The Knott's Berry Farm (KBF) Discussion Thread

[G-Force!]

I'm still baffled that they would go ahead and shoehorn Windseeker into that mess over in Fiesta Village if this video proves true. Not only is it going to completely look out of place with the other rides there, but the heavy traffic of people and flow into this area will be much undesired. I'm kind of curious now what kind of thing they have in mind for the Boardwalk since all that survey work was done. I guess time will only tell.

 

In regards to Ghostrider, its definitely a sad sight to see it almost completely stop before the drop.

[Bolliger&Mabillard]

In all fairness regarding the Windseeker placement argument. I don't know when Revolucion went in, but aside from that, most of the parks last attractions either went in Ghost Town or Boardwalk, so it's nice to see another area get something to liven up the area.

[COASTER FREAK 11]

I'm still baffled that they would go ahead and shoehorn Windseeker into that mess over in Fiesta Village if this video proves true. Not only is it going to completely look out of place with the other rides there, but the heavy traffic of people and flow into this area will be much undesired. I'm kind of curious now what kind of thing they have in mind for the Boardwalk since all that survey work was done. I guess time will only tell.

 

In regards to Ghostrider, its definitely a sad sight to see it almost completely stop before the drop.

 

Well, we will have to wait until 2012 to find that out, wont we

 

I think this is the better location because there is more to look at on the ground while on the ride over there and it kinda balances out the parks skyline. Plus, it leaves the Skytower to some people's delight (for now...)

[SharkTums]

I am still kind of shocked by the Mid Course finally being turned on to full blast on Ghost Rider. If you ask me, that's a MUCH bigger story than their 2011 addition!

[COASTER FREAK 11]

^Haha, yes! It is really strange considering the second half of the ride was the slower and less "destructive" part of the ride (If the trim was turned on cause of maint.)

[downunder]

Chiropractors and back specialists in Buena Park and the surrounding area are extremely disappointed about the development with Ghostrider. I actually got some good front row rides during Scary Farm though the train was half full (some early buffet faux ERT).

[Big-M]

It is really strange considering the second half of the ride was the slower and less "destructive" part of the ride (If the trim was turned on cause of maint.)

I think that Cedar Fair's reasoning behind turning the MCBR up completely could be that it would decrease maintainance on the ride without having to close the ride to put a trim on the first drop (which may be easier said than done because it is covered). This is pure speculation, but I think this could even be a temporary way to decrease maintainance for the next few months before they trim the drop. I haven't been on GhostRider, but I found it surprising reading how it has reportedly gotten so brutal and hadn't been trimmed (This is CF we're talking about). I think it has had this coming for years now. Hurler, Timber Wolf, Mean Streak, Beast, Thunderhawk, etc. have all gotten the same treatment.

[Chrisrad]

Yeah, it definitely seems odd when you see the brakes in action.. the riders repeatedly thought that they were 'stuck'..

 

But in all seriousness, I'm not much of an advocate for our frivolously litigious society, so all lawsuits aside, how come CF has not done anything to GR to fix the problem (roughness). I'm young, and I can barely ride it more than twice, in the front; I couldn't imagine how the older riders fare, especially if they aren't forewarned of the ride's intensity..

 

What would it take? A band-aid solution of trims? Better trains? Or a lot of new structural pieces? Just seems like a fairly 'young' coaster to be such a POS...

[chadster]

maybe they could sell soda's and choco bacon funnel cakes while you wait at the MCBR.

[John Knotts]

I kept counting the days, and it seems it finally happened. I didn't ride Ghostrider, but we noticed it stopping on the mid-course. I was so dumbfounded that I stood and watched it cycle at least 5 times. Someone on one train yelled out "WTF" and I could hear it. The ride does regain some of the speed on the final turn around, but the effectiveness of "the drop" is all but gone. Unless something major is done to the ride soon (GCI help), we may witnessing a "Beast"-like situation in the making, which (having ridden Ghostie on opening day) makes me very sad.

[ABW]

It is really strange considering the second half of the ride was the slower and less "destructive" part of the ride (If the trim was turned on cause of maint.)

I think that Cedar Fair's reasoning behind turning the MCBR up completely could be that it would decrease maintainance on the ride without having to close the ride to put a trim on the first drop (which may be easier said than done because it is covered). This is pure speculation, but I think this could even be a temporary way to decrease maintainance for the next few months before they trim the drop. I haven't been on GhostRider, but I found it surprising reading how it has reportedly gotten so brutal and hadn't been trimmed (This is CF we're talking about). I think it has had this coming for years now. Hurler, Timber Wolf, Mean Streak, Beast, Thunderhawk, etc. have all gotten the same treatment.

 

Cedar Fair hasn't put trims on, Renegade, Prowler, Blue Streak, Grizzly, Racer, or even, Son Of Beast just to name a few. I think, Cedar Fair gets bashed too hard for putting trims on their wooden coasters. Tell me, would you rather actually suffer the pain of Mean Streak without trims? I'm guessing not. If anything, all trims on their wooden coasters are rides that would be way too rough otherwise. Just a thought.

[Big-M]

It is really strange considering the second half of the ride was the slower and less "destructive" part of the ride (If the trim was turned on cause of maint.)

I think that Cedar Fair's reasoning behind turning the MCBR up completely could be that it would decrease maintainance on the ride without having to close the ride to put a trim on the first drop (which may be easier said than done because it is covered). This is pure speculation, but I think this could even be a temporary way to decrease maintainance for the next few months before they trim the drop. I haven't been on GhostRider, but I found it surprising reading how it has reportedly gotten so brutal and hadn't been trimmed (This is CF we're talking about). I think it has had this coming for years now. Hurler, Timber Wolf, Mean Streak, Beast, Thunderhawk, etc. have all gotten the same treatment.

 

Cedar Fair hasn't put trims on, Renegade, Prowler, Blue Streak, Grizzly, Racer, or even, Son Of Beast just to name a few. I think, Cedar Fair gets bashed too hard for putting trims on their wooden coasters. Tell me, would you rather actually suffer the pain of Mean Streak without trims? I'm guessing not. If anything, all trims on their wooden coasters are rides that would be way too rough otherwise. Just a thought.

 

I agree with you. In retrospect, I wish I had put something in my original post about trims tending to go to rides that are rough or hard to maintain. For example, I would say Mean Streak got them for both reasons (BTW, I might want to suffer through Mean Streak ONCE trimless just to see what it feels like ) Most of the examples you provided, however (excluding SOB) are smaller, easier to maintain rides (Blue Streak, Racer) , or relatively new rides (Prowler, Renegade). Thank you for responding. I agree Cedar Fair gets too much BS over trims. I was just noting the general trend of their rough woodies getting trimmed at the point they become unridable.

[socalMAN123]

Major bummer about the MCBR..."the drop" was the best part of that ride! It was the only part that was enjoyable airtime!

---Brent

[aceospades1250]

Off topic but pretty cool I think, have you guys seen this video of Xcelerator overspeed testing? I remember watching one on the late ACN years ago, which also showed Sandor Kernacs test riding the ride. This one has several clips of the ride doing 100+ mph:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhGFEI0juf4&feature=related

 

I wouldn't want to be on that ride when its going that fast...but the launch must be insane!

 

And yea, I never rode Ghostrider in it's prime. Last time I rode it (a few years ago) I came off it with a bloody nose....so yea. Not one of my favorites.

[Sir Clinksalot]

Ghostrider, good call Knott's ... instead of actually looking to fix Ghostrider and return it to it's former glory, you decide to slow it down so it doesn't hurt so bad?

 

I seem to remember this happening on another SoCal wooden coaster once and it didn't matter. Psyclone anybody?

[downunder]

Phone rings...

 

Caller answers "Rocky Mountain Coasters how may I help you".

On the other end: "The name's Ghostrider and nobody loves me anymore".

[knottslover77]

I am heart Broken! That part of the ride up until the turn around is the best... Its Freaking Insane and out of control The air time is the best in the Westcoast on that drop. Now its nothing

 

--Jay

[ABW]

Big-M-You are right sbout Racer, and Blue Streak being smaller, and easier to maintain rides. Even with all the BS Cedar Fair gets with trims, it's still just so sad that this has happened to Ghostrider. I rode it just over a month before this happends. Lucky me. Ghostrider was the only coaster i

n California to have ejector air, albeit it's that very drop that got trimmed.

[XII]

I rode Ghostrider on New Years Day with the ride coming to a halt in the turnaround. Surprisingly, Ghostrider managed to keep it's pacing in the second half as if there wasn't even a stop at all. Though I do admit that the airtime on that drop is definitely weakened, so that's a bummer. But it's actually not as bad as I thought it would be when I first heard about it.

[fatdaddy]

I gotta go investigate, but I will say that the one thing that Ghostrider had going for it was the fact that it was a pretty insane ride that never let up. I mean, yeah it's rough, but it was still worth at least one ride per visit. Like I say, I gotta go investigate, hopefully Kevin's right and it's not as extreme a change as it sounds.

[cal1br3tto]

Somehow, I don't even remember "the drop" on Ghostrider, so if I'm lucky maybe I won't notice the difference.

[coasternut]

Off topic but pretty cool I think, have you guys seen this video of Xcelerator overspeed testing? I remember watching one on the late ACN years ago, which also showed Sandor Kernacs test riding the ride. This one has several clips of the ride doing 100+ mph:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhGFEI0juf4&feature=related

 

I wouldn't want to be on that ride when its going that fast...but the launch must be insane!

 

And yea, I never rode Ghostrider in it's prime. Last time I rode it (a few years ago) I came off it with a bloody nose....so yea. Not one of my favorites.

 

That's quite a launch. I personally don't like going over the top hat that fast, but the drop and airtime over it would be great. I can ride it many times per day crowds permitting. I've ridden it 62 times in one day with Mr. Xcelerator - Richard. That was a lot of fun.

[HappyEisentrout]

I agree with you. In retrospect, I wish I had put something in my original post about trims tending to go to rides that are rough or hard to maintain. For example, I would say Mean Streak got them for both reasons (BTW, I might want to suffer through Mean Streak ONCE trimless just to see what it feels like ) Most of the examples you provided, however (excluding SOB) are smaller, easier to maintain rides (Blue Streak, Racer) , or relatively new rides (Prowler, Renegade). Thank you for responding. I agree Cedar Fair gets too much BS over trims. I was just noting the general trend of their rough woodies getting trimmed at the point they become unridable.

 

I prefer Mean Streak trimless. I enjoy a rougher coaster to begin with but I find MS much better with no trims.

[coasterkyle]

I have to agree ^. The best time to ride it is right after storm and be the 1st or 2nd train dispatched. not only the trims are most likely off, the track is soaked causing the to have a little more cushioning.

 

 

anyways I really hope this is a temporary fix. GR was amazing when I rode it in 2007.

[adamico2]

I would much rather have a thrilling ride that is rough as hell than a boring ride that's still quite rough.