Because we as Americans have the power to sue anybody we want, and we abuse this power to it's fullest extent and even go beyond that line Disney's lawyers in Burbanck have told DL to add OTSR's like CS's to Splash mountain ASAP. Now, if you've ever been to DL you know that Splash mountain ALWAYS has the longest lines, with the OTSRs we could see even longer lines. Disneyland knows this and is fighting this. So as of now, SM is closed untill further notice.

They are exploring other options as well, such as tearing out the current flume and putting in a newer wider flume for new boats. IF it happens, which with Pressler and Eisner at the helm will most likely NOT happen, SM won't open untill Spring 2003. Needless to say SM won't open untill this Fall at the earliest.

Currently SM has no restraints and this worries the lawyers as they could face a lawsuit if any one got seriously hurt on the ride, which hasn't happened in the past 13 years. Adding seat belt would be fine but the Lawyers insist that OTSRs are the only way to go.

Seriously, this is only one of the horrid consequences that come from most Americans being so dang (man i wish i could use stronger words) sensitive. People need to stop suing other people for any little thing that happens; they are literally ruining this country. Each time this happens some new legislative is brought up to prevent this from happening again. I don't care if this offends you right now because I'm angry not only at the possibility of SM getting OTSRs, that is minute, but so many pointless laws and regulations are being created that make less choices for me to make by not aloowing them at all. The lady who fell from PP should have known she was too fat to ride. There is nothing wrong with the restraints, its some of the people in them that are the problem. This last paragrqaph i wrote will most likely be edited tomorrow when I blow off some steam.

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I see exactly what you mean. It isn't just America too, the whole of Western Culture is now driven by people sueing other people.

Onto this topic of OTSR on Splash Mountain. From what I know, Over the Shoulder Restraints were invented originally as a way to restrain riders on a ride that produces sufficient forces or twists the track in such a way that there is a chance that a rider could be in harm if the ride were to have anything less.

I don't know about Splash Mountain, but it seems every other Log Flume I know of has the same basic experiences... it is either meandering through turns - at a low speed, or it is going down a straight drop and continuing straight until it has lost sufficient speed to round a turn of some nature.

There are no lateral forces on Log Flumes that do anything more than make your knees move a bit to one side. If that warants OTSR, then I suppose soon we'll find sit-downs with built in padded vices on the headrests and handcuffs to the sides to keep you from moving around.

In all seriousness though, the Log Flume is a ride made up of two components - scenery and drops. You might as well say goodbye to the scenery if your vision is blocked by black rubber restraint that cuts out about half your view and head movement. Then the drop would hardly be the same if you are clamped in on all sides. On a side note, that is actually what I love most about the drops on my home parks flume - on the drop you are free and able to move around and it gives an added sense of excitement; or as it seems to the Disney Lawyers - danger.

Seatbelts are one thing. I personally would see these as safer than OTSR on a Log Flume. Should there be an accident, involving the tipping of a boat, no matter how unlikely you say this is, it has happened in the past, and I can't imagine what would happen is a boat equipped with OTSR with x number of tourists on board would do if it were to tip.

Seatbelts say "stay seated" without cutting from the ride experience well enough for most people, in fact, signs at the start of the ride saying "stay seated" do it for most people, so I hardly see how a boat with big ugly black OTSR sticking up everywhere would do any better, other than enforcing this to the absolute limit, which in my opinion, is just as easily done with lapbars or seatbelts.

that would really suck if they put OTSR's on Splash Mountain. I hope it won't happen at MK in Orlando. This is a family ride and puting those restraints in would ruin it

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13 Bravo Company Field Artillery Unit. An Army of One.

OTSRs would add a lot of weight to the logs. Unless Disney gets new logs that weigh about the same and have the OTSRs, I don't think we will see OTSRs on Splash Mountain.

Did anyone think that Disneyland might be just doing a giant rehad on the ride?!?!?!

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Have you Xperienced the Xtreme???

Why would they put OTSR on Splash Mountain? They aren't needed.

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I seem to have made a post that started this thread as to why. The DL lawyers are afraid to get sued since there is no restraints what-so-ever on the attraction. They figure these are the safest thing (I guess they need a reality check on tip overs) but DL is fighting them. The boats would weigh a lot more, they are actually MORE dangerous then without restraints, and it would cut the capacity a lot making it a PR nightmare. And the reason they are doing the re-hab was because the lawyers didn't spring this on DL untill early Feb. during the re-hab.

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Won't the OTSR's also drive little kids away? The might be scared if it needs OTSR's. I know I was when I saw OTSR's for the first time, I ran away and refused. They do look pretty scary... What does the Law Suit Abuse Organization say about this?

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SHAME ON YOU FOR EXPRESSING YOURSELF!

I think that a very reasonable way to go would be to add a simple lap bar such as the ones on some Shoot-the-Chutes.

If it gets OSTR's wont it also get a minimum height restriction, think about it. A kid slightly to short, head just touches the OSTR head gets jammed, kid turns head, bam broken neck.

the first time i went to WDW i did not like SM because it had nothing at all..nand it was not like the "logs" i had been in..but they could just put in seat belts

OTSR's would be the stupidist thing in the world and would also be dangerous!!!

There's a little park in Toronto called Ontario Place. There main attraction is a log flume. A few years back a log flipped. Yes, there has been an incident of a log flipping. Everyone made it out... why? Because there were no restraints holding them in. Now imagine an OTSR. They would be dead. Now imagine a lap bar. They would probably be dead. Now imagine a seat belt. They would probably be alive but it would take a while longer to get out.

It should be noted that even after the incident, the ride returned without any sort of restraint.

Personally I think Disney should just rework the entire ride and make it so its two across seating. But of course they're going to add a restraint of some sort. We've already heard the negative stuff about OTSR's. Personally I think they should just add a seatbelt if they're so (insert rude word here) determined to add some sort of death device.

"Personally I think Disney should just rework the entire ride and make it so its two across seating. "

ahhh...the one at WDW you sit side by side and it has 4 rows
([ [ [ [ }
([ [ [ [ } <--- SM log..

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!! I don't think the ride would be as good if it had OTSR's.

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whats next?, otsr's on woodies? now that would be painful.

but seriously, how could someone fall out of a logflume it they are not obese and follow the saftey precautions?give me a break, otsrs on a flume. i havent heard something that funny since an inverted woodie

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With a bit of luck, his life was ruined forever. Always thinking that just behind some narrow door in all of his favorite bars, men in red woolen shirts are getting incredible kicks from things he'll never know.

i'd love to know how a boat could flip in such a small place.

and nobody has died yet on it, so why bother, it seems to be fine the way it is.

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Its murda...

Yes, they are not needed if riders would ride responsibly. And so far it has been looking okay for log flumes all over the world. But like Hector stated, the sue happy western culture has gone overboard and insurance costs have driven parks to ridiculously modify restraint sytems on many of their rides. Due to this, many historic and once great-running rides are tied down from the full potential.

It is possible though for people to get injured or killed on a log flume. It's as easy as just standing up when the log descends any downward chute.

Why OSTR's? Can't you just do lapbars? Somebody explain.

Well, like I said it's from the lawyers in Burbank that want the OSTR's added. They most likely don't know ANYTHING about this kind of things and are thinking in terms of what restricts the riders the most. They want the OTSR's Cal Screamin' has so they obviously need some training in ride safety, cause if a Boat flips they will pay a lot more for wrongfull deaths then if some idot stands up and get's flung out. DL's SM is a traditional log flume in the terms of Bobsled seating. I think seat belts would be the most practical answer.

In order fo DL to have 2X4 seating like WDW's the flume trough (i think that's what it's called) would have to be competly replaced to accomodate for the larger boats. Under the Eisner-Pressler management this seems like the least likely scenario. I hope DL can convince the OTSR happy lawyers that Seat belts are the most practical answer.

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Your thinga about sueing anything is strong, but Im sure that Disneyland has some sort of lawsuit that the guarentee or something, and mostly people think that Disney is a "Premiere Park" and that is higher quality that "the Others" which pisses me off. They think Six Flags is Crap but disney is excuiset.

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Thornton to Heatley all day, every day.

When I was young, I wouldn't go on any ride with OTSR's. They're adding OTSR's to too many rides that don't need them.

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"Dead men tell no tales..."

Same here. Most coasterphobics and young children associate horse collar restraints with looping elements. That's what scares them. But it's the misconception that will hurt the modified ride. I know for a fact that the GP now will spread rumors of "Splash Mountain has loops now because they put loop coaster restraints on it!"...

AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!I'm planning a trip for this fall to Disneyland, and I really want to ride SM. Why would OTSRs be the only solution? It doesn't make sense. A lapbar even seems like a lot. A stupid idiot went and ruined it for everyone by hopping out of his log.

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As hector (RCfreak) said before, OSTRs are the only solution. There are other less likely ones.

My opinion - take the necessary steps to put in 2x4 boats. Then add seatbelts or lapbars. The capactiy will be cut but not as dractically as with OSTRs.

I can't believe it, Disney has decided that SM IS going to get OTSR's, but not for the reasons you would think. This News Article tells all the horrid details. I can't believe it. I'm in utter shock. 'Apelila wa'awa'a

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so what was the whole thing just a joke or are they still considering it for safety reasons

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Thats so stupid they will just ruin the ride.

EDIT: the news article is an unfunny aprils fools joke don't bother with it.

The article was definetly a joke (That I though was funny). 'Apelila wa'awa'a is hawiian for April Fool.

The restraints are still being considered as far as I know. OTSR's are very unlikely becuase they would have to rebuild the flume (which is made of cement) and to add more weight (larger flume path, more water, heavier logs, more people, etc.) they would have to redo the steel supports. The cost would basically be around the original cost of it. Many people think it's just down for a MAJOR rehab (It's first in it's 13 years of operation) and that they are just bring the building up to code (since it was built before all of the very strict California building codes were made) installing air gates in the station, adding more access walkways and making it more wheel chair accessable incase of a E-stop. Not to mention some much needed painting and other repairs needed by a flume after 13 of years of service with out a major rehab. I guess we'll just have to wait and see untill DL finally let's us in on what they are doing to it (if anything at all).

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well LOL if its a joke...but people do "flash" themselfs on rides...i saw a site that had lots of pic s of people who did it and then got kicked out of the park for doing it...and i was at BGT and some guy lifted up his GFs tank-top...at the end of the ride the on-ride pics of it had a pice of paper covering ot up...so OTSR wont help...

If they needed otsr's on any flume i think that it would be dudley do right's ripsawfalls. you almost fly out of the drop on the way down, not to mention that bump right after it! i just rode splash mountain a week ago and i just barely felt weightlessness.

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Dirty Tramp