Age restrictions on rides?

[robman]

The only time I think attractions should have an age restriction is haunts.

 

While yes, I understand younger children may not be afraid of mazes or monsters, I'm sick and tired of seeing parents with freaking strollers going through haunt mazes with their 2-3 year olds. That's just not appropriate parenal behavior.

 

 

 

[Rocket Rodder]

Here's my reasoning:

 

 

One might be tall enough to ride, but if they're not OLD enough, their bodies may not be developed enough, and the intense rattling from thrill rides or intense sensation from sensory rides would be far too much for them, and could cause some damage.

 

But this is just my opinion, I don't know for sure.

[Bear92]

Here's my reasoning:

 

 

One might be tall enough to ride, but if they're not OLD enough, their bodies may not be developed enough, and the intense rattling from thrill rides or intense sensation from sensory rides would be far too much for them, and could cause some damage.

 

But this is just my opinion, I don't know for sure.

 

It varies widely between different children. I had barely turned 7 when I was riding every looping coaster I could get my mitts on, whereas you could a 7 year old who had a much lower mental age and thus might not understand what was going on, and might freak out. It varies too much case-to-case so I don't think a general rule could be enforced for age. Height + parental discretion = the best way really.

[simon8899]

As I'm 34 I'd suggest 33 as a good minimum age - at least for my preference of having no lines....

[palmerleeberry]

As for my take on having age restrictions on rides, I think it's pure balderdash!

As for many rides (and we're talking about family rides such as your typical Scambler, Swings, Bumper Cars, and the Carousel), they can be fully enjoyed by the whole family. Intense roller coasters can cause some kiddies to become ( ) with fright. Then you have the haunted mazes that certain parks offer during the Halloween season that could be frightening to younger kids (not to mention to certain adults who needs to take inventory everytime they get spooked - you know making sure their glasses didn't fall off, their false teeth didn't fly out, and they didn't wet their pants).

 

I should know about getting scared from an attraction - STORY TIME - When I was was young, I walked with my parents through a dark room that had many twists and turns. Near the end, we approached a cage that had a gorilla in. When that gorilla looked at us and growled, I screamed and ran out. It took nearly an hour for my parents to calm me down. Looking back at it now, it was probably a man dressed in a gorilla costume, but I was young back then and didn't know any better.

 

In short, it has always been my belief that if you want to ride the ride, then ride it; and if you don't want to ride, then don't ride it.

 

"How about a ride on me? I don't have any age restrictions."

[MayTheGForceBeWithYou]

^Here's the thing. In an enclosed area, there's no telling what will happen inside. I remember going on Alien Encounter, and the people in front of me had a little kid, thinking it was going to be a show like Timekeeper across the way from Alien. They got in, the restraints went down, and they were stuck in one of the scariest attractions ever with a bawling 6 year old.

 

Point being, there's no knowing what's inside a show building unless you actually venture inside. Age restrictions on an attraction that is actually scary would keep sensitive kids out of traumatization.

 

Again going back to Alien, here's the outside of the show building:

 

Would it be easy to guess this is what happens inside, just based on the façade?

[The Yeti]

My parents took Alien Encounter's age discretionary signs to heart the year it opened, and after they rode it they were glad they did. Once I was around 8 years old I rode it and loved it. It was scary, but I did my best to try and make it scarier for kids whose parents did not follow those discretionary signs.

 

As far as coasters go, I see no need for age restrictions. Kids see what they're getting into generally, and my 7 year old nephew won't ride anything he can see that is tall. He rode HP and was a little freaked out by the dragon, but also rode Rockin RollerCoaster and loved it. My cousin was 5 and rode Millenium Force back in 2001 - I remember seeing her picture and she was all smiles!

 

I guess it goes to say that fear or terror related content may present the need for an age restriction, but I don't think a thrilling ride has the need for an age restriction.

 

 

 

Edit: Maybe Shambahla needs an age restriction because it's so sexy.

[cymonster-rex]

i don't think there should be a age limit maybe on hunted house the one at universal hollywood i was so scared i ran out of there so fast i think i would of beat anyone in a race i was 11 and riding some every rollercoaster i could. i dont think rollercoaster should but made hunted houses

[RCBoilermaker14]

Only on rides that are themed around horror films,like Saw the Ride.

[the ghost]

^^ What are you saying?

[scbt]

My feelings are that a Maturity requirement would be more appropriate and useful than a age limit...

[MayTheGForceBeWithYou]

^I could see that, but how would that be quantitatively measured? Maturity comes down to personal discretion, not a numerical system.

[UrbanLegend]

^I could see that, but how would that be quantitatively measured? Maturity comes down to personal discretion, not a numerical system.

 

There's a video screen accompanied by an employee in front of the queue. The queue plays a series of clips such as a train going into a tunnel and a woman eating a banana. If you laugh at it, you are forbidden to ride

Then again, I highly doubt I'd be able to ride anything if that were the case.

[MayTheGForceBeWithYou]

^Okay, not going to lie; I laughed a little.

[scbt]

Yeah, there really is no good way to Maddie maturity... I guess there really is no good solution for this issue

 

^ I got a chuckle out of that too... No rides for me lol

[A.J.]

Just because you're old enough to go on an attraction doesn't mean that you can handle it. There are plenty of other factors to consider. You could be traumatized by the sheer horror of Alien Encounter, or you could get motion sick from Mission Space Orange, and still be "old enough" or "tall enough" to do them.

 

The only age limit that I think should be enforced is that you would need to have a responsible adult go on an attraction with you if you were younger than a certain age, but after that bouncy-bouncy accident I don't know what to think.

[gisco]

Here is a flip side to this, when are you too old to ride a ride? When TPR was in Italy in 2010 at Gardaland, Blue Tornado had an age limit of 50. I got a strange look from the operator when I passed through the turnstile probably because my hair is gray. A supervisor came up to me after I was seated and questioned my age. I actually happened to be 49 at the time and they took my word for it and I was able to ride. I think there was at least one other on the trip that was denied because he was too old.

 

Looking back maybe there was something to that upper age limit, it was an SLC after all!

 

There are a few in Japan with an upper age limit too but they are older than 50 but can't remember what it was.

[Moose]

There were numerous coasters on the China trip that had an upper limit on age, though I'm not sure if anyone was denied for it.

[YoshiFan]

This past season, Dorney added a rule to their Wild Mouse that anyone under 8 isn't allowed to ride, even if they meet the height requirement (the sign basically said "Minimum 8 years old to participate"). So someone under 8 and is over 48" can ride Steel Force and Thunderhawk but not Wild Mouse. There is also a sign at Hangtime (Top Spin) saying not recommended for anyone under 10.

 

I can't say I am that surprised though considering it is Cedar Fair. It's just too bad now that for anyone under 8 and under 48", the only coaster they can ride in the entire park is now Woodstock's Express.

[ArundelHigh Coasters]

It depends, if they are mature enough. Sometimes small children can behave in an unsafe manner. My cousin was only 6 when she rode Mind Eraser at SFA for the first time.

[azza29]

^Wow. My first 'big' coaster was almost a Vekoma SLC (Lethal Weapon) but I chickened out (was 8 at the time). Not a bad thing in the end as after riding it a few years later I realised that it probably would have scared me off coasters for life.

[Voxelmatic]

I say yay, but only for the younger guests. For older ones, like 8+, I say nay.

[ajfelice]

Height is the easiest way to determine if someone can be safely restrained into a ride; you either are tall enough or not, and there is no question as every ride has some measuring device. Age restrictions are silly because they are too difficult to enforce. Visual profiling by age will cause a lot of unnecessary arguing. Also, how can a guest/operator prove if that they aren't/are lying? "May I see your child's birth certificate?" Restricting by age is like opening pandora's box.

 

An argument for minimum age restrictions is the maturity level associated with experiencing some of the more intense rides or rides with easier opportunities for riders to stand up, attempt to exit early, or using the restraints properly (examples include old rides with manual locks or non-locking restraints). It is best to restrict this based on height. Height can be related to age and maturity to a decent degree, and height is easy to enforce. Height requirement levels associated with age (ride alone or ride with responsible person) can be set based on the average age and/or maturity level that is found by experts in whatever appropriate field. Of course, any minimum height should reflect the ability of a ride to safely secure a guest. Heights can vary from the average age/maturity, but height is a cut and dry measurement than can be easily controlled at a ride.

 

As for a maximum age, the warning signs do more than enough to inform guests about physical conditions that are not safe for riding. For example, Kings Island was not held responsible for the death on Top Gun (Flight Deck) several years ago when it was found out that the woman had a heart condition which is one of the posted restrictions. My sympathy goes out to anyone and their family who has coped with an injury or death associated with an amusement ride, but operators can't make decisions on assumptions guests' physical conditions that aren't easily recognizable such as heart problems, back problems, and even pregnancy to name a few (do any of you think it's appropriate to ask a woman if she is pregnant or just overweight even if it looks obvious?).

 

Now, posting suggested ages is not a bad idea. We do this on several of our kiddie rides at Waldameer, based on what the ride does and how children are restrained. Of course, a manufacturer or insurance company could enforce an age requirement, but that hasn't happened here yet.

[Nrthwnd]

There were numerous coasters on the China trip that had an upper limit on age, though I'm not sure if anyone was denied for it.

 

I was, almost, at China Dinosaurs Park on Dinoconda, the S&S 4th D. coaster.

The "age limit" was 60 and although I could prove I was under that age (I am 59),

one of the ride ops still wasn't sure I should be let on the thing. I was finally

able to convince him though, and I did ride it. And once was enough for me, LOL.

 

And then there was the coaster before this one, where I had already ridden it

once during our ERT session. Then I was about to change seats for another ride,

and one of the ops comes running over to me, and asking me if I was sure I was

"well enough" to ride it again, so soon! Um...yes, I was fine, I emphatically told him.

And I got to ride it again - three times I think actually, lol.

 

But I still never found out what that possible age limit was on it.

And now, everywhere I go overseas... I am "55"

 

And Bob/gisco? Jeff/jnetrains was denied the ride on Blue Tornado in Gardaland,

while I was able to get away with it, without them even asking me. Go figure.

[gisco]

And Bob/gisco? Jeff/jnetrains was denied the ride on Blue Tornado in Gardaland,

while I was able to get away with it, without them even asking me. Go figure.

 

I knew there was somebody on the trip that was denied.

 

I have a few more years until I turn "55" permanently!