TOT - Hands Up?

[mickeyjanette]

 

[bumbershoot]

I don't know why you wouldn't want your seatbelt fastened. You would go flying! lol

Oh I’m not sure the physics of it would have you flying.

Years ago a video made the rounds of people doing that and there were long scientific discussions of it being impossible to be moved around to the degree they showed.

 

[mickeyjanette]

Oh I’m not sure the physics of it would have you flying.

Years ago a video made the rounds of people doing that and there were long scientific discussions of it being impossible to be moved around to the degree they showed.

I remember having my glasses on my head and they went all over the place. I could just imagine someone.

 

[mab2012]

Oh I’m not sure the physics of it would have you flying.

Years ago a video made the rounds of people doing that and there were long scientific discussions of it being impossible to be moved around to the degree they showed.

You wouldn't "go flying", but depending on how fast the drop is, you could absolutely leave your seat.

I didn't see the video or the discussion you mentioned, but the physics of it are pretty darn simple. Acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 m/s^2. From a stopped position, if your seat suddenly disappeared from under you, that is the rate at which you will accelerate (assuming that the aerodynamics of the situation are negligible). So if the elevator accelerates faster than 9.8 m/s^2, and you're not strapped to the seat, then it will leave you behind.

I'd guess that the ToT elevators don't actually accelerate much faster than gravity. There would be no reason to do so, and plenty of reason not to. But I'm pretty certain that I do actually come off my seat slightly on those drops, as far as the belt allows.

 

[mickeyjanette]

You wouldn't "go flying", but depending on how fast the drop is, you could absolutely leave your seat.

I didn't see the video or the discussion you mentioned, but the physics of it are pretty darn simple. Acceleration due to gravity is 9.8 m/s^2. From a stopped position, if your seat suddenly disappeared from under you, that is the rate at which you will accelerate (assuming that the aerodynamics of the situation are negligible). So if the elevator accelerates faster than 9.8 m/s^2, and you're not strapped to the seat, then it will leave you behind.

I'd guess that the ToT elevators don't actually accelerate much faster than gravity. There would be no reason to do so, and plenty of reason not to. But I'm pretty certain that I do actually come off my seat slightly on those drops, as far as the belt allows.

Super interesting and very true. Thanks for the info! Always strap it up!

 

[BrianL]

I'd guess that the ToT elevators don't actually accelerate much faster than gravity. There would be no reason to do so, and plenty of reason not to. But I'm pretty certain that I do actually come off my seat slightly on those drops, as far as the belt allows.

The ToT actually does "fall" faster than gravity. It is an accelerated drop where the elevator car is pulled downward by cables. I don't know exactly how much faster, but it is done specifically to achieve the "weightless" effect.

 

[mickeyjanette]

The ToT actually does "fall" faster than gravity. It is an accelerated drop where the elevator car is pulled downward by cables. I don't know exactly how much faster, but it is done specifically to achieve the "weightless" effect.

Hahaha it's like in the cartoons when the character falls and then their wig comes after haha

 

[mab2012]

The ToT actually does "fall" faster than gravity. It is an accelerated drop where the elevator car is pulled downward by cables. I don't know exactly how much faster, but it is done specifically to achieve the "weightless" effect.

Yup, agreed, but I don't think there would be any advantage to accelerating the elevator much faster than gravity. It's kind of relevant to the preceding conversation, because if you're not strapped in and the elevator accelerates only slightly faster than gravity, then you're going to fall at nearly the same rate, and over a short distance, the gap between you and the seat will be small. If the elevator accelerates away quickly - well, you're probably not going to like it much when you catch up. But the feeling to someone strapped in wouldn't be much different. You'd feel greater downward pressure on the seatbelt with faster acceleration, but you'll get the weightless feeling either way. So presumably the actual acceleration is not much faster than gravity, because there's just nothing to be gained.

Either way, leaving anything unsecured in that thing seems like an exceptionally bad idea. Least of all yourself!

 

[ars0525]

It's to make sure there is no slack in your belt so you are strapped firmly to the seat. People were holding extra belt so after it "locked" it was loose & they would come off their seat higher when the ride dropped. As others have said...why you'd want to fly around or get banged up

Even with my belt firmly fastened I can still feel some space between my bottom & the seat when there are big long drops.

 

[BrianL]

Yup, agreed, but I don't think there would be any advantage to accelerating the elevator much faster than gravity. It's kind of relevant to the preceding conversation, because if you're not strapped in and the elevator accelerates only slightly faster than gravity, then you're going to fall at nearly the same rate, and over a short distance, the gap between you and the seat will be small. If the elevator accelerates away quickly - well, you're probably not going to like it much when you catch up. But the feeling to someone strapped in wouldn't be much different. You'd feel greater downward pressure on the seatbelt with faster acceleration, but you'll get the weightless feeling either way. So presumably the actual acceleration is not much faster than gravity, because there's just nothing to be gained.

Either way, leaving anything unsecured in that thing seems like an exceptionally bad idea. Least of all yourself!

Well, right. They're not trying to recreate the "vomit comet" or anything, but that little bit of weightless feeling adds a lot to the ride.

 

[mickeyjanette]

It's to make sure there is no slack in your belt so you are strapped firmly to the seat. People were holding extra belt so after it "locked" it was loose & they would come off their seat higher when the ride dropped. As others have said...why you'd want to fly around or get banged up

Even with my belt firmly fastened I can still feel some space between my bottom & the seat when there are big long drops.

Very true. Thanks for that.

 

[SteveH]

... and here I thought it was to make sure you didn't have any pennies or other objects in your hand.

 

[mickeyjanette]

... and here I thought it was to make sure you didn't have any pennies or other objects in your hand.

That's what I thought.

 

[foodiddiedoo]

I was on TOT in California Adventure last year and a person in the car was messing with her seatbelt AFTER the ride started. I don't know what she did to get it unbuckled but they did stop the ride, turn the lights on, call her out on it (anonymously), told her to buckle back up, and then started the ride again. She didn't listen, and they had to bring the ride back down, and she was physically removed. Everyone else got to go on for another ride since we didn't really get an "experience" the first time. I couldn't believe how stupid that woman was.

 

[mickeyjanette]

I was on TOT in California Adventure last year and a person in the car was messing with her seatbelt AFTER the ride started. I don't know what she did to get it unbuckled but they did stop the ride, turn the lights on, call her out on it (anonymously), told her to buckle back up, and then started the ride again. She didn't listen, and they had to bring the ride back down, and she was physically removed. Everyone else got to go on for another ride since we didn't really get an "experience" the first time. I couldn't believe how stupid that woman was.

Wow, now that's real stupidity. Not once but twice! I would be scared they would ban me from the park.

 

[rpb718]

We always told the kids it was to check to see if their nails were cut and hands were clean.

 

[mickeyjanette]

We always told the kids it was to check to see if their nails were cut and hands were clean.

Haha that's cute

 

[Wubar]

I was on TOT in California Adventure last year and a person in the car was messing with her seatbelt AFTER the ride started. I don't know what she did to get it unbuckled but they did stop the ride, turn the lights on, call her out on it (anonymously), told her to buckle back up, and then started the ride again. She didn't listen, and they had to bring the ride back down, and she was physically removed. Everyone else got to go on for another ride since we didn't really get an "experience" the first time. I couldn't believe how stupid that woman was.

I am never surprised when I hear how stupid and inconsiderate someone can be, just more amused. Darwin awards exist for a reason, as does natural selection.

 

[DisneyMom93]

I wondered too!

People are unbelievable. They are too stupid to realize that they won't just chance hurting themselves, but can hurt someone else. What are the chances you'll just land safely right back into your seat? Stuff like that pisses me off.

 

[mickeyjanette]

I wondered too!

People are unbelievable. They are too stupid to realize that they won't just chance hurting themselves, but can hurt someone else. What are the chances you'll just land safely right back into your seat? Stuff like that pisses me off.

It's scary