No loose articles in Top Thrill 2's queue (and no free lockers either)

Jeff:

Is it though?

That's why I wanted to emphasize feel instead of saying they actually were. Months ago, in another post, you spoke about people's perception of the economy was negative, even though the economy was doing quite well. I wholeheartedly agreed with that. But we also know folks make decisions based on the vibes, not data. This is another way people feel like things are more expensive instead of it actually being more expensive.

And oddly enough, it's the "f*** your feelings" people who are the most insistent that they're victims of... something. What a time to be alive!

Apparently one of the reporters had to take her Apple Watch off before riding. I've never heard of a watch coming off during a ride before...

That's weird. I can't think of any rational way to describe a watch as a "loose article." It's no more loose than a belt.

Jephry:

This is another way people feel like things are more expensive instead of it actually being more expensive.

This is one of the most infuriating things. We recently ratified a 5-year contract that gives us an average of 5% annual raises. I said to one of my co-workers that it's an amazing deal because we are likely to outpace inflation over the life of the contract. He was dumbfounded that I could say that with inflation so high. He didn't believe me that inflation was currently at 3.5% until I showed him. Of course he questioned if that was accurate but has no understanding of how inflation is calculated.

Jeff:

It's no more loose than a belt.

Coming in May: Leave your pants in a locker before getting in line.

Is it possible that these strict rules are part of some sort of legal/insurance stipulation for being allowed to open the ride? Given that it closed due to something falling off, I’m wondering if the park has basically been told that the only way to ever run the ride again is to go above and beyond in ensuring that nothing falls from a train.

That might be a dumb thought, but I’m at least curious if it’s a possibility.

Its the nature of averages that some people are above and others below. If wages grow 4%, some people will have seen higher than 4% increases. Others will have seen less than 4% increases (with some seeing no increase at all and others seeing decreases).

There are multiple measures of inflation. Used for different purposes. And within any given measure, a basket of goods and services is used to calculate inflation at any given time. But that is an average. If a given inflation measure is 3.5%, that doesn't mean every good/service in the basket increased by 3.5% over the applicable time frame. Some increased by more and others by less. Some didn't increase at all and others may have decreased. And not everyone buys/consumes everything in a given basket or in the same proportions.

Increased cost of debt also has an impact.

Depending on where someone falls on the wage increase scale and where they fall in terms of the basket of goods/services used to calculate inflation, you may well have a decreasing standard of living. Keeping in mind the report than 2/3rds of people wouldn't be able to cover a $400 emergency expense meaning for many people, even small increases in net expenses is problematic. Pointing to average wage growth outpacing inflation won't change that. Telling them they are wrong, don't understand how inflation works, that hasn't been my experience, etc. won't change it either.

I think this is directed at me so I will respond.

I said none of those things to my co-worker except to provide a number he was unaware of. He had questions about how inflation is calculated and historical levels and I provided that to the best of my ability. He has said several times that our current contract wasn't a good deal because our wages didn't outpace inflation. That's his benchmark for a good contract. Inflation has been over 5% once since 1990. By his benchmark this is a good deal.

Based on conversations with my coworker his finances are sound. He has no student loans, doesn't go on vacation, works during summer break, is maxed out on the salary schedule, is saving for retirement, and doesn't spend frivolously. Unless he has huge gambling debts I'm confident his contention about inflation is misinformation not because he is personally seeing his expenses wildly outpacing inflation. He has also suggested that the moon is not natural, aliens built the pyramids, 9/11 is an inside job, and that there is a CIA black site near his house.

Mulfinator:

I think this is directed at me so I will respond.

It wasn't. Carry on.

Did they change the height requirement to ride as well? If memory serves me, the height requirement when they announced the ride was advertised as 48". Looking at the website today, it says the height requirement is 52".

I do not recall if the height requirement was ever stated to be 48." This article from August 1, 2023 indicates that it would be 52".

https://newsplusnotes.blogs...oints.html

0g:

If memory serves me,

Ill just be short and sweet. I have a few pairs of "coaster cargo shorts" Meaning that the pockets have zippers and are roomy enough for my phone wallet and keys. Ive very seldom if ever heard of zippers magically undoing themselves and coming undone. If that were the case, Id see quite a few more men with their ___________s hanging out of their pants. Ergo the locker thing to me seems a bit superfluous.

Coasterhound36:

Id see quite a few more men with their ___________s hanging out of their pants.

Hmm...testiclesies? Penisesusses? Ballssssssss? Scrotumsacks?

Vater:

Hmm...testiclesies? Penisesusses? Ballssssssss? Scrotumsacks?

LOL! Vater, I was trying to convey my point as discretely as possible. But you pretty much nailed it. If zippers on pants were so prone to unzip on a whim there would be multiple cases of exposure going on around the park. Therefore, I think cargo shorts with zippers are an acceptable form of attire for holding personal items.

It's not phones *accidentally* coming out of pockets that they're worried about. But I think we all know this by now.

Having been inside the TT2 queue already, it's obvious that there's no good place to build a locker complex inside, allowing guests a last minute locker, ala SV. If they were to put one inside the queue, it would have to be towards the back, which would necessitate the queue then spilling out to the midway. I suppose they could put switchbacks outside the track, where the lockers currently are. Overall it's kind of a lose lose.

FWIW, the lockers were free during the passholder preview today. That may have been a one time thing, but the ops are also probably faster at negotiating the locker kiosks than the guests are. That might matter for throughput.

With this being 2023 and parks pushing you to be on the app while in the parks you need to accept everyone is going to have a phone. It comes off as extremely anti consumer to then charge for a locker to store said phone for some rides. It’s so ticky tach and annoying. I hope those lockers stay free, like Universal offers on their metal detector rides, while having it in the queue is preferable an entrance locker is acceptable.

The problem is that the lockers aren't designed to be free for those waiting in TT2's line. What's to stop people from using the free lockers for other reasons?

One would think that potential mandatory lockers would have been thought of when the queue was being designed. They had to have known that there was a chance of this exact issue. If they didn't, it makes them look bad. If they did, it makes them look bad. Either way, they look bad.

I say they should install more lockers to accommodate the large amount of riders entering the queue, and make this specific location free for the length of the line. They need to do something to show they are trying to make things right. Goodwill towards your valued "guests" mean a lot in this industry. Like te hotel industry these days, parks should do all they can to keep people coming back.