splash mountain: lap bars now installed

[DReynolds86]

I'm surprised they didn't have them before.

 

[Robo]

The Splash Mountain attraction opened (at Disneyland) in July of 1989.

That means that it has operated (now in multiple parks) for over 21 years without needing the bars.

Countless millions upon millions of riders over that time.

Since nothing has changed as far as the physics of the attraction in those years,
it's just a strange that guests' antics have cause Disney to add the bars at this late date.

 

[DReynolds86]

What did it have before? Seatbelts? Nothing?

 

[cuchu2005]

I think this is a good thing. I was on the ride one evening and it stopped on the outside by the small waterfall. Well, the family in our log decided they didn't want to wait and dad, mom and oldest child got out. Dad then pulled out the youngest (probably @5 yrs old) just as the log started moving again. The poor kid almost fell in the water. Needless to say, our log immediately stopped short, all the flood lights came and an announcement was made for everyone to stay where they were. Needless to say, the father decided to walk away with family in tow and cast members came out a side door and went running after them.

I've always wondered if they were escorted out of the park after that.

That's exactly what should have happened.

I would have fixed it without compromising the budget related to modifying the logs: Replace the sign where Brer Rabbit tells you "you may get wet" with "you may get thrown out of WDW if you leave your log". Imagine the image of the sign: instead of a dripping rabbit, Brer Fox and Bear handcuffed walking towards the exit

Mx

 

[Disneyfreak616]

can i be the first to say THANK YOU IDIOTS WHO CANT FOLLOW THE RULES AND LIKE RUINING THINGS FOR EVERYONE!

Ditto to this!!! Splash Mountain is my all-time FAVORITE ride and I loved it just the way it was!! These lap bars are so stupid. I loved that it didn't have lap bars and it was much more comfortable. Now I won't say I hate it until I experience it, but it certainly will take some getting used to Do you know if this is happening at DLR as well??

 

[Robo]

What did it have before? Seatbelts? Nothing?

No in-log restraints (other than that old-reliable "gravity," which worked well for the previous 20+ years.)

 

[DAZY3BYZ]

The Splash Mountain attraction opened (at Disneyland) in July of 1989.

That means that it has operated (now in multiple parks) for over 21 years without needing the bars.

Countless millions upon millions of riders over that time.

Since nothing has changed as far as the physics of the attraction in those years,
it's just a strange that guests' antics have cause Disney to add the bars at this late date.

My thoughts EXACTLY!!

 

[Disneyfreak616]

No in-log restraints (other than that old-reliable "gravity," which worked well for the previous 20+ years.)

Amen to this!

 

[mom2rtk]

The Splash Mountain attraction opened (at Disneyland) in July of 1989.

That means that it has operated (now in multiple parks) for over 21 years without needing the bars.

Countless millions upon millions of riders over that time.

Since nothing has changed as far as the physics of the attraction in those years,
it's just a strange that guests' antics have cause Disney to add the bars at this late date.

Ahhh... but you left out an important detail.......

Just think how many lawyers have entered practice since then!

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

Like others, I am surprised they decided after all these years to install a lapbar for Splash Mountain. However, I have a child (DD8) who almost fell out a few years ago. Since then, she refuses to ride Splash Mountain. So, I am glad an accident isn't what finally took them to install the safety device. Now, maybe she'll give it another try. However, now I am going to have nightmares being tipped over on Splash Mountain with this bar trapping me in the log. Personally I think a seatbelt like Dumbo would be better for a water ride in case of an accident. Also, it would be a lot cheaper $$$$$ But, it sounds like they have already implemented the safety bar. So, I digress ...

Having a lapbar isn't always "the solution" though. Another ride with a lapbar that scares me safety-wise is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. When I ride with DD8, she is so much small than me. So, when the safety bar is lowered it only goes back as far as my belly and she is not tightly secured. So, I am always putting my arm around her making sure she doesn't go whipping out the open side of the train car. Does this freak anyone else out too?

Jennifer

 

[Robo]

Having a lapbar isn't always "the solution" though. Another ride with a lapbar that scares me safety-wise is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. When I ride with DD8, she is so much small than me. So, when the safety bar is lowered it only goes back as far as my belly and she is not tightly secured. So, I am always putting my arm around her making sure she doesn't go whipping out the open side of the train car.

This looks to be exactly the same system that they have just installed on Splash.

A little person sitting next to a larger person will cause the bar to not "fit" the smaller guest.
The bar will stop once it reaches the belly or legs of the larger guest.

Only one lap-bar per "bench" seat.

 

[Sleepy425]

The issue with the lap bar for me is I suffer from claustrophobia. On BTMRR/other lap bar rides I am fine if the car is moving, but at the end when they sometimes have to stop it right before you unload I get very...anxious.
I love Splash, and am concerned I may freak out if in a slow moving/not moving log for 20 minutes while being held down.

 

[mom2rtk]

My daughter's first comment as we got to the loading platform at Expedition Everest was........ Good. Separate lap bars. BTMRR bugs her too.

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

Ahhh... but you left out an important detail.......

Just think how many lawyers have entered practice since then!

We have become a sue 'em society. It's pretty sad. There are way too many lawyers out there today. (This is coming from someone with three lawyers in her family! )

Jennifer

 

[AnthonyJPreston]

.

 

[cuchu2005]

This looks to be exactly the same system that they have just installed on Splash.

A little person sitting next to a larger person will cause the bar to not "fit" the smaller guest.
The bar will stop once it reaches the belly or legs of the larger guest.

Only one lap-bar per "bench" seat.

I don't think lap bars will add something to the attraction, in fact I agree with the possible impact on wait times, but:

I have not read about the logic Disney has put behind the lapbars, but apparently has more to do with guests not jumping off the logs or standing up, than to prevent them from falling off the ride (where gravity serves its purpose and Disney knows this).

What I mean is that SM is not a bumpy attraction like BTM, where smaller guests should be secured more tightly.

So, a loose lap bar, due to larger guest beside a small guest, would not put the latter in an unsafer position than with a no lap bar situation, but it will surely make it harder for small and large guests to stand up and/or leave the log unauthorizedly.

Again, I don't support lap bars, but Disney wants to make sure everyone 'remains seated at all times', because they know there's no chance someone could fall off the attraction because of the drops.

Mx

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

It's funny...I am not a stupid person..I would never splash someone leaning out the boat or try to exit in any way.

But last time I was on SM, I did in fact stand up, MUCH to my surprise. It was an instinct thing...we had been talking online about getting wet, I had gotten soaked at Six Flags a couple months earlier and was miserable with chafing that day...

So we hit the first little spoolsh down...not the big one at all... the first one...and a giant wave comes over the front of the boat...I guess we were front heavy...not a splash mind you ....a wave and I.....

stood up to avoid it.

I was shocked I did it really. It was stupid. I know I know...if I was that worried about wet shorts I shouldn't have rode etc etc.

But there's one good reason for lap bars....the inadvertant, instinctual stand up.

 

[snykymom]

I love all the "you should just let the stupid people get hurt" comments. That's all well and good, until the "stupid person" is YOUR "stupid person." And I guarantee that there are a pretty large number of stupid people out there - real all the threads that talk about the folks who believe that the rules don't apply to them.

And then, of course, there are the whole group of teenage boys - pretty much "stupid" by definition. They believe that they are immortal and that they can do whatever they want whenever they want. Ever see a 14 year old boy refuse a dare? I haven't.

What would this thread look like if it were a 14 year old boy seriously injured?

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

What would this thread look like if it were a 14 year old boy seriously injured?

Exactly like the threads surrounding the boy killed by a Disney bus, which basically concluded (by the majority) that he was stupid and had it coming.

 

[Brian Noble]

Since nothing has changed as far as the physics of the attraction in those years,
it's just a strange that guests' antics have cause Disney to add the bars at this late date.

it is not hard to imagine that guests have become less willing to follow the rules than they once were. It is also not hard to imagine that legal has decided that what was once good, no longer is, even if the rate of Guest Stupidity has remained constant.

But, from my perspective, it surely does not seem as though Guest Stupidity has remained constant.