California Screamin' Stuck

[GatorChris]

I guess if the ride is going to stop, it's a lot cooler to be the one on the ride than the one waiting next in line. We once had to walk out of the inside of the Matterhorn, which was a pretty cool experience. On the other hand, we were in line for Alice on our last trip and got to the front when it shut down. "Do we wait and possibly throw away another 30 minutes, or do we waste the last 30 and walk away." I hate that decision! I've made it on Alice, Space Mt, Roger Rabbit(x3), Radiator Springs Racers, and Twilight Zone(x2). It's been 50/50 when we stayed or went I think. Usually, I'll try to ask if the CMs know anything.

 

[agamble]

I got stuck on it. Thankfully we were in the easiest to evac position but that meant we were last off. We were just where the ride slows down and is about to go back to the load/unload area.

Glad you weren't at the top. I'd take waiting to be loaded off over having to walk down all those stairs. I love Rollercoasters, but I am not a fan of heights and I would probably have a panic attack if I had to walk down from the hill at Screamin'.

How cool! I've always wanted to be walked off a ride. Such a unique experience

Kriss

We've had the experience a few times. Big Thunder Mountain was definitely a unique experience. I never realized how tight/close the tracks are. It feels like you go through different caverns so far apart, but in reality it's just a themed wall separating the areas. That was a little scary, but it wasn't too bad because you weren't outside looking down at where you could fall off. Screamin' would be awful.

 

[Boku41]

My family's highlight was getting stuck in Space Mountain. As we were going up the first ramp, I kept hearing that we were in a holding pattern. However, we kept going up and eventually started the ride. It freaked me out a little. Then we stopped after a short distance. When they turned the lights on, we were the highest car. They came by and just manually nudged each car and gravity took us all the way down. We rode down with the lights on and not real fast. Once we got all the way down, they asked us if we wanted to go again and of course we said yes. They sent us up again without having to get out of the car. It is kind of crazy how close the walls are to the cars.

 

[bcla]

Not at DL, but I have heard of inverted/loop coasters where the riders were stopped while inverted. A cherry picker was typically used.

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_13031694

 

[bcla]

When we were there 6 months ago, we were on the Jingle Cruise and didn't get very far when the ride stopped. After several minutes in front of the tiger, the CM apologized and then.... we had to go backwards back to the dock. It was hilarious! We got a choice fast pass and ended up using it on Indy which was perfect because we wanted to ride it one last time that night, but the line had been too long.

One claim is that the revolver used on the Jungle Cruise can be loaded with a much louder set of blanks to signal a problem with the boat. Did you experience that?

 

[wilkeliza]

Not at DL, but I have heard of inverted/loop coasters where the riders were stopped while inverted. A cherry picker was typically used.

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_13031694

I wonder if they would use a cherry picker for California Screamin. I think the backpack is for places like expedition everest where there is no way you could get a cherry picker up there.

 

[DLgal]

CA Screamin really needs to be taken offline for an extensive refurb. That ride gets stuck SEVERAL times a week, every week. I won't ride it...I'm afraid something catastrophic is going to happen soon. There is no reason for this many instances of the ride being stuck. I have witnessed this every time I visit the park over the past three months, and I go very often.

 

[mich311e]

My family's highlight was getting stuck in Space Mountain. As we were going up the first ramp, I kept hearing that we were in a holding pattern. However, we kept going up and eventually started the ride. It freaked me out a little. Then we stopped after a short distance. When they turned the lights on, we were the highest car. They came by and just manually nudged each car and gravity took us all the way down. We rode down with the lights on and not real fast. Once we got all the way down, they asked us if we wanted to go again and of course we said yes. They sent us up again without having to get out of the car. It is kind of crazy how close the walls are to the cars.

We've had this happen, too. Last November while we were experiencing Hyperspace Mountain for second time, but our friend's first! The ride was almost to the tunnel at the end when it stopped. After a while the lights came on and we got pushed through and immediately got to ride again! Yay!

 

[bcla]

CA Screamin really needs to be taken offline for an extensive refurb. That ride gets stuck SEVERAL times a week, every week. I won't ride it...I'm afraid something catastrophic is going to happen soon. There is no reason for this many instances of the ride being stuck. I have witnessed this every time I visit the park over the past three months, and I go very often.

It gets stuck because the safety failsafes engage. It's not a sign that something catastrophic is likely to happen.

The only incident with any injuries was 2005 when one train bumped the next at the loading area. That was due to an improperly installed brake valve.

 

[Airplanes]

I've only ever gotten stuck on It's a Small World and it was outside right at the end so nothing exciting. I would be terrified of having to walk off Screamin'!

 

[wilkeliza]

CA Screamin really needs to be taken offline for an extensive refurb. That ride gets stuck SEVERAL times a week, every week. I won't ride it...I'm afraid something catastrophic is going to happen soon. There is no reason for this many instances of the ride being stuck. I have witnessed this every time I visit the park over the past three months, and I go very often.

Rides like this shut down because someone wears their hat and it falls on the sensor, stuff falls out of their pocket, they sneak in selfie sticks, and a dozen other issues. I don't think its frequent daily break down means something catastrophic is going to happen.

 

[bcla]

I wonder if they would use a cherry picker for California Screamin. I think the backpack is for places like expedition everest where there is no way you could get a cherry picker up there.

I think there's a back entrance, although it's kind of narrow. They might be able to use a scissor lift.

I remember the UC Berkeley oak grove tree-in. They managed to remove the last protesters by building scaffolding around a tree and cutting off the branches. The UC Berkeley Chief of Police was talking them down from a cherry picker. They also used a crane and a basket to help with cutting down the branches.

 

[tarheelalum]

My family's highlight was getting stuck in Space Mountain. As we were going up the first ramp, I kept hearing that we were in a holding pattern. However, we kept going up and eventually started the ride. It freaked me out a little. Then we stopped after a short distance. When they turned the lights on, we were the highest car. They came by and just manually nudged each car and gravity took us all the way down. We rode down with the lights on and not real fast. Once we got all the way down, they asked us if we wanted to go again and of course we said yes. They sent us up again without having to get out of the car. It is kind of crazy how close the walls are to the cars.

YouTube has a neat video of people getting stuck and getting walked off with the lights on.

 

[wilkeliza]

Oh looked it up and the evac wheelchair isn't a backpack. They just strap you into it and then bump you down the stairs! Does not sound fun.

 

[DLgal]

Rides like this shut down because someone wears their hat and it falls on the sensor, stuff falls out of their pocket, they sneak in selfie sticks, and a dozen other issues. I don't think its frequent daily break down means something catastrophic is going to happen.

But why the sudden increase? We don't know for sure that all these stoppages are due to sensors being engaged.

 

[wilkeliza]

But why the sudden increase? We don't know for sure that all these stoppages are due to sensors being engaged.

I don't know if it is an increase but CS has pretty much gone done at least once a day every day since it has been open or my fiance said it at least felt that way when he was a DL AP and that was how it was last summer. It wa down at least once every day of our D23 expo trip.

 

[lalasmama]

Oh looked it up and the evac wheelchair isn't a backpack. They just strap you into it and then bump you down the stairs! Does not sound fun.

... This still has me a bit concerned, LOL. I hope they will let me "butt bump" my way down!

 

[disneychrista]

Spin-off question: how do they evacuate someone who can't do stairs?

I know on Big Thunder, you can't ride if you can't do stairs. I had stair skip pass a few times and they always asked me "if you had to walk off could you do stairs" Which I could (it would be painful but I could do it). Wouldn't you know it the ride broke down and we had to walk off. Got some great "illegal" photos from that experience.

 

[agamble]

I know on Big Thunder, you can't ride if you can't do stairs. I had stair skip pass a few times and they always asked me "if you had to walk off could you do stairs" Which I could (it would be painful but I could do it). Wouldn't you know it the ride broke down and we had to walk off. Got some great "illegal" photos from that experience.

We were walked off of Big Thunder as I mentioned above. I imagine the difference between Screamin' and Big Thunder is that at Screamin' you could use the cherry pickers, etc. to get someone off as the ride is outside and relatively unthemed. But Big Thunder is very well themed and it would be very difficult to evacuate someone who could not walk down the stairs.

 

[bcla]

But why the sudden increase? We don't know for sure that all these stoppages are due to sensors being engaged.

Roller coasters well, coast. They get pulled (or launched) up a hill and then coast the entire way until the braking system is engaged, unless there's a secondary hill. They'll only stop in the middle of the ride for two reasons: if the brakes are engaged or the wheels break. I've read that the design of most ride vehicles is if the wheels break, the whole thing is designed to stop quickly rather than derail. However, if that happens they're typically not going to restart the ride that day since it's a major problem. Also, there are typically no brakes on the ride vehicle. Braking is done on the track.

I really doubt it's a sign of imminent disaster. It's more that the safety systems are working.