Great quote from Dick Kinzel...

Speaking of Mrs. Kizel...

it was because of her that Mantis wasn't called Banshee. His wife (so I hear) is Irish, and Banshee is an evil female sprit. Banchee is really a better name because of the way it howls.

No, no. They changed it after a local newspaper printed a definition of a banshee saying that it "was a female spirit whose wail was said to foretell a death in the family."

See: http://www.rcdb.com/id7.htm

Either way. I heard that story a rumor floating around on the midways. I guess i was wrong. No big. Even so, that thing howls like crazy! You can hear it from just about anywhere in the park.

Why did enclose Avalance Run and rename it DisasterTransport

Tried to make a silk purse from a pig's ear I guess. Other than that bonehead move, Kinzel has done a GREAT job with CP. Now only if they'd pay their employees more, I'd work there again this summer.

IIRC, one of the main *problems* with Avalanche Run (not that I ever saw CP before '99) was that the sand from the beach was being blown around and causing issues for the mechanicals of the ride...maybe even damaging the trough? Enclosing the ride fixed all that....but then D(M)T required some theming, and theming requires....upkeep... ;)

Theaming? What theaming? Blue Streak has better theaming!

Theaming????

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wahoo skipper said:
He got the house there because the land was free (having been owned by the Point) and Cedar Fair built the house. The parking lot isn't really loud...but imagine a Blue Streak/Mean Streak or even Raptor down on that end of the beach. Maybe Mr. wouldn't care...but Mrs. might.

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A free house? They've nothing to complain about! ;)

Sadly, I think this experience with DT has made Kinzel hesitant to ever use theming to any large degree on a future ride. Then again, if they are not going to maintain it, maybe it is for the best...

^but by letting the looks of the ride go to hell only adds to the 'Disaster' effect. ;)

They should bring back EarthQuake.

Forget earthquake. I still let out a big sigh every time I walk past the defunct Pirate Ride's cannon towers.

Yo ho yo ho.

Actually, it's this exact sort of thing that completely confuses me about Cedar Point.

On one hand, you have the biggest and best collection of world class coasters on the planet. Impressive thrill rides...great talent at the shows...and always something new to look forward to every year.

Then, you have something like Disaster Transport in the park, with theming that literally has been allowed to fall apart to the point of being embarrasing to long-time CP goers, and confusing the new guests. You have old theming like the pirate ride towers just sitting there.

What prevents Kinzel from saying..."gosh, maybe we should do something about Disaster Transport (and no, I do not mean scrap it...I mean make it look respectable)". Or, "gee...we took the pirate ride out a decade ago. Maybe we should clean out the building!"

It just seems like a big contradiction. I would gladly take 2-3 years of no new rides at Cedar Point to allow for some general clean up and beautification to take place. Am I alone?

You aren't alone and I've said this before: Mr. Kinzel is like a kid in a candy store. He sees the biggest, brightest looking piece of candy and doesn't realize what else might be there to enjoy.

There are plenty of talented people at the Point that see the same things you do and would love to fix them. Those types of items go on punch lists every year and the money does not get budgeted to address them.

Another story I've shared before:

Mr. Kinzel was presiding over a meeting once. During the meeting he was described an extensive maintenance project that was expected to cost a great deal of money and take quite some time to accomplish. The person in charge explained that the project was done under budget and earlier than expected...saving the company a considerable amount of money. This landed on Mr. Kinzel like a dead weight. No interest, no excitement, ho hum.

Later in the meeting, a new attraction was given an update and he was all wide-eyed and tingly.

This is why you see the contradicitons all over the park. Beautiful Hotel Breakers Tower and Breakers East while the Bon Air wing stands in it's less than glorious condition. New(er)dorms at one end of the Causeway and dilapidated bulidings on the peninsula.

There are people with the skill and ability to bring things up to the expected standards...but they have to be empowered and supported fiscally to do so...and Kinzel doesn't have it in him.

Damn this ride gets alot of crap. I happen to think its a fun ride.

It was a fun ride, when all the themeing was on. The first time I rode it was in 1992 and I thought it was a pretty cool ride. The next time I rode it wasn't till 2003 and thought "what happen?" I guess thats what happens when you let things go to waste.