Stilled Pissed at CMs on Rockin Roller Coster

[scoutsmom99]

That is so scary! I'm always nervous of something like that happening on a ride. I'm glad you are ok.

 

[maxaroni]

I'm sorry to hear this but glad you are ok.

I am very nervous with things like this and especially, after my son started on rides.

I didn't have as close of a scare as that but on RnR, I had barely sat down and the CM's were beginning to start things up. It takes me a longer time than some to get situated as I have back, neck and feet problems. I did manage to get set but with only seconds to spare. It was as if the CM didn't really care...everyone else was set and he barely checked me.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Wow, that is the kind of thing I expect to hear about regarding some two bit travelling carnival! I remember as a kid riding a ride at some type of little carnival with my brother, we were about 6 and 10 at the time. The car door came open and we were so scared! It felt much scarier to our young minds than it probably was but I remember my dad watching and looking scared and yelling to the operator. Probably about gave him a heart attact too!

 

[Schmeck]

I'm sorry to hear this but glad you are ok.

I am very nervous with things like this and especially, after my son started on rides.

I didn't have as close of a scare as that but on RnR, I had barely sat down and the CM's were beginning to start things up. It takes me a longer time than some to get situated as I have back, neck and feet problems. I did manage to get set but with only seconds to spare. It was as if the CM didn't really care...everyone else was set and he barely checked me.

You have back and neck problems, and ride RnR?

 

[swtnikki]

That's scary to read, but I'm glad that you're all right & still alive w/us.

 

[Micca]

Are we certain that there isn't some kind of indicator that alerts attraction operators in case of failure? Would a RnRC ride car proceed along the track if one of the harnesses wasn't locked in place?

 

[DisneyObsessive]

i had the opposite problem. the last time i went to WDW last summer, at the end of RnR the restraint didnt lift. Everyone got off the ride and i yelled that i was stuck, so one of the last people to get off the ride informed a CM who came over and let out a non-chalant "oh no" and had to push down on the restraint to get it to rise up. I thought i was gonnabe like stuck in the ride forever! lol freaked me out.

 

[Philly81]

Are we certain that there isn't some kind of indicator that alerts attraction operators in case of failure? Would a RnRC ride car proceed along the track if one of the harnesses wasn't locked in place?

I don't know Micca, but I hope a CM comes along and tells us it would stop. I love RNRC but these posts are scary.

 

[lsteadman]

I don't know Micca, but I hope a CM comes along and tells us it would stop. I love RNRC but these posts are scary.

Rockin Rollercoster is fun and a very cool ride.

For those of you who have never rode:

The "limo" pulls up and they load people. Then they move the "limo" in front of a big screen that says "Are you ready" and then counts down or something like that. Then they scream and all this other stuff. Then car takes off like a jet from 0 to 60 miles in 2.3 secs. On this ride, you turn upside down so it is a big deal not be strap in tight.

We were at the count down part and I was screaming my head off. The CM ran over and waved to the guy in the glass booth to stop the ride. People in line where looking at me like this crazy woman has lost her mind but when they saw I could get up they were like "whoooaaaa." I was going to jump out of the limo onto the platform. because I wasn't going in to ride

Don't be scared to ride rockin' roller coaster just be sure your headrest is locked.

The supervisor was very understanding and apologized for the situation. When I went on the second time. The CMs did a more through check to make sure all headrest where locked. But I was pissed during the whole first ride so I missed the enjoyment of the ride...so I had to ride it again (with headrest securely locked).

 

[offtheice]

I am sorry to hear about this. I have gone to many amusement parks and I have stressed to my son, never rely on a cm or employee of the park to make sure you are secure. I always tug on the thing before they do their "check". thank god in your instance they heard you screaming. Some guy died at six flags new england on the superman ride, flew out of the seat. they said the employees did not check to see if all was secure. After that incident I made sure my ds knows to check himself.

Agree. I dont understand while anyone wouldnt do this anyway. When we get in the car , do we reley on the person sitting to us to start the car? Like you said, I always make sure everything is alright before the ride starts.

 

[Chris]

I have a quick question about this ride! My Dh loves roller coasters as do my sons.
My husband is a bigger man though~ does this ride allow for larger folks too??!
One time in VA last year he couldn't buckle his seat and both he & my sons were so upset.

 

[back2disney]

Isn't there also a lap belt???

I've been on rollercoasters when I was younger that had headrests that didn't lock until I was going up the ramp - I had to keep pulling it up and down quickly and a few times I just pulled it down and hoped it would be alright.
But there was always a lapbelt to keep me in. Although I would extra tighten my belt and push my feet against the floor to doubly make sure I didn't come out.

As an adult I now view rollercoasters as safer than cars but not as safe as airplanes and believe the shaking and g-forces could cause some short-term and long-term problems. I used to have 6-flags season passes and would travel to as many parks as possible when younger. I tell my wife one day I'll do them again, but I doubt it. Thats one reason I'm going back to disney to show her you can have fun mentally with the theme of the rides and not just physically getting thrown around.

As an aside does anyone remember how dangerous the waterparks(not disney necessarily) use to be 20+ years ago. Cliffs you could jump off and slides you could bank off if you didn't make yourself slowdown. Fun but Crazy..

And how about the monkey bar cage and the "spinner ride" where you try to get everyone to fly off. You don't see those at the playgrounds anymore do you?

 

[LeoGrrrrl1982]

Well Ive never had this problem at Disney but on our last trip to Florida, my mom, dad, fiancee, and I went to Islands of Adventure. My dad is...how shall we say...a little rotund in the mid section....anyhow on the hulk coaster he was having trouble getting the little seat belts in..not that it wouldnt close just that he couldnt get them to from his postion behind the harness.
Anyhow it took me and my mom frantically waving our arms and pointing to get them to check his seat...the coaster had already moved up several feet and that point and we were scared!

 

[Rafikifan]

And how about the monkey bar cage and the "spinner ride" where you try to get everyone to fly off. You don't see those at the playgrounds anymore do you?

Unfortunately, they aren't gone. I am a substitute teacher at 2 elementary schools and they have both on the playground at the school that has 2nd and 3rd grades, and the monkey bars at that school and the school that holds 4th and 5th grades. (My two sons attend these schools). We live in the south and at the end of school (today was our last day yay!) and the beginning (the beginning of August) the heat is brutal on the playground. At those times of year we warn the kids to stay off the monkey bars on hot days. At the beginning of this school year 2 second grade children got 2nd degree burns on their hands by jumping up and grabbing the hot metal. Only 3 weeks ago at the other school a 5th grader was upside down on the monkey bars and fell and landed on his head resulting in going away in an ambulance since he had a concussion. Thank goodness he didn't break his neck. And thank goodness I haven't been on recess duty when an accident like that occured. It is hard for 3 teachers to watch 80+ children running around. If they'd remove that equipment it would be a lot smarter. Sorry to be ot. I like having a pull down harness but I like a seatbelt too. I can't remember at the moment if RNRC has a seatbelt too or not.??? I'll be there in 11 days. (Reminding my kids to check their restraints for sure.) I've had dreams about a roller coaster taking off and me not getting my seatbelt buckled. YIkes, I'd be saying some off color words too, I assure you !

 

[Praying Colonel]

My husband is a bigger man though~ does this ride allow for larger folks too??!

I'm a big boy, too , and had no problem with RnRC or any other.

 

[Metro West]

Isn't there also a lap belt???

No..I believe it's just a shoulder harness.

 

[minmate]

OMG! This past April, my dd6 rode RNR for the 1st time. I remember joking w/my dh how silly my gut instinct was to put my hand on her leg and grab on tight... as if she were about to fall out, my one grip would be able to defy gravity! I can't remember if I dblchecked her restraint but I have always been a daredevil -- until kids came along. I'm much more fearful now... mostly for their sake! I was hoping to find a day to take dd6 to Six Flags NE soon b/c she LOVES thrill rides. Then I had a nightmare (very graphic, detailed one) about her falling out of the restraint on the Scream Tower and now that coupled with the Superman fatality last year, and this discussion, I'm terrified! I know we can't stay in a bubble, but that nightmare was so real, I don't want it to be a premonition or a self-fulfilling prophecy or anything creepy like that! Yikes! The more I think about all the close calls here, the more chills I get!

 

[jlima]

I was on the Ninja rollercoaster at Magic Mountain and the harness would not pull down. I grabbed it with both hands and pulled and pulled and it would not budge. The ride operator announced "all clear" and their cms stepped away from the ride and NO ONE noticed my harness sticking up in the air, the only one on the entire car! I yelled as loud as I could "ITS NOT CLEAR!!!!" and finally two of them came over to me; they unlatched DHs harness and then closed mine; somehow his was preventing mine from moving. This was about 14 years ago and we've never been back.

 

[penchris]

For 7 years (until 2004) I worked as a electro-mechanical engineer and ride safety inspector for a well know theme-park chain (not Disney). There are several different restraint mechanism types, but most comman are hydraulic lock-release types. These restraints get deteriorated seals and become weak with age (partially opening or being loose on small persons), or can also fail suddenly without notice. Just because the ride was safety inspected by technicians that day, doesn't mean the very next ride run won't have a failure. The operator is the last critical link in the guest safety chain, but the passenger is the one who has everything to lose. Always check. Check lap belts for fraying around the buckles and clips, and for secure fit. A loose lap belt on a child can cause seat belt injuries to the abdomen similar to a motor-vehicle accident. On shoulder or lap bar restraints, use both arms and give a solid resistive push on the restraint. There should be no give or bounce, and no more that 3-4 inches of play between the restraint and body.

The original poster absolutely did the right thing by doing whatever was necessary to get the attention of the CM running the ride, and later alerting the supervisor. I am glad the situation was responded to and there was no resulting injury. From the description, unless the CM failed to push the restraint down at all...it sounds like that restraint was on the short path to mechanical failure.

Another note-worthy point...While safety devices do fail, 90% of guest injuries are the result of not listening and following verbal and posted safety instructions. Every parent should impress on their kids that following the rules on a ride is not optional....and heed that advice too. Ride and have fun, but be safe.

 

[karebear1]

Oh my!!! I shouldn't have read this thread! Don't know if I'll be riding RnRC EVER AGAIN!!!