Hey, Disney friends. Today, I wanted to bring something a little unusual to you and see what you think. In general, Disney is considered a pretty safe place. Not only when we look at the current state of the world, but also when we look at the wider theme park industry, Disney has a pretty strong track record when it comes to safety. Yes, I know there are exceptions, but generally speaking, safety isn’t something I find myself worrying about when I am visiting the parks beyond the obvious things we all think about.

Lately, though, there have been two incidents involving Tiana’s Bayou Adventure that have made me stop and think about this a little differently. Earlier this year, a teenage boy exited the log as it was nearing the attraction’s famous 50-foot drop and subsequently fell down the flume, resulting in hospitalization. From what was reported at the time, there didn’t appear to be an issue with the ride itself or its operation, and back then, I didn’t give much thought to whether the Disneyland version of the attraction should have some kind of additional restraint. The attraction currently operates with the expectation that guests will follow the very clear instruction to keep their arms, legs, and other body parts inside the ride vehicle.

Then, earlier this week, Chloé brought us news of a similar incident at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, where a guest exited the log before reaching the top of the attraction, causing the ride to stop for a considerable period of time. Two incidents involving guests attempting to leave the ride in a relatively short period of time, particularly when this is something we so rarely hear about, have made me consider the situation a little more closely, and it has left me thinking about two things.

First, a shared lap bar probably won’t stop someone from deciding to get out of the log if they are determined to do so. Second, the ride itself may not be the question here. The human factor is. But isn’t that ultimately true of so many things? We design safety systems around the expectation that people will follow the rules, but every now and then, someone doesn’t. In both of these cases, fear may have played a role, which is understandable. Being confronted with a large drop can certainly make people reconsider their choices very quickly. The problem is that the decision to leave the vehicle at the wrong point can have incredibly dangerous consequences.

There are also plenty of opportunities for guests to understand what they are getting themselves into before boarding. The major drop is hardly hidden, and on both the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland versions of the attraction, guests can see and understand the basic premise of the ride before they ever climb into a log. Still, people panic, people change their minds, and people sometimes do things that make absolutely no sense to the rest of us watching from the outside.

Which brings me to the question I have been turning over in my head. Should Disney consider individual seatbelt restraints on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure? Would that make it more difficult for a guest to attempt an emergency exit from the log before a major drop? Perhaps. Would I actually want them added? No. Who wants another restraint on a ride that currently feels relatively simple and open? Not me.

But wanting something and wondering whether it could eventually become necessary are two very different things.

I also recognize that this would be much more about people-proofing the attraction than addressing a fault with the ride itself. Nobody wants to see Tiana’s Bayou Adventure taken out of operation for a major modification because guests are choosing to leave their ride vehicles. And there is a much bigger conversation here about personal responsibility, following instructions and the fact that Disney cannot realistically engineer every attraction around every possible human decision.

Still, the analyst in me can’t completely dismiss the question. I have heard too many stories in my lifetime that begin with, I wish we’d done something sooner, to ignore the possibility that there may be a point where preventing a dangerous behavior becomes more important than simply expecting people not to do it.

The duck in me says, Just follow the instructions, and we won’t have a problem. The realist in me wonders whether that is always enough. So, Disney friends, what do you think? Should Disney consider adding individual restraints to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure before another guest decides to make a very dangerous jump at the top of that drop?

The post Should New Restraints Be Added to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure? first appeared on The DIS.