The Knott's Berry Farm (KBF) Discussion Thread

[thestripedtaco]

^ Actually it could. Just used the distance tool on google earth and basically if Windseeker were to get the SS treatment it would easily hit SB, Jaguar, or completely wreck the rest of the area. It would not quite reach Supreme Scream so Xcelerator is safe.

[theonetheonlyJT]

^ If Knott's tried that it would bring down half the park with it.

 

It would make room for that giga coaster

[Locostitch]

Michigan's Adventure for 2014.

[Angry_Gumball]

Well, the news made it up to the bay area, just saw a real quick blurb about Windseeker and how it was the second time for it to goof up this month. Atleast the report was quick, done and over with...like yanking a band aid off.

 

You can see a helicopter flyby here:

http://www.ktvu.com/videos/news/raw-chopper-video-of-people-stranded-on-windseeker/vd8Gd/

Note the current progress of Perilous Plunge stands now (or lack thereof standing )

[Jew]

The local news reports were hilarious: "Stranded without her cellphone, her mom looked up in terror...but they said they'll be back in on Friday for Halloween Haunt and were happy with dinner and souvenirs they got from the park"

[Gnome]

^ sounds like the demographic knotts pulls in.....

 

 

^ Actually it could. Just used the distance tool on google earth and basically if Windseeker were to get the SS treatment it would easily hit SB, Jaguar, or completely wreck the rest of the area. It would n̶o̶t̶ ̶q̶u̶i̶t̶e̶ reach Supreme Scream so Xcelerator is safe.

 

Domino's dude... Domino's.... Yeeeeees!

[snoflake15]

It's fair to say I would need to change my underwear after I got off that. 3 hours is a long time at that height.

[thestripedtaco]

Do you guys think it would be possible to put an Intamin Mega-Lite into PP's spot? It would probably have to be a slightly customized layout to make it work as well as have a splash down if the bridge and water are staying.

[XYZ]

Do you guys think it would be possible to put an Intamin Mega-Lite into PP's spot? It would probably have to be a slightly customized layout to make it work as well as have a splash down if the bridge and water are staying.

 

Intamin Mega Lites aren't really the most compact coasters in the world, though a custom one could fit on PP's spot. I would LOVE to have a Mega Lite in Knott's, but sadly it probably would never happen.

[thestripedtaco]

^ Ok thank you I could not really tell how compact they were from watching pov's. Although it certainly seems like you could make it more compact. It would be cool to have a first drop that has a turn around going under the bridge with water effects on either side to shoot spectators on the bridge itself.

[Tmcdllr]

The Today show reported Windseeker will remain closed until the cause of the malfunction is found.

 

Im really curious about this now as it has happened twice. So what is it doing, did it go up spinning then just shut down at the top? And why isn't there a way to quickly manually lower it in the event something like this happens so people aren't stranded for 2-3 hours..... twice!

[viking86]

According to the norwegian newspaper Dagbladet, this happened on the ride called Knotts Berry Farm in the amusement park named Buena Park in California.

 

http://www.dagbladet.no/2012/09/20/nyheter/dbtv/fornoyelsespark/karusell/stans/23501844/

[Jew]

Im really curious about this now as it has happened twice. So what is it doing, did it go up spinning then just shut down at the top? And why isn't there a way to quickly manually lower it in the event something like this happens so people aren't stranded for 2-3 hours..... twice!

 

It wouldn't be much of a safety feature if it could be easily over ridden. I'm sure it is held up there by emergency brakes that are completely independent of the ride system, and it was doing exactly what it is designed to do. The only way is to slowly manually release the brakes until it is safely on the ground. Just like any elevator.

Edited September 20, 2012 by Jew

[Meteornotes]

Yes, it sounds like the safety features worked exactly like they were supposed to.

 

Was surprised to see this on the Today show this morning. Wasn't too sensationalistic, at least. I do suspect that the ride will be closed for awhile so they can figure out exactly what's going on with it.

 

dt

[Bolliger&Mabillard]

I'm surprised no shameless plugs were thrown in as around the same time entertainment was doing maze dress rehearsals...

[Rotura Violenta]

I'm sure it is held up there by emergency brakes that are completely independent of the ride system, and it was doing exactly what it is designed to do. The only way is to slowly manually release the brakes until it is safely on the ground. Just like any elevator.

It needs a hand crank.

[Tmcdllr]

Im really curious about this now as it has happened twice. So what is it doing, did it go up spinning then just shut down at the top? And why isn't there a way to quickly manually lower it in the event something like this happens so people aren't stranded for 2-3 hours..... twice!

 

It wouldn't be much of a safety feature if it could be easily over ridden. I'm sure it is held up there by emergency brakes that are completely independent of the ride system, and it was doing exactly what it is designed to do. The only way is to slowly manually release the brakes until it is safely on the ground. Just like any elevator.

 

Yes but why were people stuck up there for 3-4 hours? That's what I'm getting at. So the ride shut down as a safety precaution and kept the 'carriage' up at the top. It should have been simple to determine that it had stopped safely and it could then be lowered to let the guests off within a reasonable amount of time, say within 1 hour total, but instead apparently again it could not be lowered for several hours... why not? This is what I am trying to understand. If there is a way to manually lower it then why wasn't it done within an hour? Was there some catastrophic mechanical failure that prevented this?

[bert425]

here's the link to the story on CNN.Com

 

http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/19/us/california-ride-stuck/index.html?iref=allsearch

[Tmcdllr]

Wow, and I just rode thing thing in August, twice.

 

I see, so it actually takes a couple of hours to manually lower it, now it makes sense.

[Chrisrad]

I was there on Monday and now I regret not riding it - looks like it'll be down for a while.

 

I was also a few miles away from Knott's yesterday and it was ALL over the local radio stations. I thought about getting a picture, but figured there would be a bunch of them online.

 

Oh well, it happens.. I'm sure there'll be a lawsuit over it, even though all safety mechanisms worked as intended.

[Wes]

The local news reports were hilarious: "Stranded without her cellphone, her mom looked up in terror...but they said they'll be back in on Friday for Halloween Haunt and were happy with dinner and souvenirs they got from the park"

 

Being without your phone would be the worst part. Think of all the photo opportunities!

[DBJ]

It made the news again tonight, at 6pm. This time, they showed a map of all the Windseekers that have had incidents.

All of them in the US apparently. Glad no one was hurt at Knott's. For a non-injury accident, sure is getting a lot of coverage! I would have been dying to go to the bathroom after that length of time!

[simaticable]

The local news reports were hilarious: "Stranded without her cellphone, her mom looked up in terror...but they said they'll be back in on Friday for Halloween Haunt and were happy with dinner and souvenirs they got from the park"

 

Being without your phone would be the worst part. Think of all the photo opportunities!

 

Of course since, you know, being stuck on a ride at 300 feet wouldn't be terrifying.

[Chrisrad]

Other than the 'Big One' coming to So Cal, I don't see why it would be so bad sitting up there. There would be some awesome views. They should have sent up some binoculars somehow.

 

I'd love to know how Knott's took care of the people who were up there for 3 hours (free tickets/meals?).

[thestripedtaco]

I really wonder what is going to happen with the Windseeker's. They have been rolled out to quite a few parks already with CF making quite an investment that looks like it may not be turning out.