Original ride restraints...

[lauracitawita]

I think I read that TOT and Splash Mountain didn't have a seat belt or lap bar originally. Is that true?

 

[siskaren]

I can't recall about ToT (although I think it may have just had a bar to hold onto, but not that came down onto your lap), but Splash definitely didn't (in fact, I haven't been on it since the lap bars were added). And with Splash, it wasn't for safety reasons - well, not in the sense that it was felt it was necessary to keep people from potentially falling out of the logs - it was because people were getting out of the logs on their own, either because they were freaking out about the final drop or just because they thought it would be funny to walk onto the displays.

 

[bumbershoot]

I've read about the lapbars on TOT.

Splash didn't have bars just a year or two ago. They aren't needed *at all* for the physics of the ride. They ARE needed for the dingbats that mess around on the ride.

 

[denecarter]

TOT had large lap bars that covered the people sitting together in a row. It would only go down as far as the largest person on the row. There was a single seat, in the center of the top row, that had a seat belt.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

TOT had large lap bars that covered the people sitting together in a row. It would only go down as far as the largest person on the row. There was a single seat, in the center of the top row, that had a seat belt.

This. We went on it the first year it was open. I was in 5th grade and was the smallest person in a row of all adults. Definitely a decent amount of space between me and the lapbar. Got some serious airtime! We were in the front row and my dad held on to me the whole time because he thought I'd go flying out

I didn't know Splash added lap bars! That's nice for me mentally when my DD can ride for the first time in a few years. Even though they're not needed, I've always kind of squirmed when thinking about bringing DD on for the first time!

 

[ChloesDaddy]

Lapbars on Splash? Hadn't heard about that. I guess I should thank all the judgmentally challenged folks who decided to leave the ride early for dooming us all to the discomfort of a steel bar where one should never be. Kind of reminds me of this...

 

[CodeGoddess]

TOT had large lap bars that covered the people sitting together in a row. It would only go down as far as the largest person on the row. There was a single seat, in the center of the top row, that had a seat belt.

This is correct. I rode both when they opened and this was the only one of the two that had restraints.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I remember those yucky lap bars on Splash. I'm so glad they're gone. Whenever I rode Splash, those lap bars stank so bad that I started putting something between by hands and the lap bar, like a poncho or towel to keep the stink off my hands.

 

[siskaren]

I remember those yucky lap bars on Splash. I'm so glad they're gone. Whenever I rode Splash, those lap bars stank so bad that I started putting something between by hands and the lap bar, like a poncho or towel to keep the stink off my hands.

The lap bars aren't gone - they've only been around for maybe a couple years.

 

[Simba's Mom]

The lap bars aren't gone - they've only been around for maybe a couple years.

You're right, I apologize. I meant those bars that were permanently attached in front, that didn't lower down.

 

[Dan Murphy]

You're right, I apologize. I meant those bars that were permanently attached in front, that didn't lower down.

Yes, the grab bars. And yes, Dorothy, they stunk, really bad.

 

[siskaren]

Yes, the grab bars. And yes, Dorothy, they stunk, really bad.

Weird. I never noticed a smell.

 

[SueM in MN]

Time flies the restraints for Splash were added in 2011.
Here a link to an article with more info.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...ars-busiest-theme-park-disney-world-spokesman

 

[ChloesDaddy]

Time flies the restraints for Splash were added in 2011.
Here a link to an article with more info.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...ars-busiest-theme-park-disney-world-spokesman

Wow! I must have selective memory about this. We rode three times two years ago and I don't recall having to deal with the lap bar. Clearly, enjoying the ride with my family has allowed me to block this out. I still don't like that I'll have to deal with them on our next trip.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

Yes, the grab bars. And yes, Dorothy, they stunk, really bad.

OMG yes! The "leather" really stank and it was all over our hands the smell. The only other time I remember such a stink was when I was a kid and picked up a dead crab on the beach. Ugh.

 

[SmallWorld71]

I miss the lap bar on Tower of Terror. I am such a chicken, I need something to hold on to for dear life. I can't handle the ride now with the seat belts.

 

[bumbershoot]

Time flies the restraints for Splash were added in 2011.
Here a link to an article with more info.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...ars-busiest-theme-park-disney-world-spokesman

Isn't that odd?

I mean, that's right after our first trip to WDW, and I thought we got more trips on WDW's version without bars.

 

[SaraMc]

I can go back farther than that, I remember space mountain with the handles on the side of the car to hold on to. With ToT there was always one person who got a seatbelt and that was the back row middle seat. When they had the lap bars the person in that middle back seat always got the special, no lap bar for you, you get a seat belt talk.

 

[Ava]

I can go back farther than that, I remember space mountain with the handles on the side of the car to hold on to.

I remember this on Space Mountain, too. The height requirement was also smaller than the current 44" because my sister and I both rode it at 3-4 years old, and I know neither of us was 44" at that age.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

I can go back farther than that, I remember space mountain with the handles on the side of the car to hold on to.

And the seatbelts! A near copy of those 1970s Space Mountain cars/trains, right down too the side handles and seatbelts, ran on the Matterhorn at Disneyland until they changed the trains in 2012. (Random bobsled photo--you can see the side handles on the inside and outside.)