Should Rides Have Ratings?

[FRD714]

Read the short article here: http://www.wnbc.com/news/7876469/detail.html

I dont understand why she wants a rating system for the type of accident her son died in. It really has nothing to do with it. He stood up becuase he didnt wear a seatbelt. You have no right to stand up on any type of coaster (except stand up coasters lol) even if its a kiddie coaster.

Although, I sort of like the idea of ratings. Most warning signs say the same thing for certain rides, but ratings could give you more of an idea of what type of intensity a ride has. Whats your opinion on this?

[CoasterDave316]

Cedar Fair parks rate rides on a 1-5 scale. So it is something that's done at some parks.

[FRD714]

Cedar Fair parks rate rides on a 1-5 scale. So it is something that's done at some parks.

I didn tknow that. Do you think SF will do this in the future?

[Ilovthevu']

I don't agree with the type of rating system that they have. Instead, I believe that if you are under a certain height, then you have to ride with your parent so this doesn't happen again especially with dark rides.

Is this really a coaster? I thought this is a dark ride.

[Aero737]

I agree with a rating system, why wouldn't you?

[Binks Drake]

Personally, I don't agree with a rating system. At every ride throughout the chain, there is a height requirement. You must be this tall to ride, or you must be below this line to ride. And Frankly that's all the rating we need.

Some of you may think, well it's no big deal just appeal to the parent, remove the obstacle, but will people listen to a rating system? No, they won't. The parks would spend a TON of money re-working their Park Maps and Guides to include this in policys, they would spend unnecessary cash on signs with ride ratings. And no one willl listen to them.

For instance. This November the forth installment to the Harry Potter Franchise of movies hit the screens, and quickly made it's way to being one of the top ten films of all time. It had a PG-13 rating, and every little kid I've met has seen this movie. Including my 1-year-old cousin. Now this is not just another Harry Potter Movie. This is the one were there are several plots trying to kill Harry at every turn. This is the one where the Most Dangerous Wizard of all time, who murdered Harry's Parents and countless others returns. And frankly, if you've read the Fifth and Sixth books you know who else he kills which no one expects. Especially reading chapter one of the sixth book. Or Ron asking Hermione every morning if the Daily Prophet has reported "Anyone We know dead?" The Forth Harry Potter Movie Has the oddly-KKK-Like Death Eaters, The Flesh, Blood, and Bone spell to bring the Dark Lord back to life. And of course the Murder of Cedric Diggory for Absolutly no reason at all.

And people did not listen to it. They brought small children who got scared to death and had to leave the movie. Parents demand ratings but don't listen to them. So Don't waste your money Six Flags.

Ranting done.

[RBull4life]

Doesn't Great America, in their park maps, already have a brief description of what the ride is, and what it does? If you think that your 7 year old kid is going to be afraid of the ride, well then common sense would probably lead you to think "gee, maybe I should go with him."
My heart goes out to the woman who lost her son, but there is already half a chapter posted in the front of each ride of the requirements needed to ride, what in the world is a rating system going to do except put all of those warnings and such into a rating system. It makes no sense.

[Aero737]

I think we're thinking beyond height requirements here, more of an intensity rating (perhapse based on some forumula including how many inversions, speed, gee-forces, etc.).

While I don't necessarily agree with a rating system (like our movies .. you must be a certain age) I'm 100% for a rating system to inform guests how intense a rollercoaster might be.

[RBull4life]

^ 99% of the time I think you would have a very good idea just by looking at the thing.

[Aero737]

Not all people can estimate Gee forces just by eyeballing a ride.

And a rating system isn't hurting enthusiasts in any way. All that it would be doing is informing the general public more.

[twixmix0303]

I'm with Binks Drake on this one. Very few people would actually listen to it. Plus, who would create the ratings? The parks? That would be completely biased because the most intense ride at the park would be labeled a 5 and the least a 1, disregarding comparison to other parks. If you do compare to other parks, then you'd end up with only 1s and 2s at a park like Kiddieland, which is only stating the obvious.

[RBull4life]

Not all people can estimate Gee forces just by eyeballing a ride.

And a rating system isn't hurting enthusiasts in any way. All that it would be doing is informing the general public more.

I beleive that they could see how intense the ride is by looking at it, and as far as the G Forces are concered, ok, maybe then post some kind of rating system, but then again, doesn't the posted sign in front of the que saying that ride X has extreme G forces?

I am with Binks Drake also. If a rating system did happen, hardly anybody would listen to it, and it would the responsiblity of the ride-op to stop any such riders. What it comes down to is the responsibilty of the parent. If the parent beleives that ride X is to extreme, or scary for the child, well then act like a parent, and don't let your child ride, or go with him/her on it.

[Aero737]

I never said it was up to the ride ops to filter riders (with the exception of hight and weight requirements). A general ride rating system (done by the state .. as in government not state of Illinois) would do nothing but inform riders. If people chose not to follow it, thats their choice, but I garauntee you that parents would heed the system.

[Binks Drake]

Just like they don't take kids to PG-13 and R movies?

[shockwave guy mark]

I also agree with the syastem. Peple need to know the elements of the ride, and how extreme it is. its reasonibly fair.

[Mr.SIX]

They actualy do have a rating system on the signs for the ride it says moderate thrill or high thrill and it says why its like that.

[Aero737]

Just like they don't take kids to PG-13 and R movies?

A PG13 movie wont kill you, and how many children around 10 do you honestly see in R rated movies? This rating system is meant for smaller children, not teenagers.

[FRD714]

Not all people can estimate Gee forces just by eyeballing a ride.

And a rating system isn't hurting enthusiasts in any way. All that it would be doing is informing the general public more.

Very true. Some people think they can handle it, but they cant.

[Drkstarboard]

Great America has the rating system on the new signs you see right before you enter the line. I think that is what Mr.SIX was saying. But last year, new signs were put up at each ride entrence saying moderate-thrill ride.

Almost all of Cedar Points roller coasters are rated 3-5.

The 5 ones are (tell me which ones I don't have):

Top Thrill Dragster
Millennium Force
Wicked Twister
Magnum XL 200

The 4s and 3s vary

[twixmix0303]

/\ There are variations, Mild or something like that is for the Carousel, etc., and I think Intense is for the roller coasters. Moderate is for most of the flats.

Mr. SIX made a good point, our park does have a rating system in place. And I know many people don't realize it's in place since they don't read the signs.

A general ride rating system (done by the state .. as in government not state of Illinois) would do nothing but inform riders.

You're right, but think realistically. You're talking a park the size of Great America spending hundreds of thousands of dollars (easily) for new signs, and while they would certainly inform, is it really justified in the end? All you're doing is stating the obvious.

If you don't have good enough judgement to look at Raging Bull and say, "Gee. That's a pretty big drop and I am prone to motion sickness; maybe I shouldn't ride," then you shouldn't be driving to the park in the first place.

This mom is just trying to find excuses for her son's mistake. Better restraints or additional/more observant ride operators would have solved the problem, not this rating joke.

[Carlo]

First the Sign's aready say who should not ride the ride. Also, It does say what type of ride it is. It will say Somthing Like "A Instnese Thrill ride with High speeds and Turns." Also, you will notice that most Theme parks have sign's just like SFGAM ones.

[Binks Drake]

Just like they don't take kids to PG-13 and R movies?

A PG13 movie wont kill you, and how many children around 10 do you honestly see in R rated movies? This rating system is meant for smaller children, not teenagers.

Next few times you go to R movies, look around the theatre. Plus you can't see inside their lives, you know various forms of renting movies, which happens a lot. Much more inside the house then out of it. I think you would be surprised how many very young children have seen R movies.

But really this isn't about movies, that was just a comparison. This is about rides. And honestly, no one would pay attention to a rating system. They just wouldn't, plain and simple. I gurantee that the folks who post here and the only ones who have ever read those ride signs that say "high speed thrill ride with sudden stops...etc..." And the park map that you get at the parking thinger. Most people put it on the dashboard or throw it in the backseat. No one reads it, and they wouldn't read the ratings either.

[Aero737]

I challenge you to find 10 year olds in R rated movies. Unless the parents are on crack, they arn't going to take their children to an R rated movie..

It's not going to cost Great America hundreds of thousands of dollars to update signs.

I've noticed the signs that say "Steep drops, high speed, ect..." but they don't offer much into the forces involved. Shockwave is a good example, who would Know that almost everyone blacks out in the third loop, some people don't like that.

[Galvan]

^ And look what happened to Shockwave... Parents should know how to care for there children, and they should not have to rely on some rating that they'll never read or just ignore like at the movies.

While its tragic that this woman lost her son, It is a parents responsibility to know whether or not certain rides or attractions could pose a threat to the safety of there children.

Music,Video Games, TV Shows, Movies are the same thing. At the end of the day it is the resposibility of the parent to decide.

[twixmix0303]

It's not going to cost Great America hundreds of thousands of dollars to update signs.

Not if you want a crappy job done (similar to the stickers applied in 2003, although this is certainly understandable since Six Flags had about a day to get them on).

At Great America, there are roughly 65 rides/slides/upcharge that would need updated signs. Add to the fact that you have multiple signs at most rides/slides and special Fright Fest signs, and you're up to 110 or so.

$100,000/110 = approx. $900 per sign

Materials alone could easily cost $100 per sign. Figure in labor costs associated with designing and then installing 110 new signs, and that's not even anywhere near the cost to outsource the manufacturing of the signs themselves.

These signs are obviously custom, you can't just go to your local Target and pick one up.

I'm assuming this would be instituted between seasons, so the park map wouldn't be an issue.