should theme parks relax their "minimum height" rules for some rides?
crossbones
Posts: 778 Forum Member
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i've been invited to go up to Alton Towers next week, but just checking on their website, they don't seem to have many rides somebody like me with dwarfism, can go on. most rides seem to have a minimum height requirement of 1.2 metres, or 4', which i'm an inch short of. the real thrill rides are 1.4 metres, or 4' 8" so i have no chance. surely they could see that i'm not a kid and give me some leeway? i'm not spending all day riding the bloody ladybirds again. rant over :mad:
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They could relax their limit but it would involve redesigning the safety systems.
I'm sure if they used six-point harnesses they could allow more people on and make more exceptions, but then you would have problems with the complexity of them slowing operation down, and - with them being more fiddly - more prone to error when doing them up.
true. i had a try at getting on some at Thorpe Park years and years ago and had the same problem. in fact, they even refunded my my admission. i stopped going to these places because i can understand probably how uncomfortable it might be for the attendants to have to refuse me entry.
Tried wearing heels?
I baulked at this but thinking about it, you could wear HUGE platform boots with baggy jeans over the top. Stealth at Thorpe Park = amaze.
i'd need at least nine inches of heels, i.e. small stilts. i think the ride attendants might be suspicious, especially when they see my arms.
For example, Rattlesnake at Chessington has a lap bar across two seats, and has a ridiculously high height restriction of 1.4m because if a large adult sits next to a small child, the bar could only come down as far as the adult's lap leaving a big gap between the lap bar and the child's lap (hence the height restriction).
The newer Dragon's Fury has individual lap bars per seat, so if a large adult sits next to a small child, the lap bars comfortably fit each person without any space between the restraint and the person.
Things like this help, but rides with overhead restraints rely on supporting the upper body and if you are short, your head is actually below the overhead part of the restraint reducing its effectiveness to be basically that of a lapbar hence one reason for the height restrictions.
(I worked in a theme park for a couple of seasons if you're wondering why I'm such a nerd)
There's a ride elsewhere (Chessington IIRC) that has a harness that's too small if you're over 6ft tall, and we complained about that. There is a sign now that says you have to be between 4'6" and 6" tall on that ride now.
We were going to travel the world testing out 'coasters and complaining if they weren't safe/suitable for tall people ...
Without knowing the actual risk of injury with the current height guidelines, and the risk level should the guidelines be relaxed, how is anyone supposed to make an informed comment?
Oblivion was (not) fun. Having my weight thrown against the harness when tilting over the edge was horrible!
There may be an argument for engineers rethinking their design parameters, but the height limits reflect the existing designs.
i think that is what i wanted to say, instead of ranting about what theme parks are apparently stuck with. thankyou tonysidaway