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ℹ️ Heads up...
This is a popular topic that is fast moving Guest - before posting, please ensure that you check out the first post in the topic for a quick reminder of guidelines, and importantly a summary of the known facts and information so far. Thanks. - Thread starter Craig
- Start date
- Favourite Ride
- Taron
- Favourite Ride
- Ug Bugs
- Favourite Ride
- Taron
- Favourite Ride
- Shambhala (PortAventura Park)
- Favourite Ride
- Ug Bugs
Quick Questions
owenstreet7
TS Member
For Wickerman, it's 34mph
I don't know if Heidi is the same or will vary though.
GooseOnTheLoose
TS Member
I have to wear prescription glasses (and sunglasses), which cost an arm and a wing. I regularly wear mine on rides and I swear by this strap. My frames are Ray-Ban, but ironically the cheapest part of my glasses.
To give context about the suitability and the rides you can wear it on, I've used this strap on every thrill Merlin coaster in the UK. It performed well on Toxicator; Maelstrom at Drayton Manor Park and Zoo; Dragon Kahn, Furious Baco and Shambala at Port Aventura earlier this year.
It's comfortable to use for prolonged periods of time, relatively cheap and I do not worry about my glasses flying off.
Steve74
TS Member
That's exactly the strap I use, albeit not that brand. Works perfectly fine although doesn't help your glasses when you've forgotten to put it on and go round the first inversion of The Smiler and feel them lift off your nose! Thank god there is a long pause before it goes up the lift hill!
Yup used them for years.
Many opticians, and even sports shops, sell them.
My current one, I am proud to say, was kindly created from one of my good ladies bra straps...black hearts and all.
I have very few tokens of life contentment, but that is one.
Sadly, because of regular use on Infusion on a Sunday morning for a number of years, I became "Strap On Rob".
Originally a question by the ride staff...but it became a statement on arrival in the station.
Only ever refused a couple of times on rita.
Many opticians, and even sports shops, sell them.
My current one, I am proud to say, was kindly created from one of my good ladies bra straps...black hearts and all.
I have very few tokens of life contentment, but that is one.
Sadly, because of regular use on Infusion on a Sunday morning for a number of years, I became "Strap On Rob".
Originally a question by the ride staff...but it became a statement on arrival in the station.
Only ever refused a couple of times on rita.
Steve74
TS Member
For your glasses or your good lady?!I also use one of my good lady's bra straps, though now she complains it goes dark every time there's an inversion or airtimeDefinitely getting one of these!
(It's a joke, get over it!)
djtruefitt
TS Team
Just for the record Towers and I assume all other Merlin parks don’t allow any filming on their rides and that includes cameras, go pros and glasses.
Other parks may have their own rules.
Other parks may have their own rules.
Steve74
TS Member
My only fear with the no filming rules on rides (which I fully support by the way) regarding these new filming glasses is that Merlin will enforce a strict "no glasses" rule on rides - particularly coasters, to stop people filming with them. I can't see that working well but I wouldn't be surprised if they try it. Failing that, the ride host will have to inspect your glasses before you board the ride and ask you to remove them if they think they are recording glasses.
owenstreet7
TS Member
I believe that would be incredible difficult to enforce without going into discrimination territory.
They could check glasses but that would slow down operations considerably.
Matt N
TS Member
Why is it that Alton are so anti-filming when other parks allow it provided that equipment is secure?
I can understand the safety risks of unsecured cameras or phones, for sure, but with something like a GoPro or pivot head glasses, I don’t see the issue provided that the park verifies that the equipment is secured and chest mounts and straps and such are secure.
I admit it is probably easier and guarantees safety to just say a blanket no, but plenty of major parks allow it as long as equipment is secure, including others in the UK such as Paultons and parks abroad such as Europa Park and Phantasialand.
I can understand the safety risks of unsecured cameras or phones, for sure, but with something like a GoPro or pivot head glasses, I don’t see the issue provided that the park verifies that the equipment is secured and chest mounts and straps and such are secure.
I admit it is probably easier and guarantees safety to just say a blanket no, but plenty of major parks allow it as long as equipment is secure, including others in the UK such as Paultons and parks abroad such as Europa Park and Phantasialand.
Can't you just strap a chest-mounted GoPro under your shirt and then poke the lens through as the ride starts?? Otherwise I'll be modifying my wife's bra again to contain hidden cameras (in Stereoscope!). Good luck checking for those without losing your nuts!!
What Merlin should do is rent out cameras so they control the spec of the camera, mount, chest harness and fitting, etc. £50-£75 per day, plus the SD card. No more dangerous than glasses or things falling out of pockets. Ker-ching!
What Merlin should do is rent out cameras so they control the spec of the camera, mount, chest harness and fitting, etc. £50-£75 per day, plus the SD card. No more dangerous than glasses or things falling out of pockets. Ker-ching!
djtruefitt
TS Team
I guess now a days you get so many people with go pros etc who may not secure them properly or follow the rules.
Towers have always been a bit OTT with H&S especially since the smiler crash.
So I guess it’s easier to say no, unless it’s a pre agreed thing with towers like TT and TPW have done previously.
Towers have always been a bit OTT with H&S especially since the smiler crash.
So I guess it’s easier to say no, unless it’s a pre agreed thing with towers like TT and TPW have done previously.
Squiggs
TS Team
It's also easier from an operational point of view. If you've got a train full of people with random filming equipment, it makes it much slower to dispatch if you have to check that everything is strapped on securely.
Much quicker just to say a blanket 'no', so guests are just sitting down, strapping in, having a ride and getting off. Much less faff.
Universal also operate in this way, and Disney is starting to introduce similar rules on a ride-by-ride basis.
Much quicker just to say a blanket 'no', so guests are just sitting down, strapping in, having a ride and getting off. Much less faff.
Universal also operate in this way, and Disney is starting to introduce similar rules on a ride-by-ride basis.
GooseOnTheLoose
TS Member
It wouldn't be classed as discrimination.
Under the Equality Act 2010, wearing glasses or contact lenses is not considered a disability.
The law states that the impact of any medication, treatment, or aid should be disregarded when determining if someone is disabled, with the exception of glasses or contact lenses. If a visual impairment is correctable by glasses or contact lenses, it will not be considered a disability.
Considering if someone's disabled - What disability means by law - Acas
What to take into account when considering if someone has a disability by law, including examples.
From glacing at the queue times seems 1 or 2 rides have been over 1 hour. Most of the filler rides are under 30 mins. It all really depends on availability