Amusement parks in the US had “policies” like this in the 90’s (I haven’t been to one lately, but I assume it’s the same…). There would be a sign at the ride entrance giving a required height to ride, and there would be a measuring device that the rider or ride operator would use to measure.
I suppose that I’ve seen this as an easy-to-use proxy for age and maturity (don’t want little kiddies riding the Kill-O-Coaster) that doesn’t require the ride operator to check ID or do a full-blown maturity evaluation on-site (which, considering that ride operators in the 1990’s were basically 17 and 18 year olds, who aren’t really the best at determining if little 5yo Suzie is ‘mature’ enough to ride the Death Dragon, I don’t think I would trust anyway).
What happens when a midget, dwarf, or amputee attempts to ride a ride at an amusement park? Is the ride height requirement really just a convenient proxy to measure whether or not the customer is mature enough (which could be waiveable if the customer makes an equal opportunity stink) , or are there actual safety issues with really short adults riding?
It’s not about maturity, I believe it has to with the restraints, be it a lap bar or belt or harness or whatever. If you’re too short you risk slipping out and falling to your untimely death.
Interesting. Have there been any actual cases where an adult midget has made a stink, or perhaps someone who rode the ride at age 17, but then went off to war and lost his legs and is now half the “height” that he used to be?
This summer, a man who was a double amputee was thrown from a rollercoaster at the local amusement park and killed.
" Darien Lake Theme Park has been fined after receiving two violations stemming from an incident in which an Iraq War veteran was killed when he was thrown from a roller coaster.
According to the New York State Department of Labor, the death of Army Sgt. James Hackemer was the result of operator error. Their investigation found that while the roller coaster was mechanically sound, the operators did not follow rules, which state that riders must have both legs because the safety devices restrain legs, shins, and the lap. Hackemer lost both of his legs fighting in Iraq." http://www.9wsyr.com/news/local/story/Darien-Lake-fined-for-operator-error-in-deadly/H95yOB_wAEW3n4YKA3LJqg.cspx
Anecdote: I was in Disney World a few weeks ago with a friend, who brought her 7 year old daughter. Said daughter was just tall enough for a few of the rides - When they were there six months ago, she wasn’t allowed on. While there was some margin for error, I could see how she wouldn’t have been safe if she had been much smaller.
Safety is safety, and the restraints are important. If they won’t hold you in during a high speed turn, then you’re in trouble, no matter hold old or mature you are.
-D/a
Although everyone knows about " You must be THIS tall to ride" , that’s not actually the only restriction. I’ve known people who couldn’t ride particular rides because their shoulders were too wide or their bellies were too big or they were too tall and they therefore couldn’t be properly restrained.
And state regulations probably have something to do with it,too. One summer, my family went to two Six Flags parks in different states. My son was tall enough to ride a particular ride at the first one, but too short by about an inch for the same ride at the second.
I’m 4’11" as an adult, and I was always the smallest in my class growing up. I’ve always been a a rigiid, follow the rules type, whereas my mother is a wacky, freewheeling creative type. I remember getting into arguments with her at the amusement park, complete with me scared and crying, because she would want me to try and scam the height limits when I was close to the line but not quite there: stretching up, arguing with the operator, or even “when we come back next time we’ll bring lifts for your shoes.” I surely did not want to fall to an untimely death!
Even now I’m not that far past the line for some of the really cool rides. I’m small-boned, too, with tiny hands, feet, wrists and shoulders. Even now the restraints can feel awfully loose, and have to be ratcheted to the tightest setting.
As a counter example, in NYC busses a line is circumscribed on one of the entrance poles. Anyone under it is presumed to be a kid, and gets half-price entry.
Roller coasters also involve a lot of physical forces that younger kids and small people can’t handle, which is another reason why kids and the disabled can’t ride certain rides. The sprog, for example, loves roller coasters and was tall enough to ride some at Hersheypark. Unfortunately, he didn’t have strong enough muscles in his neck and upper body and the resulting forces made it difficult to control his body on the ride. The next year, however, he was both tall enough and strong enough to be able to handle it and now rides all of them.
No offense, but that’s pretty dense of her you’re lucky your alive. Did she realize why the height requirements are there ? So people wouldn’t get hurt or die ?
Kids under 44" ride free actually (when accompanied by an adult paying full fare). Children above 44" pay full fare (but many probably have a bus pass if they go to public school). There is no half-fare for children in NYC.