Being stuck on a coaster or ride

June 2002 - I was stuck on Jokers Jinx (SFA) in the final brake run. They were having troubles getting us back into the station. We were there for maybe fifteen minutes. Very sunny, hot, no breeze, and those trains are lined in black leather. I was in the back seat and watched the train behind us zoom in to a stop right behind us. I was sure they'd not let a train collision occur, but it's still a bit of a rush seeing a roller coaster train approach you out on the tracks.

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"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter." e.e.cummings

Just so everybody knows, I believe that they knowingly/purposefully stack boats on Splash Mountain. It's not a matter of the ride breaking down, but of putting too many boats on the ride to run without stacking.

--Ryan
*** This post was edited by Legend_n_Raven 7/7/2003 10:11:04 AM ***

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[About rapelling:] Sounds scary and very unsafe

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If you're ever stuck on a ski chair lift, we get you down via a variation of this method. I've participated in 3 evacs so far. Is it scary? Yes. Unsafe? Not if you're careful and everyone follows directions... if the people on the ground are untrained or the guests mess around, it can be. Would be interesting to know if the park's staff are trained for such an event, or if they had to bring in outside help.

I'm not familiar with the Drop Zone... did you do full fledged rapelling or did they just lower you straight down?

In three season pass seasons, I've only been lucky enough for two episodes of getting stuck.

Last year on closing day at CP, hubby and I got stuck on Raptor as our train was about to go into the station. It was about 7:30pm (30 minutes until close) just as we came out of the helix to return to the station, I was saying "NO, NO! The season can't be over!" We hit the brakes outside of the station, and the next thing we heard was "Raptor is down due to mechanical difficulties..." We sat there in the front seat for about 20 min. Hubby was not at all happy, but I kept hoping for another spin around.

About two weeks ago, a friend and I got stuck on MF as it was going out of the station and up the lift hill. We'd moved about a foot before we stopped. We sat there for about 5 minutes and were on our merry way. That same day, we just missed an opportunity to get stuck on Raptor's hill. But when it came back up, we did get the front seat, because there were only four people in the station. We chanted "Stop! Stop!" all the way up the lift hill.

Now if only I could get a TTD roll back!

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Awww, bad day? Take a different perspective on things. Try upside down, a barrel roll, a cobra roll or a corkscrew. Life can't be all that bad when your feet are over your head!

Sorry I havent replied before about my DZ accident but after 4 hours of sitting of there (1 hour in the sun 3 at night), rescue workers repelled from the very top of the tower and SLOWLY helped each person put on a harness 2 at a time. The feeling of someone manually releasing and pulling up your harness while you are at the top of DZ is the SCARIEST thing I can imagine. After you squirmed around enough getting your harness on they connected you to one of 4 ropes (one travelled down each side of the tower between the cars) and they repelled down with you. They would then climb back up and do it all again. At the bottom they took us all directly to the hospital where Paramount's brought in their lawyers (I was 12 at the time so all the lawyer stuff didn't make much sense) to talk to us about the legal aspect of the incident. My parents and the other riders decided that we could handle it outside of court and in the end we got Season Passes FOR LIFE and this nifty little green card that allows unlimited SkyFlyer rides. Overall it was an interesting experience but I still love the ride and marathon on it frequently!

Sorry if I didn't catch this but are you talking about the Drop Zone at PKI not PKD?

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"Train Secure"

I am referring to the Carowinds DZ. Yes.... the extremely short one. Unfortunately, not being able to drive, I haven't been able to experience any larger towers.

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Raptorgirl said:
Now if only I could get a TTD roll back!

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That would be the greatest thing ever! I'd love it since when i had seen the sign in pictures I laugh!!!(i'm reffering to the "if the train rolled back please reamain calm")
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Ryan

Jason Wilson- When they repel down how do they secure you? Also how tall is Drop Zone at Carowinds?

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-Sean Newman

carowinds.com says that its 16 stories tall and 56 mph. That isn't as bad as being stuck 305 ft. at PKD.
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"Train Secure"

While putting on the harness, you actually were not restrained. The OTSR was completely up and the rescue workers would hang against the front of your seat while you wriggled around getting the harness on. It was VERY scary lifting yourself up to get the harness on that high in the air, I was close to just breaking down crying, and I'm not afraid of heights normally. I was surprised there was not a safer way of evacuating it then having the people repel down the tower.