Question about Ripsaw falls IOA?

[tarheelmjfan]

I guess my head is always in the clouds, when I ride this ride. I really haven't noticed a change. Guess I was having too much fun to notice. Or it could be the death grip I always have on the bars that kept me from noticing anything else.

As a side note, I've never ridden a log ride that had a restraint installed. I know they're not supposed to be needed, but I'd feel better if they added them for purely aesthetic purposes. I've always hated letting my son ride those rides. I still sit with my arm pushing down on him on these types of rides. It's really quite comical, when you think about it. Especially considering the fact that he's almost 5' 10", & I'm 5' 1 1/2".

 

[kenban]

I'd appreciate a link. Themepark insider lists only one lawsuit back in the 90's. They seem to be the most accurate information on themepark safety. They even list which are rumors and what is verified. As an original member of the snopes.com (an urban legend) community, I am very skeptical of things stated as "fact". Just because someone states something and it gets printed does not make it a fact. I certainly don't know if this is the case here though.

ETA: This is just my opinion as a guest who loves themeparks. I hear and read more rumors in the media and on the internet than actual facts.

Heres the quote

Ed Normand, an Orlando lawyer, has two suits pending against Universal's Islands of Adventure for clients who say they were injured while riding a flume ride called Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls. The ride ends with a 75-foot plunge at 50 mph.

Recent court filings by Universal indicate the park has been sued by eight other people who said they were injured on that same ride. Universal officials did not respond to a request for comment.

"There's no restraint system," said Normand, whose clients include a 6-year-old girl whose forehead was sliced open. "Then when you get hurt, they claim it's your fault for not holding on tight enough."

Now that I am looking at it I might have read too much into it thinking most of the accidents occurred on the final drop. It does not go into details on how the people were hurt. Its from the St. Petersburg Times.



I have some statistics on amusement park safety and I will see if I can find them this afternoon. Mostly it comes down to the fact that amusement parks in general are VERY safe and most of the problems are caused by the guests. I really don't want anyone reading this thread to think any of the rides at Universal are unsafe including Ripsaw falls. These occurrences have been extremely rare and no one here knows everything that went on when any of it happened. Like I said before since the final drop had its track replaced last year I have not heard of any problems.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

kenban,
Thanks for posting the info. If Ed Normand's clients really did get hurt through no fault of their own, I hope he finds a better argument than no restraints. As has been mentioned a few times, none of the log rides have them. If that were the reason for the injury, there would be thousands injured & filing lawsuits yearly. Although, most people don't file lawsuits unless there's a serious injury or death.

 

[lindalinda]

That article is from 2005. I , of course dont know anything about the lawyer named, but those suits may have been dropped or something. It doesnt give enough detail to tell what type of injuries they are talking about. I guess they could have also been settled in some way. This ride doesnt seem very different than any other log flume ride I've been on (except you get way wetter)

 

[bubba's mom]

..... I've always hated letting my son ride those rides. I still sit with my arm pushing down on him on these types of rides. It's really quite comical, when you think about it. Especially considering the fact that he's almost 5' 10", & I'm 5' 1 1/2".

 

[F-L-A]

"There's no restraint system," said Normand, whose clients include a 6-year-old girl whose forehead was sliced open. "Then when you get hurt, they claim it's your fault for not holding on tight enough."

What in the blue hell???

 

[lindalinda]

What in the blue hell???

I didnt know hell was blue. Does it have something to do with Duke?

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I didnt know hell was blue. Does it have something to do with Duke?

Best post ever!!!

 

[Amity 3]

citing potential lawsuits from a scumbag personal injury attorney isn't evidence of a dangerous attraction.

if that's the argument, don't even LOOK at Mission Space as you walk by.

 

[bubba's mom]

//// don't even LOOK at Mission Space as you walk by.

cool ride!!!

 

[Amity 3]

cool ride!!!

a great ride, but a small percentage of humanity that have a problem with it.

we're going to Disney Quest tomorrow, I'll think I'll file a lawsuit after my hands tire from the video games.

every time you ride ROTM in the front row, look at the little bars they had to add to the loading gates because some moron slipped through them and died on the tracks.

 

[t-and-a]

When we rode the ride a few weeks ago it was indeed with 3-4 seats with backs on them.



I have the video slowed down at the end... its hard to see but you can sort of make out the seats.

rv

When we rode this in June 2005 and June 2006, it had 5 seats per log. I know it did because all 5 of us rode together. Has it changed in the last 7 months?

 

[Amity 3]

When we rode this in June 2005 and June 2006, it had 5 seats per log. I know it did because all 5 of us rode together. Has it changed in the last 7 months?

no it hasn't.

 

[bubba's mom]

okay, that does it! IF someone doesn't post a pic of the seats, I will get a pic when we go in June......

 

[tlinus]

I have been reading about people complaining about this ride where they nearly came out of the flume or was slamed into the seat. Is this ride really that bad or are people over exaggerating this. I will be going to IOA in May of this year and have a 9 year old and she wants to ride but I don't want her to get hurt . Thanks for any comments

Hello, my mom wanted me to let you know what my perspective of the ride is. this ride is a safe ride for kids. I have went on that ride since I was eight years old. It is safe but when I got on this ride in October the best part (the camel hump) was fixed and they decreased it in size because it was too big I am guessing. But thy are probably exaggerating what was going on because nothing went wrong on the sevral times I went on. The shape and design of the log is much diffrent from an regular old log flume, ___) <~ that is a computer drawing of the seat in the best way possible that I can describe it there are handle bars on the side of the flume that you can hold on to. There are many ittty bitty hills that you will get a little wet -you will go over a lot of hills to get to the top but you will know when you reach it! But right before/after I can't remember there is a medium sized hill that will get you wet. That is my out look on this ride I hope that I helped
Oh, I must not forget to tell you that the worst part of the ride s when you get down the hill and people can pay 25 cents to squrit you with a water cannon my loving sister got my dad and I in the head .
Once again I hope I helped,
Kate

 

[the Dark Marauder]

a great ride, but a small percentage of humanity that have a problem with it.

we're going to Disney Quest tomorrow, I'll think I'll file a lawsuit after my hands tire from the video games.

every time you ride ROTM in the front row, look at the little bars they had to add to the loading gates because some moron slipped through them and died on the tracks.

He didn't die on the tracks. He did fall and get hurt, which caused his PREEXISTING CONDITION to be escalated. He did not die on premises.

 

[bubba's mom]

Hello, my mom wanted me to let you know what my perspective of the ride is. this ride is a safe ride for kids. I have went on that ride since I was eight years old. It is safe but when I got on this ride in October the best part (the camel hump) was fixed and they decreased it in size because it was too big I am guessing. But thy are probably exaggerating what was going on because nothing went wrong on the sevral times I went on. The shape and design of the log is much diffrent from an regular old log flume, ___) <~ that is a computer drawing of the seat in the best way possible that I can describe it there are handle bars on the side of the flume that you can hold on to. There are many ittty bitty hills that you will get a little wet -you will go over a lot of hills to get to the top but you will know when you reach it! But right before/after I can't remember there is a medium sized hill that will get you wet. That is my out look on this ride I hope that I helped
Oh, I must not forget to tell you that the worst part of the ride s when you get down the hill and people can pay 25 cents to squrit you with a water cannon my loving sister got my dad and I in the head .
Once again I hope I helped,
Kate

dang! the girl is good...hook her up w/ a screename.....

 

[t-and-a]

OK, I just found a photo of the seats that my DH took last June. It's not the best photo; it's a little blurry. I think you may be able to tell that there are 5 seats in the front log, and the back log gives you a little better idea of what the seats are actually like.