Be careful!

[CPM]

Just a little something I thought I would share because it has been on my mind since Sunday. It's really bothering me.
We haven't been to IOA/US in almost two years. We just decided to actually go on other trips besides theme parks for a while .
We had a great time, glad to be back.
What bothered me was the employees lack of attention to the guest. On more then one occasion they were too busy talking to each other to even check belts and such.
My son was able to go on Dr. Doom for the first time and was exactly 52" I was nervous about him riding. No one even checked our seats for safety. I called the chatting staff member over to check him.
Well, then it happened!!
We went on Spiderman, not my favorite ride as you an tell by my tag but being the good mom I am I ride it with my kids.
They were checking the cars and the lap belts, then someone called the kid over and he skipped our car. Our lap belts never went on! I tried to call the kid but he ignored us!! I was beside my self! I was holding Kevin in the whole time and so were the people behind us. I just thought it was terrible!
I complained to the guy as we got out but he could have cared less. I wish I had more time, I would have went to customer service on my way out. We had to get on the road.
Maybe it was okay to not have a lap belt on Spiderman but what would have happened if this occured on Dr. Doom or Hulk???? I think I may be staying away from Spidey, it's my bad luck ride <g>.
So, heads up to all.

 

[TINK61]

You should share your story w/Universal's customer safety dept., or whatever they call it. One slip up could cost someone's life. Those jobs should be taken very seriously.

 

[teachingmykids]

I, too, noticed this. We were so spoiled by the WDW employees that Universal was a shock to us. I always ask the 'seaters' short questions to make sure they are paying attention to us. I can only imagine how glazed over you get buckling seat belts for 8 hours.

 

[JT3000]

Uhh... what's a lap belt? You mean lap bar? You pull those down yourself. Don't tell me you didn't pull the lap bar down just because he didn't do it for you...

And Hulk & Doom both have shoulder restraints, not lap bars. If someone isn't smart enough to know they need to pull their restraint down and buckle it, they shouldn't be riding the ride. Or any ride that goes above 2 miles per hour for that matter.

 

[TINK61]

Some rides such as Popeye and Bluto's Bilge Barge Rats do have seat belts. Although it's no Hulk Coaster, my mom's came udone during the ride and she (being an older womam in her 60's, and not knowing what to expect on the ride) was pretty freightened and was holding on for dear life as the water drenched us. I personally did not feel she was in danger because she's old enough to take other measures to protect herself, but a smaller or lighter child might not handle it as well.

My point is - it's not stupidity. It's just not being familiar with a ride if its the first time riding it, or maybe not being coordinated enough to handle it as well as a seasoned themepark goer.

Finally, JT3000, I can't help but ask the question - - - if they aren't smart enough to know that they should fasten their own seatbelts or pull down their own lap bars, how will they be smart enough to know that they shouldn't ride the ride? Ponder that!

 

[rlduvall]

I have a feeling JT3000 is an employee of Universal by the tone of the post.

 

[damo]

New rides have computers that tell the ride ops if the safety restrainsts are not in place.

We were at Disneyland last week and they were exactly the same. On Indiana Jones there are seat belts and the ride ops barely glance to see if you are connected. At Tower of Terror in California Adventure they asked us to check our own seat belts.

What are the restraints like on Spiderman, I can't remember? Is it a bar or individual seat belts. If it is a bar, it must have been down sufficiently or else the computer would not have allowed the car to progress.

 

[CPM]

Originally posted by JT3000
Uhh... what's a lap belt? You mean lap bar? You pull those down yourself. Don't tell me you didn't pull the lap bar down just because he didn't do it for you...

And Hulk & Doom both have shoulder restraints, not lap bars. If someone isn't smart enough to know they need to pull their restraint down and buckle it, they shouldn't be riding the ride. Or any ride that goes above 2 miles per hour for that matter.

YES, I meant lap bar. No, I'm NOT STUPID, I know we are supposed to pull them down. I consider myself pretty smart when it comes to that stuff.
Why are acting like we ALL did something wrong? When it was the CM's or a ride glitch? They wouln't come down when we pulled and no one woudl listen to us.
I don't care if people put the restraints on themselves or not, they should be checked by the CM.s!

 

[CPM]

Originally posted by damo
New rides have computers that tell the ride ops if the safety restrainsts are not in place.

What are the restraints like on Spiderman, I can't remember? Is it a bar or individual seat belts. If it is a bar, it must have been down sufficiently or else the computer would not have allowed the car to progress.

Well, people can believe me or not. I know what happened. I'm trying to figure out why I'm getting second guessed about this???????? I guess there's no such thing as a computer glitch, that's why there aren't any amusement or them park ride accidents??
I knew *I* wasn't going to fall out, I was more worried for my young son. So all you *MOM"S* out there just be careful.

 

[TINK61]

I'm on your side, Cheryl. My response was geared toward JT's response.

 

[phamton]

There are no computers that tell them if the ride restraint is down on Spiderman. This is a serious complaint and I am so sorry to hear this happened. I know for a fact that employees are fired for sending someone on a ride without a restraint. If anything ever happens like that again, please ask to speak to a "lead" on a ride. That it totally unacceptable.

My son was falsely accused of not checking a restraint. This accusation was taken very seriously and the leads and manager then reviewed the tape and watched my son check the girl's restraint. They will pull up the tape and watch it for any accustation. Another employee on another ride was transferred off all rides for missing a restraint.

 

[CPM]

Originally posted by TINK61
I'm on your side, Cheryl. My response was geared toward JT's response.

Thank you.
And, thanks Phamton.

 

[jiggerj]

Originally posted by CPM

I knew *I* wasn't going to fall out, I was more worried for my young son. So all you *MOM"S* out there just be careful.

Being a mom probably taking my young son on rides that neither of us have ever been on before and having been familiar with rides at Disney so I know what to expect, Universal rides will be a new adventure. I want to thank you for your post.

 

[disneyfreakk]

I was on dueling dragons and the ride started before I got my seatbelt on!! I said very loudly" wait, my seat...., when they started it anyway! I did finally get it buckled, but I kept thinking that there were seatbelts for a reason. this really was scary

 

[the Dark Marauder]

If you're on Doom, Dragons, or Hulk and the seatbelt comes undone while riding don't worry. The harness is locked, so you're safe. The seatbelts provide a more visual safety than actual. I remember riding Kumba two years ago and there being no seatbelt, just a harness.

Of course if a seatbelt comes undone during a ride, do let the attendant know when you exit. Also, if you don't get checked let someone know-just like how phamton mentioned.

Below is the breakdown of what kind of check you will encounter at each attraction. All checks are visual, some are physical as well. Physical checks may be a restraint check or a simple closing & locking of a door.

Visual only: all shows, Storm Force Accelatron, Ripsaw Falls, One Fish Two Fish, Caro-Seuss-el, Fievel's Slide, Mt. Crumpit Snow Plummet, Jimmy Neutron

Visual & Physical: Hulk, Dragons, Doom, Spider-Man, CITH, Flying Unicorn, JPRA, P-Flyers, Popeye & Blutos, ROTM, BTTF, ET, Earthquake, Jaws, and MIB.

 

[mtblujeans]

You can always count on the Dark Marauder to give you the facts!

 

[Prince Eric1]

Originally posted by JT3000
Uhh... what's a lap belt? You mean lap bar? You pull those down yourself. Don't tell me you didn't pull the lap bar down just because he didn't do it for you...

And Hulk & Doom both have shoulder restraints, not lap bars. If someone isn't smart enough to know they need to pull their restraint down and buckle it, they shouldn't be riding the ride. Or any ride that goes above 2 miles per hour for that matter.

A bit of a harsh response, my opinion only of course.

We just got back, seems like the employees did a good job checking everything, considering they did seem short staffed in the evenings on rides like Jurassic park, one fish two fish, etc. I was a bit surprised that they didn't measure my daughter, who barely makes the 48" with tall shoes, but happy none the less that she got to go on.

 

[CPM]

Originally posted by the Dark Marauder

Thanks for all your great info!! This is good to know for future reference.

 

[johde]

Originally posted by the Dark Marauder
If you're on Doom, Dragons, or Hulk and the seatbelt comes undone while riding don't worry. The harness is locked, so you're safe. The seatbelts provide a more visual safety than actual. I remember riding Kumba two years ago and there being no seatbelt, just a harness.

On a lot of these rides where the seatbelt attaches to the harness, the seatbelt is also used as a measuring device. If the bar or harness does not come down far enough to belt, the ride manufacturer does not feel you will be safe riding the ride.

Jeremy

 

[JT3000]

A bit of a harsh response, my opinion only of course.

She did not specify that the lap bar was locked and wouldn't come down (which is an odd malfunction that I've never personally experienced on SM. It shouldn't be locked unless it already started moving, which by then the lap bar should have been pulled down by someone). She made it sound like they didn't bother bringing it down simply because the employee didn't do it for them. I can only go by what's typed.

Regardless, SM and Doom are both rides that are supposed to have their restraints physically checked before the ride starts. Everytime I've been on either ride the ops haven't failed to check the restraints. Sounds like someone needs more training.