MF's daily problems
I have not read every single post, so this may have been mentioned elsewhere, but with all the problems that CP has been having with MF (ie red train rolling back, not getting the timing down for 3 trains, mechanical problems, etc), do you guys think that they really have an excuse for all this? I mean, shouldn't all of this have been figured out before they opened the park, let alone built the coaster? Dont get me wrong though, it is still the best experience I have ever had.
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Times I have "Gone Full Force" on MF: 2
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Times I have "Gone Full Force" on MF: 2
For a major ride like MF, I don't think they have had many problems at all. At least that is known to guests. The worst problem has been the lack of three trains, but at least it's running. Look at all the problems PKI has had trying to get SOB running.
*** This post was edited by Pete on 5/24/2000. ***
I don't think this is particularly unexpected. Any new ride is going to have troubles, particularly a ride on which the operations have to be so tightly choreographed as on Millennium Force. The ride is so fast that there is literally no time to waste in operations.
The kinds of problems they have been having, as nearly as I can tell, are the kinds of problems that they could not have dealt with in testing. You never know how a ride's timing will be until you run it with real, live people, and you never know all the quirks of a ride (like under what conditions it won't crest a hill) until you've had a chance to run it for a while in a variety of conditions. Remember, it's been colder in the past week than it was in all the time between when they finished the ride and when they opened it up.
As they get to know the ride, they'll get the bugs worked out. They usually manage to do that eventually. It may take all season before the operating procedure is nailed down and just exactly right, but you know they are going to come to know this ride just like they do all the others. How many here remember the single-train no-empty-seat high-wind operation on Magnum last season? They know that ride well enough to know that it *would* work, even though we all "knew" that it wouldn't. That's because they've had ten years to get to know that ride. With Millennium Force, they haven't yet had ten weeks.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
The kinds of problems they have been having, as nearly as I can tell, are the kinds of problems that they could not have dealt with in testing. You never know how a ride's timing will be until you run it with real, live people, and you never know all the quirks of a ride (like under what conditions it won't crest a hill) until you've had a chance to run it for a while in a variety of conditions. Remember, it's been colder in the past week than it was in all the time between when they finished the ride and when they opened it up.
As they get to know the ride, they'll get the bugs worked out. They usually manage to do that eventually. It may take all season before the operating procedure is nailed down and just exactly right, but you know they are going to come to know this ride just like they do all the others. How many here remember the single-train no-empty-seat high-wind operation on Magnum last season? They know that ride well enough to know that it *would* work, even though we all "knew" that it wouldn't. That's because they've had ten years to get to know that ride. With Millennium Force, they haven't yet had ten weeks.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
As mentioned before, slowing the lift might prevent the anti-rollbacks from disengaging.
To continue along with what Dave said, you really can't always simulate "real life" until the park opens. One of the most difficult factors, what I call the "stupid guest" factor, can't be simulated at all. For example, when they initially gave three-train operation a whirl under the old program, they used employees. That's not real because employees know how to get in and out quickly and will get the seat belts after a few rides. I found this to be true for those of us at media day as well.
Then there's the crew. If you've been reading here for any length of time, you probably know that other crews have operation manuals. This crew had nothing to go on other than managers who said, "do this."
All things considered, the timing for getting the three train thing right is perfect. It would be a blood bath going in to this long weekend without all three ready to go.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point
Millennium Force laps: 23
To continue along with what Dave said, you really can't always simulate "real life" until the park opens. One of the most difficult factors, what I call the "stupid guest" factor, can't be simulated at all. For example, when they initially gave three-train operation a whirl under the old program, they used employees. That's not real because employees know how to get in and out quickly and will get the seat belts after a few rides. I found this to be true for those of us at media day as well.
Then there's the crew. If you've been reading here for any length of time, you probably know that other crews have operation manuals. This crew had nothing to go on other than managers who said, "do this."
All things considered, the timing for getting the three train thing right is perfect. It would be a blood bath going in to this long weekend without all three ready to go.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point
Millennium Force laps: 23
apparently the laws of physics have changed or somehting...Ride Man?? what's the formula to solve for R when you have T and D??? did someone forget to carry a two or something?? either way i don't care!! i love how fast it is!!
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can't believe they cancelled the Simpsons after all these years...now look sad and say D'OH!!
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