Jan. 19 - Sorry I closed down Dragon Challenge

[DLRwish]

My sister, mom and I just returned from a wonderful 5 day trip to Universal Studios. We purchased 4 day tickets and were there open to close. It was pretty cold, temperatures ranging from 36 F- 66 F. No rain, all shine.

On our second-to-last day,after riding FJ, we went on to ride Dragon Challenge. As usual, we picked Ice, 7th row. We had done it before and decided this was the best row. As we left the station and commenced our ascent before all the loops and stuff, my Over the shoulder restraints popped up, the belt holding it in place. I told my sister and we were sort of laughing and afraid at the same time. We didn't really know what to think. I immediately pulled it down. It did stay, but as reached the middle of the ride, it popped up again and continued on as I kept holding it in place. I wasn't really worried at all since the belt holding the restraints and the positive G's would keep me in my seat.

We returned to the station and my restraints were even at a higher level than when we departed. Crazy I know.

My sister told me to tell the CM's so I did. I think they didn't believe me at first or they didn't understand what I was trying to say. Anyway, once the message got through that the restraint malfunctioned, a CM said , "Yeah, we gotta call that in." My sister and I headed towards the exit. They closed down the ICE side immediately ( meaning right after I got off) and we saw one more FIRE vehicle and that was it.

After getting out bags from the lockers, the "upper" CM's ( the ones with the walkie-talkies and ear piece) were at the entrance.

I didn't think they'd actual shut down the whole thing temporarily! What i thought was they were just going to not use that car (or seat) I was on.


I went on it again the following day, same row, same seat, but probably different car.

All in all, awesome vacation! We used Unlimited Express Passes and they were so worth it. We saw many many many tour groups, the majority being Brazilians.

 

[bumbershoot]

Omg you have just given me a heart attack. I ride it for my son and felt like I was going to die yesterday because I was so scared on the ride. And now I read this when I had been considering letting him ride without me. He would NOT react well if that happened. Nor would I. Gently hyperventilating just thinking of it.

 

[Siriusblack]

I don't even ride that one and I'm panicking!

 

[DLRwish]

Didn't mean to startle you! But seriously, I didn't have time to react to what was happening. I just rode it out...literally.

This didn't stop me from riding again. I went on it the following day with no fear or hesitation. You guys should go!

 

[Metro West]

Didn't mean to startle you! But seriously, I didn't have time to react to what was happening. I just rode it out...literally.

This didn't stop me from riding again. I went on it the following day with no fear or hesitation. You guys should go!

Glad you had fun...my personal favorite was Fire (when it was called that). I liked the extra flip at the end.

 

[schumigirl]

Glad you had fun...my personal favorite was Fire (when it was called that). I liked the extra flip at the end.

That is our favourite side too..........hard choice though

 

[Liberator]

B&M Coaster shoulder restraints do not pop up while riding, they have additional (I think it was 2) safety-catches to prevent from popping up.


the belt is not there for safety reasons while riding, it has another reason: if the belt does not fit, you may not ride - that is the point.

there has never been a case a B&M restraint popped up. the computer systems also would never let a train leave a station without all restraints locked like they are supposed to be!

sometimes the restraints feel a little bit loose or you can rattle them up and down 2cm...that is normal. you have never been in danger! the ride did not shut down because your restraint really opened up.

 

[DLRwish]

B&M Coaster shoulder restraints do not pop up while riding, they have additional (I think it was 2) safety-catches to prevent from popping up.


the belt is not there for safety reasons while riding, it has another reason: if the belt does not fit, you may not ride - that is the point.

there has never been a case a B&M restraint popped up. the computer systems also would never let a train leave a station without all restraints locked like they are supposed to be!

sometimes the restraints feel a little bit loose or you can rattle them up and down 2cm...that is normal. you have never been in danger! the ride did not shut down because your restraint really opened up.

I'm pretty sure the belt is there is a last-resort incase the restraints do pop up. I 'm sorry but it did not pop up only 2 cm. I went crazy up, like, the belt was almost at its maximum length. I was able to pull it down and lock it in but during the ride it went loose again, locked it, went loose, etc.

Yes, they did close the ride after I reported it . I stayed there. No one else boarded, they let the FIRE side run one more time, and by the time I got to the lockers, CMs were posted at the front of the attraction telling guests they were having technical difficulties. The CM who unboarded me also told me he was calling this in. This incident happened *AFTER* the car left the station, during the climb.

 

[DLRwish]

Glad you had fun...my personal favorite was Fire (when it was called that). I liked the extra flip at the end.

Thanks! We just found Ice to be smoother. yeah I'd like to experience the extra flip, but I just really dislike my head banging on the sides.

 

[tinkerpea]

B&M Coaster shoulder restraints do not pop up while riding, they have additional (I think it was 2) safety-catches to prevent from popping up.

the belt is not there for safety reasons while riding, it has another reason: if the belt does not fit, you may not ride - that is the point.

there has never been a case a B&M restraint popped up. the computer systems also would never let a train leave a station without all restraints locked like they are supposed to be!

sometimes the restraints feel a little bit loose or you can rattle them up and down 2cm...that is normal. you have never been in danger! the ride did not shut down because your restraint really opened up.

I'm sorry was you on the ride at that exact time? I'm guessing you was,as how else would you know that they did NOT close the ride down due to a tech difficulty with the seat restraint!!?!

I don't see that just because nobody else had reported that a B&M restraint has not popped up whilst in action that it had never happened!

I find it really rude to tell somebody what happened to them when you was not the one on the ride next to them nor the person it happened to.

 

[HoneymoonandBEYOND]

Same thing happened to my wife on the same ride.

It does happen, I hate to inform anyone who thinks otherwise.

Hers popped up far more than the wiggle room, and she the squeezed it to her out of reaction and fear and it locked down even tighter mid ride.

The CM didn't care, but they did talk to us about it and apologized.

I witnessed this occur, not a rumor off of a site. Basically EXACTLY how the OP described it too and on the same coaster (though I do not recall the exact seat/ row).

 

[Liberator]

sorry, I did not want to be rude or attack anyone, but personally I do not believe that it popped up the whole way instead of 2 or 3 saftey-ratches


my text above sounds a little bit like "I know it all and you do not" - that was not my intention, sorry!


the insurance companies are very intereseted in those seat-belts, take a look at the "big-boy" seats on most Bolliger & Mabillard coasters. If 100% popping up incidents would happen that often, B&M would have a problem.

you can google for the saftey-system on B&M Inverters

 

[HoneymoonandBEYOND]

sorry, I did not want to be rude or attack anyone, but personally I do not believe that it popped up the whole way instead of 2 or 3 saftey-ratches


my text above sounds a little bit like "I know it all and you do not" - that was not my intention, sorry!


the insurance companies are very intereseted in those seat-belts, take a look at the "big-boy" seats on most Bolliger & Mabillard coasters. If 100% popping up incidents would happen that often, B&M would have a problem.

you can google for the saftey-system on B&M Inverters

Can not speak for OP, but I can speak for our experience.

We are pass holders and there usually at least once per month. We ride the dragons aplenty, and this was not normal. It may not have been a FULL extension, but it did extend beyond the normal range, we are well aware of the normal range.

I think it is somewhat notable that it happened to us on the same exact one that the OP did, and though I don't remember exact row and seat, it was several rows back and could have been the same one.

Just saying, though I am well aware of coasters normal safety mechanics, this day was not normal.

 

[DOOM1001]

That's why I'm a fan of the belts,I rarely if ever ride Rip,Ride Rockit more than once,no belts there.

 

[DLRwish]

Same thing happened to my wife on the same ride.

It does happen, I hate to inform anyone who thinks otherwise.

Hers popped up far more than the wiggle room, and she the squeezed it to her out of reaction and fear and it locked down even tighter mid ride.

The CM didn't care, but they did talk to us about it and apologized.

I witnessed this occur, not a rumor off of a site. Basically EXACTLY how the OP described it too and on the same coaster (though I do not recall the exact seat/ row).

Must have been scary for both of you as well!

I expected mine to tighten more and stay tightened during the ride, but that was not the case. When the train returned to the station, my restraint was at notably higher level then when the train departed the station. I've been on lots of coaster with these types of restraints, and that is not suppose to happen..having your restraints arrive looser than when you left ( after pulling it down when it popped up!)


I can't believe the CM didn't care. I cared a lot and did not want anything worse to happen to the next rider. I basically stopped the ride. I waved down all the CM's operating Ice and took my time explaining the occurrences, even illustrating it with another seat.
Thanks god for the positive G's during the ride that held my restraint to my body for the most part.

 

[DLRwish]

Can not speak for OP, but I can speak for our experience.

We are pass holders and there usually at least once per month. We ride the dragons aplenty, and this was not normal. It may not have been a FULL extension, but it did extend beyond the normal range, we are well aware of the normal range.

I think it is somewhat notable that it happened to us on the same exact one that the OP did, and though I don't remember exact row and seat, it was several rows back and could have been the same one.

Just saying, though I am well aware of coasters normal safety mechanics, this day was not normal.

Wow, it unsettles me to read that it's happen to other in the same side, around the same rows!

Perhaps this should be looked into further.

Correct, it was not a FULL extension, but a near-to full extension ( pop up)