that the more people there are, the greater the odds of one of them doing something dumb is.

My personal preference is to have several trains of people in each chute, but not to the point where the station is backed up all the way to the turnstile. I don't like being stuck in the queue if there's a chance for me to jump in the train as a single rider or something and cut my wait. At the same time, I don't like being smashed in between other people like a sardine either. So I guess striking the right balance is ideal.

And that's fine. Loading efficiently is a different problem than some safety issue.

I've seen Vekoma Boomerangs where riders are held outside of the station until the train drops off the lift through the station (or maybe even held until the train flies through again, but I doubt they would do that because the ride ends seconds after that.)

On a side note, isn't it fitting that the ride with the most pressure and WEIGHT sensors at the Point is also the least "fat-friendly" ride there, being my only walk of shame on a non-kiddie coaster?

Nothing is being weighed.

Just pressed, right? I would like to get my facts straight.

Yeah, it is like an on/off switch. You put weight on it the circuit is closed (on) and you remove the weight the circuit is open (off). Nothing is being measured, the pressure sensor doesn't know if you put 50lbs or 500lbs on it.

Ummm, are we still talking about WT or Gatekeeper in terms of "weight pads".