Disaster Transport Question

OK the first season I rode Disaster Transport (1998) there were a lot of like, announcements over what sounded like a mic. One of them said "we're losing control!!" or soemthing like that, at which point you go through all the tunnels and it is supposed to feel like the "transport" is malfunctioning and its going to strand you in like, Antarctica or something. But this past year when I rode DT I didn't hear anything besides the sounds you would hear on a coaster like that. Did some people complain that they actually thought ride ops were losing control of the ride and so they stopped that? Also, is the name really Disaster Transport, or is that short for Dispatch Master Transport?

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life without danger is a waste of oxygen

I dont think that they would have stoped that just because people "thought" the ride ops were really loosing controll. Roller coasters are supposed to scare you, and give you a thrill, thats what people ride them for. And as long as the rides ops really dont loose controll they have no reason to take the recording out.

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Life is a rollercoaster... ride it.
~*kP

Here's the synopsis of the ride how it was meant to be. My memory may be a little foggy because I think I was only 7-8 when I rode it.

The original theme encompassed several different visual and audio effects that aren't there anymore. Guests are in line for DISpatch mASTER TRANSPORT charter system that takes passengers into space and have them end you are to end up in Alaska (don't as me why Alaska).

In the first room of the queue, there were spaceship-looking doors like there are now. The next room had a really cool animatronic robot that moved around up on a track. He looked kind of like C3PO, and he made several announcements. He made conversation with what was supposed to be like video feed from hostile space pirates that were trying to attack the ship.

After that guests entered into the next room, there were moving cages above the queue (like today) and it was either for luggage or space junk. There was also another robot that was in the window labled "FOREMAN" as it still is today. I believe he turned back and forth and talked also. The camera was also functional, and the REJECT sign made sounds, I believe.

Next, there was a corridor with a news anchor/correspondent talking about the attacking pirates on these little TV monitors. There is also an effect on the TV's that shows how the origianl logo explodes end leaves DISASTER TRANSPORT lined up with the PATCH M broken off.

Next was the station, which hasn't changed, to my knowledge. There was also the little robot, named ROB, that guided riders through the course. He was a cool robot, and that is the audio you were speaking of. He talks for most of the ride normally. Towards the end of the ride, your space ship is attacked by the pirates, and he says, "I'm losing control! I'm losing control!" It's the fastest and most dark part of the ride.

There was an exploding asteroid created by a visual effect, space pirates, and a satellite that also attacks the ship. It was lighted, but now it lies in the shadows.

Then you pass the iceberg, and somehow the vehicle ends up in Alaska along the way.

So in 1998, you can see just how downhill the theming had gone in just 8 years. This past year or two, they have revamped the theme and made it look respectable once again. It's not nearly to it's original glory, but it's definitely an improvement of what it had become.

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What is most anticipated event of 2003? the debut of # 16, the release of Metallica's new album, the release of Terminator 3, or the release of Matrix:Reloaded...tough call.

The theme is of a trip to Alaska on Dispatch Master Transport. Notice the sign in the Alaska terminal which notes the company slogan, "We get you there in under five minutes or we don't get you there at all."

The robot in the control room was DAVE, the robot in the repair bay was FRANC. FRANC is the one I heard the most from, and I swear to you he had a personality based on Marvin from The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy in that he was obviously chronically depressed.

The on-ride audio from the "shipboard computer." I don't know if he has a name, but given the apparent HHGG influence on FRANC, I generally refer to the shipboard computer as "Eddie."

READY BRAKE: "This is your shipboard computer. Stand clear of the cargo bay doors..." (SFX: BOOM!) "Cargo loaded!"

TOP OF LIFT: "Hang on! Orbit achieved! ... Uh-oh, space pirates! Taking evasive maneuvers..."

BLOCK BRAKE #E: (effects noises)

BLOCK BRAKE #F: "I'm losing control! I'm losing control!"

IN THE HELIX: "We're gonna crash!!"

BLOCK BRAKE #H: (generic safety message from "Ground Control.")

--Dave Althoff, Jr.
Bring back "Eddie"!!

You know, Dave, I think you are exactly right about the robot being based on Marvin. If you've heard the audio tapes of the book, it's hilarous, and they do resemble each other now that you mention it.

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What is most anticipated event of 2003? the debut of Dragster, the release of Metallica's new album, the release of Terminator 3, or the release of Matrix:Reloaded...tough call.

I can't believe that ride is still running. It's a joke. It used to be an open ride when it first opened and now it's enclosed. I haven't heard anything good about this ride, EVER. I hardly see anybody go on it. I think this ride needs to be removed. Cedar Point should've already noticed that that ride is a piece of junk & is wasting space. Surely they can find something better to go there. I'd rather ride the 40 mph Mine Ride then that joke of a ride Disaster Transport. Hey, I guess the name does say a lot for the ride. Disaster Transport is truly a DISASTER.

Now, now, be nice. DT used to have better theming, but the ride is the same.

MrScott

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"If we go any faster, she'll blow apart for sure!"

Why is it so hard to understand that Cedar Point has to have rides like Disaster Transport. There are other people in the world than the grown coaster buffs. Children who are too big for Jr. Gemini but to small for Magnum XL-200 or Gemini love this ride. Its not the best looking ride in the world but I have ridden Millennium Force and Disaster Transport is still fun. Plus, it has Air Conditioning, you can't beat that.

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Feel the Beat

Plus, a lot of people do still go on Disaster Transport. Whenever I have gone during the summer to ride disaster transport during the heat of the day to get some AC and shade the line is always right there inside the door, making for about a 30-45min wait. Plus, Cedar Point won't just get rid of the ride due to the coaster count that it wishes to keep, not to mention the fact that it is, as said before, one of the main family coasters the park has.

CP_bound, Even better than listening to the HHGG book on tape is if you can find a recording of the original radio series (which, of course, predates the book). You get to hear what Marvin really sounds like, and he sounds a lot like FRANC.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.
Bring back Eddie!

Actually enclosing the ride improved it. When it was open air the ride was boring, you could anticipate the turns and you didn't feel like you were going that fast. Enclosing it gives the feel of speed and a fun ride since you don't know where the turns are. Granted the theming sucks, but the ride itself is great. Plus there are hardly any other park out there where you can ride a bobsled type coaster. Its a family coaster and family's spend more in the park than enthusiasts. So economically its a good coaster. My sister and mom can't ride many coasters and they love this one. So I myself don't understand why people want to remove it. Other than the view of the lake, which can be seen elsewhere on the peninsula. Want to admit it or not DT and other smaller coasters help draw money for the bigger coasters!!!
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"Families spend more than enthusiasts" maybe I should TM this!!!

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RideMan said:
Notice the sign in the Alaska terminal which notes the company slogan, "We get you there in under five minutes or we don't get you there at all."

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So in AR/DT's 16 (correct me if i'm wrong) year run, has anyone "not gotten there at all"? :)

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Tommy Penner
"Don't be fooled by the car that I got, I'm still Tommy from the block."
Variable X

It's unfortunate that Disaster Transport is in the location that it is. I agree that it is a viable and valuable coaster for the CP line up. I find it fun although not terribly thrilling. I would really think that it was a bad move if the park were to remove it.... Except that it is in a great location for the park. Same can be said for WT and the stadium. It seems silly that the park has its figurative back turned on the beach. Those rides close in the park along that streatch and severs the connection with the beach which was the focal point for so long. To bad it would make little to no economic sense to move DT to make way for redevelopment through that area to improve the overall atmoshpere on that midway.

Was the "de-themeing" of Disaster Transport a gradual process, or did Cedar Point decide one year that they were going to remove most of the themeing? Does anyone have pics/videos of the old themeing?

I have to admit, I would have LOVED to see the old themeing now that I know so much about it. It's really too bad that it's gone. Cedar Point has re-vamped it a little, and it does look A LOT better than before, but there is still no story line, like it apparently used to have. It's really a shame that it all went down the drain.

Remove it???....The lines on that thing are usually crazy. The wait at times is equivalent to the wait on the MF. Its a very popular ride. Especially with kids.

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- Dennis
NYC Subways, The next best thing to riding roller coasters.

Yes, it does get a lot of riders. Popularity isn't an issue. I find it to be a very average ride, and I wouldn't miss it. Yes, it serves a certain market for less adventurous riders, but I still wouldn't miss it.

It's not the ride itself that I have a problem with. It's the way it looks from the outside. It's an eyesore. It's a big ugly box on prime real estate. It gets in the way of every landscape photo you try to take. And now, with Giant Wheel and Wicked Twister there, it's even worse.

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP - Sillynonsense.com
DELETED!

Reading what the ride used to be like I really wish that i could have ridden it in its "glory days". It would be really cool if they put some money into it and made it like it used to be.

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If you don't like it, Shut Up and don't get in line.

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MiLLeNNiuMRiDeR said:
So in AR/DT's 16 (correct me if i'm wrong) year run, has anyone "not gotten there at all"? :)

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Unfortunately, yes. In 1990, early in the season, a chunk of the theming dropped into the trough, bringing one of the cars to a stop. The safety system, of course, stopped everything else on the block brakes, but that means there were several vehicle loads of people who got incomplete rides.

No serious injuries as a result of that incident.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

It would be a detriment to the park to remove Disaster Transport. While the theming is lacking, and the thrills are minimal for most coaster enthusiasts, I get a higher rush riding in the same shuttle with a child who is about to go on their first coaster ride than I ever have on the Millenium. There is such magic in a childs eyes when they get off that ride, knowing they just rode a "grown-up" coaster. Although I am sure that some enthusiasts out there rode the Millenium as their first coaster, (or so they'll claim,) the love of coasters starts with coasters like Disaster Transport and the Mine Ride. Don't deny the next generation of enthusiasts the opportunity to work their way up in the coaster world.

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ONE freeway stamp a day... ONE

DT is an ok ride. It's not bad at all. It's something different.
Almost every time I go there is a pretty hefty line for it. It wasn't bad as Avalanche Run either. I went numerous times last year and sometimes they had the soundtrack running and sometimes they didn't. Maybe it depends on the business of the park for that day?
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... Ahhhh... Dangling feet, Sun in my face, and wind in my hair .... Bliss!