Disaster Transport Memories

Since DT is now closed forever. I thought it would be nice to share our memories of the ride.

My first ride was when I was 9. The only other coaster I've ridden at CP was CCMR with the exception of the baby coasters. I was so scared. I wanted to cry when we were in line. All of the lights and props in the queue made it even more scary. We finally reached the "Launch Pad" and got in our seats. I had so much fun. It was my favorite coaster then. Disaster Transport gets credit for introducing me to the coaster world. (Along with CCMR and Raven at HW) The removal of this ride saddens me but I must understand that rides don't last forever. Bye Buddy:)

I remember the year that it was opened. It had a very long line, but that was okay because the theming was interesting and the inside was air-conditioned.

One time, in the queue they had to shut down the ride because someone dropped a stink bomb in the building. That was a good time!

All-in-all, I have fond memories of the ride... it has provided a good break from the heat, and it was one of a few coasters that my whole family would ride together.

I am happy to see it go though, it has really gone downhill for the past few years.

I used to enjoy viewing it from Space Spiral when the entire ride was outdoors and watching the car whip thru the trough.

Well I am pre-Disaster Transport, so lets talk about how horrible it was waiting in 90 degree weather, no shade, no air conditioning, on concrete, for 1 to 2 hours to ride Avalanche Run, and not be very impressed with the coaster. It was too short. And it slammed hard against the last straight before stopping. (They must of slowed it down later)

That's what I remember most. I have very limited memory of when it switched into Disaster Transport. Except, the Air Conditioning was what improved the ride the most.... :)

Danger: HGIH VOLTAGE

Nothing sucks more than waiting in the hot sun for a ride, during which time you can see the majority of the ride layout run over and over and over again. To the point when you get it on it, there is nothing new it would seem. Avalanche Run fit that description perfectly.

I think it would be cool if CP moved one of the webcams to face the deconstruction of DT and SS... That would be interesting to see

"I'm losing control, I'm losing control!"

and/or...

"Thank you for riding Disaster Transport, and welcome to Alaska."

Both were made especially memorable after the part of the pre-show that described who was losing control of what and what the hell Alaska had to do with anything was removed.

Honorable mentions:
-The massive pile of discarded Pepsi cups that used to be underneath the stairs.
-How some of the rooms in the queue would smell like a Phish concert.

OK, I need to know if my brain is inventing a memory, or if this really existed. I remember riding Avalanche Run (I was only 8, so forgive my memory here), but was there a clock that "timed" your bobsled run?

Hmm... that rings a bell, but it could be that just the suggestion of a clock is playing tricks with my memory. I was about the same age. I just remember sweating (a lot) and really hating the part of the waiting in line on stairs somewhere behind where the building stands now.

Almost as bad as waiting in line for Happy Jacks on a Saturday night for 90 minutes, in 40 degree weather with 50mph winds and sideways rain.

Almost!

I vaguely remember the "I'm losing control" bit, but I do remember the "Welcome to Alaska, how was your flight?" bit at the end of the ride. I remember riding Disaster Transport when it first opened in 1990. The theme was still there and it still worked, and I kind of remember the story behind the ride.(I was 9 at the time so I don't remember it all that well.) But long story short, I did love the ride and made sure I rode it at least once every time I went to Cedar Point. I do kick myself for not riding it when I went a month ago.

Can someone please tell me at what point during the ride did the space pirates and the I'm losing control lines come? I don't really remember them.

This is an Avalanche Run question regarding the station setup. In a couple of photos online, there is a broom closet with the former station line numbers. Did the ride used to have a dual load and unload like Maverick?

Pretty sure they have always been there.

Also after being able to ride it with the lights on it is kind of sad now that all they had to do was replace the lighting to the special effects and fix the balck light bulbs.

coolkid said:
This is an Avalanche Run question regarding the station setup. In a couple of photos online, there is a broom closet with the former station line numbers. Did the ride used to have a dual load and unload like Maverick?

I was an upper classman in high school when AR opened. I want to say it had flush load/unload like most of the other coasters at CP. Whether or not they unloaded/load like Maverick I can't remember at this moment.

HeyIsntThatRob? said:
Danger: HGIH VOLTAGE

This :)

So, what do you (collectively) consider the bigger loss this year: DT or Wildcat? Both were fairly endangered models of coaster, and both filled a niche in the park.

It's close, but the removal of Wildcat shocked me, and the loss of an Anton coaster, even a modular design, seems like the larger tragedy.

I think that Wildcat was a much more fun ride. However Disaster Transport was more gentle and family friendly. I'll miss both, but getting rid of Disaster Transport's trashy interior and ugly exterior will make the park look a lot nicer.

Wildcat had a lesser disappointment factor. You pretty much knew what you were getting as you made that choice to get in line. On the ride, I feel it was a bit more thrilling than it looked while waiting in line. A first time rider on DT could have any range of expectations....and unless you were expecting a subpar ride, you were most likely disappointed.

While it was surely just a matter of time before WC was removed, I'm more disappointed in its removal. I understand their rationale in removing WC now, but its footprint is small enough that I would have liked to see it stick around until it could be replaced with a modern wild mouse.

I'm surprised that nobody has freaked out that not only is CP no longer "America's Roller Coast," but is in third place now behind Magic Mountain and Canada's Wonderland.

Have fun with that one :)