High in the Sky Trolley Train

[Tinks1984]

Hi all,

Quick question...anyone know why the trolley ride is a 40" and above ride for kids? It doesn't look too risky from the photos. I've never ridden, but was just searching for things for my LO for next year at IoA and noticed the bigger height limit. My LO will be around 36" when we travel I think

 

[damo]

Hi all,

Quick question...anyone know why the trolley ride is a 40" and above ride for kids? It doesn't look too risky from the photos. I've never ridden, but was just searching for things for my LO for next year at IoA and noticed the bigger height limit. My LO will be around 36" when we travel I think

This ride was built with the park but was never allowed to open due to insurance issues. Finally, a few years ago, they put full, over the shoulder restraints on it and that seemed to satisfy the insurance guys. Insurance have still maintained that the ride is too dangerous for little ones, I guess because it is elevated with open sides.

 

[Go Vols]

Finally, a few years ago, they put full, over the shoulder restraints on it and that seemed to satisfy the insurance guys. Insurance have still maintained that the ride is too dangerous for little ones, I guess because it is elevated with open sides.

Did they add the shoulder restraints this year because they only had lap restraints last fall?

 

[Tinks1984]

This ride was built with the park but was never allowed to open due to insurance issues. Finally, a few years ago, they put full, over the shoulder restraints on it and that seemed to satisfy the insurance guys. Insurance have still maintained that the ride is too dangerous for little ones, I guess because it is elevated with open sides.

Ah I see, thanks for the clarification Makes sense I guess...guess we'll have to hunt out Spiderman instead for a photo opportunity!

 

[damo]

Did they add the shoulder restraints this year because they only had lap restraints last fall?

Sorry, you're right. They're not shoulder but they are an individual, moulded lap bar. They are similar to a coaster restraint and you definitely feel secured in there. It is too bad height limit is high because it is a cute ride for little ones.

 

[Tink575]

Hi all,

Quick question...anyone know why the trolley ride is a 40" and above ride for kids? It doesn't look too risky from the photos. I've never ridden, but was just searching for things for my LO for next year at IoA and noticed the bigger height limit. My LO will be around 36" when we travel I think

The ride goes very slowly, but down and up steep inclines and turns. A little one who could not be secured with the restraints would be in danger of possibly falling out.

It is very high up but gives a marvelous view of parts of the park.

 

[HeddyRuth]

It used to be 36" I think and my daughter was too small. Then we returned when she was 36" and started walking on and they stopped us because the height was now 40". Needless to say my daughter was upset since we had told her she was going to be able to ride it and they confirmed the height requirements had changed. My guess is that smaller children would have difficulties seeing out the side if they are too short and probably had a tendency of trying to climb up and out to see. We are returning in December and she will finally be 40", yay!!

 

[bumbershoot]

My guess is that smaller children would have difficulties seeing out the side if they are too short and probably had a tendency of trying to climb up and out to see.

That would be my guess, too.

 

[Tinks1984]

Thanks for the replies everyone 40" is the magic number! We'll head and see Curious George in US instead...much safer there for my LO!

 

[mrsabbott]

Yeah, my son was not allowed to ride it. It is NOT fast, but it is very high up. I thought it was odd that my son could ride Hippogriff (which he loved) but not the Trolley! LOL!

 

[BadgerGirl84]

It really irks me that my daughter can only ride 1/2 the rides in the DR. SEUSS area designed for CHILDREN due to height requirements on the rides. She can't ride Cat in the Hat (even though she loves the book) or the trolley. It just seems like poor planning. They had all the other lands in both parks to do thrill rides with height requirements...it would have been nice to have all the rides in this area not have a height requirement.

 

[damo]

It really irks me that my daughter can only ride 1/2 the rides in the DR. SEUSS area designed for CHILDREN due to height requirements on the rides. She can't ride Cat in the Hat (even though she loves the book) or the trolley. It just seems like poor planning. They had all the other lands in both parks to do thrill rides with height requirements...it would have been nice to have all the rides in this area not have a height requirement.

All of the rides in the Seuss area had to be approved by the widow of Dr. Seuss. The ride, with the spinning, was what she wanted. It is the spinning part the makes it unsuitable for little ones.

The ride used to have no limit but from what I have read, there were several instances of parents giving their little ones too much freedom on the ride and the ride having to e-stop. There were little ones standing up, people getting out, etc. etc.

I agree with you that the parks need some more family rides. I do believe that is in the long range plans.

It seems like Universal's insurance providers are much pickier than Disney's. The height limits are very cautious.

 

[johde]

All of the rides in the Seuss area had to be approved by the widow of Dr. Seuss. The ride, with the spinning, was what she wanted. It is the spinning part the makes it unsuitable for little ones.

The ride used to have no limit but from what I have read, there were several instances of parents giving their little ones too much freedom on the ride and the ride having to e-stop. There were little ones standing up, people getting out, etc. etc.

I agree with you that the parks need some more family rides. I do believe that is in the long range plans.

It seems like Universal's insurance providers are much pickier than Disney's. The height limits are very cautious.

Unfortunately you can thing a litigious society replacing for common sense parenting Looking at the Internet Wayback Machine. In 2011, Cat in the Hat had no height requirement and Sky High Seuss trolly had a 34" requirement (34" - 48" had to be accompanied by a responsible adult). http://web.archive.org/web/20110928...ort-Information/Ride-Height-Requirements.aspx .

Originally the goal was to have all the ride have no height requirement. Seuss Trolly was originally going to be Sylvester McMonkey McBean's Very Unusual Driving Machines. The ride was going to have individual car. I'm assuming similar to a ride a Kings Island.

The ride at Kings Island has enclosed cars and no height requirement. It is also an extremely slow loader. The company declared bankruptcy before the ride could be finished. The ride remained unfinished for several year. It was then used as Scenery for several years.

In a lot of peoples mind, right now, we have we worst of all situations with Cat in the Hat. They've added a fairly high height requirement. and they've severely limited the spinning. Long term, hopefully they can take a page from Sea World and offer 2 experiences a "wild" setting (the original) with a height requirement and a "mild" setting (limited spinning) with no height requirement.