Charlie Brown's Wind Up (Kings Island)

Charlie Brown's Wind Up
Location	Kings Island
Area	Planet Snoopy
Status	Operating
Opening date	1992
Attraction Type	Chair swing
Manufacturer	Zamperla
Speed	5 mph (8.0 km/h)
Capacity	300 riders per hour
Vehicle type	Hanging Swings
Duration	2:30
Height restriction	3 ft 0 in (91 cm)
Previous names	Backyardigan's Swing-Along and Pixie and Dixie's Swingset

Charlie Brown's Wind Up is a miniature version of a classic swing ride. It is located at Kings Island amusement park in Kings Mills, Ohio. The ride is very similar to the Zephyr (Also at the park), although, since the ride was designed specifically for kids, the ride does not tilt and does not go as fast like a regular swing ride.

History

Charlie Brown's Wind Up opened in the year 1992 as Pixie and Dixie's Swingset to fit the theme of the children's area, which at the time was The Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera. In 2006, came the complete makeover of The Happy Land of Hanna-Barbera, with 3 new rides and attractions. The area then became known as Nickelodeon Universe. This makeover included complete rethemeing of all the Hanna-Barbera rides to fit the Nickelodeon theme. That is when the ride became known as Backyardigan's Swing-Along. Although Cedar Fair Entertainment Company had the rights to continue using the Nickelodeon theme through 2016^[1] following its purchase of the park in 2006, it was decided to remove all remaining Hanna-Barbera and Nickelodeon themes from the kids area in time for the start of the 2010 season. So in 2010, the area went through a another rethemeing to fit with other Cedar Fair's kid's areas. Nickelodeon Universe then became known as Planet Snoopy. To fit with the rethemeing, Backyardigan's Swing-Along became Charlie Brown's Wind Up .^[2]

Fun Fact

Charlie Brown's Wind Up has given 3,820,784 rides since 1992, the 37th-most in park history. Its record year was 1996, when 230,421 rides were given.

Layout

This ride is a flying carousel ride which is simply a variation of the classic carousel ride. The chairs are suspended by chains from the rotating top of the carousel. A feature that this flying carousel ride lacks is that the top rotating part does not tilt [however, it does tilt on the zephyr ride (also at the park)]. Riders will move through the air around in a circle swinging out at a 10 degree angle. The ride lasts approximately 2 minutes and 30 seconds .^[3] The ride does not raise up or tilt like common swing rides. The structure of the ride is painted green and orange and contains a pictures of PEANUTS characters on it.

If this description wasn't very clear, click here and here for pictures.

References

1. ^ Sloan, Sam (2006-06-01). "Paramount Parks Sold to Cedar Fair". www.sliceofscifi.com. http://www.sliceofscifi.com/2006/06/01/paramount-parks-sold-to-cedar-fair/. Retrieved 2010-04-15. 
2. ^ Island, Kings. "Charlie Brown's Wind Up". www.visitkingsisland.com. http://www.visitkingsisland.com/public/park/rides/planet_snoopy/charlie_browns_wind_up.cfm. Retrieved 2011-10-28. 
3. ^ Island, Kings. "Charlie Brown's Wind Up". www.visitkingsisland.com. http://www.visitkingsisland.com/public/park/rides/planet_snoopy/charlie_browns_wind_up.cfm. Retrieved 2011-10-28.