BEES on roller coasters?

OK, so recently I've been hearing a lot of buzz (haha!) about coasters being shut down temporarily due to bees/wasps/etc, hanging out around the lift hills and such. What is that all about? Is this common? Is it something recent? I'm kinda scared to ride anything that might have a big ol' swarm of wasps waiting to smack me in the face while I'm whipping along at 60mph. Somebody say something to comfort me, quick!

Save yourselves! Your weapons are useless against them!!

Psh. Only when you have bedbugs on coasters do you have a genuine problem.

Wasp swarm many high structures in the fall. It isn't just lift hills but Stadium grandstands etc. Not sure why, But it's nothing new.

Funny this should be mentioned. There were quite the number of wasps near the top of Nitro's lift hill Saturday.

I remember a visit to SFA several years back where there was a pretty good sized cloud of wasps in the station and on the ramp to ROAR. Bad enough that people were leaving ...

I read the title of this thread and immediately thought of the bees/beads exchange from Arrested Development.

OK, this is not helpful, people.

*sweating nervously*

Bro, have you been watching too much Final Destination 3?

"Monsters by the millions - and they're all for real!" - Tagline from The Swarm

I think I'm having déjà vu. Didn't we talk once about the wasps by the wing coaster at Dollywood?

Mike, there were a ton of yellowjackets at the top of Nitro for Riding of the Bull on our first ride. I haven't ever noticed in past park trips either...

I have a completely irrational fear of bees and wasps. Like can't even handle it, so I'm right with you, vrf! *laugh* thank goodness I'm done coasting for the season (as far as I know).

RESISTANCE IF FUTILE! .. It's the BUZzzz, I too have noticed around SFGA alot of "yellow jackets," not just around the lines, but anywhere there is a trash bin! YIKES!!

I just came back from a wonderful week at Silver Dollar City and on one of the days Outlaw Run was shut down on account of wasps. There was a swarm at the top of the lift and some guests had actually been stung. They said they don't like to spray when guests are in the park so they just closed for the rest of the day.
The next day when I rode the crew informed me they had taken care of the problem, and I only saw one or two up there. Apparently, however, the pests had moved next door because at the top of Powder Keg's lift there they were. Bunches of em. I told the crew about it when I got back to the station and they just heaved a disappointed sigh...

I remember in autumns past Kings Island has posted a sign at the entrance stating that, especially in the fall, bees and wasps are attracted to metal in high places, and to expect that kind of activity on the high rides. It almost read like a "don't bother them and they won't bother you" message.

So what's the next safety measure? EpiPens on each and every unload platform?

I remember in 2002, one of the mine trains at Six Flags over Texas was closed while a bee or wasp nest was removed from the top of the lift. It was open no more than an hour later. I was actually impressed they did this during park hours and reopened the ride.

In late 2007 there were bees at the top of Big Dipper at Geauga Lake, so they closed the park. ;)

A lot of it depends on whether a bee sting is a minor annoyance or a life threatening situation to someone. I'm not deathly allergic to bees, but I'm petrified of them. I know a lot of people can get stung and are just like "Oww, lil bastard, oh well, what's for lunch?" I'm not one of those people lol.

Everyone knows that the bees at the top of the Big Dipper were in direct competition to the bees atop Gemini. Kinzel closed Geauga Lake solely to protect his flagship bees. Which is also the reason that MiA will never get any bees of its own.

Oprah, on the other hand, loves bees. They're one of her favorite things.

This topic is the bee's knees.

sirloindude said:

Bro, have you been watching too much Final Destination 3?

Well, it did feature a roller coaster accident as its catalyst, so at least we're on topic...

vrf19977 said:
A lot of it depends on whether a bee sting is a minor annoyance or a life threatening situation to someone. I'm not deathly allergic to bees, but I'm petrified of them.

I would think in an amusement park setting bees are nothing to play with.

And vrf19977, is there anything you're not afraid of? Or do we just manage to hit the correct scare buttons for you?...