StR web cam captures Kinzel insanity

I just have to comment, this morning the StR web cam is incredibly entertaining and the hidden gem of Cedar Point's latest attraction! First, Rapids opened late cycling empty boats for a while, then maintenance had to unloaded passengers from a stuck boat out in the flume (mind you still not using all 10 seats), then said boat had to be pushed back to the station, now maintenance is off pushing another boat backwards towards the station after coming out of the tunneled turn and obviously the ride is closed. All before noon! So far in two days of being "Now Open" I think it has operated maybe 4 hours-ish. And here we are the end of June.

I honestly would like to have a face-to-face with the entire board of directors at Cedar Fair and ask them exactly when they are going to decide to start doing their JOB and look at for the investors and stop the insanity of Kinzel and his obsession with defective Intamin products. How much longer can this madness possibly go on?!!?! Park guests are getting feed up with broken down rides that don't work every time they visit, it leaves them with a sour attitude, they tell friends and family about their negative experience which then kills attendance and spending in the park. Are we looking at yet another season of missing the 3 million attendance mark at the "flagship" and how long does this have to go on before enough is enough?!

I looked at the webcam yesterday just as Judy K was chugging by..I actually thought that was kinda cool...
I see now its not running and there's not even a crew in the station.

Is it just Intamins that are built for CP that suck or are there others elsewhere that seem to be a major issue? Could it be just because the are building the 1st of a kind of ride?
Kinda Ka would kill that thought since it too has been a headache.
I know I was SHOCKED when I found out California Screamin was an Intamin-the ride is AMAZING as the capacity was too! Didnt go down any time I was there.

If you bought a certain brand of car and it didnt run would you turn around and buy that brand again? Im thinking no.

I-305 seems to be running well but I sure hope CP learns from Diamondback which has been a charm since it was built. Gotta love them B&Ms...I know I do! :)

Jo
Lifetime Raptor flights: 2030 :)

I think Jeff probably could talk a bit about issues with opening Pilgrim's Plunge which is somewhat unique using the elevator lift. I think it now runs reliably with the fairly normal amount of Intamin downtime. Shoot the Rapids is nothing more than a flume (with the exception of a coaster style lift), a tried-and-true amusement product that has been around since the 1960's....it takes a lot of effort to really screw it up. Clearly we are watching that said effort.

Too bad you didn't take some screen captures, I would love to see the insanity. I wonder how long before the webcam goes down again.

Well it's 2pm and they are firing things up again....tune in folks, this ought to be interesting!

I disagree, minem4s, that StR is nothing more than a flume. If they had built a flume, it more than likely would have opened on time and they probably wouldn't have had any problems keeping it open. StR has a track for some parts of the ride, and looks more to me like a water coaster design.

It's still very disappointing. :(

OK, your rant about how this is all Kinzel's fault is pretty silly. I'm no fan of the guy either, but to suggest it's all his fault is a stretch at best.

As far as I know, Plunge had few issues, aside from the fact that I think it's safe to say that Holiday World will never work with Intamin again.

Was at the park last night from 6pm to close and it was down the entire time... "Electrical Issues" we were told, with works on the second lift working.

Today, it looks like it is down again (webcam)...

:)

Sure its all Kinzel's fault! Isn't he the one everyone on here points to as being a hyper-micromanager??? Like LuvRaptor said, who in their friggin mind keeps buying something from a company that proves time-and-time again they build faulty products?! It's nothing short of insanity (or senility?) He and Sandor have something shady going on, we all know it. Kickbacks perhaps?!?

Well, it's 2:30, the boats cycled for about 15 minutes or so and now everything is shut off again. Must be lunch break for the crew as they left.

No, clearly this is all Falfas' fault! ;)

Something shady is going on? Kickbacks?

As unpopular as Kinzel is, and rightfully so, that's quite a bold assumption.

Wouldn't a plain old classic log flume been easier, and probably more 'FUN'???

I dunno who makes em anymore, but the old Arrow flumes here at Great America (Yankee Clipper and Logger's Run) sure are alotta fun!

The lift and drop on Pilgrim's Plunge are very nice. But it's just not flume fun to me. Sitting in high, squared off seats, lapbars, with someone next to me - not the same.

STRapids - check out that layout - could you get a little more lame?

Does Pilgrim's Plunge lack of splash not count as an issue?

CoasterDemon said:
Wouldn't a plain old classic log flume been easier, and probably more 'FUN'???

I dunno who makes em anymore, but the old Arrow flumes here at Great America (Yankee Clipper and Logger's Run) sure are alotta fun!

The lift and drop on Pilgrim's Plunge are very nice. But it's just not flume fun to me. Sitting in high, squared off seats, lapbars, with someone next to me - not the same.

STRapids - check out that layout - could you get a little more lame?

I totaly agree.

I really do miss white water landing. Why do you have to get soaked on a water ride anymore? Why can't they build a water ride where you just get a small splash....just enough to cool you down. Not soaked.

Pagoda Gift Shop said:
Does Pilgrim's Plunge lack of splash not count as an issue?

Does it still lack the "big splash" or where adjustments made? It was the one issue that came to mind I was thinking Jeff might have more insight on.

Pilgrim's Plunge will get you wet, but it does lack that spectacular splash we typically associate with Shoot the Chute rides.

Sorry, this might sound offensive to anyone at Holiday World...

...but Pilgrims Plunge's splash is pathetic. (Even more-so this season, after the "adjustments.") The boats simply skid on top of the water for about 200 feet before finally dipping into the splashpool a bit, creating an eight foot splash...if that. Yet you still get soaked from the water spraying on you down the first drop, though, as well as water coming in from the sides on the "final splashdown."

The ride is a total disappointment...but at least it looks cool. ;)

Here's a POV of the ride where you can get an idea of what I'm talking about. Start at 1:25.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZM7IEaSnikw

mlnem4s said:
Sure its all Kinzel's fault! He and Sandor have something shady going on, we all know it. Kickbacks perhaps?!?

You're crossing a line from being a disgruntled former employee to just making moronic accusations. That doesn't add to the conversation.

I like Plunge. I don't think it's pathetic at all. I'm not sure how you can bitch about the height of the splash, seeing as how you can't tell anything about it when riding. I did it at least a dozen times last year, and hope to do the same this year.

^I think the main things with PP are the lift and drop - but it still did get me wet!

I agree with crazy horse - White Water Landing was a pretty great flume ride - above the trees (TREES!!!! yes!!!) at the time...

A riverblast type attraction would have been a better fit. I just don't see how CF could overlook something like the importance of height requirements when planning a "family" attraction.