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Knott's not taking any chances with Y2K

MILLENNIUM: Park will halt rides early. Disneyland plans business as usual.

December 10, 1999

By BERNARD J. WOLFSON

The Orange County Register

There's only one area destination for anyone brave enough to board a stomach-churning thrill ride at midnight Dec. 31  Disneyland.

The "happiest place on earth" also will be the daringest place on earth, the only park to keep its big-ticket rides running through midnight on New Year's Eve.

Knott's Berry Farm will stop all rides at 11:45 p.m., though the park will remain open until 1 a.m., said General Manager Jack Falfas.

The rides will be inspected, and the park will reopen at 11 a.m.  an hour later than normal. That way, "I can sleep easier," he said.

Six Flags Magic Mountain will close at its regular time of 8 p.m. Universal Studios will run four attractions after midnight  but not before shutting them at 11:45 p.m. for testing.

That leaves Disneyland.

"It's possible that some of our guests will be able to experience the millennium changeover on some of our more popular attractions," said spokesman Ray Gomez. He added that plans are under "continuing review."

Ride design engineer Larry Osterhoudt said a malfunctioning computer chip would, at worst, halt a ride. Safety expert Richard Harris warned of bad accidents in the worst-case scenario.

Even some thrill-seekers are not tempting fate.

"Personally, I don't think I would want to be on anything that is controlled by a computer right as the millennium turns," said Rick Turner of American Coaster Enthusiasts. "No airplanes, no elevators  and no roller coasters."

-- Uncle Bob (UNCLB0B@AOL.COM), December 11, 1999

Answers

"Personally, I don't think I would want to be on anything that is controlled by a computer right as the millennium turns," said Rick Turner of American Coaster Enthusiasts. "No airplanes, no elevators  and no roller coasters."

Why do all of these people still assume that chips will wait to go flooie at midnight in *their* time zone? I have a cousin out in La-La Land who sincerely believes that she has until midnight, PST, to shut down some of the equipment and that things will happen to us back in Ohio which will give her some warning. Humph. Pass me some more Gaines Burgers.

-- (ladybuckeye_59@yahoo.com), December 11, 1999.

"Ride design engineer Larry Osterhoudt said a malfunctioning computer chip would, at worst, halt a ride."

What he neglected to say is that "halt a ride" means the brakes on a roller coaster suddenly engaging at full force as you are catapulting down the big dropoff at 80 miles per hour, snapping the necks of everyone on board. Or maybe the safety bars suddenly unlocking while you are suspended upside down in a 360 degree loop. Loads of fun!

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), December 11, 1999.