attendant abuse

[damo]

While we were at IOA last week we witnessed a stupid confrontation at Dr. Doom. The attendant had measured a little boy and he was just under the line and was told he couldn't go on. The attendant then measured the little girl with our group and she was just over the bottom of the line and was allowed to go on. The first parents took a fit and started hurling accusations at the attendant. I believe that quote was, " You know that the only reason you are not letting us on the ride is because we are not white." ( I think they were hispanic but I'm not sure, they looked pretty "white" to me). The attendant could not believe her ears. At that point we left to ride but when we came back there was a supervisor discussing the issue. I felt so sorry for the attendant who was only doing her job.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

That kind of things happens. It's not common, but it happens. Some people just dont understand that safety is the absolute most important thing and that if a child is under the height requirement, they could be seriously injured to the point of death.

 

[Disney Debbie]

What Jerks!!!

I don't understand why someone would want to risk their child's safety to ride something! I would never have wanted to get Becca on something she wasn't big enough for.

 

[fboy9287]

From what i hear from the attendents, checking childrens heights is the worst part of their job.

 

[Cindy B]

Yep, pretty common actually... and I have heard of deaths on those rides if someone doesn't fit correctly..


As for the "race" aspect.. I hear that one all the time as well in my job.. It an old tired excuse you hear all the time...

 

[Planogirl]

At a Six Flags park one time, my son was really borderline for one of the thunder river type rides. The first attendant decided he was too short and then immediately refused to allow a much shorter child to go on. We returned in a bit just to double check since he was so close to the height and this time the attendant said it was OK. He was really at the line depending on what his hair was doing.

The father of the other child saw us and raised a big fuss. He demanded that my son be measured again and yelled and carried on. My son was still tall enough and he had the chance to see an adult act like a child.

 

[MsDisney]

Originally posted by Planogirl
We returned in a bit just to double check since he was so close to the height and this time the attendant said it was OK. He was really at the line depending on what his hair was doing.

The father of the other child saw us and raised a big fuss. He demanded that my son be measured again and yelled and carried on. My son was still tall enough and he had the chance to see an adult act like a child.

I've had that happen in the past, having to go back for another attendant because I knew my child was tall enough, but just didn't stand up right or something and was declared too short to ride. But to stand there and carry on when your child is well below the line...well, it's unreal and you're right, your son got to see an adult act like an obnoxious child.

Why don't people "get it" that the park isn't out to get their child and keep them from having fun, they are trying to keep them safe!? Ugh.

Karen

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Dr Doom is one of the rides that I would NOT bring a child who was borderline. I love the ride and feel that I'm going to slip out of the restaint and I'm plenty big for the ride. Someone with narrow shoulders would really feel like they would slip out.

Our first ride at IoA last month was Spiderman. I wasn't sure if my 3yo was quite tall enough, but nobody even checked. I was surprised, but didn't question it since I knew he was close to 40" with his shoes on. Another visit he was measured and was tall enough IF he stood up very straight and the person measuring was generous. He also rode BTTF and the motion seat at Jimmy Neutron. The funny thing is that he hated all those rides because he was scared by the simulator. He was fine on Jaws, though, since it wasn't a dark ride. He probably would have loved the barge ride, but he needs to grow a couple of inches.

 

[EUROPA]

Yeah got to sympathize with the park employees dealing with the public is no picnic. I just don't get why people would want to chance their child's life?

 

[bbchurch]

Those same parents that moan and groan about their kid not getting to ride would be the same one to sue the pants off the park for letting them ride if (God forbid) they did get hurt or worse!
So from the parks stand point it is a dang if you do, dang if you don't kind of thing!

 

[Paris]

From what i hear from the attendents, checking childrens heights is the worst part of their job.

For most attendants, I can believe it. However, a few do seem to relish the role. When I was at IOA last month one of the ride ops on Hulk held up a train to pull out two kids from two different families to measure them.

That was odd because the ride op at the front is always checking the height as folks go in and the ride ops on the loading side tend to carry the measuring stick around.

I figured the ride op on the unloading side was a hapless killjoy, until it turns out that one of the two kids was in fact just a hair short (and was taken off the ride).

On another point, Cindy mentioned of deaths of kids who were too small for rides, but I can't recall that EVER happening. Just about every coaster death has been either careless riders (mostly in the old days, before the restraints became less forgiving), random tragedy (yes, the 11 yo on Raging Bull, and the coaster coming undone at the Edmonton Mall a half-dozen years ago) but NEVER because a kid was too short to ride.

Even cases where folks have fallen out of the restraints on thrill rides and died, they have ALWAYS been tall enough (the overweight rider at Perilous Plunge in California -- or the mentally-disabled kid who panicked on a free fall ride and managed to shake himself loose).

Obey the height sticks. Play by the park's rules. But the requirements are established with a great deal of wiggle room in terms of margin of safety.

 

[EUROPA]

Reguardless of what somepeople say....the height's restrictions are there for a reason....


Just a few links to chew on...

http://www.saferparks.org/height_limits.htm

http://www.expertsafety.com/childsafetytips.html