Worlds of Fun

[EeyoresButterfly]

I was at WoF for opening day today, and ran into a couple of SG's. It was very cold (it even snowed for most of the day!) so only a couple of coasters were open, and they didn't open til the latter part of the day. The park was not busy at all, the only reason most of the guests were there is that it seemed a couple of middle and high school groups brought their students. While in line for the Patriot (their newest coaster), I heard one of the teenager boys waiting for the next ride yell "clear" as they were getting ready to dispatch it. Now, this is the term that they appear to use to indicate that the coaster is clear for launch (coupled with a hand signal). I know the teenager thinks he's being funny, but to me that seems like it could have serious safety implications if the ride really was not clear but the operator is hearing the word clear.

The other SG (and this one was minor) was a teenage girl, also at Patriot, who was playing with the load gate. She was leaning with her back against it and was sort of bouncing off of it. Well, this meant the other load gates were also bouncing (and as the person smashed up against one, it was not pleasant). Aside from being unpleasant, I was having images of load gate failures in my head. I used t owork a ride with load gates and if they were pushed too hard they would fail, causing the ride to E-Stop. Thankfully we would just have to shut down the ride and power it back up, but it still can be a big inconvenience, not to mention it can easily cause a ride failure if a car is stopped in a wonky place, meaning that we have to evac and then have maintenance come in and push the car. I don't know if their load gates are as sensitive as ours, but still, their not there for you to bounce off of, they are there to keep you out of the ride path.

[Rob562]

A few years ago, the gates in the station for Superman: Ride of Steel broke because of a SG pushing/leaning on them. For a few weeks, they could not be operated at all. The only way of operating the coaster was to only allow one trainload of guests into the station at a time, and have them enter through a manual gate meant only for employee use at the front of the train, and then walk single-file along the train, filling in each row.

After that, they painted a line on the ground 2-3' before the gates, and became very militant about keeping guests behind that line, out of arm's reach of the gates...

-Rob

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

It goes to show you. Even if you make it from steel, an SG will figure out a way to break it!!!

[felinefan]

I remember when at Knott's, stupid kids would be sitting on the chains at the Calico Railroad (and broke them once), play with the turnstile (already in poor condition), and at the Grand Sierra Scenic Railroad in Camp Snoopy, they'd try to blow the whistle. Especially the adults. I'd try to tell them it's an actual signal and they can get in trouble for pulling it, but they do it anyway. Luckily, on Calico Railroad, I don't think anyone made the connection as to where the whistle was on the train to where the dispatching conductor stood. We never had a guest try to blow that whistle. For them to do that, would be a safety hazard in the making. And yes, we used hand signals as well. A few SGs tried to do them, too. :mad:
(Always seems to be teenage boys--must be something to the study that says that when a boy is concieved, the mother's hormones affect brain development, meaning boys really are born brain-damaged! HOWEVER, I have met several guys who have seemingly escaped this!):D:

[Syndrome]

Isn't World of Fun where the Timber Wolf coaster is? I remember the Darwin Queen several years back who died after unbuckling herself and changing her seat mid-ride. Then Idiot Mom had the audacity to picket the park for being dangerous. I LOVED that coaster, but it's been ages since I've ridden it and I'm sure they've since muzzled it with more restrictive lap bars.

[EeyoresButterfly]

Yep! I remember when that happened. It's very similar to some of the incidents on the matterhorn. Timber Wolf now has redundant systems, a seat belt and lap bar which cannot be undone once the coaster has dispatched. My boyfriend supervises the area the TW is in and he gets really tired for people asking him questions about the incident which happened years ago.

[Tara_Lee3]

(Always seems to be teenage boys--must be something to the study that says that when a boy is concieved, the mother's hormones affect brain development, meaning boys really are born brain-damaged! HOWEVER, I have met several guys who have seemingly escaped this!):D:

I heard this referred to once as "Testosterone Poisoning" Sounds like an excelent term to throw back at any guy complaining about girls and PMS... :P

[Mayonnaise]

*Geeks out.*

"Worst case of testosterone poisoning I've ever seen."

*De-Geeks.*

8^P

[felinefan]

Yes, and to think it's literal! Seriously, testosterone is linked to risk-taking behavior. Why don't guys take some real scary risks that won't hurt anybody--like investing in the stock market?:D:

[Randy B]

Yes, and to think it's literal! Seriously, testosterone is linked to risk-taking behavior. Why don't guys take some real scary risks that won't hurt anybody--like investing in the stock market?:D:

But what you think fits that category may not match what we think fits. To some of us, target shooting with a howitzer fits the "won't hurt anyone" description. Can we help it if the paper target doesn't stop the shell and somehow it skipped off the ground like a stone on a lake and blew up uncle joes new car? :D:;):rolleyes::eek:

Closest I can come to that, personally, was manufacturing and using tin-can cannons. I got very good at firing a tennis ball completely out of sight, straight up. Went through lots of tennis balls that summer.

Randy

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

But what you think fits that category may not match what we think fits. To some of us, target shooting with a howitzer fits the "won't hurt anyone" description. Can we help it if the paper target doesn't stop the shell and somehow it skipped off the ground like a stone on a lake and blew up uncle joes new car? :D:;):rolleyes::eek:

Closest I can come to that, personally, was manufacturing and using tin-can cannons. I got very good at firing a tennis ball completely out of sight, straight up. Went through lots of tennis balls that summer.

Randy

Hmmm, I remember buying m80's and throwing them in the steel culverts. You get a really nice echo with them. I also remember use a sling shot to shoot them into the air for an air burst. (I also remember having the M80 hit the side of the slingshot and fall to the ground, and running like heck to get out as it went off!) (we were on a graveled area at the time!)

Then I started my carreer and got to do some of the stuff for real!

[hobie16]

Why don't guys take some real scary risks that won't hurt anybody--like investing in the stock market?:D:
Unless you know what you're doing, and it's proven over and over again that most people don't, it's like diving off the high board into an empty pool.

Short Sears, go long DIS, DLB, NTAP.

[Randy B]

Hmmm, I remember buying m80's and throwing them in the steel culverts. You get a really nice echo with them. I also remember use a sling shot to shoot them into the air for an air burst. (I also remember having the M80 hit the side of the slingshot and fall to the ground, and running like heck to get out as it went off!) (we were on a graveled area at the time!)

Then I started my carreer and got to do some of the stuff for real!

Did you ever pack an empty CO2 cartridge with the heads of a few dozen books of paper matches and then use the last match as a fuse? If packed correctly the cart will skip down a road for several miles (I had reports from someone who heard it ringing down the road past them from a mile away).

It's amazing the stupid things I not only did without getting caught but without harming myself or others. The joys of being a stupid youth.

Randy

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Did you ever pack an empty CO2 cartridge with the heads of a few dozen books of paper matches and then use the last match as a fuse? If packed correctly the cart will skip down a road for several miles (I had reports from someone who heard it ringing down the road past them from a mile away).

It's amazing the stupid things I not only did without getting caught but without harming myself or others. The joys of being a stupid youth.

Randy

I remember we took one of those "water rockets" that you put water in, then pump if full of air and launch it, put a co2 cartridge in it, then used a nail and hammer to puncture the cartridge.

It went about two blocks before hitting the curb and shattering the plastic!

yeah, I'm pretty amazed that none of us were maimed before we got out of school!

[Cranbiz]

Did you ever pack an empty CO2 cartridge with the heads of a few dozen books of paper matches and then use the last match as a fuse? If packed correctly the cart will skip down a road for several miles (I had reports from someone who heard it ringing down the road past them from a mile away).

It's amazing the stupid things I not only did without getting caught but without harming myself or others. The joys of being a stupid youth.

Randy

I have a friend that did this. He is now missing several fingers from one hand and has had several skin grafts. He did this as a yound child of about 14.

[hobie16]

I remember we took one of those "water rockets" that you put water in, then pump if full of air and launch it, put a co2 cartridge in it, then used a nail and hammer to puncture the cartridge.

It went about two blocks before hitting the curb and shattering the plastic!
Some friends took it one step further and tried JATO bottles on their Hobie.

http://www.west.net/~lpm/hobie/archives/v1-i4/humor2.htm

http://www.west.net/~lpm/hobie/archives/v1-i4/jato3.jpg

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Some friends took it one step further and tried JATO bottles on their Hobie.

http://www.west.net/~lpm/hobie/archives/v1-i4/humor2.htm

http://www.west.net/~lpm/hobie/archives/v1-i4/jato3.jpg

What, the water version of the urban ledgend?

WooHoooo!!

[EeyoresButterfly]

I was there again this weekend (visiting the BF for his birthday) and I have some new ones for you. It was a choir fest weekend so there were lots of school groups wandering around:

1.) The biggest first. I was waiting for my BF at the front of the park. I was sitting at a table, reading, when three kids from one of the choirs groups sat down at the table. No big deal, I ignored them and they did the same. The two girls began describing to the guy how they stole a funnel cake. It was one of those situations where you order at one counter and pick it up at another, so she just took it from the guy and walked off. They were even saying that they were going go back to the place and take another one. Let's see: a.) I'm sitting right there hearing every word, b.) they have their school name right on their shirt, and c.) their chaperones were standing not too far away. Anybody want to guess what I did? :)

2.) Another kid in another choir group was sitting on the railings at Timberwolf. She was asked to get down, and in true teenager fashion was a real snot about it. I saw this girl at a couple of other rides and this seemed to be par for the course.

3.) A couple of girls tried to run in front of me as a I was walking up the line for Timberwolf. There are signs all over the park that say that line jumping will get you kicked out, so in my best teacher voice I yelled out, "Excuse me! Line jumping will get you kicked out of the park!" They stopped, went "huh", and I walked past them. I love it when I get to stick it to an SG!

4.) This is an SET: I saw several dress code violations. The worst was on the Detonator. The boy had in at least one earring, those gold grills or whatever the hell they're called on his teeth, and an oversized sweatshirt with cartoonish designs all over it. I was wondering why nobody was making the guest get on his seat when they were obviously getting ready to launch when I realized he was an employee! At Mamba, another kid, another oversized sweatshirt. A manager told him to take it off, but when I rode it a second time he had put it on as soon as she left.

5.) Another SET: At Mamba I saw one person standing outside the yellow line when there was no train in the station and another doing a jig right next to the yellow line. I was ready to watch him fall into the track, thankfully he did not.

[hobie16]

1.) The biggest first...

Good for you!!

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I was there again this weekend (visiting the BF for his birthday) and I have some new ones for you. It was a choir fest weekend so there were lots of school groups wandering around:

1.) The biggest first.


Way to go! "You have entered a larger world!!

[joanna71985]

I was there again this weekend (visiting the BF for his birthday) and I have some new ones for you. It was a choir fest weekend so there were lots of school groups wandering around:


Good job!!!

[DisneyMom]

Yeah, Walt would be shocked at the new code of dress. Saw some gal at the Hub Sunday wearing a Black String Bikini Top with sparkles, and shorts. Yes, it was hot outside, but what's wrong with a tank top?:rolleyes:

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Yeah, Walt would be shocked at the new code of dress. Saw some gal at the Hub Sunday wearing a Black String Bikini Top with sparkles, and shorts. Yes, it was hot outside, but what's wrong with a tank top?:rolleyes:

OF course, that begs the question, could she WEAR it? KWIM?

[DisneyMom]

OF course, that begs the question, could she WEAR it? KWIM?

Thankfully, hers was the body type that could(must be from out of state, not augmented):cool:

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Thankfully, hers was the body type that could(must be from out of state, not augmented):cool:

Well, I think that you need to post pictures so that we ALL can judge!!




(hehehehehehehehehe)


or not.....

[DisneyMom]

Well, I think that you need to post pictures so that we ALL can judge!!




(hehehehehehehehehe)


or not.....

Amazingly, my husband failed to get one!:rolleyes:
Maybe hobie has a picture for you;)

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Amazingly, my husband failed to get one!:rolleyes:
Maybe hobie has a picture for you;)

A picture from Hobie......NO...he dosn't have pictures....Does he???

(probably a boat or something!)

hehehehehe

[hobie16]

Amazingly, my husband failed to get one!:rolleyes:
Maybe hobie has a picture for you;)
No string bikini but still pretty cool.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2092/2441658189_b114bb574e.jpg?v=0
A little port starboard action.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3292/2440257985_4fd0b0f994.jpg?v=0

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

No string bikini but still pretty cool.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2092/2441658189_b114bb574e.jpg?v=0
A little port starboard action.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3292/2440257985_4fd0b0f994.jpg?v=0

Ouch!! Hope that wasn't yours!!

[EeyoresButterfly]

Speaking of bad guest dress, another thing I saw were some absolutely ludicrous outift. I am going to university in a very rural town, so I didn't realize that baggy pants are still in style. While waiting for Detonator I was treated to many views of one teenager's boxers. He would hike up his pants after they came perilously close to dropping, and then pull them down enough that his boxer were showing. Don't ask me what the point of his belt was. I saw several other teenagers whose pants were so loose that they had to walk with their hands on the front of their pants so that they woudl not fall down. I must admit that when I first saw a teenage boy hanging onto his baggy pants I was worried that he had a gun. Then I realized that that was the only way his pants would stay up. It seems damn uncomfortable to me, and isn't it called underwear, as in it goes under your clothes, as in you shouldn't see it.

[Shorty82]

Back when I was working at AutoZone I would regularly see teens with pants so big their underwear was showing and some who would have to hold onto the pants all the time otherwise they would fall to the floor.

I don't get the baggy pants fashion, doesn't having to hold up your pants all the time get old? My pants sit where they should, at the waist, not below the butt. I always wear a belt even though most of my pants fit me in the waist so one isn't truly needed. The belt ensures the pants stay where they should and also provides a good place to clip my cell phone.

The only time I don't wear a belt is at work as my costume doesn't have one, instead it has suspenders. It took me a while to get used to the feeling of not having a belt around my waist, let alone used to wearing suspenders.

[hobie16]

Rule three if you want to date my daughter.

I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys of your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off their hips. Please don't take this as an insult, but you and all of your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open minded about this issue, so I propose this compromise: You may come to the door with your underwear showing and your pants ten sizes too big, and I will not object. However, In order to assure that your clothes do not, in fact, come off during the course of your date with my daughter, I will take my electric staple gun and fasten your trousers securely in place around your waist.

[felinefan]

I remember when I was in high school--early 70s--some of the boys would pull their pants down so that their underwear began to show. Pants were cut tighter back then, so they didn't have to worry about them falling off. It was usually the guys who were jerks that did this, anyway. Frankly, I can't help but think kids today wear loose pants to hide either shoplifted goods, or to hide the fact that they're packing heat. If they're imitating gangbangers, 1.) they don't appreciate it, and 2.) I can't think of a worse role model.

[hobie16]

My daughter doesn't understand why I won't let her associate with anyone dressed like a gangster. She says they're nice people. I told her if they're so nice then why do they want to look like hoodlums. She has no answer.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

A friend of mine works gang detail for a local PD. HE was telling a story about chasing some guys that ran from a car accident, and both only got a hundred yards or so...You guessed it, pants around the ankles tripped them!!

We didn't believe him, he happened to have his camera phone with him!!

hehehehehe

[EeyoresButterfly]

Priceless GP!

[DisneyMom]

Rule three if you want to date my daughter.

I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys of your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off their hips. Please don't take this as an insult, but you and all of your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open minded about this issue, so I propose this compromise: You may come to the door with your underwear showing and your pants ten sizes too big, and I will not object. However, In order to assure that your clothes do not, in fact, come off during the course of your date with my daughter, I will take my electric staple gun and fasten your trousers securely in place around your waist.

Awwwww, nothing says love more than utilizing an electric staple gun on your daughter's date:) It makes my heart feel all warm and fuzzy.
She's lucky you're her Dad.

[EeyoresButterfly]

That's actually a quote from 8 Simple Rules for Dating my Teenage Daughter, and one of my favorites! Good job posting it!

[hobie16]

That's actually a quote from 8 Simple Rules for Dating my Teenage Daughter...
It is and I use the Rules often.

[EeyoresButterfly]

I love the rules! I've only ever seen a couple of episodes of the show before John Ritter died, but it looked like a good show.

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

I never saw the show, but judging by the rule posted here, I wish it would have been on when DD was growing up, especially during the TEEN dating years!!!

[EeyoresButterfly]

I went yesterday and saw only one SG, but a doozy of a SET.

SG: two kids totally line jumped. Like I've said, they have signs all over that say line jumping can get you kicked out and then define it. One part of the definition is place holding. I was in line for the Boomerang when two kids walekd up the entire line and joined their friends on the loading platform. A ride operator was informed and talked to them, nothing else happened, but she was new and timid. At least something was said.

SET: We were waiting for a ride when we saw two employees do several stupid things:
1.) Spray potent wasp spray for no apparent reason (only to be used on nests and potentially very dangerous)
2.) They actually yelled "shut up" over ther PA
3.) Another employee who does not work the ride was standing in an area they weren't supposed to be in (safety hazard) and talking to the operator who did not have his eyes on the ride.
4.) Operator was talking to said friend over the PA.

Let's just say something evil happened to them...:twisted: