Carnival Rides
By vikingswest
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
United States
July 20, 2021 4:38pm CST
Do you love the rides at carnivals?
Do you trust they're in working order?
When a carnival comes to town, do you rush to it and get on the barf rides?
Do you think mobile rides are safe?
I have a friend, believe it or not, I DO have friends, that spent years traveling with a carnival. He told me horror stories of broken bolts and worn out safety equipment.
He said that the same bolts holding the rides together, were used over and over until they failed.
Each time the carnival moved to a new location, it was reassembled using the same hardware from the previous locations.
I decided that amusement parks were a much safer place to enjoy the rides.
Do you worry about the safety of these rides?
Do you love the smells from a carnival?
Do you buckle up before starting your car or after you start it?
21 people like this
21 responses
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
20 Jul 21
I have lots of anxiety about rides and such. Today I felt disturbed by one of the elevators at the VA. I buckle up when I get in. Sometimes hubby tends to start the car before I get to it, and then when the car starts dinging I talk back.
5 people like this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
20 Jul 21
I won't go near carnival rides. I'd rather go to a park with permanent rides.
Keys in, buckle up, start, turn on headlights. Every time.
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
22 Jul 21
@Vikingswest1 I have not been to a carnival in ages.
2 people like this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
21 Jul 21
I do worry about the safety of the rides, which is why I also prefer amusement parks to carnivals. But the smell, yes! Nothing like the pop corn and cotton candy smells at the carnival.
2 people like this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
21 Jul 21
Now THAT'S what I'm talking about.
I like to smell the carnival before I even get there.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11116)
• Malaysia
21 Jul 21
@Vikingswest1 I think someone should come up with a word for the carnival smell 
.
.2 people like this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
20 Jul 21
Hahahah
I never got used to those smells either.
2 people like this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
20 Jul 21
@TheHorse
I thought about it one time but never did.
I'll bet those two hours were hell.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (218829)
• Walnut Creek, California
20 Jul 21
@Vikingswest1 I was a Carney one summer. For about two hours.
2 people like this
@kobesbuddy (78882)
• East Tawas, Michigan
20 Jul 21
I don't rush off to a carnival, to hop on their 'barf' rides. But, I do love the smell around a carnival, cotton candy and candied apples are delicious! I buckle up after I start my car.
2 people like this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
20 Jul 21
@kobesbuddy
I agree. I LOVE the aromas of a carnival. Except the ones mentioned by the Horse.
2 people like this
@kobesbuddy (78882)
• East Tawas, Michigan
20 Jul 21
@Vikingswest1 Yes, it's a yummy sweet smell, like no other place on earth!
2 people like this
@MommyOfEli2013 (84013)
• Rupert, Idaho
27 Jul 21
I went to the carnival a ton when I was young...but it stopped coming to my town. I would still ride some of them though. I never worried about their safety....because I figured that the people in charge had to make sure they were safe.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
27 Jul 21
Apparently the people in charge were unsafe lol.
I went to a lot of carnivals too but stick to amusement parks. I've been to Silverwood twice and even made the cover of one of their yearly brochures.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
27 Jul 21
@MommyOfEli2013
Silverwood is in northern Idaho near Coeur d'Alene.
1 person likes this
@MommyOfEli2013 (84013)
• Rupert, Idaho
27 Jul 21
@Vikingswest1 Well, I never had an issue....but that stinks that not all are safe.
Well amusement parks are fun too....I haven't heard of that one but that is cool! I only have been to one amusement park in my life lol...Lagoon.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (136412)
• India
21 Jul 21
In my younger days I have been on a giant wheel and the merri-go-round. But never the roller coasters.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (136412)
• India
21 Jul 21
@Vikingswest1 So you went on a giant wheel to cuddle your girl friend (lol)
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
21 Jul 21
I could spend all day on a roller coaster.
The giant wheel was the place to take a girlfriend and hope she got scared so you could cuddle high above it all.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (69697)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Jul 21
Depends on the day. Sometimes I will before sometimes after.
As for the rides, I feel perfectly safe. I also haven't been to the county fair in years.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (69697)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Jul 21
@Vikingswest1 If we had the money, George and I would've gone to our county fair, but we didn't. So we couldn't. Maybe this year.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
20 Jul 21
@kaylachan
I really hope you'll get the chance to go this time around.
Last years carnival was canceled here.
I don't even know if it will go on this year.
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
20 Jul 21
I went to the carnival here two years ago but it was just for mini-donuts and elephant ears.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
23 Jul 21
@id_peace
I sometimes get sick on a twenty minute ferry ride. No cruises for me lol.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
21 Jul 21
That's why they are called barf rides lol.
I have motion sickness on saltwater. Boats and ferries will make me sick but I can ride a roller coaster all day without a problem.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (82798)
• United States
27 Jul 21
I used to love carnival rides when I was younger and never worried about it being safe. I enjoyed the thrill of all those crazy rides
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
27 Jul 21
I did too as a kid. I never worried about safety and spent every penny on rides.
I couldn't get on one today.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
29 Jul 21
@Marilynda1225
I wish the same thing.
But my carefree youth is responsible for many of the aches and pains I have today lol.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (82798)
• United States
29 Jul 21
@Vikingswest1 sometimes I wish I was as carefree as the days when I was young
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
27 Jul 21
I wasn't terrified as a kid. I am terrified as an adult.
There sure are good treats though 
1 person likes this
@cacay1 (83480)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
27 Jul 21
@Vikingswest1, you already had strong adrenalin when you were a child.
you already had strong adrenalin when you were a child.1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (102832)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
20 Jul 21
I used to ride in the amusement parks in New Orleans until they closed around 1979. These days I am scared to take rides on rides that are scary.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
21 Jul 21
If the scare is with the ride itself, I'm ok with that.
If the scare is how the ride was put together, I'm not riding.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (102832)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
21 Jul 21
@Vikingswest1 I do not blame you since I am scared of heights.
1 person likes this
@Bensen32 (27610)
• United States
27 Jul 21
I do not like them mostly cause I don't trust that I am not going to get killed on them. They always look unsafe not to mention some of the workers look like they can't even remember their names let alone put the rides together correctly.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
27 Jul 21
Yep. That sums it up pretty well lol.
The food is great though.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
27 Jul 21
@Bensen32
Terribly unhealthy but deep fried Snickers bars ARE pretty good lol.
1 person likes this
@Bensen32 (27610)
• United States
27 Jul 21
@Vikingswest1 not good for you but taste great :)
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
21 Jul 21
I have SO many fun memories of carnivals and their rides, I just got a wake up call about the safety of those portable rides.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
21 Jul 21
@Vikingswest1 The safety is of utmost concern.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180699)
• United States
24 Jul 21
Man, not honestly sure when I have been on a carnival ride..I am sure I have but probably not in a billion years. I prefer amusement parks.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
24 Jul 21
I do too. But I still go to carnivals for the treats lol.
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
23 Jul 21
I still love an amusement park but I just go to carnivals for the treats to eat.
1 person likes this
@much2say (55606)
• Los Angeles, California
24 Jul 21
I used to love rides - didn't matter where. But somehow as I aged, I started having "fears" - I don't know how that happened. We all heard horror stories about carnival rides, but thanks to videos evidence (and a lot of 'em), I cringe at the thought of riding them.
I worry about the lack of safety of these rides.
I like the smell of food at a carnival . . . I think those smells are planted out there on purpose.
I think I buckle up as soon as I get in the car, and then start it.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
24 Jul 21
That smell sure draws you in.
I've seen too many videos of ride failures too. I would still ride roller coasters at a park but carnivals are for mini-donuts, elephant ears and cotton candy.
You covered everything. Thanks for playing
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
23 Jul 21
Same here. I'll go for the goodies though. I love the smell of the Midway, even if it's just a tiny fair or carnival.
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
24 Jul 21
Me too. So many things to eat at carnivals. I don't ride anymore but enjoy the food and atmosphere.
@porwest (90876)
• United States
20 Jul 21
I used to. But I think those days are long gone. And you bring up an interesting thing to consider nowadays. "How well are these rides maintained?"
I think the answer is actually "not very well." But it does depend on where you are of course. Rides at big parks like Disney or Six Flags or Busch Gardens are going to have regular inspections and certified inspectors, and will be much better maintained than say, "The Flying Octopus" at the local carnival that's in town for a couple of short days and operated by a one-eyed 70 year old with no teeth and ratty hair.
1 person likes this
@Vikingswest1 (6304)
• United States
20 Jul 21
Yes. I prefer rides that are welded together.
A one-eyed 70 year old man with no teeth, ratty hair and a bottle of MD 20/20 in his back pocket.
1 person likes this
@porwest (90876)
• United States
22 Jul 21
@Vikingswest1 That is probably more like it. lol
1 person likes this
