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[Mikey]

Seat belts which connect into the restraint and not across a guest are not a safety device, but a measuring instrument. If the seat belt can't reach the buckle attached to the restraint, the restraint is not sufficiently locked. It's used to weed out guest of extra ordinary sizes where their body type would prevent the locking mechanism from being far enough down on the ratchet to safely lock, but otherwise serves no safety purpose. These need to be checked and secured, but if a guest unbuckles it after they have been checked I wouldn't stop a ride over it.

In regard to seat belts that go across the guest, on most modern rides they are supplementary to another restraint such as a lapbar. They are designed to be a secondary restraint and also reduce the distance of travel between the guest and the restraint on rides where the lap bars used an older broader standerd of latches. It's to help with rider comfort where older restraints don't provide a snug enough fit. Ones that may only have 6-10 settings that are 1/2 an inch apart. (If it clicks, it's a legacy system)

Newer restraint systems are infinity adjustable and don't have this problem. In some cases they are also self tightening. Rides built in the last year are now coming standard with electronically monitored restraints, we can tell if it's locked and how much pressure is being pushed on it.

On average it takes 3-6 seconds to properly check a seat system with a supplementary restraint. That number can be lower if they employ the system that allows the operator to tug on the restraint externally from the ride vehicle.

We check both types of restraints, each and every cycle, and we average 3.5 seconds per seat.

I must re-enforce however that what we are observing in terms of through put is so far out of the ordinary that its not even an issue of efficiency. There is no efficiency. We are talking about trains that are stacking for 90+ seconds.

I have a feeling that we are talking about Six Flags here...:/

[Mikey]

What makes you say that?

It seemed like SeaWorld Orlando did something similar to that, now that I think about it. When we rode Manta, the stacking at the end was approximately 30-45 seconds. I know, that's not a lot, but when you're facing down, and your shoulders are pressing on the restraints, it feels like an eternity. Fortunately for me, we're not visiting SW next year. Regardless of how much fun Manta was.

That just may be flyers in general. I remember having a long time stacking on Superman At SFGAm. I actually started feeling nauseous waiting there. With the dual loading platforms, you would think Sea World couldn't pull that!

[Oscar]

Tatsu generally has a long line. I've yet to see it run at full capacity since being opened. They rather has you sit 2-3 hours waiting to ride it then to open up the other side and speed things up. I understand that they are saving maintenance costs running one train and staffing costs running 3-4 less operators. Do they really want tired, annoyed, disgruntled guests at the park that will consider their next theme park visit a different theme park. I know I have. I only go to SF on special occasion, like when someone comes out to visit. Other than that, I don't go. I was a season pass holder. Now I am a day ticket buyer whenever someone comes for a visit. And that's once every couple of years. I wonder if they looked at their operations from a long term point of view or just looked at the numbers and said hey, this saves us cash now!

Originally posted by jdmi012

That just may be flyers in general. I remember having a long time stacking on Superman At SFGAm. I actually started feeling nauseous waiting there. With the dual loading platforms, you would think Sea World couldn't pull that!

Or at least have a car release so all the blood in your body doesn't rush to your face. Or, you know, use the other platform. Frankly, that was a deal breaker for me for the rest of the day. I'm glad we did Manta in the morning with a relatively short line, and before it got too hot.