12E: the ride or Disaster Transport

I'm sure you all have heard of the GP referring to DISpatch mASTER Transport as 12E, but I thought the CP Blog today was interesting (or stupid depending on your stance).

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The theming of Disaster Transport was done by a design firm, not the ride manufacturer. The name of the man from the design firm who designed Disaster Transport’s theming is Eric. Hrm. Are you with us? Ok.

So his name’s Eric. Ironically, he’s from Toledo. Anyway, that’s where the “E” comes from.

As it turns out, Disaster Transport was the 12th ride he designed. Are you still with us? Put them together and what do you get?? 12 E. Now you’re probably asking yourself, “what’s the point?” We were asking that too! There really isn’t one.

Eric told us that he just wanted “his stamp” on the ride. No harm done, just oodles and oodles of confused employees, guests, and enthusiasts.

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12th and final ride, I hope.

Agreed.

Are you kidding? The theming was great. Avalanche Run was a low-capacity coaster before the re-theming -- nothing could be done about that. But it also had major sand-in-trough issues, and the Disaster Transport theming did a great job turning a mediocre coaster with reliability issues into CP's best dark ride.

That said, I really wish CP would do more to maintain the theme. (At least keep the baskets moving!)

And now 12E makes sense. Thanks!

I always thought it was Kinzel's shoe size ;)

I liked the theming when it first opened. Too bad it was allowed to degrade. I don't understand they didn't bother to maintain a $4.5 million (or whatever it was) theming package for longer than a few years. Seems like a waste of money to me. They could have built a really cool wooden coaster on that spot for about the same price!

The quality of the theming has definitely gotten worse over the years. Somewhere out there, there is a standard that says when you resort to fluorescent paint and black lights, you've really gone downhill, or hit rock bottom.

I expect that kind of theming on the "Junkyards of New Jersey" at Morey's Piers, not a coaster at CP.

That being said, I still find Disaster Transport a fun ride. *** Edited 8/5/2005 3:05:22 PM UTC by TiggerMan***

Maybe, but DT would be just as fun with no theming in pitch black.

I hadn't considered issues with sand before, but every time I see pictures of the ride before the DT days, I wish they had left it sans roof.

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greatwhitenorth said:
Are you kidding? The theming was great.

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I have to agree. Back when it was all together and working it was cool. You have to factor in the time frame as well. Even as it was new, I'm not sure the theme would be enough to impress the young'uns today, but in the early 90's for someone not so well traveled, it was pretty damn great.

I'm glad I got to see things back then, because if my first impression was the ride in it's current state, I'd probably be wonking about it as well. :)

Exactly. I was VERY impressed in 1990. Audio animatronics tied into video and live actors in the queues. Honestly, I thought the queue theming was vastly superior to the ride theming. I still think it's a fun ride though.

Dick Kinzel didn't seem to think much of the ride, even in 1990:

http://www.fool.com/Specials/2003/03082600mf.htm

I remember reading that quote a while back.

Having never been to either of the Disney parks, or any other "themed" park for that matter, I was quite impressed with Disaster Transport the first time I saw it in 1991 with my then 4 year old son.

The queue was definitely the highlight of the themeing, but the "explosion" during the ride was so bright, it lit the track and room and spoiled the "illusion" of travelling through space.

I doubt Cedar Fair will spend the kind of money needed to revamp or re-theme DT, but it's still a fun, family ride, especially when run entirely in the dark.

Honestley the queue dosent really bother me. Its not that great, and the theming makes little to no sense, but id still rather wait in DT's line that many many others at CP...and not just because its air conditioned.

When it first opened, the queue theming was excellent and it made the long wait bareable since you had all kinds of things to look at and watch. The robot up in on the balcony in the second room (now inaccessible) combined with the interation between the video screen was great.

ROB, the little robot that lead the train throughout the ride, made the ride a much more fun experience. Riders would be paying attention to him and his voice-over more than the ride, and inturn would be caught off guard by the ride itself. The best part of the ride was at the midcourse brake when he said "I'm losing contol! I'm losing control!" and you drop into the tunnel and most intense part of the ride. It just made for an overall better ride experience.

It really baffles me as to why they wouldn't have tried to maintain the theming after spending so much on the effects.

I was never much of a fan of DT until last year. It was a very comfortable and smooth ride last year and I really enjoyed it. I think Kinzel's worst decision (DT wise) was re-doing the ride's queue, although I know a lot of people that love black lights and neon hand prints (rolls-eyes).

Does anyone have any old video/pictures of the themeing before it went down hill?

I like DT definently on a hot day and waiting in the line were it is airconditioned. I think it is about time for Cedar Fair to change the scenery and go with an indoor snowy effect were it is lighter and cooler then it is now because only the line is airconditioned and the effects would make it look like you are rideing a traditional bobsled like in the olympics.

Do not get me wrong I like DT now because it is a different type of coaster but the theaming is getting old and some change might make better.

That's a really good idea MS2007. They could redo the theming to more of a snow theme and still call it DT. A futureistic fast train to antiarctica sounds interesting, maybe with a "yeti" creature encounter.

What IS the theme and story of the ride anyway? You get into a transporter, it "launches" into space, and you arrive in antarctica? Even though I really enjoy the ride, I just don't understand what's going on.

My only problem with it was that you go by the themeing too fast to really enjoy any of it.