CF Metal Detectors

Posting in another thread got me to thinking...

Up to now, CF hasn't had any metal detectors. Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't all the Paramount Parks have metal detectors?

Will we see them removed from the CF regime, or will they more or less pave the way for metal detectors in the other parks? CF now has a working relationship with at least one vendor for parts, etc. on the existing metal detectors. Also, they now have experience with how to handle the process, and management can be sent to other parks to train them on the process.

Just some off-season thoughts..

I hope not. They add unneeded hassles to the process of getting into the park, and are a poor excuse to reduce in-park security staffing.

CF removed the ones Six Flags had installed at Geauga Lake, I'm guessing the ones at the Paramount Parks will also be removed.

Except that Geauga Lake also was having rapidly declining attendance and not bringing in the numbers that any of the Paramount Parks were. Perhaps the sheer numbers coming through the gates will result in a difference of opinion with regards to removing them?

They won't be removing them, considering the fact that each of the former Paramount Parks is hiring security officers to operate the metal detectors.

Example: http://www2.cedarfair.com/kingsisland/jobs/jobs_description.cfm?emp_id=1356

And never has in-Park security been reduced. The levels in Park have remained the same. The detectors just add an extra level of security, especially when you see some of the items that have been stopped before they got in. Some items may get through, but the majority don't and thats the benefit of them. *** Edited 2/26/2007 12:50:02 AM UTC by rc_ruler***

I still laff about the time I was at kings island going thrue the metal detectors, and the made me remove the laser pointer from my key ring. They would not let me bring it into the park.

Well, later in the day, we were in a arcade in the park and what do I see them giving away as prizes in a claw machine?

If you guessed laser pointers you get a gold star.

Canada's Wonderland installed them because they had a shooting several years ago killing one man. So maybe they might consider keeping some of them at the parks even though they are a pain to get threw.

It was asked at last month's ACE No Coaster Con, and KI's Maureen Kaiser indeed said that the metal detection will still be in place, at least at KI and the other former Paramount Parks.

The metal detectors can be a pain, and they need to be staffed, but IMO the park and the company will only be asking for more trouble if they remove them, and something bad happens.

When Cedar Fair bought Geauga Lake in 2004, it was more of a "let's do things our way" mentality, including removing the metal detectors. None of their other parks, especially Cedar Point, have them, so why are they needed at GL?

Now, with the acquisition of the Paramount Parks, CF is saying "let's look at what works" and "how it can make all our parks better." Although the Paramount name is gone from the parks, there are still Paramount and Nick-named/themed rides, KI still has Gold Passes, and, now, of course, metal detectors. I wouldn't be surprised if metal detectors make their way to other CF parks in the near future.

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dannerman said:Except that Geauga Lake also was having rapidly declining attendance and not bringing in the numbers that any of the Paramount Parks were.

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The metal detectors at Geauga Lake were removed prior to the park opening in 2004 so your statement is incorrect.

No, my statement is NOT incorrect because the attendance was declining prior to CF buying it. The attendance was declining prior to 2004. They saw the trend, and they knew what direction they wanted to take the park - a more family-friendly alternative.

And it still had nothing to do with attendance.

I'd rather go through the inconveniance of going through a Metal Detector than read a Headline that says "Gunman Hold Theme Park Visitors Hostage for Ransom"

I don't look at Metal detectors having anything to do with declining attendance. I don't think I've ever heard anyone say: "I'm not going to Geauga Lake, it takes too long to get in the gate 'cuz of those detectors."

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wicked_twister_man said:
Canada's Wonderland installed them because they had a shooting several years ago killing one man. So maybe they might consider keeping some of them at the parks even though they are a pain to get threw.

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The Wonderland shooting was in the parking lot, so the detectors didn't make a difference. They might be a hassle, but removing them probably doesn't make sense.

IIRC paramount initiated the metal detectors after a stabbing at KD that occured inside the park back in the mid to late 90's.

I'm of the belief that metal detectors are just another of the unnecessary inconveniences in life that give the masses the illusion of safety.

At best, I can see it stopping only impulsive incidents. Like if someone was carying something dangerous with no intentions of using it in a malicious way, but an incident occured inside the park, things escalate and something bad goes down.

Because, quite frankly, if I had intentions of going postal in an amusement park, I could easily make it happen whether the park had metal detectors or not.

And it gets you stopped for stupid stuff depending on the mood of the guard you get. I had to go back to my car to return a dinky little freebie knife/flashlight thing that I'd forgotten to take out of my backpack at Beastbuzz. Is this a theme park or an airport?

*** Edited 2/26/2007 6:37:50 PM UTC by pkidelirium***

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vistaway said:

The Wonderland shooting was in the parking lot, so the detectors didn't make a difference. They might be a hassle, but removing them probably doesn't make sense.

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Yeah, but more then likly he brought the gun was into the park too.

At least the metal detectors can help somewhat, those bag searches at Disney are a joke. They don't check every compartment and they don't check if you are carrying anything in a jacket or a pocket.

I like the way they have it at Dorney where there are no metal detectors and no bag searches but some (or most?) of the security is carrying a gun.

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FLYINGSCOOTER said:
I don't look at Metal detectors having anything to do with declining attendance. I don't think I've ever heard anyone say: "I'm not going to Geauga Lake, it takes too long to get in the gate 'cuz of those detectors."

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That's not what I meant. What I meant is that when the detectors were installed, there were x guests coming to the park, which had a y probability of an incident. As x decreases, y decreases, and thus the need for the added cost of the detectors (maintenance and staffing) becomes an expense that isn't necessary.

I know Dick didn't sit in a boardroom and say "Ok, the attendance has declined the past 5 years so lets yank out the metal detectors." I know it was more of a this-is-how-we-do-it thing. However, with the attendance decreases from the point they were installed to the point where CF took over made it that much more unnecessary. Otherwise, we'd see them removing the metal detectors from the Paramount Parks, whose attendance hasn't decreased since the metal detectors were installed.