Parks and Coronavirus- Too Soon or Not Soon Enough?

Coronavirus is on the rise for the Summer 2020 season. 

Many of us have been waiting, with a mix of concern, fear and hope, that the summer 2020 season would somehow happen. Hoping for life to get back to normal now that we all understood how to protect ourselves against COVID19 which devastated the world the first half of 2020.

Along with this, many of the things we enjoy have closed or been delayed in reopening. From shopping, to restaurants.. the world ground to a screeching, smoking halt. We've waited, followed the rules and kept ourselves safe in hopes that we could return to our favorite past-times. For us, it was one goal: amusement and theme parks.

Which drives the major question: Is it safe to reopen?

Honestly, we are of two minds here.

On one hand, it doesn't seem like it's yet safe to reopen the amusement parks and theme parks we all love. Not while people are still fighting about wearing masks and washing their hands. With the rise in cases, it's obvious many give no care for the welfare of others and in such a public area? It's going to be even more difficult to be safe with the blatant disregard of some.

On the other hand, we want our parks. We want to enjoy the summer season, explore beloved areas and ride all the new additions. We've gone stir-crazy and want out just as much as the next person in line. The parks themselves have worked out ways to try and keep things as safe as possible. From limited attendance, mobile applications for lines and heavy sanitizing routines. They are trying to reopen for us.

In the end, it boils down to one thing... we don't know.

We can't tell you it's going to be fine and that you'll be fine. 

We can't tell you it's safe, because we don't know. 

None here can speak if the parks are reopening too soon or not soon enough. We'd like to believe they mean well and want guests safe. Because without guests, they have no business. That said, I'd like to urge people to take their own initiative to be safe. Worry about yourself and take precautions. Don't simply throw yourself into the merriment and forget everything we've had to re-learn the hard way!

Follow the rules. Wash your hands. Wear your mask. Sanitize often.

Yes, it's inconvenient.  Yes, it's annoying.
But it's still far better to be inconvenienced and annoyed now than it is to possibly die, alone, in a hospital bed from something you could have prevented.

So Please, Stay Safe.

Off the Rails Chat- Safety Announcements and You!

Off the Rails Chat- Safety Announcements and You!

In a new series of chats and rants, which I've decided to call "Off the Rails" we're going to discuses topics facing the theme park and amusement park worlds. As well as guests, special events and anything else which requires off-topic conversations and rants.

 Considering over the weekend some idiot decided to NOT follow those handy 'Safety Announcements' which we all hear while riding our favorite attractions and as a result lost the tips of two fingers while on Disney World's 'Pirates of the Caribbean'.

 No really, it's completely true!

 Now, what do you want to bet this one tries to sue for his own stupidity? Let's throw all forms of common sense out the window and stick our hands in the water! While on the drop! Apparently forgetting the boats don't just 'free float' through these rides, there really ARE rails under the water. Plus really, have you smelled pirate water? It's not the best smell (but you learn to love it), why would you really have a need to stuff your fingers into it?

Nope, I don't know either.

Which brings us to the topic of "Safety Announcements and You". 

 Seriously, these things really shouldn't need to exist. Common sense should tell us 'let's not do anything really stupid because, you know, ouch'. Alas, this isn't the case. I've watched plenty of people do some highly stupid shit while on rides and at parks in general, normally followed by a look of 'are you kidding me?".

Nope, they really did just do that.

 Folks, just because your on vacation.. don't forget to think.

 Don't pack your brains in the truck of your rental car to keep them safe, you need them. These parks do the best they can to keep you safe but you need to do your own part in protecting yourself, because it's really not their job to keep you from doing incredibly stupid acts of stupidness. Follow the rules, use your brain. It's really not that difficult and plus it keeps all your body parts attached and makes for a much better environment for the rest of us.

 When someone tells you to "keep off the walls" or "keep your fingers out of the water" they probably have a very, very good reason for it. They aren't 'targeting' you or 'trying to embarrass you'.. their trying to keep you and yours safe.  You may think your kid is perfect safe climbing all over that wall but when they fall, who are you going to blame? Not yourself, blame the park.  Nevermind that sigh which said "keep off the walls" nor the person who told your kid to "please get down from the wall". At least these days that's what seems to happen, when I was growing up your parents would help you up and then you'd get a hardy "now what did you learn" speech. Well, that or you'd get plucked off the wall and a warning swat for not reading the signs on your own.

..but that's neither here nor there.

Listen to those safety announcements, if they say to keep your limbs inside- keep them inside (or in the air). Although I have to woner about the "keep your feet inside" part..because what would posses a person to stuff their foot out of a ride? That rather boggles my mind but somehow I'm sure someone did it along the way.

 By following the basic rules which generally tell you to NOT be an idiot, everyone has a much better time. Who would want that kind of memory on a vacation? How would you like to explain that to your kids or loved ones?

"Sorry baby, the not-so-smart man had to put his hands in the water and the pirates ate his fingers"

Cause that sounds great.

 So really folks, enjoy your trips and vacations. Ride the rides and have a blast.. but don't forget to use your heads, pay attention and keep yourselves (and as a result those around you) safe this summer!

Cedar Fair moves a Windseeker- The Media Goes Stupid

At this point in time, I'm pretty sure that most everyone knows what a "Windseeker" is. I'm also fairly sure most people can look at this unique ride and easily identify it. Everyone, except for the national news media, who are obviously not very bright.

 Those of us in the theme park/amusement park world knew that when World's of Fun in Kansas City, Missouri announced 'Steelhawk' that it was the 'Windseeker' ride from Knott's Berry Farms. It's move just hadn't been confirmed yet.  We also knew it was one of the three original prototypes of this now iconic Cedar Fair ride made by Mondial.

 However, the news media isn't bright enough to put this simple puzzle together.

 Within the last few days they JUST realized what we knew at the end of August. Maybe they need to listen to people who know what their talking about more? Wait, knowing how they operate, they'd just mess that up too! They've been stiring up the shit-pot announcing such fun headlines as "Shuttered Calif Ride to Move to Missouri Park" and "Knott's Berry Farm To Move Troubled Ride".

Windseeker at Cedar Point 2012

 Yes, Windseekers have had their problems. I dare you to show me a prototype or original design ride out there that hasn't had issues someplace along the way. The 'Windseeker' line has never killed anyone, they've gotten stuck which is annoying as hell but not exactly deadly to your average Joe Q. Public rider.

 I've been stuck on rides before, sometimes for minutes and others for over an hour. It's highly aggravating and can get vastly boring but I wasn't injured, just inconvenienced. Now if you have anything that could be a medical or mental issue due to a ride stop, this could be a real problem but otherwise it's no worse then waiting in rush hour traffic without air conditioning.

Evac Platform at Kings Dominion from Theme Park Review

 Since then Cedar Fair has installed 'Evacuation platforms' which will evacuate guests in case of an emergency stop in the ride. That is what the news means when they say "voluntarily shut down"it wasn't because the rides are unsafe, it was to instal those exact same 'evacuation platforms'.

Due to California and their endless coddling of the paranoid and panicky, the Knott's Berry's Windseeker never got a chance to re-open and prove itself safe. The other Windseeker clones have operated just fine with their platforms in place but like any ride with major height involved, they are subject to weather conditions like wind and rain. To hear the news talk, this just extrudes a lack of safety. Trust me when I say you wouldn't want to be spinning around 300 feet in the air while doing 30 miles an hour in the rain! Rain + Speed = OUCH

 Now I'm not a huge fan of Windseekers myself. Yes, I've ridden several of them and they are fun, you can get some really amazing views from the top. But folks, it's just a really tall swing ride.

 What does annoy the hell out of me is when the news media purposely tries to scare people by hinting that something isn't safe when it's history shows otherwise.