Once upon a time, Cedar Fair's predecessor contracted for a one of a kind spectacular ride. It opened. Late. And almost immediately shut down. For weeks. The weather had indeed delayed that particular ride... Both snow and wind. After many weeks, the ride re-opened. Sometimes. Then, it operated sporadically, gradually getting more and more relable. Then the park changed hands. There was a major incident, resulting in quite a few injuries and legal action. The ride remained closed for some time.

An innovative and distinguishing feature was removed from the ride. It reopened.

Then, a wee bit less than two years ago, that ride closed and has not operated since.

The prototypical nature of that ride ended up costing some very good people their jobs at the time.

How similar is this situation? It depends. How will the rides ultimately operate? Reliability? Crowd pleasing?

Oddly, the overall initial investment in the ride first spoken of here was not dramatically different than that FUN apparently contracted to spend with Mondial.

Somewhere. Mr. Focke. Ms. Cooper, Ms. Colnar and even one Al are doubtless watching this with great interest. As are certain lenders. It's almost more of an operations matter, not a finance matter. Almost. And. indeed, safety is paramount.

New for 2012: WindSeeker!

I kid, but with all of this recent work, I'm not sure when we'll finally see Kings Island's be ready. But, at this point, I almost believe that Canada's Wonderland has become the guinea pig. Throw something at it, and if it works, we'll add it to the other three.

I'm sure it'll open before Flying Turns does... is has to, right? (I would actually LOVE to ride Flying Turns... it looks like a great coaster.)

Whatever you do, don't question their "Weather" excuses on Facebook. They DO NOT like it

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Here is lights from Cedar Point WindSeeker I took today. Does anyone know if the Kings Island lighting package strobe like Cedar Point's does?

http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZO84I_95ufI

I hate to even Bring this up, and I cant believe It has taken me this long to even think about it, But.....

Kinda Seems Scarily Similar dosent it??

And we all remember what happened on this ride and ultimatly, Led to its demise...

Now dont flame me and tell me its not the same kinda ride, I realize there are no twisting, turning, rolling, diving or anything like that, but the sheer fact is that WindSeeker is roughly, 225 feet taller than This, With seats that are not enclosed... Kinda makes me rethink about Riding this one at all with all the problems and alterations they are having with even opening it in the first place...

Dude, how many places are you gonna post this?:

http://www.KICentral.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=23885

Here is lights from Cedar Point WindSeeker I took today. Does anyone know if the Kings Island lighting package strobe like Cedar Point's does?

http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZO84I_95ufI

Yes, here is the video I took on opening day at KI. I took with my phone so not the best quality, but you get the idea.

I went by WS yesterday, it looks like the mounting brackets for the hydraulic "motion limiters" (please feel free to educate me on what the official term should be) are all in place, but no actual "limiters" were in place.

I saw the yellow hydraulic/piston/shock absorbers on one arm on Sunday. All the rest that I could see from my vantage point had not been added yet.

They look like Monroe Shocks to me, lol.

Lots of workers and a scissor lift around the ride Sunday when I got close to it.

New for 2012: WindSeeker!

I kid, but with all of this recent work, I'm not sure when we'll finally see Kings Island's be ready. But, at this point, I almost believe that Canada's Wonderland has become the guinea pig. Throw something at it, and if it works, we'll add it to the other three.

I'm sure it'll open before Flying Turns does... is has to, right? (I would actually LOVE to ride Flying Turns... it looks like a great coaster.)

I completely agree.

CW looks like the guinea pig now. But that doesn't bother me one bit!

Please do not feel that you should not bash me if you think this is idiotic.

But I am extremely curious, do we know what the hold up is with these rides?

Or is it several things and that they are prototypes?

Please do not feel that you should not bash me if you think this is idiotic.

But I am extremely curious, do we know what the hold up is with these rides?

Or is it several things and that they are prototypes?

No bashing, They clearly feel some modifications are needed before the ride is safe enough to operate. Remember, til now these things only existed on a computer. As others have said, there's no way WS will open for daily operation until all people who's job it is to make sure WS is safe are completely satisfied.

I am sure once they get it worked out it will be a fun time!

Well still wondering why they built all at once.

I was wondering if they ordered the one for CP and then got a deal on four.

So decided what the heck and put them in the other parks.

It just seems with the delay/confusion at Knotts that the location and such was last minute.

Not for sure of this but would be curious to hear what is known about the multi ride deal.

It might have been a good deal but then build one and test it out for a year then build the others.

Remember Stealth when they built it in CA and then ran and tested it for a year in the park before even

opening the ride. Not saying they need a year but same idea. Build/Test/Fix then build more.

by the looks of the webcams the ride is going up and down the tower pretty regularly today. can anyone say whats going on? is it rotating as well or just going up and down?

They look like Monroe Shocks to me, lol.

Because they are Monroe shocks

They look like Monroe Shocks to me, lol.

Because they are Monroe shocks

I had nothing to do with those shocks, my shocks come from watts and generally travel and are not absorbed.

Monroe are you sure when you get shocked that you are not a Monroe Shock Absorber?

Monroe quit shocking me a long time ago. Not that *I'm* self absorbed or anything. Or, as the Brits would say, put a damper on it, flyboy'

Avatar when you are as well grounded as I am it all tends to pass right on down to ground, but some times you end up taking the cannon ball straight to the gut.

off topic, or not. Did you ever think that if the Brits didn't wear red coats and if they didn't stand in a straight line in the middle of an open field, then we might be saying things like "put a damper on it , flyboy"?

I asked one of the folks working on the WS when it will open, he told me about 2-3 weeks!

But, as is always the case, that is subject to change, depending on a whole variety of variables.

by the looks of the webcams the ride is going up and down the tower pretty regularly today. can anyone say whats going on? is it rotating as well or just going up and down?

They're just fixing and adding pieces - at least that's what was stated earlier in the thread. And I think it's just going up and down...can anyone add some more detail?

Well, I will add some more folklore to this topic. On Sunday night we were one of the last rides on The Beast (it was awesome), so it was very late when we got off. As we were walking back to the lockers by The Vortex exit and WindSeeker, we were stopped by 3 security guards at the pathway after LaRosa's heading towards "Backlot Stunt Coaster". They told us this part of the park was closed but allowed us to go to the lockers and an escort security guard met us on the Coney Mall midway.

The escort security guard told us that there is only 1 person who can program the 4 WindSeekers. He was at "Canada's Wonderland" the past two week and "Kings Island" is second on his list and will arrive in Cincinnati this week.

Hopefully it's true but we will see.

Maybe that's true, maybe it's not. A lot of information gets tossed around by people who aren't really in the know, you know? If it is true, I'm wondering if Cedar Point's is aiming for a July debut.

Maybe they should rename the WindSeeker to "Area 51: The Ride" . . . with all the mystery, rumors and folklore flying around (no PUN intended). With mystery parts arriving by helicopter at night, 'Men in Black' seen in the crow's nest but elusive, water dummies being tossed about the park and now a mad scientist/engineer who is the only capable person to program this tower of terror.

I guess it will open when it opens.

As mentioned above, 2-3 weeks seems like an adequate time to open.

If all goes well. I am quite excited for WS!

This was at Cedar Point. My friend was there over this past weekend...I hope CP's WindSeeker is open by Coastermania....but like many of you here...I just want it to pass inspection, be a safe and reliable ride!

This past weekend = May.

"We anticipate the ride opening later this month." (On a sign written this past weekend = May = anticipated opening later in May)...

Today = June.

Strike 3?

I really feel like we should start up a pool to see who guesses when WindSeeker will open at KI, or at Cedar Point for that matter too...