Lockers or station cubicles?

I noticed on last night's show about CP that people in line for MF had to put their loose items in lockers outside the station (they did not lose their place in line, tho). I assume they had to pay for the lockers. I have not been to CP and have never experienced that at any park I have visited. Usually there are cubicles in the station for your loose items. Some stations even have different cubicles per train. Obviously there is no cost to use them.
Is the MF situation the exception?
Do those lockers require a fee?
What other coasters at CP operate that way?
Anyone know of other parks that do this?

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I know you rider Gonna miss me when I'm gone

When we were there in the spring, there was no such thing as the line guy that was nice enough to let people have thier spaces back. No cubicles in the station and no people waiting on quee for seats(although I hear that's changed) makes for a fast moving line. The lockers do cost, but you have fair warning to know where you are and that you don't have to be carrying that stuff onto the rides. *** This post was edited by p_c_r on 7/17/2001. ***

There are two stations on the Force so you can't leave your stuff in the station. CP is nothing like any other park when it comes to leaving stuff on platforms, but no ther place runs trains faster or as many trains.

Volcano has the two stations, and they have a guy pushing a cart up front who brings your junk to you when you get off. It's a good idea, but it's not all it's cracked to be, IMO. CP runs it right. They won't even let you leave a piece of paper on the Gemini station, if it's not something you need, you don't need it.

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MABrider said:
"Is the MF situation the exception?
Do those lockers require a fee?
What other coasters at CP operate that way?
Anyone know of other parks that do this?"

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1) Millie is the exception only to the extent that you cant take anything on the ride with you. On all the other CP coasters (save Raptor) you can take your stuff with you. However, under no circumstances can you leave them on the platform. Raptor, OTOH, has boxes on the platform for your things. Personally, I dislike this policy (save the Raptor exception).

2) Yes, the lockers have a fee. I think it was like 75 cents or something. Yet another 'ride tax'. If they ever decide to run three trains, Batwing and X-Flight will be like this too. I think it is highly unfair to charge for these lockers when your policy bans items (including hip packs for Bat-Flight). So far, only IOA has it right, where they allow the locker to be free for enough time to ride the ride. If you keep it longer, THEN you have to pay.

3) see one
4) see two
Hope that helps.
jeremy
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"Nobody writes about the planes that land." Steve Salerno Washington Times 7-10-01

When I went to CP back in May, I accidentally brought my backpack with me. They let my friend stay on the platform while I ran down and put it in a locker, then I was able to run back up the employee ramp (or whatever it was) and ride. CP is the only park that I have visited this year that hasn't had boxes on the platforms, but I can understand why they don't, as it can often slow down loading times significantly.

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Joe Cernelli
Head Webmaster, Kennywood Boulevard
http://kennywood.coasterbuzz.com

I think another reason for the sercurity for loose objects being really secured is that MF has so much speed. If one little object fell off someone it could cause some injuries. Also, the cars aren't as inclosed as most trains, so the air can get to objects easier. For a third reason, it's stadium seating so heads are more apt to get hit with something. I've ridden it when the cotton off the cottonwood trees was falling and that stuff even stung hitting you around the eye region, imagine a camera.

Oh, this is funny though, they let you wear sunglasses even if they aren't secured to you...

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8 feet higher and a 6.5 feet longer drop, could never contest with a 80 degree, non-braking giga-coaster... Sorry, Steel Dragon 2000 *** This post was edited by mforcealldaway on 7/17/2001. ***

Lockers that have a "code" cost money over a certain period of time like the lockers at IOA.

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Don't Fight It: Ride It! Raging Bull

I'll tell you a little secret, the computerized lock code lockers at the Incredible Hulk, you enter money it gives you a code to enter it back again to unlock it. If you lock your stuff away, and return BEFORE 2 hours is up, it doesn't charge you a thing. I've used that trick many times. The ones by dueling dragons aren't quite as long, maybe 60 minutes I think. Btw, I learned this from a park employee.

As far as cubicles. I really like the way they do talon, with two trains, you stuff the cubby holes, and when you are off, they slide a big door covering up TRAIN 2's stuff. and when TRAIN 1 comes back to the station the left side is available to grab your things, when TRAIN 2 comes back, the door is slid over the left side, and right side now becomes available.

The great bear has cubbies too, but I didn't see a door.

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ULTIMATECOASTER.com - In Search of the "Ultimate"
http://www.ultimatecoaster.com/

I really dont see why you cant leave your stuff in Millennium Forces station. Flight of Feaf at PKI has two stations, and you can do it there.

I've been thinking of a more effective way of leaving articles in the station for awhile now. A system where riders aren't required to walk through the train to the bins on the other side and then back into the train. I was thinking maybe having some type of bins implanted in the floor where riders can simply drop their stuff in while sitting in the train. This could slow loading times as well though, because riders would have to get their articles out, and then wait for the bins to be covered somehow to prevent tripping over them.

I do like the way some parks give each train/car its own cubby hole, although people oftentimes don't pay attention to the numbers on the boxes, and stick their stuff in another car's box.
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Joe Cernelli
Head Webmaster, Kennywood Boulevard
http://kennywood.coasterbuzz.com

Riddler's Revenge used to have a great system of keeping people's stuff while you rode the ride. There would be two large cubbies for each train in the station. Problems arose with people taking things that did not belong to them (and SFMM relizing that people would pay for lockers), and Six Flags Magic Mountain decided install lockers right before the station. Personally, I think it is a bad idea, plus the ride ops will still hold your stuff on Riddler's Revenge.
In most cases, it is more of an issue of making money when the parks put lockers by a coaster.

Point of information, because MF has two stations, they MAKE you get off at the first one and prepare the train to float to the 2nd "pickup" station. Hence there's no way to leave your stuff there. As it is, CP used to have a policy (I don't know if it's still in force) where you couldn't choose seats, you fill in every available space. There is only standing room in that 2nd station.

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ULTIMATECOASTER.com - In Search of the "Ultimate"
http://www.ultimatecoaster.com/

People leaving crap on the platform is my pet peeve for three reasons. One, it's a safety hazard. I will continue to kick people's stuff around on the platform of Batman at SFWoA.

Second, it slows down loading because the exiting people have to climb over other people crap or pick-up their own, which in turn slows the people loading, particularly if they want to drop their crap off.

Third, what the hell do you need to carry with you all damn day? Other than my wallet and keys, I've never found any instance that I've needed to carry more. Ditto for Steph. If there is something else I need, it can stay in the car, which is never that far away to begin with, not even at Cedar Point or BGW. No one has been able to convince me that they need to have anything in their backpack at all times. Not one item.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

Even as a diabetic, I agree with Jeff on the backpacks. Do you REALLY need to carry THAT much stuff with you all day?

Fanny packs are another story, at least for some people -- I NEED the glucose meter and some emergency sugar, if nothing else. Those USUALLY aren't an issue on rides, though.

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--Greg

http://www.pobox.com/~gregleg/

Ive carried a backpack once. It was a really hot day in may at PKI. all i had in my backpack was a pair of shorts (incase my jeans got to hot) and two 2-liter bottles filed with water. I tried to bring it on as many rides as i could.

O and if your wondering why i had jeans on when i t was really hot. Think about this one. If you wear long jeans that cover your ankles when your sitting down in the station. Its really easy to slip your feet out of your shoes and push your knees up for more room...sorry, but people always ask me why im wearing them, lol.

Several comments:
Coastin Carl: Great Bear also has the big honkin door

joey isch, cernelli & CC: @ PKD on FoF, the cubby holes are located off to the side of the loading area so they dont interfere with the loading of the train. Problem is, many people dont know they are there so the attendants still end up telling them where to go.

Jeff: I'm not even going to try and explain all the various reasons people many have things with them (including but not limited to not having a car) but a nickels worth of free advice: Watch your back when you're "kicking" things. You never know where someone's friends are.
jeremy
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"Nobody writes about the planes that land." Steve Salerno Washington Times 7-10-01

I don't think you're going to tell me why people have things with them because there aren't any good reasons. What's worse, backpacks are more a fashion trend than anything these days. You never saw them en masse four or five years ago, like you do today. It's almost, but not quite, as stupid as the tools who wear backward upside-down visors. It's just kids trying to be cool, nothing more. That's why you see them roaming the malls with them.

I'm OK with fanny packs. Despite being fashionably-challenged, they are perhaps one of the most functional things you can have on you.

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Jeff (who thought the Slim Shady look was dead, but is apparently wrong)
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

Well, I can say I am possibly the furthest thing from being fashionable, but I carry a backpack in the park nearly every trip... always have. What is in the bag? Water, camera, sunscreen, sweatshirt, clamshell glasses case, pocket yahtzee & blackjack (for long lines), keys, and a few other less important items. None of them are truly essential, and yes, some of these items could be in pockets or left in the car, but it is nice to be prepared. I have never held up a line dropping my bag in the bin, and if a ride doesn't have one, into the locker it goes before riding.

I don't care what someone else carries in the park unless it affects my experience negatively. The problem is not backpacks, but the attitude and carelessness of some people. Don't leave your bag in someone else's way, and don't rely on the park to have a solution to your problem. When you bring a bag in, it's your responsibility.

There are always careless, irresponsible, and rude guests in the park, but it has absolutely nothing to do with what they wear or bring with them through the front gate.

*** This post was edited by Camel@Work on 7/18/2001. ***

I just can't stand, especially at Six Flags, people lugging HUGE tweetys and tazmanian devils twice their size onto the platform, It's ridiculous!

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Son of Beast was my 100th coaster!
http://www.ultimatecoaster.com/