Lap Bars

[Yoshi]

I honestly wouldn't be surprised that part of the issue the Orlando parks have is that it's a Destination, so you end up with more tourists who get that little bit of extra courage to do stupid stuff they would never do back home. ("What happens in Orlando stays in Orlando" as it were.)

For a few people it could be because where they are from, at parks outside the US in some parts of the world it is acceptable to stand up on log flumes and rapids rides (at parks where there aren't seatbelts) so some people might not realize it is wrong.

 

[DOOM1001]

From what I've heard people trying to get out on these log flume rides is so common this would ultimately be the end result.The lap bars added to Dudley Do Right are pretty uncomfortable but I saw pictures on a website which says these will be similar to what they have on Big Thunder which isn't bad at all.

 

[sissy_ib]

This isn't appealing to me. Log rides don't need lap bars and when I was there, I don't recall them stopping the ride because someone stood up. It almost sounds to me like it didn't happen often or it happened when I wasn't there *shrugs*

I have only been to WDW twice, but both trips we were stopped multiple times on Splash because "someone is causing a ruckus upstrem". Splash is better at DL IMHO anyhow.

Wow, this is so disappointing. The "thrill" of a fume is that nothing is holding you in...well supposedly.
We all know that gravity works 100% of the time. This is evident by the lack of bodies strewn all over the ground.

The ride just wont be the same for me with lap bars. I understand they may bring comfort to smaller people who feel they my fall out or kids who don't understand yet how it will work, but there is no need to have lap bars for safety on the drop. But what can you do when some people just wont follow the simple rules.

 

[smidgy]

just wanted to report that about 5 years ago we actually SAW someone get out of the log on the slow ride up the major hill.
they were in the log ahead of us.
a woman jumped out, holding her little girl by the hand. the little girl looked like a rag doll, flailing in the air as mom jumped across the rather large space between the logs and the staircase on the side, pulling the little girl behind her!

the ride stopped immediatley, lights went on, CMS came out, seemingly from nowhere., and led her and the little girl away. then.. poof! there was no one! (kinda like the morlocks got another Eloi!)

but, we sat there, for a long time, until they restarted the ride.

how stupid! she must have thought, "oh, this is scarier than I thought. susie is scared. we'll just get out here!"

I shudder to think if the mom's grip had let go and the little girl had dropped between the log flume and the stairwell! what an idiot!!

 

[wtccheermom]

Screamsacpe has pictures of the newly outfitted logs:

http://www.screamscape.com/html/wdw_-_magic_kingdom.htm

So I guess my friend wasn't seeing things. I have been on the ride where someone in the log in front of us has tried to get out and it scared my niece so much that she has not ridden since. It was someone who clearly was not from the US and did not speak English and she kept trying to jump out on to the set for what reason I do not know but the man behind her eventually had to physically push her down to make her sit while his wife tried to explain to her how dangerous getting out would be. I guess they must have some sort of video surveillance on the ride because when we got back there were a group of Disney employees waiting for her and her travel companion and off she went. I am sure she did not get in any trouble maybe just a explanation in her native language about ride etiquette. I kind of felt sorry for her because she was older and seemed visibly frightened and I just knew she could not make the jump from the log to the side and if she did try it would end up badly for her.

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

I recognize those torso shaped water tanks. We saw them running EE with them in late 2010. I think they should decorate them to make them a bit more festive!

 

[heathsf]

I have to say this is pretty disappointing. Splash is one of my favorites and I've ridden it countless times - and several of those times it's been stopped with the announcement about a ruckus upstream. So I guess I can understand why but I just hope it doesn't take away from the ride itself.

 

[larryz]

Yeah, gravity. You fall at the same rate as the log, a penny, a whale, or any other non-aerodynamic object.

Or a bowl of flowers...

"Oh, no -- not again!"

 

[DCTooTall]

Or a bowl of flowers...

"Oh, no -- not again!"

Those poor Petunias.

 

[Symphony]

You'd be surprised by the amount of people that stand up, climb out of the log and walk through the scenery trying to get out (like the family who managed to find the door that leads out onto the railway line ), or my personal favourite, climb from the back seat of a log to the front while it's moving along. There are so many children in particular who stand up for the ride and the parents don't do anything about it. (Ex-splash CP)

If that's the reason I can see why they've done it but I'm not sure, I know the logs will never ever flip over but there's something about being restrained on a water ride that makes me feel a bit uneasy.

 

[PrincessTiffany]

There was a man killed on it a few years ago. It was in the part where the water dances across. Apparently he got cold feet about the big drop and saw an exit sign and decided to get out. He slipped and fell between 2 logs, getting crushed.

I work in insurance and the problem is if someone gets hurt because of their own stupidity, liability can still come back to Disney because they did not have safety checks in place. Just like they put the gates on the loading platforms.

Well, that accident was in 2000, so 11 years ago, and I haven't seen or read anything that anyone's been hurt on there since then. So, I guess I don't really get the timing of putting in the lap bars now.

Maybe there's just a lot more stupid people riding Splash Mountain now than there used to be. Apparently that's what the upgrade is about, keeping stupid people in their seats, not about anyone flying out on the drop.

 

[tinkerbellandeyor]

I don't like the idea of lap bars because my DFI and I like to hold hands during the ride except when I am holding on for dear life

 

[imthatgirl]

I don't like the idea of lap bars because my DFI and I like to hold hands during the ride except when I am holding on for dear life

A lap bar won't keep you from holding hands.
I am still very much against them, but don't worry about being able to be close to the person next to you.

 

[cm8]

You'd be surprised by the amount of people that stand up, climb out of the log and walk through the scenery trying to get out (like the family who managed to find the door that leads out onto the railway line ), or my personal favourite, climb from the back seat of a log to the front while it's moving along. There are so many children in particular who stand up for the ride and the parents don't do anything about it. (Ex-splash CP)

If that's the reason I can see why they've done it but I'm not sure, I know the logs will never ever flip over but there's something about being restrained on a water ride that makes me feel a bit uneasy.

 

[Timmy Boy]

So I guess my friend wasn't seeing things. I have been on the ride where someone in the log in front of us has tried to get out and it scared my niece so much that she has not ridden since. It was someone who clearly was not from the US and did not speak English and she kept trying to jump out on to the set for what reason I do not know but the man behind her eventually had to physically push her down to make her sit while his wife tried to explain to her how dangerous getting out would be. I guess they must have some sort of video surveillance on the ride because when we got back there were a group of Disney employees waiting for her and her travel companion and off she went. I am sure she did not get in any trouble maybe just a explanation in her native language about ride etiquette. I kind of felt sorry for her because she was older and seemed visibly frightened and I just knew she could not make the jump from the log to the side and if she did try it would end up badly for her.

Well there are somewhere between like 40 - 50 cameras on that ride. There is a Cast Member in a room watching everyone on board. No, that lady and her family were indeed kicked out of the park and not asked to come back. Disney does not mess around about safety. They could have gone to another ride like Big Thunder and attempted the same thing. No, if they leave their seat for any reason, it's an escort out of the park, no matter how sorry they seem.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

But then I think of the major effect that just adding gates to TSM has caused and it could cause a noticable difference.

Toy Story Mania has had station gates at the load platform since it opened.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Toy Story Mania has had station gates at the load platform since it opened.

Exit gates were put on the ride in Aug 2010. I know because TSM was closed while we were there to have them installed.

 

[wtccheermom]

Well there are somewhere between like 40 - 50 cameras on that ride. There is a Cast Member in a room watching everyone on board. No, that lady and her family were indeed kicked out of the park and not asked to come back. Disney does not mess around about safety. They could have gone to another ride like Big Thunder and attempted the same thing. No, if they leave their seat for any reason, it's an escort out of the park, no matter how sorry they seem.

Well that’s too bad because I really believe that she did not understand the dangers of her behavior or what Splash Mountain was really all about it ride wise. There really should be some sort of informational video to show foreign tour groups before the visit WDW.

 

[maxiesmom]

Well that’s too bad because I really believe that she did not understand the dangers of her behavior or what Splash Mountain was really all about it ride wise. There really should be some sort of informational video to show foreign tour groups before the visit WDW.

Really? You don't think it should just be common sense that once you are in a moving ride vehical you need to say put? Unfortunately you can't protect people from themselves, no matter how many videos you show them.

 

[wtccheermom]

Really? You don't think it should just be common sense that once you are in a moving ride vehical you need to say put? Unfortunately you can't protect people from themselves, no matter how many videos you show them.

Well she was a little old foreign women who visibly frightened and I am sure was not aware of what the ride entailed not an obnoxious teenager trying to be cool. She may have never been exposed to anything like this before so trying to get out of the log and exit through the scene may have made sense to her at the time. I am not saying what she did was smart and safe but have you ever been so frightened before that you will do whatever it takes to be out of the situation that is causing you to experience this fear? I am sorry I just think kicking a little old lady out of the parks for this is a little much especially if they had an opportunity to explain to her the devastating consequences of her actions and make sure is fully aware of proper ride behavior and also give her a little info on what rides she should avoid in the future. Disney excuses so many other stupid guest behaviors!!!