Tell me about the new lap bars on Splash Mountain

[tweedlemom]

Is it a T-bar or an inverted U? If a U-bar, is it 1 large U-bar or a seperate U-bar for each rider?

NO FLAMES PLEASE!!!

My very tall husband LOVES this ride, but is worried that the addition of the lap bar may hinder his ability to sit in the seat. (Our last WDW trip was before they installed the bars.) He has luck with T-bars on rides, but inverted U bars seem to give him a problem.

Who has been lately that can tell me what they've installed? Thanks in advance!

 

[mesaboy2]

It is one large bar.

 

[tweedlemom]

Thanks!

 

[saquin]

Here's a picture:

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Hope he does better than I did.
2) I had a tough time getting the bar past the knees.
3) Even with turning sideways!
4) And, I am only 6'3".
5) When we did get it down, my knees knocked the seat in front.
6) It was uncomfortable.
7) But, hitting the bottom of the falls was h*** on the knees.
8) I had a tough time walking afterward for 15-20 minutes.

 

[jcvalenti]

The lap bar is ridiculous. It does nothing.

I'm 6'3" and weight about 280. Splash Mountain is one of my favorite rides, but in the best of times, I can only fit into that log sitting sideways as my legs are too long. I rode it with my 5 year old last time, and the lap bar could barely come down 5 inches, to cover the tips of my knees. It was nowhere near my 5 year old. The ride people said it didn't matter and that the bar wasn't necessary for any safety reason.

So bottom line, your tall husband should have no problem cramming himself into the ride.

Talk about a ride that needs a redo ... I hope they touch up Splash Mountain and give some thought to rengineering it to allow for a bit more legroom. Riding it is like sitting in coach for anyone over 6 feet.

 

[RachaelA]

1) Hope he does better than I did.
2) I had a tough time getting the bar past the knees.
3) Even with turning sideways!
4) And, I am only 6'3".
5) When we did get it down, my knees knocked the seat in front.
6) It was uncomfortable.
7) But, hitting the bottom of the falls was h*** on the knees.
8) I had a tough time walking afterward for 15-20 minutes.

I think this is the issue my DH is going to have. He's 6'5 and he has long legs (not a long torso like some people). Luckily, he dislikes Splash Mountain (he hates the song )

Thanks for letting us know your experience

 

[tweedlemom]

Thanks for the pic of the lapbars!
My DH is 6-11, but Disney attractions have always been quite spacious for him. I really hope this lapbar doesn't get in his way of riding Splash--it's one of his favorites.
We'll find out in August, then I'll report back and let you know!

 

[disneynutsss]

do these new lapbars pose a problem for pooh sized ppl? i never had a problem fitting in the ride before.

 

[Robo]

do these new lapbars pose a problem for pooh sized ppl?

No worries.

 

[W.E.D.]

Agree with PPs. DW and I are slightly pooh-like, and I'm 6'-3" as well. I too was worried about the new bars, but they didn't really give us any trouble.

 

[PAcpl]

The lap bar is ridiculous. It does nothing.

I'm 6'3" and weight about 280. Splash Mountain is one of my favorite rides, but in the best of times, I can only fit into that log sitting sideways as my legs are too long. I rode it with my 5 year old last time, and the lap bar could barely come down 5 inches, to cover the tips of my knees. It was nowhere near my 5 year old. The ride people said it didn't matter and that the bar wasn't necessary for any safety reason.

So bottom line, your tall husband should have no problem cramming himself into the ride.

Talk about a ride that needs a redo ... I hope they touch up Splash Mountain and give some thought to rengineering it to allow for a bit more legroom. Riding it is like sitting in coach for anyone over 6 feet.

We had a similar experience. DW had a large bag on her lap and was having a problem with the bar going over the bag. The CM said it wasn't a big deal, the bar wasn't there for safety reasons. But then what is the point

 

[RichmondTiggerFan]

The lap bar is ridiculous. It does nothing.

I'm 6'3" and weight about 280. Splash Mountain is one of my favorite rides, but in the best of times, I can only fit into that log sitting sideways as my legs are too long. I rode it with my 5 year old last time, and the lap bar could barely come down 5 inches, to cover the tips of my knees. It was nowhere near my 5 year old. The ride people said it didn't matter and that the bar wasn't necessary for any safety reason.

So bottom line, your tall husband should have no problem cramming himself into the ride.

Talk about a ride that needs a redo ... I hope they touch up Splash Mountain and give some thought to rengineering it to allow for a bit more legroom. Riding it is like sitting in coach for anyone over 6 feet.

I call them "idiot bars". The main reason they put lapbars on Splash Mountain was to make it harder for idiots to get out the log while they're on the ride.

 

[EPCOTatNight]

I would suggest taller people just ride in the seat by themselves. That's what I did.

 

[kaligal]

I've noticed, too, that it is harder to lower for people with long legs.

But it doesn't matter if you cant get it down that far. It doesn't serve a purpose. Its not like you'll go flying out of the log.

 

[RobinHoodGirl]

1) Hope he does better than I did.
2) I had a tough time getting the bar past the knees.
3) Even with turning sideways!
4) And, I am only 6'3".
5) When we did get it down, my knees knocked the seat in front.
6) It was uncomfortable.
7) But, hitting the bottom of the falls was h*** on the knees.
8) I had a tough time walking afterward for 15-20 minutes.

Thanks for the account! I'm going in November with my DBF and he's 6'6"! Maybe we'll skip this one... I'll leave it up to him though

 

[GameDevLovesDisney]

1) Hope he does better than I did.
2) I had a tough time getting the bar past the knees.
3) Even with turning sideways!
4) And, I am only 6'3".
5) When we did get it down, my knees knocked the seat in front.
6) It was uncomfortable.
7) But, hitting the bottom of the falls was h*** on the knees.
8) I had a tough time walking afterward for 15-20 minutes.

9) If he has larger than size 12 feet, it will be very very uncomfortable.
10) When the ride breaks down for 45 minutes with you on it, #9 becomes downright miserable.

Yup...the last 2 were from my rides last May, which was the first time I had been on it since they installed the lap bar. Never again will I ride it, which is kinda sad since I've loved it since its opening day.

After we went down the drop and circled around the front of the ride the ride stopped due to a backup/tourist trying to jump out/protein spill/who the heck knows...but we sat in the 95 degree heat and direct sunlight for 45 minutes and my feet REALLY hurt from being stuffed at an odd angle with my legs jammed under the bar. It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't for the weird angle the front of the footwells take. If they were perfectly flat it would be fine, but the curve they make is just horrible. I actually wormed my way out of the restraint just so I could sit sideways with my legs across my girlfriend's lap.

I'd HIGHLY recommend him going on his tip-toes when he gets into the log in order to elevate his knees and thus prevent the bar from going further down than is comfortable. After all, the bar isn't there to keep you from falling out, it's to keep you from standing up. So long as he promises not to try to jump out to tackle Brer Bear, he'll be fine.

 

[maxiesmom]

I've noticed, too, that it is harder to lower for people with long legs.

But it doesn't matter if you cant get it down that far. It doesn't serve a purpose. Its not like you'll go flying out of the log.

Right. The bars are only there to keep people from climbing out of the logs during the ride. They are not to hold you don't shoot out of the log.

 

[CDNLADY]

My son is 17 6 foot 5 235 lbs with size 16 running shoes , he hates the new lap bars and now only rides by him self that way he can sit sideways , they added them for safety some people would stand up on the ride ect only takes a few to ruin it for everyone

 

[TandLMommy28]

OK, so what I am learning from this is now that my youngest is tall enough, my 6'3" husband should sit with the little guy so he has more room to sit sideways. Little guy barely takes up any space so it'll be the next best thing to sitting alone, I think. Good info to keep in mind!