Columbus, Ohio Discovering that your must-ride coaster isn’t operating is the best way to ruin a day at Cedar Point.
Even if it’s inconvenient and frustrating, should the government mandate that theme parks provide up-to-date ride information online?
That’s what Parma Democrat and state representative Sean Brennan believes.
Brennan said in a statement that families travel throughout the state and spend hundreds of dollars to visit these sites. They should have access to precise, up-to-date information so they can organize their day and prevent the aggravating experience of having to cross the park in search of a ride that has been shut down.
Under his new plan, amusement parks would have to update their official websites or apps with the current condition of their rides within five minutes of a ride closing or reopening.
According to Brennan, this is a sensible consumer protection policy. Similar to how we anticipate real-time updates from airports or public transit, park visitors ought to be able to find out whether rides are open before lining up or leaving their homes.
Ride wait times are displayed on Cedar Point’s mobile app, but only after you register and enter personal data such your email address and birthdate. Additionally, the app only allows park visitors to use that feature; you cannot check wait times from home.
It’s not useful, Brennan stated.
Although reports on the accuracy of third-party applications like Ride Wait Times, which display wait times and ride closures without requiring sign-ups, are mixed.
Theme parks already gather this data, according to Brennan, and his law only makes it promptly and consistently available to the public.
Six Flags, the company that owns Cedar Point and Kings Island, was contacted by Cleveland.com for comment.
The regulations would be enforced by the Ohio Department of Agriculture, which is in charge of conducting safety inspections for amusement rides. Noncompliant parks may be subject to civil penalties.
Brennan stated that the midways at county fairs and transient entertainment parks such as carnivals would not be covered by his measure.
Rather, it would cover rides that, according to the Ohio Revised Code, are a permanent feature of the property.
In response to a question about whether these rules would be too onerous for smaller parks, such as Cleveland’s Memphis Kiddie Park, Brennan stated that he is amenable to exceptions provided a compelling argument could be made. He has no intention of beating up theme parks.
According to Brennan, this is advantageous to both parties. It will, in my opinion, improve the client experience.
When he arrives at the park and finds out that Siren’s Curse or Millennium Force isn’t operating, he becomes irritated. and believes that parks remain quiet because, once you’re inside, you’re probably going to stay there all day.
Brennan believes that when it comes to safeguarding customers, he will always say that the government should not be in the business of dictating how theme parks should operate their rollercoasters.
“If they just do the right thing,” he continued, “we might not need a government regulation.”
In order to give parks time to install the necessary systems, this regulation would go into force a year later if it is passed.
