splash mountain: lap bars now installed

[cjsm&d]

That would be nice in a perfect world but it doesn't happen that way. The fact that 1 person was killed on this ride is one too many and others have tried to get off is enough that something needs to be done. They have to manage to a worst case scenerio, not to a perfect world. Especially with children involved.

Wow! I must be out of the loop? When did someone die on this ride? I remember the kid that died after riding mission space....

 

[Robo]

Wow! I must be out of the loop? When did someone die on this ride? I remember the kid that died after riding mission space....

It happened...


10 years ago.

And, yes, there have been literally millions who have ridden safely since that tragic occurrence.

 

[cjsm&d]

It happened...


10 years ago.

And, yes, there have been literally millions who have ridden safely since that tragic occurrence.

Thanks

OK... for my family, about 20 rides on it ago. That was some timely corrective action. I'd have loved to be on the root cause and corrective action team on Disney's dime for this one!

 

[DebbieB]

Wow! I must be out of the loop? When did someone die on this ride? I remember the kid that died after riding mission space....

http://articles.cnn.com/2000-11-05/us/disney.death_1_log-shaped-boat-splash-mountain-flume?_s=PM:US

If there have been other similiar incidents, even if no one was killed or seriously injured, puts responsibility to put a safety measure on.

 

[lilosurf11]

I love splash mountain, but I always felt like I was going to fall out. I'm actually glad they did this.

 

[mom2rtk]

No way was this a reaction to one incident 10 years ago. How many refurbishments have they done on this ride since then???????

I doubt it's a safety restraint....... probably more of an idiot restraint...... sort of like a straight jacket...... or the leash parents put them on toddlers to keep from wandering off.......

 

[justakrazymom]

No way was this a reaction to one incident 10 years ago. How many refurbishments have they done on this ride since then???????

I doubt it's a safety restraint....... probably more of an idiot restraint...... sort of like a straight jacket...... or the leash parents put them on toddlers to keep from wandering off.......

yeah that!

 

[Chrisinroch]

It sure does. And the dumbing down of the United States continues. (and the ever growing glut of Lawyers)

Well said. We visited Legoland in Germany a few years back and were shocked by how they let the kids have fun with awesome activities that would never be allowed in the US.

e.g. they had a little man made lake (maybe 2-3 feet deep) and the kids could paddle/pole little rafts across to a pirate ship. They had lifeguards and tons of parents watching, but if a little kid fell in....heck they just stood up and got back on the raft. It was awesome for the kids.

It seems they might have the idea that if you are stupid enough to stand up on a moving flume ride, you are responsible for the consequences.

 

[Hannathy]

That would be nice in a perfect world but it doesn't happen that way. The fact that 1 person was killed on this ride is one too many and others have tried to get off is enough that something needs to be done. They have to manage to a worst case scenerio, not to a perfect world. Especially with children involved.

No you are asking for a perfect world and it doesn't exist. You can't get rid of all risk!!! There is always risk. Just being alive is a risk. And no you don't always manage to a the worst case scenario you mange to an acceptable risk and the fact that there have been millions of rides before and many millions of rides since the one time someone was killed by their own fault and actions proves this was a safe ride and this is just for the lawyers. there was no NEED to change anything.

(where is Shakespeare when you need him)

 

[DebbieB]

I work for an insurance company and agree you can't get rid of risk but you can manage risk. And that's what they are doing. I'm sure they would not spend the money to upgrade it if they did not feel it was necessary. They have been doing alot of that - gates on the platforms, gates on the trams. Part of Risk Management is putting safety checks in to prevent people from getting hurt if they accidentally or on purpose do something stupid.

 

[supersuperwendy]

I would love confirmation of whether or not you can still have 3 in a row with the new lap bar? Did the ride reopen yet?

 

[Luis Rodriguez]

I would love confirmation of whether or not you can still have 3 in a row with the new lap bar? Did the ride reopen yet?

Only two across, I'm afraid. Check out this link:

http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disney-news/theme-parks/splash-mountain-receives-lap-bar-restraints-walt-disney-worlds-magic-kingdom-photo/

Regards,

 

[justakrazymom]

.. saw a video posted on Youtube.. the first 2 logs had people 3 across..

 

[ryandouglasmusic]

Rode it this week. I didn't see any groups of 3. From what we could see parties are a max of 2 per row now. But maybe everyone that rode with us just assumed and didn't push it.

 

[Robo]

.. saw a video posted on Youtube.. the first 2 logs had people 3 across..

Yes.

HERE is that new "lap bar" video with the first two logs shown having 3 per row.

They happen to each be in the 4th (last) row of each of those logs.
But, since there's nothing unique about row 4 (except that it's usually DRYER )
I figure that if you and your riding partners were small enough, you could sit 3-across in
any of the rows.

 

[Agri]

Finally rode it yesterday! Lapbars aren't that bad, since there isn't a handle/grip anymore so there is more knee room at least. Bad news is it wentdown Friday afternoon and last night. I was stuck in a log with a bunch of screaming teenagers at the end of the ride. I was not in my laughing place. I got the fastpass to any attraction when I finally got off. It did not appear that much had been fixed besides the modifications to the logs. The wonky eyes are still there and out of synch movements are still there as well as the obviously missing flowers are still missing. It going down the first two days of our vacation hasn't made a god impression on me for the refurb.

 

[ajjollie23]

Lap bars don't bother me but my hubby is 6'7" and had some difficulty getting into the ride before so now I am a little worried that he won't fit and it is one of his favorite rides.

 

[hockeybabe]

Respect in general has been declining all over the world, and WDW is certainly not insulated from this trend. More and more people don't respect the rules and laws of society as much as they once did. More and more parents aren't holding their children to the same standards as our parents did, and then their parents before that; in fact, we are seeing more and more parents defending behaviour in children that their parents would never have. I'm sure there were rule-breakers when WDW opened decades ago, but I am sure the rule-breaking has increased exponentially every year since. It's in our communities, our schools, everywhere. A sense of entitlement, a "what are you going to do about it?" attitude. If it is not against the law, it is our right to do whatever we want to, and rather than throw paying patrons out of a park or resort or restaurant, WDW is trying to passively prevent rule-breaking. It ruins it for the rule-followers, but does not "infringe" upon paying customers rights.

Sad.

 

[Rags]

Respect in general has been declining all over the world, and WDW is certainly not insulated from this trend. More and more people don't respect the rules and laws of society as much as they once did. More and more parents aren't holding their children to the same standards as our parents did, and then their parents before that; in fact, we are seeing more and more parents defending behaviour in children that their parents would never have. I'm sure there were rule-breakers when WDW opened decades ago, but I am sure the rule-breaking has increased exponentially every year since. It's in our communities, our schools, everywhere. A sense of entitlement, a "what are you going to do about it?" attitude. If it is not against the law, it is our right to do whatever we want to, and rather than throw paying patrons out of a park or resort or restaurant, WDW is trying to passively prevent rule-breaking. It ruins it for the rule-followers, but does not "infringe" upon paying customers rights.

Sad.

I agree and well said!

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

I sure hope they let us go with three (one adult and two children) in one row. We are a family of five and DS10 always seems to be the odd-man.

When I told DD8 they installed a lap bar on Splash Mountain, she smiled. This is the child who used to LOVE SM, but got spooked one year and refused to ride ever since. She has given the thumbs-up and is willing to ride it on our next trip. YEA!!!!!!

Jennifer