Is Orbiter (Canada's Wonderland) No More?

I was casually looking at Canada's Wonderland's park map for 2006, and I noticed that where Orbiter normally stands, it's now just a mass of trees.

Compare that with Wonderland's 2005 park map, and you can see (located right next to Italian Job: Stunt Track) that the Orbiter is still listed on the map, meaning they acknowledge it & it's in operation.

For those unfimilar, the Orbiter is the ONLY Huss Giant Enterprise that is in operation today. If this is gone, then that's it for the Giant Enterprises... does anybody know if it's been rumored to be SBNO this season, or even taken down completely?
If anybody does know, is there a reason such as popularity or maintaince issues?

Just to be technical about it...the ride is a Huss Skylab.

If I remember correctly, Kings Island and Kennywood have both removed Skylab rides in the past ten years or so. Kennywood replaced theirs with an Enterprise.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Popularity would most likely be the reason for Orbiter's demise at Wonderland. It was a constant walk on and therefore probobly not worth the cost of operating it (not only electricty costs, but maitenance, and 2 employees to run the ride).

I'll post a reply on here when I go on opening day to let everyone know about its fate.

*edit* I emailed the park about it, I'll make a new post when I get a reply. I also noticed that the name has been changed to "Paramount's Hollywood Stunt Spectacular" on the website and that it is now saying that it will be for the 2006 season only. Makes you wonder if they'll bring in a new show next season, or if this parking lot theatre is only temporary. *** Edited 3/23/2006 2:21:02 AM UTC by bassman2003***

The re-themeing of the stunt show is very intersesting. I had submitted this as news, but I guess it didn't make the cut.

I wonder if this is the first step in "De-Paramount-ing" the parks. Another theory is simply with the temporary staging in the parking lot, that it's easier to move the show from park to park over the years without the themeing tied into it.

As for Orbiter, over the past few seasons it's been sketchy on the park maps. One year it was gone, then back, then back as a graphic only and not listed on the rides. I do however think that the ride is there to stay for the season as nothing is in the media centre updates about it.

For those interested, the media centre at www.canadas-wonderland.com has pics of the construction of the stunt show set and stands, as well as the construction of a new restaurant replacing the Southside Grille, called the Backlot Cafe. It also refers to the new simulator ride at the F/X Theatre as being "The New Adventures of Hanna Barbera".

The new stunt show doesn't open until late May, and the parades start in mid July.

I don't get it... why would this be a "temporary parking lot theater"? They claim in their media publications that it's a "multi-million dollar investment", yet why would something like this be temporary? Maybe it's the only spot they really had good room to put such a show?

It'd definately be nice to have a really great quality show there, even if it doesn't have the "Mission: Impossible" name to it... it'll still be just the same (sans names & theme-music)

As for Orbiter, I hope someone can get to the bottom of it... it may have had a lower popularity especially when compared to the newer rides, but dude... it's one of the original rides at the park! Plus it's nice to have a ride at the park without a long wait time considering how flippin' crowded it can get there sometimes!