Lap bars for Splash Mtn.

[MmeLeota]

I will reserve judgement on this one. I can very easily see both sides of this story. When I worked at a theme park, we had a log flume ride, and you would be surprised how many people stand up or jump out of the boats and most times, the employees cannot do anything about it. So by having lap bars, it would cut down on such behavior. But I kinda agree with NaCler...I could see it being a very uncomfortable ride with it being a tight fit to begin with. What about anyone with a disability? Will the lap bars create an issue for someone who may need a little more legroom or that little bit of extra space to get in and out of the log? Of course, I have never been on WDW's version either.

As far as DL goes, I'm not sure how they would install lap bars unless they totally replace the logs. I did hear a rumor that new logs would be coming...and Splash is currently under refurbishment until late May so it's quite possible that the logs could be switched out.

It's a shame though...part of the thrill of that ride is not being so bolted into a ride vehicle that you can't enjoy it...People are getting stupider by the minute and it's sad to see the safety measures that have to be put in place because of it.

[MansionButler]

I could see it being a very uncomfortable ride with it being a tight fit to begin with. What about anyone with a disability? Will the lap bars create an issue for someone who may need a little more legroom or that little bit of extra space to get in and out of the log? Of course, I have never been on WDW's version either.

By all accounts, there's now more room because they got rid of the large dashboard (if you are unaware of how the MK logs look, a Google search should explain the dashboards). The way the lapbar works should not at all impact leg room and almost anyone who fit before should still fit. Some guests from WDW Magic who were concerned said they had no trouble, as all they want is for the lap bar to come down until it clicks, and the first "clicking in to place" position is not very far down.

So, from the looks of things, there is almost no impact on the ability to ride.

[Amy]

I could see it being a very uncomfortable ride with it being a tight fit to begin with. What about anyone with a disability? Will the lap bars create an issue for someone who may need a little more legroom or that little bit of extra space to get in and out of the log? Of course, I have never been on WDW's version either.

By all accounts, there's now more room because they got rid of the large dashboard (if you are unaware of how the MK logs look, a Google search should explain the dashboards). The way the lapbar works should not at all impact leg room and almost anyone who fit before should still fit. Some guests from WDW Magic who were concerned said they had no trouble, as all they want is for the lap bar to come down until it clicks, and the first "clicking in to place" position is not very far down.
So, from the looks of things, there is almost no impact on the ability to ride.

I thought the new logs looked a bit less constraining since the lap bars are flush against the log when they are in the up position!

[packwingfn]

I already went on Splash Mtn the day it opened with the Lap Bars and I found it fine. There was really no difference and I still was able to enjoy the big drop even with the "constraints" of a lap bar. I think it was needed...tho however I felt like there was a few times we still stopped and we heard "brer bear and brer fox are causing some kind of commotion downstream" quite a few times but that might have been from people not pushing their lap bars down?

[mindflipper]

I already went on Splash Mtn the day it opened with the Lap Bars and I found it fine. There was really no difference and I still was able to enjoy the big drop even with the "constraints" of a lap bar. I think it was needed...tho however I felt like there was a few times we still stopped and we heard "brer bear and brer fox are causing some kind of commotion downstream" quite a few times but that might have been from people not pushing their lap bars down?

You can also get that recording if they're backed up in the loading/unloading zone. Maybe it takes more time to do so because of the lap bars?

[Wizzard419]

As far as DL goes, I'm not sure how they would install lap bars unless they totally replace the logs. I did hear a rumor that new logs would be coming...and Splash is currently under refurbishment until late May so it's quite possible that the logs could be switched out.

I'm not sure if they are going to do them here because of that need. It's hard to tell what is going to happen with the refubishment since they always take so long, unlike other attractions with will only close for a month or so.

[Len90]

It is a shame that Disney has to take precautions for issues like this. I highly doubt it will have that big of an effect on the overall experience and ride capacity though. As sad as it is, I think it was the right thing for them to do.

[Amy]

I already went on Splash Mtn the day it opened with the Lap Bars and I found it fine. There was really no difference and I still was able to enjoy the big drop even with the "constraints" of a lap bar. I think it was needed...tho however I felt like there was a few times we still stopped and we heard "brer bear and brer fox are causing some kind of commotion downstream" quite a few times but that might have been from people not pushing their lap bars down?

You can also get that recording if they're backed up in the loading/unloading zone. Maybe it takes more time to do so because of the lap bars?

They might need to adjust the timing of dispatching the logs just a wee bit maybe?

[mindflipper]

As far as DL goes, I'm not sure how they would install lap bars unless they totally replace the logs. I did hear a rumor that new logs would be coming...and Splash is currently under refurbishment until late May so it's quite possible that the logs could be switched out.

I'm not sure if they are going to do them here because of that need. It's hard to tell what is going to happen with the refubishment since they always take so long, unlike other attractions with will only close for a month or so.

If they got new logs for WDW, maybe they did for DLR? Disney loves the economy of scale by doing things in one large batch.

[MadEye]

If they got new logs for WDW, maybe they did for DLR? Disney loves the economy of scale by doing things in one large batch.

They didn't replace the logs at WDW. This last refurb wasn't so much for the ride itself, like last year, but for the logs and adding the lap bars.

[mindflipper]

Thanks for the corrections. I remember the DLR logs being smaller than the WDW logs, so maybe it would be more difficult to convert them?

[theBIGyowski]

Thanks for the corrections. I remember the DLR logs being smaller than the WDW logs, so maybe it would be more difficult to convert them?

Yeah...the DLR logs are single file and you kind of straddle the seat...if I remember correctly. So it's a very different kind of ride vehicle. Kind of like how the WDW Space Mountain and DLR Space Mountain ride vehicles are completely different.

WDW (before lap bars)


DLR

[mindflipper]

Thanks, I thought I was remembering it correctly. Be honest, it doesn't look like DLR can't take the WDW logs - it's not wide enough! Nor does it look like they have to room to add any lap bars without removing 1 of the 5 seats.

[Amy]

Thanks for the comparison photos BIG. I was trying to remember what the DL ones looked like too. I remembered them having more of a back to each seat though

[mindflipper]

DLR logs remind of the cars that WDW used to have for Space Mountain.