The Disaster Transport

Hey I have another question for you guys.
When I went in '96 I never got a chance to ride Disaster Transport. Now many people tell me it is horrible. But I would think otherwise because my home park (SFGAM) used to have a bobsled coaster and I loved it! So that is why I think I would like it. Especially because it is in the dark! Can someone please tell me:
1.What are the wait times?
2.How long of a ride is it?
3.And Do you like the ride?

Thanks again,
eXvute

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http://user.netomia.com/coasterman/
My homepage! *** This post was edited by eXvute on 7/31/2000. ***

Disaster's wait time can vary wildly, because the line is all inside and you can't tell. Usually it is about 20-30 minutes, unless you can see the line outside the building, then it is quite a bit longer. The ride itself is 2 minutes and 40 seconds, reaching about 42mph. Personally, I love the ride, but I've worked it and have walked in the track and everything like that, so I really know all the ins and outs of the ride.

Disaster has a space-pirate themey thing going with it, but over the years many of the props have broken and not been fixed or replaced. That is why a lot of people don't like the ride anymore, not to mention that for speed and all it can't compare with other CP coasters. They have fixed quite a few of the props this year, and of course the coaster itself hasn't changed, but it all depends on what you like. I like it! *Grin*

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Disaster Transport '97 Crew
Iron Dragon '98 Crew

CrystalKat have you been on any other bobsled rides?

Nope... Not too many left, if I'm not mistaken...

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Disaster Transport '97 Crew
Iron Dragon '98 Crew

no you're right

I have been on the one at Kings Dominion. There is a big difference between the cars on Disaster Transport and the cars on most bobsleds. Disaster Transport has high capacity custom cars that when full do not navigate the turns very well. I would recommend riding this one either first or last. As that is when lines tend to be the shortest. Of course the ride does have AC so most people ride it during the hottest part of the day.

CyrstalKat, Is that really the only problem with the FX? They won't dish out the money to fix anything?

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Dispatch Master, This is Transport one! I'm losing control, I'm losing control!

Crystalkat are you sure about the ride time? I know you said you worked the ride, but it just seems impossible that it is 2 minutes and 40 seconds. It seems a lot shorter than that. It seems like its only 40 seconds after you get to the top of the lift. Good ride but way too short.
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"Sir, Shouldn't You Buckle Up First?"
"Aaahhh BUCKLE THIS! LUDICROUS SPEED, GO!!!!!"-Spaceballs

CrystalKat is almost right about the ride time...from the time you leave the boarding platform until the lap bars pop open in the unloading station, assuming the ride is operating on interval, is darned close to 2:42. Last time I was up there, I timed the ride interval at 0:40, which is a little slower than I got in the past (which was 0:30) and the ride time for my one ride at 3:12. There was, however, an unspecified delay someplace so we spent a while sitting on the block brake uptrack of the unload station.

Indeed, Disaster Transport is a short ride, but remember that there is a brief delay...about fifteen seconds...on the ready brake before the lift. Then the lift is extremely slow...even though it is only 63 feet to the top, it takes long enough that there are often two cars on the lift at once. Assuming a 0:30 interval, that means the lift takes more than a minute. So you're at a 1:15-1:30 ride time by the time you get to the top of the lift. Bernz says 0:40 from the top of the lift...it's more like a minute (I'll bet CrystalKat knows for sure), but then there is usually a delay on the block brake before unloading as well. So you get to spend a full 2:42 on the ride.

The bobsled coaster at Kings Dominion is completely different from Disaster Transport. Disaster Transport has more in common with the bobsled coasters at The Great Escape and one of the Six Flags parks whose name escapes me at the moment...

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Rideman, you're right about the ride time. The lift is so long that the ride seems much shorter than it is -- actual time in trough varies right around 1:20.

As for the effects, yeah, it's unfortunately true that they just don't fix it! One time, the light burned out at "Alaska" -- the last curve that has the bulldozer looking thing in it -- and it took more than 3 weeks of our complaining before it was replaced. And I suppose they think of it this way: imagine how difficult it would be to fix some of the effects, like the satellite and the stars and so forth. You'd have to get a ladder on top of one of the queue rooms, all to change a few lights and stuff. When the ride just isn't that popular why bother? I don't agree with that philosophy, but there it is. How much Disaster Transport merchandise do you see around the park? The only souvenir I have of the ride I worked -- my first coaster baby -- is a postcard with the "artist's rendition" that I bought the year it opened -- years before I ever worked it! (If anyone has anything else I'd love to bargain with you! *Grin*)

One last note: I have it from high authority -- no names, of course, but he is a full-time senior manager in park operations -- his opinion is that enclosing Avalanche Run was one of the worst decisions the park ever made. It has more down time now that it ever did, because it does close in the rain (huge vents right over the trough -- brilliant planning), and there is no wind or sun to dry it out. Plus all the FX break and everyone complains that the ride is bad. I don't think so, but there you have it! DT is still one of my very favorites!

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Disaster Transport '97 Crew
Iron Dragon '98 Crew

I like DT. My favorite part is right after the lift hill where it is completely dark and you can't see where your going. It is a good ride to cool off on (AC in line) and then have a decent ride as a reward!

I must say that that is just horrible. It is a shame that all the employees don't love there jobs. If you get done with what you've been assigned then don't sit there and do nothing while you wait for another assignment. Look for something to do.

Vents on the roof? Couldn't those be covered (similar to chimney covers)?

Well DT fans, I will tell you that you'll look at Disaster Transport a whole new way next season.;)

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Dispatch Master, This is Transport one! I'm losing control, I'm losing control!

I loved working Disaster, and we had some great fun, especially playing pranks in the trough. *GRIN* All harmless, but that building can get DARK! And I agree, you'd THINK the vents could be covered...

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Disaster Transport '97 Crew
Iron Dragon '98 Crew

DT is a good ride. Sure its not a MF or Magnum that coaster nuts like, but a park has to have "tame" coasters like this one. Sometimes its good to escape the heat and its worth the time

I enjoy DT too. It would be nice if they could do something like it but bigger and longer. It is to short of a ride, but there could be so much potential!!

Magnum is sinking...


"We will look at DT a whole new way next year." I hope that means we won't be looking at it at all...if you know what I mean..ha,ha. Seriously, I don't want CP to pump any more money into this ride. As you can tell, I don't like the ride, but I wish CP could have the millions of dollars back that they put in to it. It was wasted money. I'd rather have Avalanche Run. I still didn't like the ride, but at least it was nice to look at, instead of a warehouse.

Warehouse = Boardwalk project...I don't think so.

Honestly, I liked DT most when all the props were broken and it was a dark ride, with a couple of punctures in the roof to let shards of light stream down through the dust motes.

That's when it was the most effective.

I can see why the employees hate it. When I was there last summer, there was a big dragonfly in loading area and they were all freaked out!

Just to say this now:
I REALLY like Disaster Transport! The only problem is the length.

If they wanted to fix it (which they probably do), they should just COMPLETELY tear down the building, and just start from scratch around the ride. They could make a more attractive building, and even alter the theme. This would cost millions, but if they did this with the addition of a Mad Mouse, it would probably cost just as much as a new coaster (thats good and bad). I really hope we see a new building, even if they just re-model it, and some "out of this world" themeing (sorry about the pun) . DT is a good ride, and doesn't desearve neglect! Somebody has to agree... CP?

CABEWNCP - of course, I agree completely! The technology exists now for CP to do some fantasic effects, complete with holograms and all that to really spice up Disaster. I'd love to see it happen! I have no clue if it will, but maybe that's part of the boardwalk project. Unfortunately, the ride can't be made longer, but good effects could really take care of that. I remember when it opened, it was great! (Not that I don't still love it).

BTW -- Disaster gets bats in it, iluvcp, so maybe that's what was in the loading area. That was an interesting day! *Grin*

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Disaster Transport '97 Crew
Iron Dragon '98 Crew

Hey Magnum is Sinking, if Cedar Point does change Disator Transport next year, I hope they keep the part were you hear the voice say,"Dispatch One, Were Losing You!" That part always cracks me and my friends up.