We’ve all been there. You’re queuing for your favourite coaster or ride and then you overhear someone in the group in front of you “Is this ride safe? What if it gets stuck?” and you sigh, wanting desperately to reassure them but not wanting to seem like too much of a nerd. Well, it’s time to bust some of the biggest myths and lies surrounding the theme park industry, and hopefully put some of that worried riders’ nerves to rest!
Boardwalk Rides are Dodgy and Unsafe
This one goes for travelling rides, too. Those expensive rides at your local boardwalk, pier or funfair may look like they’re about to fall to bits, but they’re actually as closely regulated as the rides at a regular theme park, going through meticulous tests every morning before opening and using an elaborate safety system that will stop the ride if anything that could result in an unsafe experience is found.
UK Law states that “a test or series of tests to check that the device operates safely in accordance with the reviewed design specification and the instructions in the operations manual” must be carried out on rides as frequently as possible, and many other countries have extremely similar restrictions. For larger, more thrilling attractions such as rollercoasters and drop-towers, there are even tighter safety restrictions so, when you’re getting your adrenaline fix at a theme park, funfair or local boardwalk, rest assured you’re being protected by the law! Just try not to get too dizzy on that Waltzer…
Coasters are Powered By Electricity- and They Can Break Down on an Inversion
Once your train has climbed to the top of the lift hill or completed the launch and you enter the first drop, your entire experience is left to the laws of physics, but that doesn’t mean it’s unsafe! Ride designers and engineers must have an extensive knowledge of physics and maths to ensure that you not only are able to navigate the track safely, but enjoy it too- incorporating inversions and airtime into the ride that really enhance the experience, as well as adding an extra thrill element! There has been one case of riders being stuck upside down on a loop, however this was in the early 1990s, almost twenty years ago, and safety restrictions have improved significantly since then.
Several rollercoaster manufacturers, including Zamperla and Mack Rides, have actually created a coaster model that is powered by electricity, known as a Powered Coaster, but these rides are typically kiddie or family coasters, and a powered coaster with inversions is extremely rare.
There are two places on a coaster you can actually get stuck: the breakruns and the lifthill, and every theme park has procedures that are taken if a train should stop in any of these places, which leads us onto our next point.
Ride Evacuations
The term “Ride Evacuation” sounds terrifying, but if you are involved in one of these park safety procedures, it’s really nothing to worry about. Next time you ride a rollercoaster, have a look at the metal staircases on either side of the lifthills and breakruns- these are known as Catwalks, and are what make evacs so safe.
All rides, particularly rollercoasters, are riddled with safety cameras and sensors, that immediately inform the ride operators if any unusual or potentially dangerous object is found. Should this happen, the ride’s safety system will stop the train in one of the safe areas, and the only way the train can be released is if the object is removed, or the operators rule that the safety system has been oversensitive, which is extremely rare. If the problem cannot be solved quickly and engineers need to be called in, riders will be taken down the Catwalk by the ride operators and will sometimes be given a Fasttrack ticket to come back to the attraction later in the day!
Some enthusiasts actually enjoy ride evacuations, as there is a chance for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how the attraction actually works, especially on darkrides, when evacuated riders may have to get up close to the animatronics and sets in order to leave the ride!
The Height Limit is Useless, And There Are Ways Around It
Just no. Ride designers decide on specific instructions for riders based on age, height, and medical conditions solely for your safety, and if you don’t follow these guidelines you could be injured or worse. Attempting to find a way around these safety rules is an extremely dangerous thing to do, whether you’re putting something in your child’s shoes to bulk up their height, riding something that you’re clearly too old or too large to ride, or going on a ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol, just.. please don’t.
Ride operators work tirelessly to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable experience, and the last thing they need is you compromising the safety of you and your fellow riders. So please, if you are unable to ride that rollercoaster or water ride now, just give it a miss and come back next time.
Wooden Coasters are Old and Rickety
At first glance, wooden coasters can look petrifying, even to enthusiasts. It’s a towering, fear-inducing structure made almost solely from planks of twisted timber(s!). The very thought of a major wooden coaster is intimidating, but when you board a train on this daunting structure, you can rest in the knowledge that you are in extremely safe hands, or… trains.
Some of the world’s oldest rollercoasters are in fact woodies, which is where the belief that all wooden coasters are old likely stems from. But there are in fact many manufacturers, such as The Gravity Group of Ohio and Great Coasters International of Pennsylvania, that are constantly innovating in technology to make newer, safer and more thrilling wooden coasters than ever before, and today, many of the world’s woodies are actually very new! Pictured above, the Cu Chulainn coaster located at Tayto Park in County Meath, Ireland, opened in 2015, while Wicker Man at Alton Towers, England opened in 2018!
So, next time you’re visiting an amusement park and you’re deciding whether or not to ride that wooden coaster- go for it! Woodies are often some of the most enjoyable rides in the park, combining an airtime-filled mix of thrills and fun for an incredible ride!
Disney Is A Cult, and Every Disney Fan is a Devil Worshipper
Um, sorry, but, what??? I have no idea where on earth this strange myth came from, but it’s definitely the most obscure on this list! Us Disney fans don’t worship the Devil, we worship a giant mouse named Mickey!
Looking at it from an outsider perspective though, Disney parks could appear a bit like a mouse-worshipping cult. Every day, millions of people flock to selected areas around the world, where visitors wear decorated mouse ears, queue for hours to have a photo taken with a mouse (among other characters!), and not-so-hidden mouse silhouettes are waiting around every corner! Maybe Disney fans really are members of a cult, he he he…
Theme Parks Are Just For Kids
First of all, how dare you? Theme parks are built for the enjoyment of the whole family, with many parks featuring smaller kiddie rides for younger visitors as well as intimidating rollercoasters and flat rides for the thrillseekers in the group! Second of all, there’s plenty to enjoy at a theme park, even if you’re not a massive fan of the rides. Major theme parks often have other attractions for guests to enjoy, including shows, games and water parks!
What are some other myths you’ve heard surrounding theme parks and rollercoasters? Let me know below, and join the conversation!
Your articles are amazing. Thank you for your hard work.
It’s definitely worth a visit! 🙂
Interesting! Never heard of that park before
Love this Lily
Great post 😁
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Thank you so much! I’m so glad you enjoy them. Sorry about the late reply -Lily 🙂