Bad Parenting ( Park Safety )

[TheCrypt]

Maybe it only does this on the Hollywood version (I always thought that the Hollywood one was the Orlando version), but it does have the capability to stop (or at least slow down considerably almost to a stopping point). I'm not going to embed the POV (against TOS), but if you search "Jurassic Park River Adventure Hollywood" on Youtube, then look for the video by "deathbyillusion", skip to the end to see it.

Also, check my original post again

If this is the same as Congo Falls, I believe that the boat sits on the bottom of the trough (think the turn from the top of the lift-- do you float???). And if the boat has wheels that sit it above the trough just a tad, do you think it'll be enough room?

EDIT: And I'm pretty sure Tanganyika Tidal Wave at Busch Gardens Africa (Tampa) has something to make it slow down. I remember that when I went there, the splashdown and turn to the station were pretty close together.

[LongliveKingsCobra]

After watching a Orlando and Hollywood, I stand corrected (of course I've never seen Hollywood) it does appear to have some sort of breaking system that brings the boat to a stop so it takes the turn slower, it looks like the final run is shorter than those of Orlando. However, Orlando does not have this system.

Further, I can see the two tracks that the boats "sit on" during the ride. However, I still think there may be some space between those two tracks where you could maybe sing under. Of course I'm not sure, and it might not be possible.

[khaoskat]

Trust me, it is easy for a child to "slip" away, I have had it happen before (but not at an amusement park). But it is also why I always on the youngest two, put the kid track wristbands on them, as the oldest two can give out their phone numbers.

It is one of the reasons I have always been so hesitant to take 4 children (youngest just turned 2, eldest just turned 9) by myself to KI.

All it would take would be for me to be putting the 2 year old in the stroller and I can see my 4 year old not waiting to wait to go to the ride a few feet away and running ahead and getting mixed up in the ride line to where I wouldn't be able to see her.

The other biggest problem is that people are inconsiderate and don't care they walk between a parent and their children. I have had it happen at the store and the park. I will have my kids walking with me while pushing a stroller or shopping cart, and people will just step between you and your child because they don't want to wait for you to pass through. There have been times I have had to physically stop and wait for the person to traverse the path in front of me, separating me from one of my kids because they were walking slightly in front of (ie maybe 1-2 feet) of the stroller. Now they have gotten to be about 8-10 feet away and depending upon how many people are cutting through, might even loose visual contact for a second or two.

[TheCrypt]

I guess some lack in decency. Whenever I see an incoming stroller, I always make sure to stop, 'cause I know what that's like.

After watching a Orlando and Hollywood, I stand corrected (of course I've never seen Hollywood) it does appear to have some sort of breakingsystem that brings the boat to a stop so it takes the turn slower, it looks like the final run is shorter than those of Orlando. However, Orlando does not have this system.

Further, I can see the two tracks that the boats "sit on" during the ride. However, I still think there may be some space between those two tracks where you could maybe sing under. Of course I'm not sure, and it might not be possible.

The flume physically breaks? That sounds painful... But because this flume operates on the chain and anti-rollback principle, you have to watch out for the chain dogs and the likes, and that will make for a terrible scratch. In my opinion, I think it's easier to just get hit with an oncoming train, than risk being caught underwater and scratched, possibly death.

[KIfan1980]

I don't understand why it is so hard to keep an eye on a child, especially in a public place.

Maybe you do already, but I'm guessing not from this statement so - One day, if you end up with kids, you'll know the answer to this question. It is quite easy for even responsible and protective parents to lose track of a well behaved child - as for the yelling, you'd be doing it also as it is quite the scary experience.

[jdawg1998]

At Magic Kingdom last week there was a poor girl crying for her mom with park security talking to her. The park was insanely crowded as well and I can't imagine how scared that girl was. Just guessing that it was because she couldn't find them. Hopefully that was the case and nothing worse.

[markr]

I am pretty sure that it is against the rules for any child to be left unattended at a ride exit. I have on several occasions seen the DB attendants telling parents that they cannot leave their children unattended while recommending the parent swap program.

[The Interpreter]

Today, any business would be insane to knowingly allow or encourage small children to be left unattended. But see the airlines trying to sell window and aisle seats and separating parents and kids as a result. Many are not amused.

[AZ Kinda Guy]

In regards to Congo Falls, the boat floats from the bottom of the drop to just outside the back of the station. For the rest of the ride circuit, the boats rest on the road wheels.

[standbyme]

In regards to Congo Falls, the boat floats from the bottom of the drop to just outside the back of the station. For the rest of the ride circuit, the boats rest on the road wheels.

What...no spoiler alert?!

[AZ Kinda Guy]

Actually I take that back. When the boat is on the lift, all the weight rests on the bottom of the boat, not the road wheels. As the lift engages on the bottom of the boat.

#magicruined

[Browntggrr]

Today, any business would be insane to knowingly allow or encourage small children to be left unattended.

This opens the door for: what is considered a small child. 8? 9? 12?

Parents always believe (I am gulity of this as well) "my child will not do that". Much like: "my pit bull is tame". When something happens (with kids, the door for everything is open) the most common phrase is: "Where were the parents?" Hindsight is always 20/20.

Sometimes crap happens. With any luck, injuries do not happen.

[medford]

I don't understand why it is so hard to keep an eye on a child, especially in a public place.

Maybe you do already, but I'm guessing not from this statement so - One day, if you end up with kids, you'll know the answer to this question. It is quite easy for even responsible and protective parents to lose track of a well behaved child - as for the yelling, you'd be doing it also as it is quite the scary experience.

+1, I was way more judgemental of parents prior to becoming one. Then you realize, despite your best efforts, kids just don't always act like you want them to, they'll do things 1 way a thousand times, then one day do it completely different when you least expect it.

[Balloondoggle]

At Magic Kingdom last week there was a poor girl crying for her mom with park security talking to her. The park was insanely crowded as well and I can't imagine how scared that girl was. Just guessing that it was because she couldn't find them. Hopefully that was the case and nothing worse.

A couple of weeks ago my kids made it off the Dodgems before my wife and I did. We found them a minute later wandering, in tears, hand in hand, around the building because we weren't right behind them at the exit. The normal exit was closed and the kids realized this before we did, so got out sooner than we.

We lost our youngest daughter at DisneyWorld in one of the gift shops in 2010. She was 5 and got cut off from us by the crowd as we made our way across the store. She was scared, mom was scared, I was scared, but her then-7yo brother kept his cool and described her to a cast member. She was quickly found and returned to us.

It only takes a second to be separated from your child and it doesn't even have to be inattention on the parents' part. And it can be very scary for both parent and child. The key to staying calm though, is to realize that 99 44/100 % of people are going to help a lost kid or, at worst, ignore them. A lost child will not automatically fall prey to every sex offending pedophile in a 20 mile radius, and the odds of injury are similarly low. Teach a kid to stay put as soon as they realize they are lost, and don't go anywhere with someone not in a uniform. When they were younger we gave them notes they could put in their pockets with our names and cell numbers.

Many times we have noticed a child that seemed unattended in a public setting. We will stop and watch the child and people around us until it becomes clear that the child is truly lost/separated or we can identify the family members nearby - usually because they are watching us watch their kid!

Parents watch out for each other and the world isn't as dangerous as the news makes it seem. Yes, kids get lost and it is scary. No, the parents aren't cold-hearted criminals. No, the kid won't die if he gets 20 feet away from his family.

[khaoskat]

On that note, another thing you can do is to teach your children how to defend themselves against someone who might want to harm them. I fully think my 9 year old ( 2 1/2 years of martial arts training ) would know what to do if someone tried to take them. But, be that as it May, *I* would never let them go totally unattended at a place either.

The other night I was at the park, had 1 child on the kiddie bumper cars, give the older 2 a call phone, and the walked the sort distance to The Beastie ti ride it and come back (9 and 7 yo). I would have been over there before the ride was over, but for the fact there was an issue with kids jumping out of the bumper cars. I watched them the whole time they walked to the entrance and up the ramp to the ride.

I also teach my children at every park we go to, exactly where to go if they get into trouble (I have a child who has a speech delay, so this is something we always did at an early age with him and with the others as well). They know if they get lost/separated to go to Child Care by the Kids are if we are up that way, and if not to go find the closest ride op and tell them.

[windshawne]

About 3 years ago I was talking to another woman at the gate. This little boy maybe 3 years old was leaving the park on his own, crying. He was taken into guest relations where mom had shown up to pick him up. Seems dad got tired of waiting for mom to show up and just let the kid wander off. (custody dispute). Mom was not at all grateful, she showed her backside, yelled at some people, grabbed her son, and left.

Another time another little boy about the same age came through escorted by a couple who found him wandering alone. He wasn't upset, but it would have been very easy for those adults to kidnap the kid and no one would have known. Glad to see there are still good folks out there who do the right thing.