Universal Enforcing Hulk Rules

[anihilnation]

I don't think it is so much of a safety issue, but rather because people get upset when they lose something on the coaster and then blame Universal.
I can't see the policy last though, granted Universal's locker system is good (especially compared to seaworld and bush gardens), but I often notice people having trouble with it and in any case, when it gets busy it will be a nightmare and it will be raining complaints. I already feel bad for the locker attendant.

 

[Nick]

I don't think it is so much of a safety issue, but rather because people get upset when they lose something on the coaster and then blame Universal.
I can't see the policy last though, granted Universal's locker system is good (especially compared to seaworld and bush gardens), but I often notice people having trouble with it and in any case, when it gets busy it will be a nightmare and it will be raining complaints. I already feel bad for the locker attendant.

I believe you are probably right. Having worked HRRR many times just through picking up shifts, i've dealt with lots of people who lost something on the ride and we couldn't even check for it. They can't do checks until the end of the night, after the coaster is closed. At that point, everything is brought to lost and found so we either have to tell them to wait or to come back the next day.

While that's not Universal's fault at all that the guest didn't listen while in the queue or at boarding to make sure items like that were safely stowed away (and that they can't check under a running coaster for your item), they still get very pissy and try to blame it on the park or ride operator somehow.

While we may not like it, it's really just something to cover Uni's back.

 

[gator]

Something tells me they had a close call with something flying off one of their coasters in the past few months.

Not a close call but a direct hit. Open pocket knife to face.

 

[Dodgernole05]

Are they enforcing these same cellphone, keys and wallets rules on Mummy?

No. I rode the mummy acouple of time yesterday with phone and wallet and they didnt say anything. However when I rode the hulk they had people in multiple locations within the line checking people and they came around and checked people once they were seated on the ride.

 

[RonaldsModernLife]

Not a close call but a direct hit. Open pocket knife to face.

Wait, what?

 

[UK-Trigg]

Not a close call but a direct hit. Open pocket knife to face.

Is this for real? Are people really that stupid?

 

[Teebin]

Not a close call but a direct hit. Open pocket knife to face.

Mercy, how did they hush that up? Was the person cut by the knife? If so, I would think that the police would be involved.

 

[UniversalCrazy]

I think what Uni is trying to do is stopping people right when they get in line, that way they won't be asked at the station to get out of line and put it in a locker.

 

[gator]

Mercy, how did they hush that up? Was the person cut by the knife? If so, I would think that the police would be involved.

Really impressive how they've kept this quiet. Most employees only knew there was "an incident" at the HRRR that night. The "person" was a child and therefore this is one of those disgusting freak accidents. I wish I had more info but the employee who told me was in tears as they described the situation and I didn't want to push it knowing they shouldn't have told me at all.

Honestly though, if people are going to be that stupid to carry knives on roller coasters, then I believe the 5 pat downs are certainly warranted. Please be nice to the employees, this is their job and it's for your safety.

 

[Teebin]

Really impressive how they've kept this quiet. Most employees only knew there was "an incident" at the HRRR that night. The "person" was a child and therefore this is one of those disgusting freak accidents. I wish I had more info but the employee who told me was in tears as they described the situation and I didn't want to push it knowing they shouldn't have told me at all.

Honestly though, if people are going to be that stupid to carry knives on roller coasters, then I believe the 5 pat downs are certainly warranted. Please be nice to the employees, this is their job and it's for your safety.

Thanks for the clarification and somewhat big news. Sounds just like the idiot whose gun fell out of his pocket on Kilimanjaro Safari at AK a few years back.

 

[RonaldsModernLife]

That's unbelievable. The stupidity of some people never ceases to amaze me.

 

[Nick]

Ok, guy had a pocket knife, fell out and hit kid in the head. Not a good situation to say the least.

I'm amazed how something like this wouldn't leak, but if true, then yes, the guy shouldn't have had it in his pocket on a roller coaster (especially one that goes upside down). But pocket knives are hardly criminal. Many people cary them for a multitude of purposes. I personally don't, but I know people that do.

As much as people will continue to say this guy was a dumbass, it's not his fault the kid got hit in the head. Universal should've had some sort of netting or something in place to catch items that would potentially fall from the coaster. I'm not trying to fault Uni or let this guy off. BOTH are at fault, but Universal is the one who would be getting sued in this situation, not the guy who had the pocket knife.

So their higher standard of making sure people use lockers now is obviously from this incident as pointed out, but what does it fix? Nothing. If they don't do PREVENTATIVE MEASURES such as putting up netting (as ugly as it may be), then it helps the situation none.

You can't police everyone and i'm sure people are still going on with devices and objects that could cause harm. Even trying to make sure people use lockers now, none of that matters if someone gets hit again, because as I said, the guy who had the knife isn't going to get sued, Universal will in every situation and just asking people to put their stuff in lockers does not protect guests any more than before unless they take ACTUAL preventative measures that would hold up in court.

 

[RonaldsModernLife]

But pocket knives are hardly criminal. Many people cary them for a multitude of purposes. I personally don't, but I know people that do.

You need a pocket knife in a theme park? Universal does not allow "any type of weapon" in the parks, so he is already violating park rules. Sure, Universal could put a net up and they probably should. It would have been bad if someone got hit with a phone or something that isn't against park policy, but the fact that it was a item that isn't allowed in the parks to begin with makes it even worse.

 

[Nick]

You need a pocket knife in a theme park? Universal does not allow "any type of weapon" in the parks, so he is already violating park rules. Sure, Universal could put a net up and they probably should. It would have been bad if someone got hit with a phone or something that isn't against park policy, but the fact that it was a item that isn't allowed in the parks to begin with makes it even worse.

I'm gonna go with no, but some people just carry them with them wherever they go. There are people like that. It also becomes blind to them because they are so used to having it, they don't think twice about it.

Again, i'm not defending the pocket knife. It's against park rules technically, but park rules also aren't posted at the gate like they now are at WDW and there's no way to check if someone has a pocket knife. It's just impossible without doing pat downs, and that's way excessive for a theme park.

All i'm saying is we can't just focus on the guy being a dumbass. Universal is at fault too and even with policy changes, they still aren't fixing what is the real issue. Things could easily still fall on peoples' head in some areas.

 

[Cwoolboy]

I was pretty peeved about the upped security measures in RockIt (I had to get out of line twice, the 2nd time because they wouldn't let me ride with a bag of kleenex in my pocket). However, now that I know the reason why they're doing this, I'm ok with it.

 

[Ajstriker26]

How do you put up netting for the entire ride track? Do you completely cover the entire music plaza and now the Marvel bridge? It's probably more cost effective to do it this way with team members doing visual checks than attempting to turn every attraction into "Net World."

 

[Nick]

How do you put up netting for the entire ride track? Do you completely cover the entire music plaza and now the Marvel bridge? It's probably more cost effective to do it this way with team members doing visual checks than attempting to turn every attraction into "Net World."

You wouldn't necessarily have to for the whole track, but this is also just another reason why HRRR was a bad idea.

 

[RonaldsModernLife]

but this is also just another reason why HRRR was a bad idea.

Too late to fix that now

 

[tsojl2005]

this might make for an interesting theme park experience. i normally go alone so my phone keeps me occupied in line. makes the wait more bearable. also its going to be quote funny to have to text my other half "okay about to get in line for Hulk, i'll text you in say....75 minutes?" but if its for safety, i'll suck it up. just wish there was another way to hide my iphone safely.

 

[ynnoj]

What kind of person takes a pocket knife to a theme park in the first place?