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2020: General Discussion
AT86
TS Member
I understand the logic of not allowing single riders on water rides such as log flumes and Rapids - if someone was to fall in, the risk of no one noticing is of course higher than if there are a couple of people in the boat.
Not sure I get the reason for coasters not being able to dispatch with just one rider though, there must be a reason behind it somewhere.
Not sure I get the reason for coasters not being able to dispatch with just one rider though, there must be a reason behind it somewhere.
Rick
TS Member
On coasters I operated back in the day, it was the case that a single rider on a train was not acceptable in case 'something' happened and there was no witness to it. In that particular case, two riders on a train had to sit in the same row.Not sure I get the reason for coasters not being able to dispatch with just one rider though, there must be a reason behind it somewhere.
But... different era, different country.
imanautie
TS Member
That's the logic London eye use for the minimum of 3 rule, but it makes sense there.On coasters I operated back in the day, it was the case that a single rider on a train was not acceptable in case 'something' happened and there was no witness to it. In that particular case, two riders on a train had to sit in the same row.
But... different era, different country.
Islander
TS Member
Don't see a problem with that response?Merlin entertainments everyone!
imanautie
TS Member
One park is saying you can but in fact you can't, the other is saying it the other way around.Don't see a problem with that response?
Islander
TS Member
Parks operate on the whole individually, they don't generally operate as a 'group' as the majority of enthusiasts mistakenly believe.One park is saying you can but in fact you can't, the other is saying it the other way around.
So, this is two individual failures rather than one
imanautie
TS Member
Yep, it's just comical they both made the same error but opposite!Parks operate on the whole individually, they don't generally operate as a 'group' as the majority of enthusiasts mistakenly believe.
So, this is two individual failures rather than one![]()
jon81uk
TS Member
Parks operate on the whole individually, they don't generally operate as a 'group' as the majority of enthusiasts mistakenly believe.
Yep I find this quite frustrating that people always talk about "Merlin" when in reality it is resort operations.
Disney has some cross-park operations (the same item of merchandise is often made but with different with Disneyland, WaltDisneyWorld and Disneyland Paris logos for example) but a lot of decisions are made locally in Florida and California. DLR and WDW fairly independently. The Merlin UK parks are similar, some things cross between them but a lot of decision making is local.
Thameslink Rail
TS Member
Despite that it would be helpful if they were consistent between parks. I was allowed on Rumba Rapids on my own but not Congo River Rapids. Out of interest, what are other parks with Intamin Rapids and Maurer Spinners saying?Yep I find this quite frustrating that people always talk about "Merlin" when in reality it is resort operations.
Disney has some cross-park operations (the same item of merchandise is often made but with different with Disneyland, WaltDisneyWorld and Disneyland Paris logos for example) but a lot of decisions are made locally in Florida and California. DLR and WDW fairly independently. The Merlin UK parks are similar, some things cross between them but a lot of decision making is local.
jon81uk
TS Member
Despite that it would be helpful if they were consistent between parks. I was allowed on Rumba Rapids on my own but not Congo River Rapids. Out of interest, what are other parks with Intamin Rapids and Maurer Spinners saying?
Oh I agree, if a ride is operated due to a manufacturers requirement, this should be consistent.
I was more just continuing Islanders frustration about how people talk about Merlin/Tussauds and how they actually seem to operate.
Alsty
TS Member
Well, it is a bit of both. Merlin do have influence over their resort parks and hotels, for instance the food offerings have become homogenised and dumbed down over the years, and the safety protocols introduced post-Smiler look fairly consistent across their UK parks. However I agree there is also local autonomy and some parks do things differently to others. I'm not sure exactly where the line is drawn.
Perhaps one of the strangest to me is the "no re-rides" policy that exists at Alton Towers, but not at Thorpe Park... I do find it odd why things like that aren't consistent.
Perhaps one of the strangest to me is the "no re-rides" policy that exists at Alton Towers, but not at Thorpe Park... I do find it odd why things like that aren't consistent.
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Matt N
TS Member
How so? Mine Train does definitely coast; you definitely feel it pick up decent speed in those helices, especially the second one into the Rapids tunnel!Now come on, Blackpool ghost train is more of a coaster!
I admit that Ghost Train does work under gravity very briefly, however I wouldn’t personally call it a roller coaster. However, I admit that everyone has their own different interpretations; the definition of a roller coaster is surprisingly open-ended! For me, RCDB classification is pretty good at determining what is and isn’t a roller coaster, but I accept that that isn’t the same for everyone, and that’s fine by me!
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Thameslink Rail
TS Member
We could argue till the end of time about what counts and what doesn't. I always say, if it's on the RCDB then it's a rollercoaster.Now come on, Blackpool ghost train is more of a coaster!
Squiggs
TS Team
How so? Mine Train does definitely coast; you definitely feel it pick up decent speed in those helices, especially the second one into the Rapids tunnel!
I'm not sure it does really coast... I was under the impression that any speed it picks up is because of it's programming.