Kiddie Cage

Actually, that didn't come until a bit later...

Apropos of nothing, can we get a kiddie cage here at Coasterbuzz?

I find that very apropos.

Thirded. I'd even vote for Tyler to be the moderator (and only member at this point).

ApolloAndy said:
Late to the party, but yes, NTG has a "chicken coop" which used to make chicken noises when its gate opened and closed.

Lost or neglected theming makes me cry a bit.

Now don't you start going Tyler on us.

Oops!
There. See how they getcha? Before ya know it...

Kings Island has a policy, that I for the life of me can't figure out why CP (just a few hours up the road) doesn't do.

Your kid CAN wait with you in line. Once you and who ever want to board, the kid...or parent...who doesn't want to ride, then can just cross over the coaster.

Some rides have the cage, some rides, just have a spot where the person can wait right at the exit next to the coaster.

All summer long I have seen this is in use down there with no issues. Many parents thankful they can have their kids in lines. Kids seem happy (I'm sure there a few that would want to ride and we can get into the whole ethical debate)...

Even on Flight of Fear (it unloads in a different spot), you walk around the corner, and the person's kid or adult is standing there waiting for you.

It doesn't appear to impede the flow of people per hour...I haven't watched for hours, but the numerous times I've seen people cross over, it takes no longer than someone putting a bag in a bin, then getting back to their seat.

I have also seen larger people use the system too, if they can't ride.

I don't seem to see any hold up or reason why Cedar Point is so "stubborn" on adopting this policy?

Normally I wouldn't compare one park to another over this, but I just find it strange that two Cedar Fair parks, in the same state, don't have the same rules...I can understand after one or two years having different procedures, but one would think by now the rule books/procedures would be starting to become the same for ride operations.

King Island just seems to have so many family friendly policies, while Cedar Point wants to be more family friendly but hasn't made the move on this.

Interesting observation, and I agree. Cedar Point has always and forever been known as the Land o' Rules. They have more strict policies and it's easier to get the Park Reprimand there than any park in the country. I know my day isn't complete until I've been yelled at by somebody somewhere for something. "Sir? Sir! Could you please..."

I thought CP had eliminated it's front of the queue post, the person who sits at the entrance with the candy cane stick. But on my recent visit I noticed many rides had put them back in place. Maybe due to FastLane, I don't know. KI has very few of those positions, I can think off hand of The Beast, Diamondback, and FoF as the only examples. Perhaps CP just won't admit you to the line unless you are tall enough to ride.

Remember, the two parks existed for decades as separate companies, and I think even under the Cedar Fair umbrella the individual parks are left to establish, or continue, many of their own policies. Local practice will many times prevail. But Cedar Point is set in their ways, and I think if we see changes at all it will be that other CF parks will adopt their policies rather than the other way around. We should probably keep quiet.

Parent swap at CP is definitely not convenient, especially on a ride like Maverick where the exit path is miles long. Agreed, if we could queue as a family, and have one parent wait just off the platform, that would make more sense.

Can't you sort of do that unofficially (on single station rides). Have the first parent board and the second parent stand in the queue. When the train returns (possibly missing a dispatch), just pass the kid across the train and have the second parent ride. Granted it is super annoying, but still doable.

If they have someone at entrance, your shorty can't even enter the queue.

Oh wow. That's actually the prescribed behavior at quite a few parks we've been to.

Keeps the station ops from having to volley with parents over their child's ability to ride.

I believe someone, or multiple people, asked how long the cages have been there or have stated they never saw them. I worked at Kings Island from 1996 to 2002 on the Racer, Top Gun, Son of Beast and various other flat rides. All of the coasters that were there in 1996 had these kiddie corrals and I believe still do. In my training I don't ever remember being told of an age restriction on someone who we would allow to be left there. In fact one of the things we did train on as talking to the kids that were left as positive customer service. So they have been around for quite some time. I wouldn't ever leave my kids behind but through my years working there they were used very frequently by parents.

Raven-Phile said:

Thirded. I'd even vote for Tyler to be the moderator (and only member at this point).

Stuff like this is what should go in the Kiddie Cage.

Well then, can we just agree to disagree?

'Twas a busy day
On Coasterbuzz
A few announcements
Were all the fuss

CP's Camp Snoopy
Was all the rage
While Carowinds
Got just one page

But then a joke
From days gone by
Would now stand out
In Tyler's eye

Sadly the hint
He would not take
So another post
He then would make

A weak retort
He would shoot back
In his attempt
To talk some smack

It's said that nothing
Draws an upset horde
To anger faster
Than Tyler's keyboard

After hearing what "Kim and Kanye" decided to name their child, I saw the thread title and assumed we were discussing Nicolas Cage's offspring.

Didn't he name his kid Kal-El or some other Superman related moniker?