My son won't ride on JP

[Aisling]

My DS11 was VERY frightened by the drop the first (and only) time we rode JP back in 2001. Now we're going back this summer and his friends are telling him he's a baby because he says he does not want to ride it again. He's very into roller coasters and has ridden Rockin Rollercoaster, Space Mountain, etc, but not Hulk and DD yet, since he was too short the first time we went. He just doesn't like the water drop rides where there's no real seat restraints. I told him many people feel this way, and it's nothing to be ashamed of. Can anyone back me up on this? Thanks!

 

[YenSid1222]

There is a great story of someone else who won't ride down the drop of The Jurassic Park River Adventure! It seems that Mr. Steven Speilberg himself is terrified of that drop, and this is the man who made the movie! Not to mention other "scary" or "thrilling" films.

Evidently Steven (who has alot more clout at IOA) has them stop his boat at the top, then they let him walk down. Well, for us mere mortals, thats not an option...but there is nothing to be ashamed of not riding something that you don't want to.

So....if he doesnt get the guts up, he is still in great company.

 

[USO2003]

I am affraid to go on it anymore, a craked rib will change your mind about riding it again.

That has restraints they always have, what's a lapbar? Anyway they just put new lpbars in on November 17th 2002.

 

[damo]

When we were there in December we felt very restrained by the new lap bar system. It is big and very padded. Believe me, you're not going anywhere! Have him watch a few of the boats to check out the new restraints. Maybe he'll change his mind.

 

[DocBosch]

I'm a big coaster fan, but water drop rides still manage to freak me out. If your son likes coasters, then I'm sure it's probably not the fall on JP that scares him as much as the fear of the fall.

I think the distiniction between coasters and water drop rides is that, with coasters, you feel anxious for a few seconds as the train climbs the hill, but get to experience exhiliration for the rest of the ride, yet, with water rides, you're anxious and nervous for the entire duration of the ride to the top of the hill, and then feel the thrill only at the end, for a few seconds, as you drop.

Your son has two options. He can either choose to be scared of the JP drop, and simply skip the ride entirly, or he can decided to over come his fear by arriving early to the park, when the ride wait is zero, and riding it five (or more) times in a row. Much like a rollercoaster, after doing it a few times over, you get used to the drop (and the anticipation), and don't have a reason to scared anymore.

Since he probably likes coasters as much as I do, I'm sure he's more bothered by the fact that he is scared of the drop then of the drop it self, so I hope he takes the second option.

-Kevin

 

[robvia]

The trick to surviving water rides is making sure your feet are flat on the floor with legs extended in front of you. That way, when the boat hits the bottom, you can push back.

 

[pegasusEH]

We went on JP many times during our last trip. However my son who is now 9 says he doesn't want to go on it this time round. I don't think it's the drop that scares him (he is hoping to be tall enough to ride Hulk this time), I think its the dinosaurs that scare him. I am hoping he will change his mind but if he doesn't, I certainly won't try and talk him into it.

My brother-in-law was scared by Kong when he was about 8 and wouldn't go on it last time we were over - he was 19 then!

 

[Texan]

DH and DS then 9 rode JP at Universal in California in 2000. DH and DS now 12 and DS now 7 rode it in February at Universal in Florida. DH said they now have lap bars which now provide much more protection so he didn't mind DS7 riding it. Both DS loved it. Maybe your son will go for it knowing it isn't your typical water ride and there is a lap bar. But, don't push him. There's always "next time". (I wouldn't ride it and I'm 39!!!) LOL.

 

[mom23guys2]

I've never been to IOA. I love Spash Mountain but hate coasters( the side to side and up and down make me motion sick.) Is JP similar to Spash Mountain? Is the drop higher or longer? I'd love totry the ride since there aren't that many at IOA that I'd go on. It has me a little tense thinking your son won't ride it when he'll do the big coasters.

 

[DocBosch]

JP is an 85 foot fall, which I belive is taller then SM, and in the dark for most of the fall.

If it's any consolation, my mom refuses to ride any type of coaster, including Space Mountain, but she will ride JP!

P.S. "Eight-five foot fall".... there's a mouth full.

-Kevin

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Originally posted by DocBosch
JP is an 85 foot fall, which I belive is taller then SM, and in the dark for most of the fall.

JP is at least 30ft taller than Splash Mountain.

 

[USO2003]

If you want video of the drop let me know and I'll upload it for you.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

USO, hopefully it's not video of the drop when you were hurt--or if it is, hopefully there's no sound... I'd love to see video of the drop. I'll show it to my husband since he hurt his rib on the ride, too, and is always reminded of it by his family.

 

[USO2003]

No, this was after my injury. I have a picture on my site of me just a millisecond before I got hurt.

*NOTICE* I was covering my camera from potential water damage, as some people said I was hurt because "you were taking pictures, you didn't follow the rules and you got hurt now it's everyones fault but yours"

So it prove I wasn't taking pictures.

I'll upload the video ASAP.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

USO, I know why you got hurt. It's the Yankees hat! Just kidding.

My husband sure wasn't taking pictures before, during, or after he got hurt. I'm glad that they've improved the padding.

 

[Aisling]

Thank you for all these helpful responses. I've been showing them to my son and he feels better knowing you can be a coaster fan without being a water-drop-ride fan! He likes the idea of the newer lap bar, so we'll see what happens when we get there!

 

[USO2003]

If you want a clip of the Drop here is a link, it's not that good the framerate lowered, but if you want the full ride with a better version of the drop here is that video.

DROP: http://www.usf.i8.com/TREX.asf 1.43MB

FULL RIDE: http://www.usf.i8.com/JP- River Adventure.mpeg 42MB

If anyone uses these on a site or anything credit www.usf.i8.com for them since they do belong to me.

Mike

 

[mom23guys2]

Thanks for the video USO2003. I'm definitely going to try JP especially now that they have lapbars.

Aisling, whatever your son decides this time I'm sure he'll have a great time.

 

[IOATech]

For the record, JPRR has always had lap bars. Always. Since the ride was designed and built. Different methods of padding the bars have been used over the years but regardless of what some have said, there have always been lap bars here.

 

[USO2003]

Originally posted by IOATech
For the record, JPRR has always had lap bars. Always. Since the ride was designed and built. Different methods of padding the bars have been used over the years but regardless of what some have said, there have always been lap bars here.

I believe I said that in the 1st reply I made on the topic. "That has restraints they always have, what's a lapbar? Anyway they just put new lpbars in on November 17th 2002."