Is 54" height minimum to much?

By comparing similar coaster designs, I personally feel that 54" is a bit much for a height minimum. The worst obviously in this category is B&M. Being that they are for the most part smooth as glass coasters, why set the height minimum at this height? Especially since alot of parks charge full adult prices to kids that are at least 48" tall. When I take my daughter to SFGAm , she is charged the same price as me but cant get on 6 of the coasters. To me this is depriving her of all the thrills at the park but has to pay full price. I personally think that all coasters with 54" height minimum requirements should be lowered to 48".

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"SAVING THE WORLD BEFORE BEDTIME" Powerpuff girls

Good, someone else agrees with me! Mill. Force is down to 48" this year!!!
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"Autobots: Transform and roll out!"

I'd say that RB at SFGAm could be lowered to 48". It is the most comfortable coaster I have evrr been on. And the seats look like they can hold an infant in.

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WOW! It's just like "Speed 2", only it's a bus instead of a boat!

If I'm not mistaken it's because of the B&M OTSR's. Could you elaborate Rideman?

I agree with you Steel Phantom, the OTSR's on B&M are quite large.

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HypersonicXLC Rocks!!!

It's all about restraint size. B&M restraints attempt to comfortably restrain people of all sizes, and for that, I think they have to make some concessions.

The Force was always intended for 48". That was Intamin's spec. The higher number was Cedar Point being irrationally cautious.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

Chitown - I got a better idea. How about SFGAM lowering the price of people under 54" to be the kid price. This has always aggravated me to the T. I think that would make a lot more happy guests. Being an "X" employee, and having worked on 3 of the 54" coasters (Bull, Batman, Shockwave)this would resolve quite a few problems for the guests and the employee's. I felt really bad when people bought an adult ticket and waited to ride a ride and their child ended up being to short.

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BMCOASTER

bmcoaster@wi.rr.com

How about a "midheight" sort of ticket? If they lowered the price to child tickets for up to 54", the parks would stand to lose a lot of money, but they could have another level. Or we could just be making it way more complicated than it needs to be. :)

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Po!nt of View: A different look at Roller Coasters.
http://www.crosswinds.net/~justmayntz/thrills/index.html
** Updated April 4, 2001 **

CP offered a "tweener" ticket, were if you are between 48" and 54" you pay less than the full price.

I have onbe question. since Flight of Fear at both PKI and PKD has Son of Beast restraints, why do you have to be six inches taller to ride Flight of Fear? My only guess is that it has something to do with the launch.

Most likely that and just because its a different type of coaster.

There are a lot of flat rides and some coasters that have 48" as a requirement. Where I work the majority of rides have height restrictions of 48 inches or less. As for the parents waiting with their too small children and being rejected, there is a sign at the entrance of the line with the height requirement, and a nice little arrow showing how tall a person has to be to ride it, so if they waste their time it is their own fault. I know it is a hassle I have turned down many kids on the "taller" rides. The parks never state that with the adult ticket, one can ride every ride and coaster in the park, but they can usually enjoy the majority of the attractions.

As for the Flight of Fear question:

Remember, until this season the ride had shoulder bars, which may have had something to do with the 54" minimum. I don't know if that has been reviewed with the new restraints or not.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I think that the 54" height restriction is too high. My 9 year old son is 49 inches. Everypark that I have taken him to he could ride everything. I have taken him to Hersheypark, Dorney Park, Disneyworld, Moreys Piers. Now that he wants to go to Cedar Point, and Six Flags Great Adventure I am hoping he grows fast. =)He loves coaster just as much as I do. For him to have to have to miss out on coasters when he's ridden equivelents at other parks (because their height restriction is more lienient.)