Harness Systems

[Fury]

I know that this might be a stupid topic but I have a question for those CM's who work an attraction that have a harness system or any restraint device. Do most of the guests have a problem with the deivce or is it just my attractin, (Stitch's Great MISTAKE)? I mean I understand that our harnesses do not lock like Rockin Roller Coaster and it is not a traditonal system like BTM but still I swear every show I have at least 5 guests who as soon as Agent Pleakly says he is lowering the harnesses decide to take the swimmer's pose. Which is where they have both arms above their heads like they are diving into a pool. I know they would not do this on Rockin so why do they do it to us?

[TinkerBelleRoo]

Perhaps because you don't move? I haven't been on SGE yet but I hated when it used to be Alien Encounter and we had to be harnessed in. Not only was it EXTREMELY uncomfortable, it seemed unecessary for a show type attraction. There are no upside down maneuvers or fast speeds. You just sit there.

So I not only understand why people assume the swimmers pose but agree with them.

The weight of those harness things on your shoulders...I was black and blue the next day. So yeah completely and utterly unecessary.

HOwever I would never condone doing this on RNRC since that is a ride/attraction that the harness is truely needed and provides for your safety.

[doc.hobo]

Perhaps because you don't move? I haven't been on SGE yet but I hated when it used to be Alien Encounter and we had to be harnessed in. Not only was it EXTREMELY uncomfortable, it seemed unecessary for a show type attraction. There are no upside down maneuvers or fast speeds. You just sit there.

So I not only understand why people assume the swimmers pose but agree with them.

The weight of those harness things on your shoulders...I was black and blue the next day. So yeah completely and utterly unecessary.

HOwever I would never condone doing this on RNRC since that is a ride/attraction that the harness is truely needed and provides for your safety.

The harness on AE was so that guest dont get up and run out of the place. its dangerous in the dark. Also it was part of the attraction when the alien landed on your harness.

[Simba1]

When I drove Safaris I wished every day for some kind of restraint in those trucks! For goodness sakes, they strap you into Stitch like they'd going to blast you off to Venus....yet you can get in a moving 10-ton truck, almost 6-feet off the ground, amongst wild animals and there isn't a thing to keep you in the seat!!
Chanting: **Please remain seated** **Please remain FULLY seated** Ahem...**PLEASE remain FULLY SEATED at ALL TIMES** **Please sit down** uhhhh **Please do NOT stand up to take photos** ....not even for a second** oh yeah, and ....**Please do not lift jr into the air and dangle him out of the truck like that** :duh:

[TinkerBelleRoo]

As to the not moving around during the show for Stictch and AE, a seatbelt would work just as well.

That's all they have for Star Tours/Body Wars and that moves more than this.

[tenprincess]

The harness in Stitch also serves as personal speakers for each guest completing the surround sound. Also it is equiped with the ticklers, hot breath controls, and smell sprayers, to add to the audio and visual. So having a seatbelt would take away from what little show quality Stitch has.

Furthermore, the shoulder harnesses are weak at stitch and are easily removed, so it isn't difficult for a guest to get out of their seat, which happens more often than you think. It's really creepy for the lights to come back on and a guest is standing next to you.

[SoarWhoreCoCo]

I know they would not do this on Rockin so why do they do it to us?

Okay I have to give you a HYS for even thinking guest dont do that on Rockin..lol...AT least ONE guest per train lowers their restraints wrong..locking their hands under the restaint pinning their arms to their lap, pushing their ride partners down while they are still getting adjusted and pin their arm , elbow,and shoulder outside of the train. Or they dont lower the restraint and when you lower it for them do the "swimmer pose". My favorite was the idiot who sat on top of his restraint after his wife stepped in holding onto the restaint and when she gracefully FELL in lowered his so he thought it would be perfectly safe to ride on top of it.
It goes to prove the IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL SCREW IT UP SOMEHOW.
:D:

[lewitz]

I'm up in Chicago at Six Flags, so that means I'm on my six month vacation right now (although I do have school). Anyways, during the 2005 season, I worked at the Whizzer, a classic family coaster with inline style seating for two per seat (one rider sits in the lap of another rider in the same seat) and one seatbelt for the pair of riders. The seatbelt is just like the one you'd find in your car. It goes across your lap and retracts automatically, it does not stay locked with the flip of a switch like the nice ones at Disney. Somehow, guests still find a way to screw these up. Our boarding spiel basically states: "Please seat two riders per seat, with the larger person sitting in the back. Pull the seatbelt slowly around both riders. The seatbelt is located to the left."

And here are the everyday encounters I'd come across:

(by far the most common) "Don't start the ride! My seatbelt isn't on!" After that, the entire carload of riders in unison: "Hey, hey you! His/her seatbelt isn't on! Hey!" (waving arms frantically in the air). Of course, while shouting all of this, is the rider actually attempting to fasten his/her seatbelt? No, of course not. They'd rather make me walk over and personally watch them fasten it. And all during this time I am giving the boarding spiel, so I usually make eye contact and gesture that it'll just be a moment. However, when the constant yelling and arm flailing becomes excessive, I stop spieling midsentence and assist the guest, obviously something annoying to constantly be doing.

You'd also get the "Don't start the ride! My seatbelt isn't on!" as I am standing over a guest with an unbuckled seatbelt. Does it look like I am standing at the panel with my thumb in the air? No. Now, tell me, how am I going to start the ride if I am standing fifteen feet from the operator panel? I am obviously standing over you for a reason, it is because I can't walk away until your seatbelt is on.

Of course, since all seatbelts lock when they're tugged tightly (otherwise, there would be no point to them), guests (who always seem to think the opposite of reality) think that pulling on them quickly will somehow make them work. We emphasize it during our spiel, I tell them personally a few times, you need to pull the seatbelt slowly for it to come out. Usually, these are the same guests that are frantically yelling for you to not stop the ride, so they have no idea that you're even talking to them. For pete's sake, if you are so scared of riding that you're screaming in the station, then don't ride at all!

And, you also get the plain out stupid people. Pulling on the buckle part (with the release button) to your right is not going to do anything. That part is bolted down to the car. It looks identical to the one in your car. Do you not know how to work something as simple as a seatbelt?

"Does this have to go around both riders?" Yes, it does.

No, we do not allow three kids to ride together, even if they do fit. (another common attempt to break the rules that parents make)

Yes, you must buckle up. I don't care if you don't buckle up while you're driving to or from the park. One gentleman actually exited the ride after waiting through a fairly long line because he "didn't believe in seatbelts" and refused to wear one.

(arriving back in the station) "My seatbelt wasn't working. I was able to unbuckle it during the ride." I advised the guest that they not tamper with any restraints at any ride during their stay that day.

(leaving the station) "Stop the ride! My seatbelt isn't on!" This is a tough situation to be in, because no one wants to be in a downtime caused by operator error (not checking a restraint). However, I have lift stopped many times for this, and guess what? The seatbelt was on. The guest freaked out because he/she could pull out on the strap after the train started moving. It's like, yeah, I know you can. If you couldn't pull the strap out of the retractor, how would you be able to get it on in the first place?

You also get the guest that decides to play a little joke and unbuckle during the ride. Guess what? We aren't blind! I can clearly see that your seatbelt isn't buckled and will lift stop. After an attendant goes up and makes the guest wear the seatbelt, they almost always agree without any fuss, because they are so embarassed for causing a 10 minute downtime. Besides just unbuckling, I have seen guests switch seats (not positions in the seat, but actual seats), stand up, ride backwards, etc. You name it, they've done it.

I know this is a pretty long post about restraints, but c'mon, it's a freaking simple seatbelt for crying out loud people! It doesn't take a genius to figure out how to work it! Back when the park opened in 1976, this ride didn't even have seatbelts. But it seems as though guests have become stupider since, and, oh yeah, I guess that's why there is now a website titled stupidguesttricks.com.