palmerleeberry Posted July 23, 2013 Share Posted July 23, 2013 Last weekend at Cedar Point, I took a gamble on one of the rides and came out on top!!! I'm talking about The Top Thrill Dragster in which I couldn't ride for several years because I couldn't get the seat belt to click together. When I brought a friend which me to Cedar Point and he wanted to ride the Top Thrill Dragster, I tried on the test seat first. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't get the seat belt to click together ( if only that seat belt was an inch or two longer), so we both skipped that ride. I should also add that my friend can easily fit into the restraints since he is a skinny-wink. Later tonight, I decided that even though I couldn't ride Top Thrill Dragster, at least I shouldn't deny my friend to ride that ride, so I stayed with him in the queing line to keep him company. While in line, I was seeing other riders just as big as I was getting on that ride, so I decided to take that gamble and at least try to get on ( besides, if I couldn't fit in, I'll just act like I suddenly got to ill to ride in order to disguise my walk of shame ). I get into my seat, I put on my seat belt, the ride attendant assisted me, and CLICK!!! My friends, riders and amusement park flyers everywhere, I was able to ride the Top Thrill Dragster!!! Even thought I was to be able to ride Top Thrill Dragster, I was also because the test seat for Top Thrill Dragster lied to me. Everytime I went to ride Top Thrill Dragster and tried on the test seat, I ended up skipping this ride believing that I couldn't fit into the restraints. Even though I lost a few pounds between trips, the test seat still indicated that I wouldn't fit. IN OTHER WORDS - THE TEST SEAT IS A LIAR!!! What is going on with that? The test seat is suppose to represent the actual ride itself so riders can see whether or not they can safety ride that ride, but when a test seat isn't exact it can lead to heartbreak when a rider must take the walk of shame because they cannot fit into the restraints or be turned away needlessly because they believed what the test seat indicated. Could this be a scandal that the amusement park is doing to help lighten up the queing lines? I think it is and just as bad as selling fast passes so the parks can milk money from riders and amusement park flyers. But I'm sure that the test seat for Top Thrill Dragster isn't the only one that is sorely inaccruate. Dominator at Kings Dominion also has a lying test seat. I got on that test seat and clicked on the seat belt with comfort, but when I got on the ride, the restraints felt tight, and not the inch or two of comfort I felt on the test seat. I end this post with two questions: are they any more lying test seats out there and what should we do about it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dylanreich Posted July 23, 2013 Share Posted July 23, 2013 In Dominator's case, did you ask if they had larger seats available? I know B&M usually does stuff like that, so maybe you had to find the larger seats (which maybe match their test seat). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. M Posted July 23, 2013 Share Posted July 23, 2013 Maybe the ride attendant assisting you is what made the difference? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmerleeberry Posted July 23, 2013 Author Share Posted July 23, 2013 ^Actually, the ride attendant at the test seat was helping me, but couldn't get the seat belt to click together. After wrestling with the restraints for a minute, he told me that I couldn't fit. At the ride itself, the ride attendant had no problems getting the seat belt to click together. ^^I did know that Dominator had the larger seats, but I still was able to fit into the regular seats. The test seat should have indicated if I could fit into a regular seat or just settle for the larger seats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coastercrazy216 Posted July 23, 2013 Share Posted July 23, 2013 I seriously doubt that there is a scandal in the industry to lighten the queue lines. That is kind of ridiculous. Why are you against parks selling fast passes? They help the parks turn more of a profit and they give park guests the opportunity to ride more in a day! I think parks selling fast passes is one of the best things to happen to the industry, business wise, in years. Additionally, the use of the test seat could really help with accidents like the NTAG accident not happen. Saying that the seat belt is responsible is somewhat out there. The seat belt is there to make sure the restraint is doing its job. Moreover, the use of test seats, regardless of whether or not they are accurate, can help prevent a walk of shame type situation. Even if the test seat was incorrect, there really isn't anything that we can do about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted July 23, 2013 Share Posted July 23, 2013 This isn't a scandal at all. It's reported every year. There are small changes in seat belt length. You found a seat that had it's belt stretched out over the season. Consider yourself lucky and don't post crap about it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBomer Posted July 23, 2013 Share Posted July 23, 2013 If I'm not mistaken, the test seats for B&M's are the big-boy seats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singemfrc Posted July 23, 2013 Share Posted July 23, 2013 You should consider it a guide and not an exact measurement, because of what Elissa said and other possible reasons. If it's close one way or another just be forewarned that it may be close when you try to board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcdude Posted July 23, 2013 Share Posted July 23, 2013 A test seat is a good indicator of whether you will fit on a ride or not, but due to minor variations it is not exact. Several times, I've visited parks with people who wouldn't fit in the test seat but managed to fit on the ride. Twice, I've been with someone who fit the test seat but not the ride. They are mainly there to let larger guests know that they may/will not fit so the guest doesn't wait in line only to be kicked off (or at least is aware of the possibility before waiting in line). Also, the test seat is only for if you'll be able to ride or not, not whether you'll be able to fit in a specific seat (hence why every B&M test seat I've seen is a big-boy seat unless the ride isn't equipped with them). The test seat is not lying by design, and the park is not trying to shrink lines using underhanded tactics. They are just trying to make sure you don't waste two hours of your day in line for a ride you can't ride. What should we do about it? Either risk waiting in line or just make it a goal to fit the test seat on your next visit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Posted July 23, 2013 Share Posted July 23, 2013 .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azza29 Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 Not sure this is quite the controversy it's being made out to be, most coasters have small variations in seatbelt/restraint 'give' from seat to seat (including test seats). Bigger people just notice it more because we're more likely to not fit. If the test seat is close-but-not-quite, I generally try to ride anyway. Millennium Force is a good example - couldn't get the test seatbelt to close but rode it five times in different seats without issue. Oddly enough the only rides that have ever given me grief are ones that didn't have a test seat out front. Even then it's no big deal to just hop out and exit the ride, just make sure you're sitting on the 'exit' side of the train. Crisis averted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawnhaze Posted July 24, 2013 Share Posted July 24, 2013 My roommate had the same experience on Kingda Ka at SFGAdv. He didn't quite fit into the test seat, but we got him on the ride. I actually got it buckled for him without assistance from the ride operators. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caffeine_demon Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 Wicked twister at CP is the worst - the buckle is on the wrong hole! Possessed at dorney lied too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aceattack52 Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 Don't listen to Wes. I got something out of the story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 Here's the reality check - If you're really close enough that there is a discrepancy between the test seats and the actual seats, take a summer off from eating Golden Corral and Super Sized KFC and drop twenty pounds. There. Problem solved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. M Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 Hi, my name is Robb Alvey, and I feel it is my personal responsibility to inform you that you are too fat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hercules Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 Here's the reality check - If you're really close enough that there is a discrepancy between the test seats and the actual seats, take a summer off from eating Golden Corral and Super Sized KFC and drop twenty pounds. There. Problem solved. I second this. Motion to close the thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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