ragerunner Posted January 5, 2007 Share Posted January 5, 2007 Just wanted to know if anyone has heard if KI will be raising height requirements on some of their rides. The reason I am asking this, I noticed that most of the River Rides at CF parks require a 46" height to ride, Spillwater rides (Congo Falls) 48" and even some of the flume rides require 46". While PKI last year had a 40" height limit for WWC, Congo, and WTBR. I really hope they don't raise the height limits on these rides to match their current park limits or there is going to be a lot of disappointed families and children (mine included). It would be very difficult to explain to my 5 year old that he no long can ride WWC, Congo or Wild Thornberrys, etc... Matter of fact, such actions would significantly reduce our experience at the park. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted January 5, 2007 Share Posted January 5, 2007 Well, they did raise the height requirements on several of the rides back at the beginning of 2005. I know they increased the height requirements on the Fairly Odd Coaster, and Wild Thornberrys River Adventure. I doubt that there will be any significant changes in height requirements for next season. Unless Cedar Fair wants to impose some changes to bring KI`s requirements more in line with the rest of Cedar Fair`s corporate strategy at its other parks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ragerunner Posted January 5, 2007 Author Share Posted January 5, 2007 After looking at height requirements at places like Six Flags, Universal, and Disney, CF seems to be on the extreme side for these requirements. I hope they don't raise them, if my 5 year old can ride Popeye, Spiderman and Dudley at IOA safely then he should be able to ride WWC and Wild thornberrys which are much tamer than those rides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hendrick Posted January 5, 2007 Share Posted January 5, 2007 I doubt they will raise them. The ride heights haven't changed in a while, and there has never been an issue. Maybe on wooden coasters they will go up, I was able to ride The Beast at 7, and I could have probably made it when I was 6. If there isn't an issue yet, don't touch them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody Posted January 5, 2007 Share Posted January 5, 2007 I doubt they will raise them. The ride heights haven't changed in a while, and there has never been an issue. Maybe on wooden coasters they will go up, I was able to ride The Beast at 7, and I could have probably made it when I was 6. If there isn't an issue yet, don't touch them. Why would they go up on wooden coasters? also I like to point out , the park has never been own'd by Cedar Fair. So if they feel like some height requirements need to be change, they will change them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hendrick Posted January 5, 2007 Share Posted January 5, 2007 Kings Island has the records for most of the wood, thus meaning their big. CP really doesn't have any wooden that hold records. When they first come in, they might just bump it up a bit, speaking that they have never been with two record wooden coasters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKIDelirium Posted January 6, 2007 Share Posted January 6, 2007 Are we talking about height requirements for riding or coaster height records? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKIVortex Posted January 6, 2007 Share Posted January 6, 2007 For riding. I don't see them changing the requirements on any of the Wooden coasters. They just changed Racer to 48 inches last year. Racer used to be 44. Beast has always been 48. I could see them however maybe changing SOB to 54 though. But I don't see that happening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted January 6, 2007 Share Posted January 6, 2007 Actually, I thought it had been a couple of seasons since Racer's height requirement increased. In any event, the state and insurance companies also have a say in those height requirements, as does the ride's manufacturer (in Ohio, park owners MUST at least follow ride manufacturer's recommendations). Given that all these parties have been in the park much more than usual after July 9, 2006, and given that this is the first season for Kings Island under Cedar Fair ownership, different height requirements would not surprise me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ragerunner Posted January 6, 2007 Author Share Posted January 6, 2007 I guess I just don't understand why CF has a much higher height limited for many rides than most of the other major park companies? All I can figure is it makes their insurance cheaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody Posted January 6, 2007 Share Posted January 6, 2007 Ding Ding!!^ we have a winner =D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted January 6, 2007 Share Posted January 6, 2007 And if that is the case, who is paying for the insurance for Kings Island now? Hint: It isn't CBS. I guess we will see when the park re-opens for the season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WooferBearATL Posted January 6, 2007 Share Posted January 6, 2007 Actually, I thought it had been a couple of seasons since Racer's height requirement increased. In any event, the state and insurance companies also have a say in those height requirements, as does the ride's manufacturer (in Ohio, park owners MUST at least follow ride manufacturer's recommendations). Given that all these parties have been in the park much more than usual after July 9, 2006, and given that this is the first season for Kings Island under Cedar Fair ownership, different height requirements would not surprise me. Thank You. The simple thought that height restrictions are placed on rides in an arbitrary way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Nemo Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 When you are in the amusement corporation the last thing you want is upset guests... and loss of money. Cincinnati Veterans will not take height changes kindly, trust me, working at Kings Island in the rides department for two years really shows you how many people will do anything to get on a ride and how upset they will be if they don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 And conversely, the amusement corporation also wants patrons alive and happy and able to come back and spend money again (and not suffering grievous injury or death). Height requirements exist for a reason. And that's true even if yours truly was riding large wooden coasters when he was three years old. Times were different, society was different, people were less litigious, and knew to watch out for their own safety. Whether times then were better or worse from that standpoint is a topic for discussion far beyond the normal bounds of this forum! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ragerunner Posted January 12, 2007 Author Share Posted January 12, 2007 And conversely, the amusement corporation also wants patrons alive and happy and able to come back and spend money again (and not suffering grievous injury or death). Height requirements exist for a reason. And that's true even if yours truly was riding large wooden coasters when he was three years old. Times were different, society was different, people were less litigious, and knew to watch out for their own safety. Whether times then were better or worse from that standpoint is a topic for discussion far beyond the normal bounds of this forum! But if Six Flags, Busch Gardens, Sea World, Universal, Paramount and Disney found those heights to be safe an acceptable then why not CF. Which in my book means CF is trying to shave a few dollars off their insurance bill at the expense of the guest experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teenageninja Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 Cedar Point also has more different height requirements I believe. The reason PKI raised the height limit on racer and Beast was because of a PTC reccomendation. If they didn't PTC wouldn't take responsibility if an accident happened was what I heard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKIVortex Posted January 12, 2007 Share Posted January 12, 2007 Cedar Point also has more different height requirements I believe. The reason PKI raised the height limit on racer and Beast was because of a PTC reccomendation. If they didn't PTC wouldn't take responsibility if an accident happened was what I heard. The haven't change the height requirement on The Beast. The Beast has always been 48 inches. They changed the height requirement on Racer twice since 1999. And once on Express. As far as coasters go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ragerunner Posted April 22, 2007 Author Share Posted April 22, 2007 Well, one of my biggest concerned related to KI and CF came true yesterday. They raised the height requirements on several rides. Congo Falls 40 to 46" White Water Canyon 40 to 46" Adventure Express 44 to 48" Shake Rattle and Roll 40 to 42" Snowy River Rampage 36 to 46" This is really stupid!!!!! How can you take the only family water slide at BB and raise the height limit by 10". It a shame that I have to now try and explain to my kids why they can't ride many of the rides they road last year. If this is CFs way of telling the family 'to stick it where the sun doesn't shine' then they are off to a great start. No other major amusement park company in the US have these type of extreme height requirements. I guess CF wants to let the family crowd know they are not valued. Bring on the concrete and midways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplehaze Posted April 22, 2007 Share Posted April 22, 2007 To be honest I can not believe this is even a topic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ragerunner Posted April 22, 2007 Author Share Posted April 22, 2007 To be honest I can not believe this is even a topic! Why? The park has made some major changes to height requirements that affect the park experience for kids and their families. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplehaze Posted April 22, 2007 Share Posted April 22, 2007 Was just my opinion, we all have them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WooferBearATL Posted April 22, 2007 Share Posted April 22, 2007 Well, one of my biggest concerned related to KI and CF came true yesterday. They raised the height requirements on several rides. Congo Falls 40 to 46" White Water Canyon 40 to 46" Adventure Express 44 to 48" Shake Rattle and Roll 40 to 42" Snowy River Rampage 36 to 46" This is really stupid!!!!! How can you take the only family water slide at BB and raise the height limit by 10". It a shame that I have to now try and explain to my kids why they can't ride many of the rides they road last year. If this is CFs way of telling the family 'to stick it where the sun doesn't shine' then they are off to a great start. No other major amusement park company in the US have these type of extreme height requirements. I guess CF wants to let the family crowd know they are not valued. Bring on the concrete and midways. Explain to them that the park takes their safety seriously and that all of this was re-evaluated. Explain it will only be a matter of time until they can safely ride all the rides. Sounds like a win win situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKIVortex Posted April 22, 2007 Share Posted April 22, 2007 Also I think they raised them to make them consistent at all Cedar Fair parks. The only thing I can see why AE was changed to 48 is because of the jerky ness in the ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ragerunner Posted April 22, 2007 Author Share Posted April 22, 2007 Well, one of my biggest concerned related to KI and CF came true yesterday. They raised the height requirements on several rides. Congo Falls 40 to 46" White Water Canyon 40 to 46" Adventure Express 44 to 48" Shake Rattle and Roll 40 to 42" Snowy River Rampage 36 to 46" This is really stupid!!!!! How can you take the only family water slide at BB and raise the height limit by 10". It a shame that I have to now try and explain to my kids why they can't ride many of the rides they road last year. If this is CFs way of telling the family 'to stick it where the sun doesn't shine' then they are off to a great start. No other major amusement park company in the US have these type of extreme height requirements. I guess CF wants to let the family crowd know they are not valued. Bring on the concrete and midways. Explain to them that the park takes their safety seriously and that all of this was re-evaluated. Explain it will only be a matter of time until they can safely ride all the rides. Sounds like a win win situation. So are you saying that CF is more concerned about safety than other parks? Busch Gardens Universal Disney Sea World Hersheypark All have height limits for their Spillwater rides and White Water Rapids rides of 42" or less. That includes Escape from Pompeii, Splash Mountain, Kali River Rapids, Jurassic Park, Journey to Atlantis, Popeye, etc... I think it clearly has nothing to do with safety, it has to do with saving a few bucks on insurance at the expense of the family experience. If those types of heights were need to ensure safety then you would not have almost EVERY park in the US with lower height limits for the same types of rides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WooferBearATL Posted April 23, 2007 Share Posted April 23, 2007 I honestly can't believe that you're arguing a safety point. Any park uses a wide variety of information to set rules. The fact that you're comparing different parks is not the issue. For example: Ohio you can ride motorcycles without your helmet. In Georgia you have to wear a helmet. Same bikes and similar drivers, just different laws. (And by the way, I wear my helmet in Ohio as well. <G>) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKIVortex Posted April 23, 2007 Share Posted April 23, 2007 Some of the Cedar Fair parks already had higher requirements for these similar rides. I think Cedar Fair just wanted to have a uniform system. So one can't say, well my child rode this same ride at another one of your parks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boricuabud Posted April 23, 2007 Share Posted April 23, 2007 Some of the Cedar Fair parks already had higher requirements for these similar rides. I think Cedar Fair just wanted to have a uniform system. So one can't say, well my child rode this same ride at another one of your parks. BUT they could say, "well, my child rode this EXACT ride last year." why break kid's hearts when they are technically going to be completely safe riding? we ALL know how crappy of a feeling it is to not be tall enough to ride a cool ride.. and what if you had already ridden it before? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PKIVortex Posted April 23, 2007 Share Posted April 23, 2007 Yes that is true, they had similar situtions a few years ago, when they raised The Racer, and Adventure Express from 42 inches to 44inches. Both of those rides have been raised 6 inches in the last 8 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browntggrr Posted April 23, 2007 Share Posted April 23, 2007 BUT they could say, "well, my child rode this EXACT ride last year." why break kid's hearts when they are technically going to be completely safe riding? If the height requirment was changed from one year to another year, there is a good explanation. Chances are, there was a isolated incident on a same type ride at another park. If KI (or CF) had the same incident on the ride, and knew of the previous incident at the other park, but did nothing. It would be a rather costly lawsuit. Remember: Safety is #1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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