Farewell, Wildcat.

Where exactly was that picture taken?

Sandusky Steel, right next to the 250 loop/overpass. That is where the park has all of their unwanted steel taken to.

Minus unwanted heart line rolls. ;)

^In that situation, I am betting Sandusky Steel didn't want the damn thing. That would be a lot to cut up. Probably why it is still sitting at Adena.

Skippy said:???? I'm pretty sure their program accounts for everything. The Fanatsyland revamp is the first project to use it and I haven't heard of any problems. Has there been an incident?

I was referring to past projects that have been built but needed to be modified after the fact. The FL expansion is not complete yet but the final outcome is not the same as it was when the project started.

josh88 said:
Time and time again something looks great on paper and it's not until you see something next to another thing that you realize it doesn't feel or look right.

Exactly. You can have the best 3D imagining program, a fully built model but that still does not mean once you see it actually done that it might need changed. I use a 3D program that allows me to design lighting for concerts. It is only for me to get an idea of what it will look like on the stage. I know that the finished product will look different to me than it did on my small 32" screen.

Everyone assumes they need more room for people and that is why Wildcat was removed. Maybe the plan calls for something they want to add for the show, like another smaller stage on the other side so you are completely surrounded by the show as you walk through. What about food/beverage stand near the Wildcat bathrooms?

josh88 said:
99er has more first hand experience with the mouse than me, but I don't care how advanced a system is, there's no way to truly know how something will feel until you're standing right there looking at the construction. It might tell you all the exact facts you need, but there's something that can never come across digitally that compares to stepping back, looking at it and feeling the scale of something. Time and time again something looks great on paper and it's not until you see something next to another thing that you realize it doesn't feel or look right.

IDK, I watched a two hour explanation of the tech and was completely blown away. They literally build the ride in a computer. I'm talking steel frame structure, wiring, air ducts, outlets, exit signs, break rooms, piping for water fountains, everything. They know every screw that will be used during construction or how many paint cans they'll go through, it's crazy. If anything conflicts with something else (lets say part of the building will show through the theming or a support beam collides with an air duct) the computer automatically alerts them and they'll fix it right there. They then strap on some VR helmets and take a virtual walk through. If something looks too tight or the theming isn't placed right, they'll fix it right there before they even start construction. Once they complete the attraction virtually, the computer breaks down the construction of the ride exactly how it will be built in real life and then shows you where it will be on each day of construction. Their budgets are pretty freaking exact now.

99er said:
The FL expansion is not complete yet but the final outcome is not the same as it was when the project started.

Yeah but didn't they change project leads part way through? After that, it's been smooth sailing thanks to that project planning tech they developed.

Skippy said:

IDK, I watched a two hour explanation of the tech and was completely blown away. They literally build the ride in a computer. I'm talking steel frame structure, wiring, air ducts, outlets, exit signs, break rooms, piping for water fountains, everything. They know every screw that will be used during construction or how many paint cans they'll go through, it's crazy. If anything conflicts with something else (lets say part of the building will show through the theming or a support beam collides with an air duct) the computer automatically alerts them and they'll fix it right there. They then strap on some VR helmets and take a virtual walk through. If something looks too tight or the theming isn't placed right, they'll fix it right there before they even start construction. Once they complete the attraction virtually, the computer breaks down the construction of the ride exactly how it will be built in real life and then shows you where it will be on each day of construction. Their budgets are pretty freaking exact now.

I get how it works, but there's something to be said about physically being there. You'll still know and feel a VR helmet on you and just because you see it in front of you, doesn't mean you get the real feel for the environment. It's like buying a huge tv because it looks great in the store and you can see your room and think yeah it'll fit great and you shove it in your tiny closet of a bedroom and step back and say holy crap it's bigger than my bed and takes up 3/4 of the space.

I'm sure in mockups shoving the booth right up to the station of wildcat looked fine, but even people on here agreed it looked crowded and bad. Software will never compare to being on site, until we have some sort of crazy holodeck type thing where you can touch and feel everything and can't tell virtual from reality.

Weird that Wildcat and the big screen are still on the map.

josh88 said:
It's like buying a huge tv because it looks great in the store and you can see your room and think yeah it'll fit great and you shove it in your tiny closet of a bedroom and step back and say holy crap it's bigger than my bed and takes up 3/4 of the space.

It's really nothing like that...at all. Maybe if that store also virtually recreated your room with the TV in it and then gave you a VR helmet to see how it works but otherwise...yeah.

josh88 said:
I'm sure in mockups shoving the booth right up to the station of wildcat looked fine, but even people on here agreed it looked crowded and bad. Software will never compare to being on site, until we have some sort of crazy holodeck type thing where you can touch and feel everything and can't tell virtual from reality.

You see, I doubt Cedar Fair had time to make many mockups at all. Some concept drawings and then some schematics but nothing really more then that. If they built Celebration Plaza and all that surrounds it to scale and then virtually walked through it, they would've known if something didn't work. Too bad they didn't do that.

^Lets say they did do that, back in November. It is announced in December that Wildcat will be removed for this up coming season. What is the difference between knowing in December instead of April that the ride will not operate this season? If we knew 4 months earlier that it would not operate would that have saved us from the complaining or the thoughts that Cedar Fair does not know how to design a new attraction?

No, but we could have spread the bitching out over a few months rather than trying to cram it all into a week and half.

To be honest, if they would have announced it at the time they announced Celebration Plaza I would have been a lot less upset.

Care to explain why? That is what I am failing to understand is what would be the difference between finding out in December, January, February, March or April.

I can understand the inital shock being a lot more this way, it was for me. I wouldnt have batted an eye if they announced it months ago. With be being torn doen a few weeks before opening iw was a shock, but now what dose it matter. Either way its not opening this year, end of story.

Not to be dramatic and personify Wild Cat, but a sudden death or end to something is always harder to deal with than one that is expected. Our brains have less time to reason and accept the outcome.

That's a big part of what had me upset with Wild Cat, but that will pass. What I'm still bothered about is that not only is Wild Cat lost, but Iron Dragon's appearance and significance has further declined (Mantis & TTD hurt it enough), and Luminosity seems in the wrong spot.

If I was given a heads up that Wild Cat would be closed at the end of the season in August, and that Luminosity would take Wild Cat's place, I'd much more agree with that planning. They would have had less construction, better aesthetics, and they wouldn't have to reprint brochures nor falsely advertise the attractions.

Thinking from the business standpoint, I'm sure they would've rather taken WC out months ago if they knew what they do now. They could've moved it, sold it, or shipped it to another CF park. But things don't always work out. I'm sure enthusiastslike us would've rather seen it put to use in one way or another, but it is what it is.

I'm sure Iron Dragon's appearance won't be that bad! Think of it this way, the average family that comes 1+2 a year or their first time back in 5 years might think that it's cool that it's hidden. As crazy as that sounds, we cannot just think Iron Dragon is ruined because of Luminosity. :)

The thing about the appearance of things is sometimes, you have to be ready for a change. Even if you may not agree with it. Growth is necessary.....and that growth will sometimes lead to changes in appearances.

Well I know I'm ready to see Luminosity in front of Iron Dragon. I'm prepared for that, but It's going to be strange not seeing Wildcat or the big white screen. I didn't mind Wildcat, but I wasn't a huge fan of it either. I know a lot of people on here were and that's going to be hard for them on Opening day. For me the change will be seeing a big empty space that Wildcat once occupied.

I don't think it will be a big empty space, I'm expecting that it will be nicely integrated with the rest of Celebration Plaza. They have enough time to poor concrete and add landscaping.

Isn't it already concrete? Otherwise all they really have to do is clean the concrete and do whatever they planned to do in the 3 remaining days till Saturday. I'm going to bet that we'll see some rope and "pardon our mess" signs. ;)