How is this considered safe?

[momof3disneyholics]

I rarely ever post here anymore, but I had a question for those that are on the up and up about safety at the parks.
Yesterday I was at the parks with my 8 year old twins. We were quite happy that both of them were tall enough to ride Mummy, and they had a great time but it turned out that ride wasn't the scariest ride of the day for them.
When we were at IOA, we were boarding onto Spiderman and the fourth seat in our row was taken by a very, very obese man. When the lap bar came down, all three of us were left with ALOT of room. I actually took note of how far it was from them, and I could fit from my elbow to the tip of my fingers inbetween the lap bar and my daughter and it was pretty much the same for my son.
I asked the attendant "Is this safe?" and pointed to the lap bar, and he said "yeah, it's fine." Now, I know that the ride for the most part is a simulator, but there are some sharp turns in there and I was hanging onto the two of them during the entire thing.
So, can someone tell me how that was safe?

 

[Metro West]

I see your point but since there is only one lap bar for the whole row and you said the guy at the end was very large, that's the best it could do w/o cutting the large guy in half. I wish they would resign the lap bar for each seat so you can adjust it per rider. Whenever I ride it, I seem to end up with at least one child in the row who pulls the lap bar down to fit him/her but I'm left in pain throughout the ride because the bar is down too far. There doesn't seem to be a happy medium...unfortunately.

 

[damo]

Maybe they could put individual seat belts on the ride like the Indiana Jones ride in California and the Dinosaur ride at AK. There are no lapbars that come down there, just a stationary bar in front of you.

 

[RockNRollerGator]

I always have that problem on Spiderman and more so on Big Thunder. I always end up having to hold on so I don't get thrown around.

 

[BuckeyeGuy28]

Well, seatbelts are too expensive probably, and individual lap bars are too space-consuming. The thing is, you don't ever need restraints on a ride. The centrifugal forces and G's keep you in (ie: the Hulk, you would stay in the ride the whole time without the restraint because you're going so fast.) The bars are there for emergencies and for gripping on to in case you lost your balance during a curve or something. The worker couldn't ask the obese man to leave because everybody would just have the same problem and he'd feel very uncomfortable. I think that as long as there are people around you and you can't go flying up, then you're fine. Really, on Spider-Man, you can't fall out because of the doors and don't go through the roof because it doesn't drop you.

 

[kirbsam]

it was safe because you and hundreds of thousands of others dont get hurt on that ride.

 

[DeblovesPoohbear]

That would have scared me too, I also think the individual lap bars would
be great

 

[momof3disneyholics]

it was safe because you and hundreds of thousands of others dont get hurt on that ride.

That mentality is why there is always that one person in those hundreds of thousands that do get hurt. Sorry, but that was a stupid explanation.

 

[ChrisFL]

I tend to agree with you. There are also individual restraints on The Mummy.

I recall one time I was going on Spiderman and was a single rider, so they told me what row to go into, well a couple of smaller kids had already sat down and pulled the lap bar pretty far down...I really had to squeeze in there!!

 

[gelfling]

I am a very thin woman and this happens to me quite often. My family members are a bit overweight (not too overweight) and two of them are about 6 feet tall. The lap bar never comes down far enough. I've never gotten injured in the numerous times I've been on the ride though.

 

[ky07]

I agree that it is unsafe but I too am a big guy and have experianced small kids on rides with lap bars and have had them pull the lap bars so tight that it felt like it was cutting me in half

 

[patster734]

I've never noticed it being a problem on Spiderman, but I have been concerned about it on JPRA.

 

[JLTraveling]

I don't know if it's theoretically "safe" or not, but as a thin woman who was a scrawny kid, I've had that problem at theme parks all my life. The worst was at MK, back in the days when Space Mountain had a single seat belt to go around two riders (one in front of the other). I was barely big enough to ride, and I went on with my 6'4" Marine uncle. I slid out from under the seat belt and spent the whole ride on the floor of the ride vehicle!

That's the closest I've ever come to falling out though. I think in most rides, the G forces keep you in and the lap bars are primarily to keep you from standing up/climbing out/doing other stupid things. Now I just embrace it...it's a great way to catch air time on lap bar coasters!

 

[Krustycarnie]

The simple explanation is that you do not really need the lap bars in the first place. They are only there to make it more difficult to get out during the ride and so that you have some where to hold on too. While yes there was a lot of space, since you can completely and safely experience the entire attraction without the bar it is not a safety issue; however if you do feel uncomfortable you can with out a doubt ask to wait for another car on any "unibar" ride (ie.. jp river, cat in the hat). But there is no safety concern as you will not fall out.

 

[Purseval]

That mentality is why there is always that one person in those hundreds of thousands that do get hurt. Sorry, but that was a stupid explanation.

You ask for comments then put down people who make them. Sorry, but that was a stupid comment you made.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

I was looking for a valid explanation, not circular logic. When someone uses "because noone has been hurt so therefore you won't be" as their reasoning, then that is a moronic, pointless response.
Because most of the people tend to agree with me on this thread, I think I have a valid point.

 

[macraven]

I was looking for a valid explanation, not circular logic. When someone uses "because noone has been hurt so therefore you won't be" as their reasoning, then that is a moronic, pointless response.
Because most of the people tend to agree with me on this thread, I think I have a valid point.

 

[racefanof88]

I was looking for a valid explanation, not circular logic. When someone uses "because noone has been hurt so therefore you won't be" as their reasoning, then that is a moronic, pointless response.
Because most of the people tend to agree with me on this thread, I think I have a valid point.

Honestly though, if you wanted a "valid explanation" you should ask Univeral not a blog board. You are only going to get opinions here and you know what they are like . I am a small person compaired to my husband and yes, it does get scary riding some rides with him, but I don't ride the things I know would be a safety concern. I ride in a seperate row. I don't have a problem telling the ride staff that I want to ride in another row. I feel safety is a two way street. My first responsibility is to assess the situation and see if I deam it fit and if I say it isn't then it is my responsibility to not ride that ride, and it is the responsibility of the company to have me a safe exit at that time. The "seater" at a ride is only there to make sure the bar comes down and locks not that it makes "all" riders feel secure.

 

[drenalin'junkie]

Should've known logic wouldn't get past you .Obviously Ralph Nader needs to be called .

This ride is apparently so unsafe that we must act now in order to save the innocent lives who would otherwise be killed.First we'll need a list of prior victims to bolster our case Or perhaps just clip the umbilical finally .

 

[ky07]

Should've known logic wouldn't get past you .Obviously Ralph Nader needs to be called .

This ride is apparently so unsafe that we must act now in order to save the innocent lives who would otherwise be killed.First we'll need a list of prior victims to bolster our case Or perhaps just clip the umbilical finally .