Kids will be dissapointed at Carowinds this year.

[robbalvey]

This just in from Screamscape:

http://www.screamscape.com/html/carowinds.htm

 

It seems Cedar Fair has changes a few of the height limits on several park rides this year as well as adding a few extra seat-belts to rides that never had them before. Carolina Goldrusher minimum height is now 48” (up from 36” with Chaperone), Rip Roaring Rapids is now 46” (up from 36” with Chaperone), WhiteWater Falls is now 46” and it wasn’t listed as a new change for 2007 but I noticed that Thunder Road is now 48” inches

 

BEGIN RANT!

 

I just don't understand why they have to do this. They did it with Knott's Berry Farm years ago and it one of the many reasons why that park has gone from being one of the most 'no hassle' parks in the country to a place I just can't stand to visit anymore.

 

Those rides have operated for DECADES with the lower height restrictions and have allowed younger kids and parents to ride together.

 

I mean, I can *almost* accept a height increase when it's 2 inches or so, but the mine train went up a whole *FOOT!!!* *WHY?!?!*

 

Carowinds is going to run into the same problem that Knott's has where kids will come to the park and outside of the "kiddie area" there aren't going to be many adult rides that a kid could go on. Jaguar is a great example. It used to be 42" and it was raised to 48". What's the point of even having that ride in the park then? "Hey random kid, you're tall enough to either go on Jaguar, Boomerang, Ghostrider, or Montezooma's Revenge....which will it be?" At least at 42" Jaguar was a good "starter" coaster. At 48" chances are Jaguar is no longer a "thrill."

 

And what is it about the rapids rides that needed to go up 10 inches?!?!

 

I just don't get it. It seems to be that Cedar Fair wants kids in the kids areas ONLY and adults in the adults area.

 

I remember all those quotes from Walt Disney where he said he would get annoyed that when he took his kids to an amusement park there would be nothing that kids and adults could ride together, hence the reason why so many rides at Disney parks are built to do so.

 

Cedar Fair's mentality seems to be the opposite.

 

It's too bad really, because under Paramount Parks, Carowids was VERY "kid friendly" but under Cedar Fair, it would seem to be they are going to be driving out the families and welcoming the teens, just like what has happened at Knott's.

 

And I personally find that very disappointing.

 

/end Rant.

 

--Robb

[Divv3k]

I totally agree Robb, I can't see any way that Carowinds benefits out of these changes.

 

Could this be a change suggested by Cedar Fair's lawyers?

[YoshiFan]

I can't say I am surprised considering how strict CF is with heights. Thunderhawk is 48" (and I'm guessing all CF wooden coasters are), Comet at Hershey is 42" with adult, Rolling Thunder at GADV is 44" with adult

 

Sooperdooperlooper is 42" with adult, Laser is 48"

 

Even the Arrow Mine trains, Hershey is 36" with adult, Great Adventure is 44" with adult but at CF parks it's 48"

 

They also raised the height limit on the Wild Mouse at Dorney this year from 42" with an adult to 44" with an adult which although not a huge increase will also annoy people.

[hemmy]

48" Kid

 

Would you rather ride Jaguar or Millennium Force?

[easytoremember]

48'' for an Arrow Mine train??!?! That is pretty much ridiculous. This is what I think of Cedar Fair

[JuanSe_Colombia]

It is ridiculous that's pretty bad for kids

[Calaway Park]

Those seem SMALL! Mindbender at Galaxyland has a 59" height restriction. I guess people under that height would have trouble with the forces, but that's still very extreme. The Moser Hoppla there has a height restriction of 62" I think, but that's probably because of the stand up cars.

 

*shrug* I don't know, but the restrictions on some of the rides there don't seem to even have a point, no matter how illogical it is.

[pkdcoaster]

PKD Did the same thing a few years ago. Scooby doo coaster, Avalanche and many other mild rides used to be no height limit if accompanied by an adult. and now it is 40" which isn't awful but my son is 39" and he really wants to go on them. Taxi Jam has a 36" requirement which is crazy!!! (I saw many kids crying cause they couldn't ride) I can totally agree with the limits raised on the big wooden coasters from 44" to 48" cause they are very aggresive, Hell I remember when grizzly had the 2 position bar and I could just hop out of the train when it stopped when I was 8.

 

I love nothing more than riding rides with my son but it is frustrating to know that 3 years ago he could have been on alot more rides at this same height.

 

He can ride Scrambler but not Avalanche WTF!

 

JEFF

[USRoadTripper]

Wow, that does seem really excessive, especially since they are on such tame rides. And I agree that a couple of inches wouldn't be a huge deal...but raising a height limit by 10-12 inches...that's years worth of growth! That's not like a "Oh well, you'll be tall enough next season" kind of thing. You're talking about excluding some kids as old as 8-10 from stuff. Think about all the pissed off parents who will pull the "Well he rode it last year, he should be able to ride it this year!" defense, and rightfully so.

 

-Julie

[Janster]

What was the exact reason for this measure Robb?

 

Did kids fall out and got injured or died? Cause then I'd understand it. If lapbars are down and seatbelts secured, you could probably put Kidtums in a coaster and she won't fall out.

[robbalvey]

I really have no idea what the actual reason is. Never really was told one when it happend at Knott's. I'm *guessing* it for legal and/or insurance reasons. I just never understood why a ride could operate for so many years (decades in the case of the mine train) to have to suddently make a switch for what seems to be "precautionary" reasons.

 

--Robb "If anyone does hear a concrete explanation, please share!" Alvey

[Real]

If you could trust 90% of parents these days with their kids I dont think it would be problems to have the limits where they were or even right at the bottom of the manufacturers limits.

 

But when I think of all the stupid things Ive seen parents let their kids do and then kids do...while I agree its a totally assinine move, it doesnt suprise me.

[Shockwave]

I suspect it's a combination of over-zealous risk assessment and an easy way to reduce the park's insurance premium. Sad really that in this day and age this is what it comes down to.

[PKI Jizzman]

I really have no idea what the actual reason is. Never really was told one when it happend at Knott's. I'm *guessing* it for legal and/or insurance reasons. I just never understood why a ride could operate for so many years (decades in the case of the mine train) to have to suddently make a switch for what seems to be "precautionary" reasons.

 

--Robb "If anyone does hear a concrete explanation, please share!" Alvey

 

 

That's what I feel about all the new seatbelts at KI. Never had problems with Vortex and Adventure Express, and after over 10 years of operation, they have seatbelts. Bleh. But new hight requirements for the mine train is unacceptable.

[easytoremember]

Those seem SMALL! Mindbender at Galaxyland has a 59" height restriction. I guess people under that height would have trouble with the forces, but that's still very extreme. The Moser Hoppla there has a height restriction of 62" I think, but that's probably because of the stand up cars.

 

*shrug* I don't know, but the restrictions on some of the rides there don't seem to even have a point, no matter how illogical it is.

 

Mind Bender at SFOG has a 42'' height restriction, and the forces are very intense, so I don't think it has that much to do with forces.

[Gnome]

From what I've gathered, normally hight limits are set up around manufacturers specifications, and not the forces involved, ect.

 

Tiz a shame with the hight increase. I guess when I have children, I'll just be taking them to Six Flags and Disney until they're tall enough for the rides at a Cedar Fair park. (Hopefully by that time though, CF won't be so uptight, but usually things only get worse until some one new steps in and "saves" the company, but for as long as CF doesn't need any saving, it will only get worse. )

[disneygurlz2s]

That's what I feel about all the new seatbelts at KI. Never had problems with Vortex and Adventure Express, and after over 10 years of operation, they have seatbelts. Bleh. But new hight requirements for the mine train is unacceptable.

 

I have no problem with the seatbelts, especially on the over the shoulder harness rides (as a mom whose 8 year old has dubbed Vortex-blech- her favorite ride, I am all for them!). However, if you rode Adventure Express you may have noted that CF has done the SAME THING with height requirement on that as well! We got there last week and my friend's 4 year old (who is quite tall) had made it to the 44" mark she was just a hair too short for last October. After riding Avatar and Reptar, we headed for AE, only to be denied, because that has been bumped to 48" as well.

 

I think it's interesting to note, however, in planning a trip to Cedar Point with this same family, we observed that the majority of CP's flat rides accomodate children 36-46" tall, when accompanied by an adult. There are a huge number of rides that kids that size can go on, because CP has a LOT more flat rides than KI. Also, the majority of CP's coasters (including MF, Magnum and Maverick) are only 48".

 

To answer Robb's ???, what I have always heard is that it is the park's liability/insurance people who ultimately advise the park/corporation as to what to set their height requirements at. Apparently, CF is more (overly?) cautious than Paramount was. Perhaps because rides/amusement parks are their only business?

 

Shari

[dandaman]

And yet, it was on the news from Detroit to Cleveland that CP LOWERED their height restrictions (on 3 kiddy rides, no less...)

 

[IceDragon]

wow... That's harsh and wrong. There's no reason why a bleeding Rapids has to be increased 10 inches or so!!!

 

random person: So, what's happened to the Rapids to make the height restriction increase?

 

Ride op: uhhhhhhh...

 

random person (cutting off the ride op): Did you install a loop or something, and it now needs OTSR restraints to hold us all in?

 

:\

 

Thank GOD I live in England. Our Eurofighter height restrictions are 1.2m... Freefall towers (Detonator, in particular), Screamin Swings and other rides are only 10cm taller, and in some cases, equal to or less!

 

Ggggrrrr... When the evil men come and modify heights, you know its time to abandon the park...