coasters and child's weight?

[dana1003]

can someone please help me with this problem?? we have 8 year old twins..one weighs only 40 pds. she makes the height requirement but her weight is that of 4-5 year old..she wants to go on cheetah hunt in busch gardens but her weight freightens me! would she still be safe?? and that pretty much goes for all coasters ..she is very thin and i have a fear of her slipping out! mY answer for her right now is no , my hubby thinks im being paranoid..opinions?

 

[chartle]

The physics still work.

On all rides you would still stay in the car even without seat belts, over head restraints and the like.

I road RnRC with a mister fan on a strap. I just happened to hold it by the strap and never once did it point "up".

 

[Qltrgrl2]

I would not take a chance. Just my personal opinion, but they have height and weight restrictions for a reason. Can you and she do something else while your husband and other daughter go on the ride?

 

[deegack]

If she meets the height restrictions she is fine. The restraints are designed to prevent people from slipping out.

 

[deegack]

I would not take a chance. Just my personal opinion, but they have height and weight restrictions for a reason. Can you and she do something else while your husband and other daughter go on the ride?

She meets the height requirements and there are no weight restrictions.

 

[chartle]

She meets the height requirements and there are no weight restrictions.

Never seen a scale at any amusement ride. Now there maybe one somewhere, but not at any mainstream ride.

 

[OKW Lover]

The safety concerns are only about physical dimensions of the restraint system, not about weight. Your daughter will be fine as long as she is tall enough.

 

[doconeill]

Simple physics. Take both kids, pick them up, and drop them. They hit the floor at the same time.

The weight of the rider does not factor in. The only potential problem is if the safety systems can't secure properly, but that depends far more on height.

 

[chartle]

Simple physics. Take both kids, pick them up, and drop them. They hit the floor at the same time.

The weight of the rider does not factor in. The only potential problem is if the safety systems can't secure properly, but that depends far more on height.

It kind of does. Since force = mass x acceleration the lower the weight the less forces applied.

Though I have to double check with my sons. I had college physics 30 years ago. They had it over the past 2-3 years and much more of it, though my youngest would want to use physics at the quantum level.

 

[disnut8]

I'm going to side with your husband on this one. Took our five year old grandson in January who barely, and I mean barely, made the height requirement and he rode just about everything he could. So he's probably the same weight as your daughter. My grandson is still alive and kicking today, never had a doubt that it was safe for him to ride.

Now, he didn't like certain things (I thought his mother would have bruise marks from his death grip on Soarin') but if your daughter is willing, she's not going to have any problems.

Relax a bit - never heard of a kid accidentally falling out of a Disney restraint. Ever.

 

[doconeill]

It kind of does. Since force = mass x acceleration the lower the weight the less forces applied.

Though I have to double check with my sons. I had college physics 30 years ago. They had it over the past 2-3 years and much more of it, though my youngest would want to use physics at the quantum level.

Ah...but it depends on what is providing the force...

Gravity is gravity, always getting everyone down...I mean, pulling everyone down. Where weight matters is how much force YOU apply on whatever is keeping you from falling. A lighter person provides less force.

As for other forces, they are provided by the coaster vehicle, which outweighs the guests significantly and certainly is up to the job, and the safety systems (keeping the guest in the vehicle during negative and lateral g-forces.) I'd be more worried about strain on the safety systems if they weight more rather than less. And they are very, very well tested at a variety of weights and sizes.

 

[dzorn]

can someone please help me with this problem?? we have 8 year old twins..one weighs only 40 pds. she makes the height requirement but her weight is that of 4-5 year old..she wants to go on cheetah hunt in busch gardens but her weight freightens me! would she still be safe?? and that pretty much goes for all coasters ..she is very thin and i have a fear of her slipping out! mY answer for her right now is no , my hubby thinks im being paranoid..opinions?

Do you honestly think they would allow children to ride if it was not safe?

I agree with your hubby.

Denise in MI

 

[reelmom]

My son is small also. I was so worried when he hit the height requirements for the coasters. I got so banged up trying to hold onto him during the rides, especailly Space Mountain. I was leaning forward with my hand on his shoulder as much as I could. Anyways, he was fine. He is still small and I still worry, just not as much. He will be 9 in June and finally weighs 50 pounds.

 

[alex9179]

I'm glad you asked this question. My 7 yr old and 4 yr old both weigh 40 lbs. I've had the little "hmmm, will this be an issue?" bugging me.

 

[auprincess]

My 7 year old weighs less than 40 lbs (38) and just met height requirement for the 44" rides on our last trip ~ she rode them all with no problems!

 

[Hannathy]

My DS is about as skinny as you can get and he rode the rides as soon as he made the height. He is 5'3 inches now and weighs 84 pounds so you can imagine what he weighed when he was 44 inches. If they are tall enough they will be ok. Especially the ones that go upside down because you are held in by centrifugal force, the overhead restraints are only there in case it stops upside down.


If she wants to ride it and is tall enough it should be her decision whether she goes on.

 

[Madzac]

My oldest DD first rode at 4 yrs old and she is about as tiny as you can get... I dont think she was more than 35 pds at that point. No problems, and she loved them!!!

The only ride I havent let my kids do is mission space orange... the warnings and stories make me nervous!

 

[chartle]

My oldest DD first rode at 4 yrs old and she is about as tiny as you can get... I dont think she was more than 35 pds at that point. No problems, and she loved them!!!

The only ride I havent let my kids do is mission space orange... the warnings and stories make me nervous!

Of all the "big rides" I would say its about the tamest. Its just g force.

Just like this ride.

 

[DavidNYC]

I can't imagine it would be a problem as many others have said. But it sounds like your worrying may prevent you from enjoying things. Easy solution - call your pediatrician and ask them if you should be worried about any rides due to her weight (but making clear that she meets the safety requirements of the ride). A blessing from them will probably put you more at ease.

 

[dana1003]

Yes - you are right about my worrying stopping me from enjoying things .. I am afraid that if I go against my gut and something happens I will never forgive myself. Here's a stupid q though.. A few months ago I saw a story about a man who flew out of a coaster who was a double amputee.. Wouldn't physics have kept him in??