Disaster Transport at Cedar Point

Bobsled Coasters

A bobsled roller coaster is one where the coaster trains are not attached to the track, but instead run through a “trough” and allow gravity, the weight distribution in the cars, and the conditions of the track dictate the precise ride course. These types of roller coasters were very popular in the 1930s, but as coaster designs became more sophisticated and riders demanded higher, faster rides with sharper drops, faster turns, and inversions, the style gradually faded away. In the roller coaster boom of the 1980s, many manufacturers revived the bobsled design, but today more high tech rides are taking the place of these milder, classic coasters.

Avalanche Run

Disaster Transport initially opened alongside the Cedar Point beach in 1985 as Avalanche Run. The coaster was themed as an international bobsled race, complete with alpine racing colors and a ski resort station. Despite the popularity of Avalanche Run, however, the ride frequently needed to be closed as sand from the beach would blow into the track and make riding conditions dangerous and unstable. In 1990, the ride was enclosed and rethemed as Disaster Transport.

Effects Evolution

Disaster Transport

Disaster Transport’s original theme was an out-of-control space mission to deliver hazardous materials to a receiving station in Alaska. Riders were members of the shuttle crew, and the queue line featured two talking robots, numerous lighting effects, and a repair bay station with a shuttle being serviced by automated drones. Inside the ride, fog filled the initial lift, the shuttle was sprayed with coolant before climbing the hill, and a computerized navigator provided continual updates on the mission’s progress, including when the shuttle went out of control. An exploding planet was projected onto a massive screen, the shuttles flew through a detailed debris field, and the final landing in Alaska was accompanied by scenes of the futuristic frozen tundra.

As the ride aged, however, many effects failed and were downsized to keep the ride operational at a lower cost. Gradually, many effects were removed, and in recent years the ride has been slightly rethemed. Instead of the space port theming in the queue line, the narrow hallways have been painted with fluorescent paint and blacklit to provide a mild 3D effect, and riders can purchase 3D glasses if desired. The ride itself has been darkened to provide a spookier, more unexpected ride as many areas of the ride are now pitch black and riders cannot see the upcoming twists and dips.

Disaster Transport at Cedar Point Ride Experience

As a bobsled coaster, Disaster Transport is not designed with steep drops or hairpin turns that a more rigidly designed coaster is capable of. Instead, the ride experience is much like a water slide layout, with small dips leading to swooping curves. Riders can expect some sudden changes of direction, however, and the pitch black enclosure makes the ride startling even for experienced riders.

Enclosed Trough

Ride Statistics

While the ride statistics of any roller coaster do not give a complete picture of the ride experience, knowing the facts about Disaster Transport can help riders create realistic expectations about the ride.

• Height: 63 feet
• Length: 1,932 feet
• Speed: 40 miles per hour
• Duration: 2 minutes, 30 seconds

Riding Tips

Ride Vehicle

Because of its somewhat unpredictable ride course and the nature of the track, Disaster Transport at Cedar Point is not recommended for riders with heart, back, or neck problems, and guests who are pregnant or who experience motion sickness should also avoid the ride. Guests must be 46 inches tall to ride, which makes this a great beginner ride for young thrill seekers who aren’t quite tall enough to experience the rest of the park’s coasters (the Iron Dragon also has a 46 inch height minimum). Guests of exceptional size may feel uncomfortable in the ride vehicles; guests who are exceptionally tall should ask to be seated in the front where more leg room is available.

Loose objects and bags cannot be taken on Disaster Transport and cannot be left on the ride platform because riders board and debark the coaster at different locations. Rental lockers are available nearby.

More than 25 million riders have flown from Ohio to Alaska aboard Disaster Transport at Cedar Point, and while it is not the park’s most sophisticated ride, it is a fun roller coaster suitable for younger riders or anyone interested in an unusual ride experience. With fewer than a dozen bobsled roller coasters left in the world, a ride on this mildly themed enclosed coaster is well worthwhile.