Real World Theme Parks Have you ever experienced a break down during a ride?

Rankle · May 24, 2016

Where to start...

Rita twice in one day, First Wouldn't launch...sat in the station with us all strapped in ready to go for ages lol. second was on the brake run. (she wasn't having a good day that day).
Oblivion lift hill- don't know why, wasn't for very long. Maybe 10 minutes or so.
Duel - as someone else mentioned before, great for getting a high score!
River Rapids, on the lift hill back in to the station, again only a short one, about 15 minutes.
Saw brake run - Though that was for them to clean a seat in the station as someone had thrown up.

There is probably more but to far back to remember. Seem to recall Hex braking down, but that might not of been on me though.

ALMOST got to expereince a Roll back on stealth but it happened one car infront of my ride, was gutted [sulk].

Never been to a themepark over seas as I have a family and a girlfriend who are all coasterphobics haha.

Jake1 · May 25, 2016

My old job was working at a theme park , having been there for 3 years and operating some of the bigger rides there I actually got experience break downs from the other side, made for some really strange yet interesting situations situations. I genuinely once had a a guest (fully grown adult) start kicking me as they left the exit of the ride [haha]

As for experiencing break downs myself, I have had a roll back on stealth (if that counts as a breakdown?), weird experience. The forces are really crazy and was actually quite scary at them time. The best part of it was looking at all the jealous faces in the queue whist sitting on the launch track to get reset to launch again. I've also had to be evacuated of Tidal Waves lift hill. That is about it really.

Gysan · May 30, 2016

It is really trigging to read your stories about your break down experiences. This far, no one of you who have got injured in a Theme park I hope?

gregorburns · May 30, 2016

Gysan said:
This far, no one of you who have got injured in a Theme park I hope?

I tripped up in the Magic Kingdom once on the first day of my holiday and got a trip to Disney First Aid, and an open wound for the rest of my trip [big grin][big grin].

cf451 · Jun 3, 2016

Alright, here's a unique one. I used to live in Texas with my family and we looooved waterparks, especially being in the middle of the three (at the time) existing Schlitterbahn parks. We went to Schliterbahn Beach one year and loved it so much that we pushed our stay right until the very end of the operating hours. About three minutes before park closing, we decided to try and squeeze in one last ride on one of their water coasters. The ride starts-we're the last people they're letting on of the day--and we're about halfway through it when the water flow suddenly shuts off, leaving us stationary. We look around a bit... where'd the water go??.... we try calling the park to let them know we're still on the ride, but no one picks up and we doubt they'd have a clue what we should do anyways. We try waving at the lifeguards' mirrors, we try waving at security cameras, all to no avail. It's now like fifteen minutes after all park guests are supposed to have left. So, at a complete loss, we pick up our tube and walk the rest of the watercoaster and, as quietly and unobtrusively as possible, make our way to the park's exit. So, squeezing in that last ride that you go to just as the park is closing? Great technique at amusement parks. NOT a great technique at water parks!

Gysan · Jun 3, 2016

Woa, that was indeed an unique one there cf451!
Kind of irresponsible staff letting you in the slide and then shut it of and leave in the middle of it.

I guess this last minute ride technique aren't possible in all parks. Most parks I've visit they close all rides earlier than the park overall. Between 30min to an hour before park closing time. Now I understand why. [rolleyes]

Abletudu · Jun 4, 2016

cf451 said:
Alright, here's a unique one. I used to live in Texas with my family and we looooved waterparks, especially being in the middle of the three (at the time) existing Schlitterbahn parks. We went to Schliterbahn Beach one year and loved it so much that we pushed our stay right until the very end of the operating hours. About three minutes before park closing, we decided to try and squeeze in one last ride on one of their water coasters. The ride starts-we're the last people they're letting on of the day--and we're about halfway through it when the water flow suddenly shuts off, leaving us stationary. We look around a bit... where'd the water go??.... we try calling the park to let them know we're still on the ride, but no one picks up and we doubt they'd have a clue what we should do anyways. We try waving at the lifeguards' mirrors, we try waving at security cameras, all to no avail. It's now like fifteen minutes after all park guests are supposed to have left. So, at a complete loss, we pick up our tube and walk the rest of the watercoaster and, as quietly and unobtrusively as possible, make our way to the park's exit. So, squeezing in that last ride that you go to just as the park is closing? Great technique at amusement parks. NOT a great technique at water parks!

Reading about your wild experience gave me a chuckle, but I guess you had to be there to appreciate it.

AltonTowersFan · Jun 4, 2016

I've been to many theme parks over the years, and not had a single breakdown. But I went to Portaventura for the first time last week (I spent 3 days there) and I had two breakdowns! My first one was on Dragon Khan; we were sat on the break run for a couple of minutes and then one of the ride hosts came out onto the catwalks to tell us it was out of order. But they got the mechanics in straight away and they got it working again pretty quickly without even having to leave the op cabin!!! Then my second breakdown was on Shambhala, yet again, we were on the break run and a guy came out to say it was out of order. I could tell something wasn't right as the brakes made a funny noise when it came to a stop. Yet again it was resolved quickly in the same way as on Dragon Khan. Both experiences were less than 10 minutes but I found it funny that I've never had one and then I have 2 in the space of 2 trips! [squeeeeee]

Crowdpleaser · Jun 15, 2016

The only Ride i ever got stuck on was Arthur in Europa Park. They tried to start the Ride again but the Ride's safety Feature wouldn't allow it. So we had to be evacuated. Luckily the Car i was in wasn't that high, so i could jump out when they released the Safety Bars. The Cars Outside and Inside the Showbuilding weren't so lucky. The complete Building had to be evacuated so the Scissorlift could be brought inside. When something like this happens, the Ride is roughly down for an hour because the evacuation is so elaborate.

Gysan · Jun 17, 2016

Here is a nice new clip about breakdowns in Disneyland I just found. :-3

[video=youtube;ro7lH4ftaP0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ro7lH4ftaP0[/video]

donovanc32 · Jun 27, 2016

My worst was on the Mind Eraser at Six Flags New England. On the brakes before entering the station we got stuck for over an hour and it had to be close to 100 degrees that day. Got a sunburn and was freaking out because that was always my least favorite part of that ride - just hanging in the air, 25 ft above ground (inverted coaster)! Weird - I love coasters, but not heights. The park gave us coupons for a free Medium drink. Not even a large, you know, to make up for the dehydration of sitting in the sun for an hour. Thanks Six Flags... Luckily my story doesn't involve any injury, but I know there have been several, including a death, on Superman/Bizarro/whatever other names it's gone through. :/

Though I'll admit I accidentally caused one! I used to run Boulderdash at Lake Compounce (great wooden coaster!) and the last ride of the night I accidentally dropped the staff login clipboard RIGHT onto the emergency stop button. Out of NOWHERE a mechanic pops his head out of the floorboards and comes running to put in his key to reset the brakes. They came to a pretty hard stop but were fine and rolled in 30 seconds later than normal. Thank god for that guy! Only mechanics can reset an emergency stop.

Crowdpleaser · Jun 27, 2016

donovanc32 said:
Though I'll admit I accidentally caused one! I used to run Boulderdash at Lake Compounce (great wooden coaster!) and the last ride of the night I accidentally dropped the staff login clipboard RIGHT onto the emergency stop button. Out of NOWHERE a mechanic pops his head out of the floorboards and comes running to put in his key to reset the brakes. They came to a pretty hard stop but were fine and rolled in 30 seconds later than normal. Thank god for that guy! Only mechanics can reset an emergency stop.

The way you described the appearance of the Mechanic made me chuckle

Like he lives under the Floorboards of the Coaster ready to Fix stuff

donovanc32 · Jun 27, 2016

Crowdpleaser said:
The way you described the appearance of the Mechanic made me chuckle Like he lives under the Floorboards of the Coaster ready to Fix stuff

It was weird because usually they're NEVER anywhere nearby when you need them (Ha, kinda like RCTW), but this ONE time... he happened to be below and popped right up like a chipmunk.

Casiquire · Jul 3, 2016

Considering how often I'm at a park, I'm amazed to have never experienced a breakdown, however my entire train was recently left out in the pouring rain while the ride operators decided whether to let the next train go or whether to close the ride (due to rain). They wound up first deciding to keep the ride running, loading the next train, then changing their minds and unloading everyone, buckling up all the restraints, etc. We were stuck outside for a nice long while in the rain. Clearly I was very mad about it.

AshleyR1992 · Jul 3, 2016

only the one, about 3 weeks ago on Antarctica at SeaWorld, Orlando, wasn't a bad ride to breakdown on as the ride itself is very tame, the downside is the area we were in when it broke down was just before the unloading bay in the penguin enclosure.....everyone was in shorts and t-shirts and it was absolutely freezing (they told us afterwards its around 30 degrees Fahrenheit.

gregorburns · Jul 15, 2016

Broke down today on Gringotts at Universal Orlando. The car came to a halt on a brake section at the end of the final launch and then I sat awkwardly for about 5 minutes being the only English speaker in the car (my bad for not knowing their language) and being a single rider. The lights all came on and the train continued to the unload station facing forward with all the projection effects turned off. There was still people in line when I got off but a few minutes later it went 101 and was shut down.

Not really a breakdown but last week I was in line for the Ripsaw Falls at Universal, the sign said it was a 15 minute wait but by the time my family got to the front we had waited 45 minutes. 15 minutes later we were still standing at the front watching what appeared to be someone stuck in the seat trying to get out with the help of the staff and eventually a mechanic who had to come and actually break the boat's restraints to let the guy out. Once he was out there was a round of applause and the guy who was stuck was asked if he wanted to try a different seat- as you would expect he was rather angry at the whole situation and walked on out the emergency exit and probably back to his car. After that it was a further 10 minutes before we could get on as the ride had to be cycled through to get the boats back to the correct spacing: fortunately a very nice Universal employee (there's not many of them) let us leave to use the restroom and then return to the front of the line.

Brett C · Jul 17, 2016

With all of the rides that i've been on over the past decade, I cannot recall an instance of such.

Unless you want to include the airport tram system in Atlanta Georgia's airport breaking down while i was on that? [squeeeeee]

cerealfruitcakes · Jul 18, 2016

My sister and I got stuck on the top of the lift hill on Shockwave at Kings Dominion years ago. We were stranded for a bit until they came up to undo us and walk down the lift hill.

Mom took a pic!

gregorburns · Jul 18, 2016

Had another one today! Toy Story Mania at Walt Disney World: instead of spinning, the vehicle I was in just moved forwards around the first half of the track and none of the shooting or 3d elements were working. It was just my vehicle as all the others were working. After we got to the 2nd set of screens we stopped for around 5 minutes while our vehicle was reset and then completed the ride normally. As we got off we were given the chance to ride again and everything worked fine.

mwells01 · Jul 26, 2016

I was riding the Haunted Mansion at Disney World and it stopped once for about 5 minutes. It was wierd because you noticed the looping in the music and the movements of the animatronics. There was an announcement and the ride started back up. We went about another 10 feet before it stopped again. Luckily this time it was only stopped for a minute or two. It was a longer ride than we expected but all in all it was pretty cool.

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SymphonyX said:
Not really a break-down, but I got to experience a roll-back on Kingda Ka. They had just restarted the ride after a quick thunderstorm came through the area and after restarting the ride they had 3 unsuccessful test runs before finally getting an empty train to clear the hill. They then allowed riders on, there were only about 15 of us waiting in the station. As we were boarding the ride op said, "yea, it's probably not going to make it first launch." Sure enough, as it launched, I knew almost immediately due to the acceleration, that it did not reach the required speed needed to clear. So backwards we went! [squeeeeee] A lot of fun! And the best part was we got to reset and launch again!

That sounds so cool. Sadly I frequently go to Six Flags Over Texas. Flagship park but most rides are family rides. Kingda Ka is in Great Adventure and Safari, right? It's the biggest park [sigh]