Major repairs need but no worries the park is fixing. Um I think I heard this story somewhere a year ago involving another coaster and that was such a blast wasn't it.
Flight of Fear
- Thread starter Ludwig II
- Start date
Was just thinking how this might actually be one of my favorites at KD, and if this track surgery goes well maybe it might even reduce some of the rattling!
Thought you guys might like a different perspective with the lights on.
They should take the neon floor lights out while they're at it. I miss the 2009 season when the ride operated in the pitch black. Anyone remember that?
Honestly, they could make designated lights out times/dates - there's something to seeing how much track is crammed into the space and being unsure of where you are in it... But it's also really cool to have your perception of the unload station lights twisted when you take that final corkscrew.
It's still a pleasing ride; but there has never been any alien theme beyond the loading station. Even during the Paramount's era; Outer Limits: Flight of Fear didn't incorporate aliens to the ride. There are a couple of things they could do to make this happen.
1. The upper-break platform is large enough to incorporate some sort of pop out animatronic cryo-status chamber.
2. Swap the ride theme music out with some sort of spooky alien theme.
3. Install a couple of damaged flying saucers on the ground floor that emit fog and strobe light.
4. Large tentacle monster at the end on final break run.
And KD if you are reading this; STOP CLOSING FLIGHT OF FEAR for Haunt Maze. Guests would much rather have this cool ride experience than a 1 minute walk-through maze.
1. The upper-break platform is large enough to incorporate some sort of pop out animatronic cryo-status chamber.
2. Swap the ride theme music out with some sort of spooky alien theme.
3. Install a couple of damaged flying saucers on the ground floor that emit fog and strobe light.
4. Large tentacle monster at the end on final break run.
And KD if you are reading this; STOP CLOSING FLIGHT OF FEAR for Haunt Maze. Guests would much rather have this cool ride experience than a 1 minute walk-through maze.
For anyone wondering, I have heard from a very reliable source that the ride cannot operate in pitch darkness anymore for safety reasons - the park has deemed that the track needs to be at least slightly visible to riders.
However, I do think the park could update the lighting to create a more disorienting feeling, or to better emphasize the outer space theme. The colored lights inside the building appear to be the same ones used in the park’s synchronized projection light shows (Starlight Spectacular and Lumina). How cool would it be if they programmed the lights inside FOF to flash and change like in those shows??
However, I do think the park could update the lighting to create a more disorienting feeling, or to better emphasize the outer space theme. The colored lights inside the building appear to be the same ones used in the park’s synchronized projection light shows (Starlight Spectacular and Lumina). How cool would it be if they programmed the lights inside FOF to flash and change like in those shows??
Last edited:
As cool as the idea of theming would be, do you really believe the park would be able to keep up on the effects?
History has proven their track record isn't particularly great for theming elements (looking at you BLSC with the completely neutered special effects, i305's #3 car with flat tires, etc) so even if they dropped the expenditure on this sort of thing it's likely they'll end up like VB's show building (BGW comparison, I know).
Otherwise, why couldn't they figure out how to make essentially 2 lines during Haunt, one for FoF and the other for the maze?
History has proven their track record isn't particularly great for theming elements (looking at you BLSC with the completely neutered special effects, i305's #3 car with flat tires, etc) so even if they dropped the expenditure on this sort of thing it's likely they'll end up like VB's show building (BGW comparison, I know).
Otherwise, why couldn't they figure out how to make essentially 2 lines during Haunt, one for FoF and the other for the maze?
I don't believe that source for one reason. In 2009 the ride operated the entire season in the dark. Reason for it; they were doing work to the electrical lines before I-305 was built. If that were the case; FOF would have been closed an entire season. The second reason I don't believe that is because the neon lights are programmed to shut off at about 10:26pm or about 10:30pm. Summer of 2013 FOF still had a few people in it past closing and while on the ride I noticed that the neon floor lights were completely off. So; it's fair to say that they operate on a timer.
Based on the reliability of my source, I can say with absolute certainty you’re wrong. It’s likely that the park’s safety standards for the ride changed since then.
I challenge that theory by saying that the ride is completely safe with or without the neon floor lights. The upper-break run was originally put in because the park had intended for it to operate with three trains. The upper-break run is still active which in turn slows the ride down to a crawling speed, before sending riders through the remainder of turns and twist. It performed this safely in the pitch black and with the neon floor lights. Correct me if I'm wrong; but I think there's a screen that shows the train on the course at the ride booth. That's how they're always able to tell if someone has a cell phone out. If they need to see the ride in the dark; they could easily just install a night vision camera in there.
Let's also take time to consider my theme upgrade idea from the other post. Special effects could in turn add a tad bit of visibility at certain points of the ride. It would be no different than walking through one of the haunted houses which also have very minimum lighting. Why this is such a big concern when it comes to a coaster is beyond my understanding. Riders are strapped in safely while on a ride. But yet though, there doesn't seem to be any safety concerns when sending park guests inside of a dark haunted house with jump scares and loud special effects. There is a greater chance of someone walking through one of those mazes and bumping their head against a wall than there is with operating Flight of Fear in the pitch black.
I doubt the state even cares all that much. All the park would have to do is install a safety feature that turns on the maintenance lights if ride operation is suspended for any reason.
Let's also take time to consider my theme upgrade idea from the other post. Special effects could in turn add a tad bit of visibility at certain points of the ride. It would be no different than walking through one of the haunted houses which also have very minimum lighting. Why this is such a big concern when it comes to a coaster is beyond my understanding. Riders are strapped in safely while on a ride. But yet though, there doesn't seem to be any safety concerns when sending park guests inside of a dark haunted house with jump scares and loud special effects. There is a greater chance of someone walking through one of those mazes and bumping their head against a wall than there is with operating Flight of Fear in the pitch black.
I doubt the state even cares all that much. All the park would have to do is install a safety feature that turns on the maintenance lights if ride operation is suspended for any reason.
Last edited:
While I agree with much of this Cedar Fair as a whole seems to be extremely safety conscious it's possible that fear of people pulling out phones or other people related issues caused ever corporate or the park's insurance company to require the lights I doubt that it was a decision that was made without some logic behind it.
Yeah there are sensors that tell the computer where trains are but that doesn't mean there's enough to say exactly where anything is - if reading over the shoulder of a few ride op screens was any indication, most computers of that era likely only show that a train is in a certain section but that's about it.
Good point about phones/loose articles, that's probably a huge reason for the lights on policy.
All that said, I do agree it's a really cool experience to ride in the dark.
Good point about phones/loose articles, that's probably a huge reason for the lights on policy.
All that said, I do agree it's a really cool experience to ride in the dark.
This is speculation, but I’ve seen it said before that the body adjusts to coaster elements better when they see what’s coming up and hurts less.
So... How does the VR overlays on other rides work then because people wouldn't actually see where they're going?
I think a good idea would be to create special hours/dates for blackout rides, which honestly would also be a way to market something as new in a season without anything actually new.
Of course, as previously mentioned, it sounds like that's not going to happen with the current standards.
I think a good idea would be to create special hours/dates for blackout rides, which honestly would also be a way to market something as new in a season without anything actually new.
Of course, as previously mentioned, it sounds like that's not going to happen with the current standards.