Metal Detectors at HRRR

[fosse76]

I was unfortunate to experience these metal detectors first hand this weekend (they are in-use at Hulk, Dragon Challenge, and HRRR). If you set off the detector, the staff is very rude. I saw a lot of unhappy people forced to find a locker. It was pretty crowded, and lockers where tough to come by.And even if you could secure it yourself (such as with a zippered pocket) you were still required to use a locker. It was absolutely reprehensible. There were times where the metal detector line was longer than standby, and they absolutely destroy the themeing at Dragon Challenge (I'm shocked Warner Bros/JK Rowling haven't stepped in).

Rollercoasters (as we know them) have existed for over 100 years, and in that time millions of objects have been flung from them. While getting smacked from a cell phone or set of keys that have fallen out of someone's pocket is not a pleasant experience, it is not a particularly harmful one. Other parks have significantly more extreme coasters than Universal's lineup, but none of them feel the need to install metal detectors and treat their guests like terrorists. The signs, announcements, and provision of lockers is suffcient for Universal to have mitigated damages as a result of possible injury (the nature of roller coasters also being a mitigating circumstance).

To me, this is very clearly a corporate mandate, no doubt from Comcast's OGC. They are the only new players here. I expressed my outrage at this insult to two supervisors and guest relations (at different times, of course). The two supervisors (and two leads who were with them) were verbatim with their response. One of them pointed to HHN as a justification, but I pointed out that ride safety and public safety are two entirely different concepts and are not equal. Guest Rekations was a lot less pushy about it and simply took (or pretended to take) my complaint seriously. These aren;t going away unless a huge issue is made by the public. Unfortnately, I doubt it will happen.

 

[TalkingHead]

I was unfortunate to experience these metal detectors first hand this weekend (they are in-use at Hulk, Dragon Challenge, and HRRR). If you set off the detector, the staff is very rude. I saw a lot of unhappy people forced to find a locker. It was pretty crowded, and lockers where tough to come by.And even if you could secure it yourself (such as with a zippered pocket) you were still required to use a locker. It was absolutely reprehensible. There were times where the metal detector line was longer than standby, and they absolutely destroy the themeing at Dragon Challenge (I'm shocked Warner Bros/JK Rowling haven't stepped in).

Rollercoasters (as we know them) have existed for over 100 years, and in that time millions of objects have been flung from them. While getting smacked from a cell phone or set of keys that have fallen out of someone's pocket is not a pleasant experience, it is not a particularly harmful one. Other parks have significantly more extreme coasters than Universal's lineup, but none of them feel the need to install metal detectors and treat their guests like terrorists. The signs, announcements, and provision of lockers is suffcient for Universal to have mitigated damages as a result of possible injury (the nature of roller coasters also being a mitigating circumstance).

To me, this is very clearly a corporate mandate, no doubt from Comcast's OGC. They are the only new players here. I expressed my outrage at this insult to two supervisors and guest relations (at different times, of course). The two supervisors (and two leads who were with them) were verbatim with their response. One of them pointed to HHN as a justification, but I pointed out that ride safety and public safety are two entirely different concepts and are not equal. Guest Rekations was a lot less pushy about it and simply took (or pretended to take) my complaint seriously. These aren;t going away unless a huge issue is made by the public. Unfortnately, I doubt it will happen.

If Manta at SeaWorld doesn't "need" metal detectors, then none of the Universal coasters do. Manta travels over and around guest areas. It's an intense coaster. It's got a net underneath the lift hill, but that's not totally protecting the guest areas.

I'm also surprised that WB doesn't have an issue with Dragons' metal detectors.

Unpopular opinion: These coasters are expendable. Busch and SeaWorld have better coaster lineups. Universal should leave these kinds of rides to them and focus on highly-themed attractions like Gringotts, Kong, etc. And I say that as a fan of the Hulk. But the metal detectors just seem like they're designed to tick off guests.

 

[Bairstow]

Rollercoasters (as we know them) have existed for over 100 years, and in that time millions of objects have been flung from them. While getting smacked from a cell phone or set of keys that have fallen out of someone's pocket is not a pleasant experience, it is not a particularly harmful one. Other parks have significantly more extreme coasters than Universal's lineup, but none of them feel the need to install metal detectors and treat their guests like terrorists.

The difference is that at least one of Universal's guests have acted like terrorists.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...aster-trains-universal-spokesman-tom-schroder

 

[DisUniversal]

Never lost my cool with a cast member until today at Dragon Challenge. Hadn't been to the parks since they started with this stupidity. After being told I couldn't have any METAL on me, my son and I went and locked up our phones and my car keys in a locker. Walked all the way up to where the metal detectors were and was "wanded" because my belt buckle tripped the metal detector. They then tell me that I couldn't have my wallet because I didn't have a secure pocket? At that point I snapped and yelled "This is worse than the F'ing airport". Seriously, do they want to offer an experience more painful than what one encounters with TSA at an airport? I've been riding coasters for at least 40 years and not once has a wallet come out of a pocket. What about people with flip flops and other loose fitting shoes? Don't they still allow you to sit on them? What if I didn't make it back to the locker in time and my wallet with my credit cards is locked up? I seriously think Universal has completely lost any shred of common sense in implementing this.

 

[fosse76]

Never lost my cool with a cast member until today at Dragon Challenge. Hadn't been to the parks since they started with this stupidity. After being told I couldn't have any METAL on me, my son and I went and locked up our phones and my car keys in a locker. Walked all the way up to where the metal detectors were and was "wanded" because my belt buckle tripped the metal detector. They then tell me that I couldn't have my wallet because I didn't have a secure pocket? At that point I snapped and yelled "This is worse than the F'ing airport". Seriously, do they want to offer an experience more painful than what one encounters with TSA at an airport? I've been riding coasters for at least 40 years and not once has a wallet come out of a pocket. What about people with flip flops and other loose fitting shoes? Don't they still allow you to sit on them? What if I didn't make it back to the locker in time and my wallet with my credit cards is locked up? I seriously think Universal has completely lost any shred of common sense in implementing this.

Exactly! I actually spoke to a supervisor on this point. If a guest is able to secure loose items, there should be absolutely no issue. To treat your guests like criminals is unacceptable. And while the incident on Dragon Challenge was horrible, they still have no idea how it happened. The truth is if I am hit by flying keys, I am unlikely to sustain any significant mark, let alone an injury. This without a doubt a knee-jerk reaction that is no doubt a result of Comcast's Office of General Counsel. And let me tell you, I heard a LOT of complaints. I only hope these complaints made their way to guest relations and not just grumbling.

 

[jloucks]

Never lost my cool with a cast member until today at Dragon Challenge. Hadn't been to the parks since they started with this stupidity. After being told I couldn't have any METAL on me, my son and I went and locked up our phones and my car keys in a locker. Walked all the way up to where the metal detectors were and was "wanded" because my belt buckle tripped the metal detector. They then tell me that I couldn't have my wallet because I didn't have a secure pocket? At that point I snapped and yelled "This is worse than the F'ing airport". Seriously, do they want to offer an experience more painful than what one encounters with TSA at an airport? I've been riding coasters for at least 40 years and not once has a wallet come out of a pocket. What about people with flip flops and other loose fitting shoes? Don't they still allow you to sit on them? What if I didn't make it back to the locker in time and my wallet with my credit cards is locked up? I seriously think Universal has completely lost any shred of common sense in implementing this.

I hear you, I do, but you have to look on the flip side of what could be going on. While YOU have never lost a wallet, phone, comb, gerbil, or snow cone, many others do. My money is not that it is an injury threat, but that it becomes a big PR thing to try and get your wallet and gerbil back. "What do you mean you can't shut the coaster down and retrieve my wallet and whiskers!?!?!? You jerk! How will I pay for a taxi!? Where is your manager! Shut the coaster down now dirtbags!!"

...or some similar scene.

My trip last month I got the wand treatment and had too many coins in my pockets. I placed my around $5 in coins in a bush and went on in. When I got off and went to the bush to get my coins, the staffer told me they...I'm not making this up..."were mandatoryily donated to a children s charity. All money found is handled this way". Lol, ok. I mean, I guess I don't have a problem with it, but maybe tell me while I am stashing my loot?

 

[Bairstow]

the staffer told me they...I'm not making this up..."were mandatoryily donated to a children s charity. All money found is handled this way".

Mandatorily donated to that kid's pockets is more like.
You should have insisted on using the wand on him.

 

[DisUniversal]

I hear you, I do, but you have to look on the flip side of what could be going on. While YOU have never lost a wallet, phone, comb, gerbil, or snow cone, many others do. My money is not that it is an injury threat, but that it becomes a big PR thing to try and get your wallet and gerbil back. "What do you mean you can't shut the coaster down and retrieve my wallet and whiskers!?!?!? You jerk! How will I pay for a taxi!? Where is your manager! Shut the coaster down now dirtbags!!"

...or some similar scene.

My trip last month I got the wand treatment and had too many coins in my pockets. I placed my around $5 in coins in a bush and went on in. When I got off and went to the bush to get my coins, the staffer told me they...I'm not making this up..."were mandatoryily donated to a children s charity. All money found is handled this way". Lol, ok. I mean, I guess I don't have a problem with it, but maybe tell me while I am stashing my loot?

There is no flip side here. They're trying to solve a virtually non-existent problem and doing it in the most stupid, short-sighted way possible. If this is how these idiots think they need to operate coasters, then I hope they don't build any more. I haven't seen a company do more to take the fun out of an attraction since Disney replaced Horizons with Mission Space.