height restrictions: Everest vs. Primeval Whirl

[TandLMommy28]

Can anyone explain this to me? My daughter is 5 and she is really tall for her age (46.5" on her birthday in May, probably closer to 47" now).

I went on both Primeval Whirl and Everest. I can say that my daughter would have gotten a kick out of Primeval Whirl but Everest would have terrified her.

Primeval Whirl seemed so tame to me--I kept waiting for it gain speed or do SOMETHING and it never did. It seemed to inch along and the one drop was so mild. Everest, on the other hand, while not the most terrifying coaster I've ever been on, at least gets your heart pumping a little.

So why on earth is it only 44" for Everest but 48" for Primeval Whirl? I just can't figure it out for the life of me! Does anyone know?

 

[vicki_c]

There is no explanation other than the safety requirements set by the designer / manufacturer of the ride. They decide what the requirements are for passenger safety - how the harnesses are constructed, where you head rests, etc.

 

[suemom2kay]

PP is correct. Height restrictions are based on safety, not how scary a ride is. My DD is 9 and will NOT get on EE again. She rode it for the first time when she was 7. That being said...

Maybe next year!!!

Can't blame a thrill ride lovin' Mom for tryin'! She LOVES RnR though.

 

[TandLMommy28]

Oh, I understand safety requirements and all. I'm a safety nut and I certainly understand there is a reason for them... I just also like to understand those reasons. I'm not disagreeing or saying the reasons are not acceptable. I just really, really would love to know what it is about the ride that makes it need to be 48". Not for the sake of argument, just for the sake of knowledge.

I think I was just really, really expecting Primeval Whirl to be some kind of WILD ride with such a high height restriction since so few rides in Disney are 48" (outside of the water rides, just Rock N Roller Coaster is 48" and that one I can totally understand!). I think I got off the ride really disappointed.

 

[MareSINY]

I hated PEW (good acronym for that ride! ) I thought it was very jerky, when I got off my neck and head hurt. Maybe they figure younger kids might injure their necks or some such thing.

 

[suemom2kay]

Oh, I understand safety requirements and all. I'm a safety nut and I certainly understand there is a reason for them... I just also like to understand those reasons. I'm not disagreeing or saying the reasons are not acceptable. I just really, really would love to know what it is about the ride that makes it need to be 48". Not for the sake of argument, just for the sake of knowledge.

I think I was just really, really expecting Primeval Whirl to be some kind of WILD ride with such a high height restriction since so few rides in Disney are 48" (outside of the water rides, just Rock N Roller Coaster is 48" and that one I can totally understand!). I think I got off the ride really disappointed.

Oh, I get you now... I think the whipping around and the fact that the lap bar does not get close to the body, if I remember correctly. A tiny one could possibly be thrown around quite a bit.

 

[DISHoppy]

IIRC, I've read comments that PEW has been tamed down a bit recently, so it may not be the same as when the original requirements were made. Also, PEW spins and does not have a shoulder harness.

-Kevin

 

[cmspacca]

I will never go on PW again. DH, DD, DS and me were all in one car with me and DH sitting next to each other on one side. We spun continuously through the whole z shaped back and forth section at the end. I seriously thought I was going to puke.

Morale of the story I think is if you want to spin put two heavy people next to each other on the side that you enter the car. DH and I both said never again!

 

[chartle]

Oh, I get you now... I think the whipping around and the fact that the lap bar does not get close to the body, if I remember correctly. A tiny one could possibly be thrown around quite a bit.

This is the reason.

It not just the magnitude of the forces but the direction and how quickly they can change from side to side.

The ride on RnRC ans EE is very predicable and the forces are mostly up and down (feeling like you are being pushed into or out of your seat.

Though I have never been on PW, I have ridden the exact same coaster at Kennywood park called the Exterminator. The amount of spinning changes depending on the distribution of weight in the car.

Once my sister and I rode the two ends of the car and my sons where in the middle. It spun the entire time. Since then my sons are much bigger now we just don't get the same ride.

 

[ppony]

Obviously everyone addressed the safety part. I know that any rides that are really similar to PW at other parks also have a higher height restriction than other roller coasters for example. Inertia most likely has some part in it. Physics an I weren't friends in school.