Disappearing 80's

I was just thinking that with the closing of Disaster Transport, we are starting to run out of rides that were built in the 80's. It's kind of sad when I remember how excited I was about the additions of these rides when I was a kid.

Over the past few years we have lost White Water Landing, Demon Drop, Oceana, and now Disaster Transport. We also almost lost Ocean Motion.

The major rides that we have left from the 80's are Thunder Canyon, Iron Dragon, Soak City, and Magnum.

Anyway, this is just an observation and not a complaint.

Interesting observation.

I can imagine that it would be hard to see rides you grow up with leave one by one. I guess it's just one of those things that has to happen when a park is built on a land mass with a lot of space limitations.

The fact that they all happen to be from one decade just has to do with bad placement I guess. I mean, it certainly can't be quality if mine ride's still here and DT and Wildcat are going/gone. *rolls eyes*

Could you imagine how many rides Cedar Point would have if we didn't have the Hotels on the Peninsula? It would be like playing Roller Coaster Tycoon, only in real life.

^ Or camper village, that takes up like half the peninsula.

Hey now, I LOVE camper village! And it doesn't take up as much room as you may think.

To the OP, in my opinion we DID lose Ocean Motion. I rode it again this past weekend and it's a shell of it's former self. The ride cycle is brutally short, and it doesn't swing anywhere near as high as it used to. Even on the very end, there's almost no sensation whatsoever. This is apparent when you see small children riding it, just bored out of their mind.

Such a shame too, because even very small versions like Sea Dragon at Michigan's Adventure can be a whole lot of fun.

That doesn't surprise me, the 80's seemed like a down-time for coasters. Arrow had taken the sit-down looper as far as it would go. They tried introducing some new styles, like Iron Dragon and Avalanche Run, but they weren't very thrilling. Taking the long term view, if 1 or 2 good coasters survive from each decade, you would end up with a really good collection of rides.

I have been expecting Disaster Transport to be removed for the last 13 years. Although I hate to see it go, I think it is finally time. The best part of it was Happy Jacks during Halloweekends.

As I've said before, my biggest pet peeve is that we're losing rides that the whole family can enjoy. White Water Landing was taken out, but they got Shoot The Rapids which I support.

I'm still upset Paddlewheel is gone. It was something, other parks just did not have. The Dino Land up-charge just made it worse for me. My trip to CP is coming up next week so I will get to judge this for myself.

Lastly, the 80s were awesome.

I'm sure they'll cater to the family stuff soon, they probably realize just as much as us that they're lacking on them.

It's just, I hope when they do build them they do it right.I love riding extreme roller coasters, but I also like riding family coasters as long as they have at least some thrill to them. There's a big difference between dull family rides and exciting ones, and I hope they opt for the latter. The ones they have now, Mine ride and Iron dragon, suck. Mineride is a bumpy mess with not even the slightest hill, and iron dragon is just...boring.

You realize don't you that CP most likely won't be getting another coaster for quite a few years if this unrealized, unconfirmed coaster actually gets built. No family coaster, no big coaster, family attractions will be brought to the point to make up for what we have lost the past few years.

Titandwedebil said:
I'm sure they'll cater to the family stuff soon, they probably realize just as much as us that they're lacking on them.

It's just, I hope when they do build them they do it right.I love riding extreme roller coasters, but I also like riding family coasters as long as they have at least some thrill to them. There's a big difference between dull family rides and exciting ones, and I hope they opt for the latter. The ones they have now, Mine ride and Iron dragon, suck. Mineride is a bumpy mess with not even the slightest hill, and iron dragon is just...boring.

Mineride isn't great, but you aren't the target audience of Iron Dragon. I know plenty of people (even timid adults) that love Iron Dragon. It's actually IMO one of the smoothest coasters at CP.

Yes, but he thinks he's the target audience.

You bet I do.

Kidding. No, but really, I just think they could do better. Probablly going to be the minority saying this, but I always felt DT was much better than Iron dragon in terms of family coasters, excitement wise. I do feel bad for grouping it with mineride though, it isn't even on the same level as that one, I will give you that one.

You realize don't you that CP most likely won't be getting another coaster for quite a few years if this unrealized, unconfirmed coaster actually gets built. No family coaster, no big coaster, family attractions will be brought to the point to make up for what we have lost the past few years.

And you know this how?

If I remember right, in the early 2000s a new coaster was built nearly every year it seemed. Just because it hasn't been that way lately doesn't mean they can't build a new coasters close together (time wise).

That was then, this is now. Other old-timers on this site will explain it to you. ROI and all that.

So it's a money thing then?

Titandwedebil said:

If I remember right, in the early 2000s a new coaster was built nearly every year it seemed. Just because it hasn't been that way lately doesn't mean they can't build a new coasters close together (time wise).

That was also when Dick Kinzel thought by building coasters, the people will come. Thrill seekers, teens, and young adults will come; but who has all the money? The families and older couples do. Even Dick Kinzel started to loosely elude to the fact that family and less thrilling rides were the way to go. The park has enough quality roller coasters, why build more in bunches?

Iron Dragon is also the best themed ride at CP lol. The way it swings through the trees and over the lake like a dragon does. They upkeep the theme better than Maverick and DT! lol

coolkid, I'm referring to building more family coasters. While I was brave enough to jump right from Junior gemini to gemini, I know a lot of kids need that transition zone. Wildcat, DT, and Iron dragon were the three family coasters that acted as that transition. Now that two of the three are gone, it's something I would say we need as opposed to something we should have.

Even if it's all about money, it's really more than that. They're now in a position where they're catering to either the major thrill seekers or the very young, there needs to be more rides that include the zone in between, especially now that we lost two of them.

The park needs family attractions, not family coasters.

It could be worse. Kings Island seems to lose half of the new rides from whatever the current decade is.

The park needs family attractions, not family coasters.

There's nothing wrong with family coasters.