Disaster Transport Story?
***CPGONEDISNEY: It's closed? Does that mean we can't go on?***
The posters were so nice, too, it really is a shame. Just another part of the effects that they don't see any need to fix!
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PO!NT OF VIEW - A Different Look at Roller Coasters
http://www.crosswinds.net/~justmayntz/thrills/
The posters were so nice, too, it really is a shame. Just another part of the effects that they don't see any need to fix!
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PO!NT OF VIEW - A Different Look at Roller Coasters
http://www.crosswinds.net/~justmayntz/thrills/
Actually, all but one poster has been put back during the spring and summer. From What I understand all of Disaster's props are fully repairable. I personally feel that the rides maintenance crew are not all motivated to do anything extra. They do only what they have to. A good example is the light bulb in the Alaska room which it took them two weeks to replace.
It's not only Disaster Transport that is plagued with problems either. Wildcat has suffered the loss of it's headlights, Magnum has suffered the loss of it's special effects, and Power Tower has suffered the loss of light on it's top sign. That's not to mention that half the parks light bulbs go unchanged for weeks at a time (this primarily is of the smaller rides and most buildings). Of course there is probably bigger issue than these, but imagine how much the park would be improved if CP put this stuff on the maintenance list again.
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2001 park line up:
Cedar Point May 5-6, 16
(other parks N/A as of March 1)
It's not only Disaster Transport that is plagued with problems either. Wildcat has suffered the loss of it's headlights, Magnum has suffered the loss of it's special effects, and Power Tower has suffered the loss of light on it's top sign. That's not to mention that half the parks light bulbs go unchanged for weeks at a time (this primarily is of the smaller rides and most buildings). Of course there is probably bigger issue than these, but imagine how much the park would be improved if CP put this stuff on the maintenance list again.
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2001 park line up:
Cedar Point May 5-6, 16
(other parks N/A as of March 1)
In my own oppinion, I think the extra effort needed to repair the DT parts should be put into action. I miss the special effects, and I wish the park understood how it adds a little something to a ride that, well, really needs a little something. BTW, could someone tell me a little more about this incident that was discussed above? I missed out on this. :-(
Nope, the Power Tower signs were never lighted. I can see why they might not want to use the usual kind of flourescent backlighting for those signs...but they could have used light pipes (big fiber optics) and put the light can on the catwalk up there.....
Getting back to Disaster Transport, I received an email from An Unidentified Cedar Point Ride Operator about the background of Disaster Transport, and why we have to walk through the Control Room and the Repair Bay instead of down the jetway to the waiting shuttle...
[quote]
In reference to Disaster Transport you asked..."why do we go through the warehouse, control room, and maintenance shop on our way to the gate?" During the first year, and on select occasions the second year, there was usually a ride attendant who would do a pre-show type of spiel from the podium in the first room. In her spiel she would explain that the boarding gates on either side of her were malfunctioning and that passengers had to be rerouted through the various rooms to reach awaiting shuttles. It was also in this spiel that the storyline was given in more detail. The reason the flights were going to Alaska is because they were carrying RBB-11 cargo to be used for mining at their destination.
[/quote]
There you have it! Thanks, UCPRO for that insight!
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
Getting back to Disaster Transport, I received an email from An Unidentified Cedar Point Ride Operator about the background of Disaster Transport, and why we have to walk through the Control Room and the Repair Bay instead of down the jetway to the waiting shuttle...
[quote]
In reference to Disaster Transport you asked..."why do we go through the warehouse, control room, and maintenance shop on our way to the gate?" During the first year, and on select occasions the second year, there was usually a ride attendant who would do a pre-show type of spiel from the podium in the first room. In her spiel she would explain that the boarding gates on either side of her were malfunctioning and that passengers had to be rerouted through the various rooms to reach awaiting shuttles. It was also in this spiel that the storyline was given in more detail. The reason the flights were going to Alaska is because they were carrying RBB-11 cargo to be used for mining at their destination.
[/quote]
There you have it! Thanks, UCPRO for that insight!
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
Actually, If i am not mistaken(CPDISNEY Help) maintenance is not the one who takes care of the special effects. I think Live E or Tech Services handles stuff like that. Erin help?
I know in 99 when ever the fog machine in the 3rd tunnel of Magnum was working and it was blowing out to much fog we didn't call maintenance. I think it was Live E. I could be wrong.
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John
Magnum Crew 1999
Raptor Crew 2000
Mantis Crew 2001
I know in 99 when ever the fog machine in the 3rd tunnel of Magnum was working and it was blowing out to much fog we didn't call maintenance. I think it was Live E. I could be wrong.
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John
Magnum Crew 1999
Raptor Crew 2000
Mantis Crew 2001
I think it is a darn shame that all those effects in Disaster Transport have gone to waste and if Cedar Point really cares about their rides they will repair it to the fullest extent. The first year in 1990, I thought it was one of the best coasters yet. Now I think it is a piece of rubbish. If your not going to have the effects there, you might as well just turn off all the lights. I sure hope CP does and please repair the effects and make DT one of the best again. I think it would help attendence on the ride a lot. Please CP, help this mistreated ride. Please.
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If you're looking for me, I'm on Mean Streak or at the Elephant Ear stand. Always.
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If you're looking for me, I'm on Mean Streak or at the Elephant Ear stand. Always.
Various special effects worked at different times last season. One weekend the ride audio was loud enough to hear. Another weekend the strobe lights were working in the helix. Yet another weekend the fog was so thick at the top of the lift hill you couldn't see two inches in front of you. It seemed near the end of the season when quite a few of the effects were working, someone turned the lights on. When you went in to the brakes after the helix you could see everything. It kind of lost the thrill. I vote they turn all the lights off and make it completely dark or fix the darn thing. It's a different ride from the rest.
My questions is the storage area they created in the second room. Did it always have metal walls for CP storage? I rode it when it before it was DT and again a few years after it became DT. I'm missing some time in the middle. You can see some lighting effects on the ceiling that looks like it may have been a bigger room. If it was different when the ride opened it's not likely they will ever put it back. During HallowWeekend's people were standing on what looked like cat walks and banging things. If there was something unique in there, they probably removed it then....Just guessing. Lemon Chill Rating 2.
My questions is the storage area they created in the second room. Did it always have metal walls for CP storage? I rode it when it before it was DT and again a few years after it became DT. I'm missing some time in the middle. You can see some lighting effects on the ceiling that looks like it may have been a bigger room. If it was different when the ride opened it's not likely they will ever put it back. During HallowWeekend's people were standing on what looked like cat walks and banging things. If there was something unique in there, they probably removed it then....Just guessing. Lemon Chill Rating 2.
Okay, John.... Tech Services fixes the effects like fog, lighting, and the auto spiels. They have tried to fix some of the things in the past two years and are SLOWLY fixing things. About the comment on the fog being thick, there have been times when we have had to shut the ride down to clear the lift. Next time you ride look at the fog machine, it is right outside the station when you stop at the bottom of the lift in the ready breaks. No lye the use an old empty beer keg as part of the machine. Gotta love it!! About the second room... it used to have que lines but when the made it into a haunted house in 1998 the took them out and just put up walls so the could keep the haunted house stuff stored in there. There are cat walks that have some old effects up there that do not work anymore.
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Erin
Disaster Crew 1997-1998
Disaster ATL 1999
Raptor Crew 2000 *** This post was edited by CPGONEDISNEY on 3/28/2001. ***
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Erin
Disaster Crew 1997-1998
Disaster ATL 1999
Raptor Crew 2000 *** This post was edited by CPGONEDISNEY on 3/28/2001. ***
Speaking from a DT op's point of view, it is really nice to see people actually supporting the ride. Sure, not all operators are as enthusiastic as others, but when you put your heart into YOUR ride and making it great for the guests, it really stings when people are getting off and commenting "that s*cks" or "is that it?", stuff like that. We're not deaf, after all. It might not be a great ride, but it is YOUR coaster - ride pride and all that. Thanks, everyone, for showing that someone cares, at least about some of it. :)
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PO!NT OF VIEW - A Different Look at Roller Coasters
http://www.crosswinds.net/~justmayntz/thrills/
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PO!NT OF VIEW - A Different Look at Roller Coasters
http://www.crosswinds.net/~justmayntz/thrills/
The REAL Disaster Transport story here is money.
The ride's $4 million dollar budget was cut two thirds during construction in 1989-1990, forcing ITEC (design company) to scramble several times with last minute changes.
Cedar Fair executives thought $4 million was too much to spend on special effects that you could not experience from outside the structure (meaning non-riders could not participate in the the ride... like those who wait on family and friends who ride Mantis, Raptor and Magnum. There is a visual element there for the non-rider).
The 1990 press release for Disaster claims "nearly 20 animated devices" were to be included. I think we only got 2.
Other effects were to be mist, wind blasts, recordings and 150 props.
And get this:
"The space vehicle enters a "laser cone" at the bottom of the lift hill that envelops passengers in a field of stars. The stars will "shoot" backward into straight lines and spin as the transport accelerates. The Q-ray is also used as a weapon that destroys floating space debris and a huge asteroid on a collision course with the transport."
That comes from an "AMUSEMENT BUSINESS" article by Louise Zepp on April 23, 1990.
I think the park gave up on the ride following the accident where that large foam-rubber asteroid fell onto the trough in mid-season 1990. A shuttle later hit the prop.
Cedar Point still publishes in printed materials and web media the cost to be $4 million.
As Jeff has said, "Don't hate the players. Hate the game."
The ride's $4 million dollar budget was cut two thirds during construction in 1989-1990, forcing ITEC (design company) to scramble several times with last minute changes.
Cedar Fair executives thought $4 million was too much to spend on special effects that you could not experience from outside the structure (meaning non-riders could not participate in the the ride... like those who wait on family and friends who ride Mantis, Raptor and Magnum. There is a visual element there for the non-rider).
The 1990 press release for Disaster claims "nearly 20 animated devices" were to be included. I think we only got 2.
Other effects were to be mist, wind blasts, recordings and 150 props.
And get this:
"The space vehicle enters a "laser cone" at the bottom of the lift hill that envelops passengers in a field of stars. The stars will "shoot" backward into straight lines and spin as the transport accelerates. The Q-ray is also used as a weapon that destroys floating space debris and a huge asteroid on a collision course with the transport."
That comes from an "AMUSEMENT BUSINESS" article by Louise Zepp on April 23, 1990.
I think the park gave up on the ride following the accident where that large foam-rubber asteroid fell onto the trough in mid-season 1990. A shuttle later hit the prop.
Cedar Point still publishes in printed materials and web media the cost to be $4 million.
As Jeff has said, "Don't hate the players. Hate the game."
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