Knott's Berry Farm announces WindSeeker

Why is this one 301ft and the CW is at 300ft?

Not like it matters... Just curious what would make the difference, or just how the parks decided to round the height?

I really wish they had gone with the real chains and swing seats like the (real) FunTime Starflyer rides. The predictable lapbars and metal bars look very controlled and not nearly as exciting - I wouldn't call these swings at all.

I suspect your opinion of dangling from chains would change after being at the top of that tower during high winds.

I would think that capacity may have been the reason. Looking at the star flyers they look like they only handle 24 per cycle while the Mondial is 64. That is a HUGE difference.

It's probably a combination of both reason. I will concur with not wanting to be hanging from chains at 300-400 feet in the air.

Highly doubt capacity was the biggest reason to go with the Mondial ride.

Knott's Berry Farm is located in inland Orange County, only a 10-15 minute drive from the Pacific Ocean.

Needless to say, things can get windy frequently, and a bunch of seats attached to chains flying around at a height of 300-feet would not function as intended.

Well I think that the Sky Cabin is more or less history.

Have they offically announced the Cedar Point one yet? I can't find anything on the Website showing as such.

Not till 2pm est.

According to Funtime their model is capable of handling the wind load - the capacity is an issue though.

These just don't seem as fun.

The ride being structurally able to handle the wind load doesn't mean it can operate safely in the wind.

djDaemon said:
I suspect your opinion of dangling from chains would change after being at the top of that tower during high winds.

Screw the high winds, the StarFlyer terrified me when I rode it at Tivoi (Copenhagen), in a light breeze.

little chairs, on the end of those chains, and a bit of a twist due to a breeze. I was done. Get me down now! There was an open-ness about the FunTime seats that left you feeling very very exposed. To me it even felt different than typical wave swinger/yo-yo type swing seat.

I have no idea how the Mondial version will compare, but (to me) the arms vs/ chains issue, and the addition of OTS restraints would make for a decidedly milder experience.

Which might be a good thing if you can get people on it. The last thing any of these parks need is more rides that eliminate half of the riding public.

I rode the same one at Tivoli - I'm an advid thrill seeker - but I soiled my pants on that one. I'll take Steel bar over chains anyday.

kRaXLeRidAh said:
Highly doubt capacity was the biggest reason to go with the Mondial ride.

Knott's Berry Farm is located in inland Orange County, only a 10-15 minute drive from the Pacific Ocean.

Needless to say, things can get windy frequently, and a bunch of seats attached to chains flying around at a height of 300-feet would not function as intended.

Now you ought to know that the really bad winds are the Santa Anna winds coming in from the desert in the fall. Disney has had nothing but problems with the cable hung Golden Zephyr at DCA since it's opening.

Jerry said:
I rode the same one at Tivoli - I'm an advid thrill seeker - but I soiled my pants on that one. I'll take Steel bar over chains anyday.

I hear ya Jerry. There is something about that ride and those chains/seats that was VERY unnerving. The ride couldn't have ended soon enough for me

Dutchman said:

kRaXLeRidAh said:
Highly doubt capacity was the biggest reason to go with the Mondial ride.

Knott's Berry Farm is located in inland Orange County, only a 10-15 minute drive from the Pacific Ocean.

Needless to say, things can get windy frequently, and a bunch of seats attached to chains flying around at a height of 300-feet would not function as intended.

Now you ought to know that the really bad winds are the Santa Anna winds coming in from the desert in the fall. Disney has had nothing but problems with the cable hung Golden Zephyr at DCA since it's opening.

I would imagine so in that case. Santa Anna Winds can get up to 90 mph at times (Same wind speed as a Catagory 2 Hurricane)