Windseeker Testing

Wishful thinking...

Only because I get tired of the kids begging me to take them to ride the thing. So, no way it opens today? Anyone know where they are at as far the required number of hours needed to open it?

Supposedly, new rides need to test for 4-7 days (1000-2000x cycles) at full force before getting approved by the state. I might be a little off on that though because I remember hearing that number a couple of years ago.

It tested all day yesterday from about 4pm-close. It may have started earlier than that. The seat backs were off during the testing I saw up close. The cycles seemed short. I hope that wasn't the full ride cycle.

When it's running at night, it dominates anything else on the skyline with it's lighting package. I never got up close to it at night, but the view from the Millennium Force ramp is pretty amazing.

Edit: Here is a shaky afternoon test cycle from yesterday. 720p
http://youtu.be/6uzQMRiiH0U

^ That wasn't shaky at all dude. That looked smooth! Thank you for submitting that with all of us.

Cool beans! Not much longer now.

Thanks for posting that, Prawo.

Quick question, though...is there just no charity ride now at all, or do they re-contact those people? Or does it just open suddenly one morning...

here is an awesome nighttime testing video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTez_t-StRY

Looks to be in full test on the webcam too.... I will be at the park tomorrow, wouldn't that be nice if it opened for me tomorrow.

^^ Pure awesome.....

Second that awesome...and add a wow.

Really sweet ride op told me today they hope by this coming Friday to have it open for us. He said they have more hours to run it and then something about the manufacturer has to sign off on it, then cp management, then employees get to ride it. After all that we get to ride it.

Was a pretty good morning up there but I have no idea where the heck the crowd came from in the afternoon, yuck.

Edited to add it was hilarious to me that the music on the ride follows the riders up in the air so you have the music up there with you. I asked ride op if the ET song was the only song and was told there are several other songs.

I like the kids comment, "Look how high it goes without any seat belts." :-)

That is some great video. Thanks for posting it for us to check out. Looking like a Saturday trip is in order this weekend. I must say that this is exactly what I was looking for in the lighting, this looks great. Now all we need is a nice woodie running behind it on the beach to finish the look. ;)

Are you meaning something small like the former Big Dipper or something bigger? I think a woodie WOULD really look great there as well. I know something they could get rid of there to make room *wink*.

Awesome videos! The lighting package is simply mesmerizing.

I wonder if the original design was to start the spinning at ground level or if they always planned for it to start after lifting the carriage part way up the tower.

They planned that all along. If they spun at ground level, they would hit the fencing that surrounds the ride. Oh, and if they raised high enough to get over the fence, they could potentially hit guests and/or the queue covers.

Watched it test up close Friday and Sunday.

Friday the wind was really strong and the whitecaps were slamming the beach big time. WindSkeeker held it own. It was Halloweekends weather.

They removed the sandbags yasterday afternoon and then tested without them. The ride looked to last fairly long if what they were testing was in fact the actual time.

People see it up on the tower and come over expecting to ride it. From listening to peoples comments most people think the ride has been open and there is only a temporary shutdown.

Windseeker is really an impressive site from anywhere in the park. When running it looks just like the animation.

That night time test looks top notch. It'll be a bright ride up there.