Coaster Curt Posted April 12, 2013 Posted April 12, 2013 If they did add one to Valleyfair, it would have to be shorter as they have a 275 ft. height limit on their rides. They could put a full sized Windseeker at VF, it just has to be moved to one end of the park or the other, that would get it out of the flight path of the airport.
Aceattack52 Posted April 13, 2013 Posted April 13, 2013 ^ How many times has it gotten stuck at the top? The only one I know of is the one at Carowinds. There have been a few times, I think the one at Cedar Point has gotten stuck a couple, needless to say I am not even taking the slightest chance of getting stuck on top when visiting this year. Do they know what the problem is and are having trouble fixing it, or are they still having trouble identifying the problem?
Dinnwitted Posted April 13, 2013 Posted April 13, 2013 ^ How many times has it gotten stuck at the top? The only one I know of is the one at Carowinds. There have been a few times, I think the one at Cedar Point has gotten stuck a couple, needless to say I am not even taking the slightest chance of getting stuck on top when visiting this year. Do they know what the problem is and are having trouble fixing it, or are they still having trouble identifying the problem? No, the problems are different each time varying from structural complications to computer glitches.
gromithere Posted April 13, 2013 Posted April 13, 2013 Wouldn't it be more logical for CGA to get one? It might at this point now that they are apparently investing in CGA once again, but when Windseekers were initially popping up there didn't seem to be much desire for Cedar Fair to keep CGA as part of it's portfolio. My guess would be that after the addition of Gold Striker this year, that it will be a few years before we see another large investment....and I would HOPE that it wouldn't be a Windseeker!
Jerome Posted April 14, 2013 Posted April 14, 2013 .... Though I have to ask- after what happened do you think another park will install a Windseeker? In my opinion any new ones would need to be redesigned. The evacuation system they designed for the ones they have now. Will take hours to remove everyone. It can only remove four people at a time and is very slow.
Toasty82 Posted April 17, 2013 Posted April 17, 2013 That's the new evac-platform, right? Source: Knott's Network
DJeXeL Posted April 17, 2013 Posted April 17, 2013 .... Though I have to ask- after what happened do you think another park will install a Windseeker? In my opinion any new ones would need to be redesigned. The evacuation system they designed for the ones they have now. Will take hours to remove everyone. It can only remove four people at a time and is very slow. 8 at a time. 4 on each side.
DougMJr Posted April 17, 2013 Posted April 17, 2013 That's the new evac-platform, right? Source: Knott's Network So, will this evac-gondola be attached if there is a breakdown or sit at the bottom of the tower the entire time?
DJeXeL Posted April 17, 2013 Posted April 17, 2013 It will be brought over via crane from in between Jag and Zoom. It will take approximately 2 hours to assemble.
DJeXeL Posted April 17, 2013 Posted April 17, 2013 The park owns their own crane. This EVAC system is a "last resort" method of EVACing guests. If the ride goes down and maintenance says it'll be an hour until carriage can be brought down then they won't use this method.
ernierocker Posted April 17, 2013 Posted April 17, 2013 Grabbed some photos of the evac system for the one at Kings Dominion. Maintenance workers were setting up the system and testing it over this past weekend.
TPDave Posted April 17, 2013 Posted April 17, 2013 ^This is almost comical - I bet there are some red faces in the boardroom and more than a few mutterings of "Should have stuck with a star flyer"!!
Jerome Posted April 17, 2013 Posted April 17, 2013 .... Though I have to ask- after what happened do you think another park will install a Windseeker? In my opinion any new ones would need to be redesigned. The evacuation system they designed for the ones they have now. Will take hours to remove everyone. It can only remove four people at a time and is very slow. 8 at a time. 4 on each side. No it's 4 people on the ride at a time with 2 people in the basket on each side to help with the unloading. Total of 4 passengers and 4 people to safely help with the unloading.
SharkTums Posted April 17, 2013 Posted April 17, 2013 Can someone explain to me why the Windseekers are all getting this? I don't know if I missed something or what, but there are tons of tall rides out there that don't need fancy evac platforms that are harder to use than a crane and result in the rides being closed for months!?!?
ernierocker Posted April 17, 2013 Posted April 17, 2013 ^The Kings Dominion maintenance worker we spoke to basically said they were getting it because Knotts was getting it. Cedar Fair was making all the parks put them in.
DJeXeL Posted April 17, 2013 Posted April 17, 2013 I don't believe Knott's/CF necessarily wanted to go this route and neither did Mondial as i'm assuming they had to pick up the tab. Smells like DOSH to me.
ernierocker Posted April 17, 2013 Posted April 17, 2013 ^That is exactly correct. He said that DOSH was making Knotts do it, and Cedar Fair was in return making all of the other parks do it as well.
cfc Posted April 17, 2013 Posted April 17, 2013 Can someone explain to me why the Windseekers are all getting this? I don't know if I missed something or what, but there are tons of tall rides out there that don't need fancy evac platforms that are harder to use than a crane and result in the rides being closed for months!?!? What's funny about KD's situation is that their Windseeker hasn't had the problems that Knott's had.
SharkTums Posted April 17, 2013 Posted April 17, 2013 But what exactly is the problem? It's getting stuck? Are they all getting stuck? Don't other rides randomly get stuck? Is there a time frame where they will use this versus a crane or the fire department? It just seems kind of overkill.
cfc Posted April 17, 2013 Posted April 17, 2013 ^According to the guys working on KD's Windseeker, their version is newer than Knott's and doesn't have those issues. But who knows?
DJeXeL Posted April 17, 2013 Posted April 17, 2013 ^^It is a little overkill I'll agree. The crane with a man basket idea wouldn't work though if its 300 ft off the ground however.
ernierocker Posted April 17, 2013 Posted April 17, 2013 (edited) California DOSH ruled in the Knotts situations, that the park and mondial had not provided adequate means to get riders evacuated. In both cases that the ride stalled, the riders were stuck for several hours. Like someone mentioned earlier, if the ride stalls/gets stuck again and maintenance deems it will take longer than a pre-determined amount of time, they will go with this evac system. And yes it is overkill as it will still take probably two hours before they can even reach the riders. Edited April 17, 2013 by ernierocker
Jerome Posted April 17, 2013 Posted April 17, 2013 California DOSH ruled in the Knotts situations, that the park and mondial had not provided adequate means to get riders evacuated. In both cases that the ride stalled, the riders were stuck for several hours. Like someone mentioned earlier, if the ride stalls/gets stuck again and maintenance deems it will take longer than a pre-determined amount of time, they will go with this evac system. And yes it is overkill as it will still take probably two hours before they can even reach the riders. Agreed This is Cal/osha making them have something.
DJeXeL Posted April 17, 2013 Posted April 17, 2013 ^^ Exactly. You'll be looking at another 3-4 hour ordeal as the EVAC system takes 2 hours to setup.
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