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So... How does the VR overlays on other rides work then because people wouldn't actually see where they're going?

I think you’re assuming that I was suggesting that coasters are totally unrideable unless you can see where you’re going, which is not what I was going for. What I was suggesting that people instinctively position their body to handle upcoming elements. When you can’t see what’s coming, your body doesn’t adjust so elements feel more intense or tougher compared to seeing what’s ahead. I doubt this difference is measurably significant in any way, but I can see someone looking at this information and deciding to leave the lights on if it may improve guest comfort of the ride.
 
I think you’re assuming that I was suggesting that coasters are totally unrideable unless you can see where you’re going, which is not what I was going for. What I was suggesting that people instinctively position their body to handle upcoming elements. When you can’t see what’s coming, your body doesn’t adjust so elements feel more intense or tougher compared to seeing what’s ahead. I doubt this difference is measurably significant in any way, but I can see someone looking at this information and deciding to leave the lights on if it may improve guest comfort of the ride.

So in reality it may not truly be a safety rule but instead a guest satisfaction guideline that keeps the lights on?
 
Again, I challenge Joe's source. Unless they were to actually tell us; if say a lot of that is hear say. I agree with Jone. People can't see where they are going on VR Coasters. And as for viability, that all depends on the person. One could say that on a cloudy night; it's too dark to run Grizzly or Twisted Timbers because there is not enough viability on the track. I can't even imagine that a theme park would even lose a lawsuit involving someone who passed out or felt extreme discomfort on a pitch black ride for Flight of Fear. Here's all they would have to do.

Disclaimer: "Ride features evening effects from 5:00pm-10:00pm. If you have a fear of utter darkness, strobe lights and intense acceleration; we kindly recommend visiting another attraction"
 
Only KD’s lawyers and insurance company have the authority to determine what constitutes a reasonable level of liability for the park. I am not saying that their judgement is always logical to us, although we hardly have access to all of of the information that they are referencing. I think we can all agree that the requirement levied against KD to install seatbelts on rides like Anaconda seems a bit overzealous. That does not mean, however, that the park can or should defy their legal team and insurers.

As for the challenge to Joe’s source, the Admins have spoken with Joe, and agree that person is in a position to know what restrictions the park is facing.
 
I didn't want to double post so I'll just ask it in here. I was at KD last night and Twisted Timbers was not allowing anymore people to ride because of ride manufacturer restriction/policy. Apparently when it drops below 45 degrees in temperature, they shut down the ride. However I was there a couple of weeks prior and they had no problem operating the thing in the cool temperature. Again another safety thing that doesn't make sense. Dominator was also shut down for the same reason. Has anyone else besides me experienced riding in cold temperatures during HAUNT? My buddy who I was hanging out with found it very weird for the park to do this. He also told me that he rode a ride in 25 degree weather at World's Of Fun?

What are they going to do during HAUNT 2020 if it gets cold earlier in the month?
 
I didn't want to double post so I'll just ask it in here. I was at KD last night and Twisted Timbers was not allowing anymore people to ride because of ride manufacturer restriction/policy. Apparently when it drops below 45 degrees in temperature, they shut down the ride. However I was there a couple of weeks prior and they had no problem operating the thing in the cool temperature. Again another safety thing that doesn't make sense. Dominator was also shut down for the same reason. Has anyone else besides me experienced riding in cold temperatures during HAUNT? My buddy who I was hanging out with found it very weird for the park to do this. He also told me that he rode a ride in 25 degree weather at World's Of Fun?

What are they going to do during HAUNT 2020 if it gets cold earlier in the month?
This question is spmething that has been asked a handful of times before, and the answer is that different rides have different operating temperatures. These are usually specifically given by the manufacturer.
 
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Well that's news. Also since we are on the FOF topic can you answer me this? My buddy also told me that FOF was open last year during WinterFest? Is this true? Was it the current track maintenance that kept it closed for this year's WinterFest?
 
I didn't know. With it being an indoor ride, they should consider opening it for WinterFest 2020. If it gets cold, at least riders would have 1 coaster to ride. Unless the park comes up with some weird reason why that can't operate either. It's almost pointless to even do WinterFest. May as well copy Field of Screams in PA and do an extended holloween theme that overlays into Christmas.
 
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the bulk of the ride building doesn't have climate control, just ventilation right?

So while it may be slightly more comfortable for riders with an indoor queue and no cold wind (definitely cold air otherwise), it'd still be limited to whatever the outdoor temp is based on Premier's ride specs?
 
Well what's another bucket of cold water. I don't mean to sound like a pest, but there have been winter's that are really harsh and sometimes the colder temperatures have started in early October and get worst throughout November. It would be a huge load for KD to set up all that stuff and literally have to close rides due to cold weather. They may as well just go back to closing at the end of October.

As a fair substitution, I'd much rather see them do an extended HAUNT, give or take if weather permits it. In my honest opinion you can still get a few more scares the first two weeks of November. Field of Screams in PA manages to pull this off. If the park is concerned about operation cost at that time of the season, they could still do limited attractions, but with a few more than what they currently do with WinterFest. Here's my idea.

Extended HAUNT Operation Wishlist: 5pm-11pm
-Dominator
-Twisted Timbers
-Flight Of Fear(No Maze)
-Drop Tower
-Delirium
-I-305(7pm-11pm)
-ALL MAZES and some kiddie rides

I comped that list by taken into consideration that it's later in the season. The park does want to save a little money, which is why I-305 would open up a little later than all the other attractions. If even exclude it from the Fast Lane at this time of year and just make everyone wait in line to be fair.
 
If you want to discuss KD Fall and Winter operations, I’d suggest you find or create an appropriate thread.

I’d also suggest that Winterfest is a holiday event, which is not intended to focus on thrill rides.

Meanwhile, bringing this back to FoF, I think opening it during Winterfest would require expanding the event footprint. I’m not sure when or if KD would be willing and able to use that section of the park.
 
I remember reading that KI’s FOF actually went through substantial renovation to be fully insulated and given a proper heating system for Winterfest.

Like @Nicole said, FOF is in quite possibly the worst location in the park to open for Winterfest. The event would have to expand to encompass literally the entire dry park to reach it, which I don’t see happening anytime soon.
 
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I know there's nothing warm about the indoor section of verbolten when it gets cold outside! KI ran their FoF last year but did not, possibly for work on it, this year. Word has been that the cutoff temp for Mystic Timbers has been 20 degrees! Cutoff for KD's coasters has been 40 degrees best I can tell, not 45, but sometimes their own website and others may be reporting higher temps, as I reported here: https://parkfans.net/threads/winterfest.5946/page-7#post-210864
It would be great if they could extend that to 38 because many nights that would have given people another couple hours and that would be my personal limit to ride here as colder is just unneeded.

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.

The VR is supposed to follow the course of the ride, at least I think so because on my one VR ride of Superman it just sat in the station the whole ride and it was a damn good thing I knew the layout with that thing covering my face.

Despite riding FoF at least 100 times in 2009, I only recall once riding it pitch black, and didn't like it much. Usually a maintenance light was on. If you want to not see, close your eyes or use a blindfold. I like it best when dark enough you can't see until your eyes start to adjust and the track looms in the gloom. Also if you ride in the day, there's some pinholes in the walls. I'd like to see a starfield effect and very low light.
 
@bill s - that's why I'm suggesting a posted set of dates/times so that folks who don't like a blackout experience will know to not ride.

Otherwise, the space mountain treatment would be kinda cool.
 
Bill in 2009 they were doing the electrical line work for I305. I experienced the pitch black rides in early and late August. And yes, it was all day long. The only time there was light was when a maintenance worker would open the door. Other than that, it was pitch black. None of the riders seem to be bothered by it.

But as the other poster mentioned; the park could easily just do pitch black rides in weekends or specific times of the day. It's almost silly that we live in the world where people have become so sensitive of stuff like this.
 
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It's almost silly that we live in the world where people have become so sensitive of stuff like this.

It has nothing to do with people being “sensitive.” KD’s legal team and/or insurance company has identified a possible point of liability for the park and the park is dealing with it by avoiding totally dark rides on FoF. This happens all the time. Could KD pay more on their liability insurance to avoid having to comply? Probably so. Is it worth it? Almost certainly not.
 
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