Is it true that Florida’s largest theme parks are exempt from state safety inspections, unlike smaller venues and fairs?

[LuvOrlando]

According to this article it is true but I'm thinking it's just an exaggeration, could this possibly be true that they don't answer to any state regulations?

"Florida’s largest theme parks are exempt from state safety inspections, unlike smaller venues and fairs.

Instead, the largest theme parks like Walt Disney World and Universal conduct their own inspections and have their own protocols, but they must report to the state any injury or death.

https://www.clickorlando.com/theme-...-universe-had-spinal-injury-new-report-shows/

I don't go to small fairs or carnival rides thinking those rides aren't watched, if the reverse is true I'm a bit taken aback.

 

[hardcorestitch]

If I were the FL governor right now, that would change instantly. EVERY park, no matter if it’s as tame as Disney or as small as a carnival, WILL go through those safety checks. Even if the parks have their own procedures, they would still go through the state to be extra safe.

 

[lanejudy]

The article doesn’t clarify what is meant by that comment. There is a difference between inspections for short-term carnival set-ups vs more permanent attractions at Universal and WDW. The safety inspections wouldn’t be the same.

 

[hardcorestitch]

The article doesn’t clarify what is meant by that comment. There is a difference between inspections for short-term carnival set-ups vs more permanent attractions at Universal and WDW. The safety inspections wouldn’t be the same.

Yes there would be slight variations. But the bottom line would be NO attraction would be left uninspected…

 

[lanejudy]

Yes there would be slight variations. But the bottom line would be NO attraction would be left uninspected…

That’s why I said the article doesn’t clarify. Annual inspections at WDW used to be done by Reedy Creek but it is now the state. So the article is misleading.

 

[princesscinderella]

I believe the protocol for the rides at the theme parks is that they are inspected daily before park opening by engineers employed by the theme parks. I’m sure logs are kept and a state inspector would just rely on checking those logs. I’m guess i g that before a ride opens up to the public for the first time the state would be out to inspect it. A permanent ride is very different than one that moves around in a carnival which is assembled and disassembled on a weekly basis.

My son lost his cell phone on the Curse of the Werewolf and we were told that the engineers walk the length of the track each morning to inspect and make sure the ride has no issue and to collect stuff that guests have dropped. Notice next time you go on a theme park all the bolts have a line of paint on them that extends to the surface to make sure the bolt doesn’t loosen up. If the line is broken it will be addressed.

 

[longboard55]

I am a structural engineer. I would assume the city is not even close to be qualified to provide safety inspections for theme park rides. I know Disneyland Anaheim which is in California which is the strictest state in the nation for inspections is largely self inspected, which they do on a daily basis. City inspectors are just not that good. Even on high rise buildings the owners usually provide private inspectors who send their reports to the city.

It is not like you see on TV, no one wants a problem with their building, no owner would consider cutting corners to save a few dollars on a million dollar project.