Disaster Transport: Not a Complete Disaster Even with Dated Theming & A Short Ride
Disaster Transport is an indoor bobsled coaster at Cedar Point. It’s one of the parks few, if not only, large indoor rides. It opened as Avalanche Run in 1985. Then, in 1990, it was transformed to an indoor attraction and renamed Disaster Transport. I’m assuming Cedar Point did this to add a dark attraction to their lineup, but the resulting space theme is lackluster to say the least. I rode Disaster Transport once in 2006 and it was a short ride. Since I’ve been requested by the readers to review it, I’ll do what I can to try and give it a fair review.
As I waited in the dark, bad sci-fi themed queue for Disaster Transport, I couldn’t help but chuckle at the 80′s view of “futuristic” themeing that was all around me. Everything seemed really cheap and uninteresting. The 
queue was ridiculously long and I can’t imagine it ever gets too full these days. I never knew when I was finally going to make it to the station. At least the cheesy theming helped the time go by faster as I had something entertaining (in a bad way) to look at. Once I finally climbed aboard the sled, I noticed that it was just one car where Avalanche at Kings Dominion was an entire train with several cars. To the ride’s credit most of the ride is very dark and at times pitch black, unlike other indoor roller coasters where there’s enough light to see where you’re headed.
You begin with a climb up the lift hill with glowing lights on either side of you, then, off you go into the darkness. Bobsled coasters mimick the 
experience of riding in a real bobsled course. They generate great side-to-side g-forces and I remember a few moments with noticeable g-forces, but nothing that really left an impression. After taking a few turns in the dark I remember a helix or larger turn in a dimly lit themed area and that was about it.
Because Cedar Point is so popular, I’m sure that Disaster Transport may be the only bobsled coaster that many people have ridden. All bobsleds should definitely not be judged based soley on Disaster Transport. Kings Dominion’s Avalanche is a much more satisfying overall ride. I still give Disaster Transport an average rating because it is unique and it’s not the worst dark attraction I’ve ridden. I just wish it was a bit longer or at least better themed.
This ride definitely needs to be updated if the theming is still the same as it was in 2006. Cedar Point could take a page out the new Six Flags playbook and re-theme Disaster Transport like X2 or the Bizarro coasters. It could be a smart and relatively cheap project that would help bring this cheesy ride up to the 2010′s. Final Rating – 5.0 (Average)
Disaster Transport is rated ‘TR’ for Traditional. It’s a 2 out of 5 on my Thrill Scale.
What’s Your Take?
Have you ridden Disaster Transport? What’d you think? Did I leave anything notable out of my review? Leave a comment below.
December 15, 2009 at 12:18
I thought that disaster transport was like a kiddie ride. It was very boring and slow the entire ride. The line for it was longer than wicked twister (which I would have rather been riding). I think that its a great ride if you have kids but otherwise I would skip it. I think that since they got rid of demon drop they should scrap this ride and put a B&M flying coaster in their places. P.S. I agree with you about avalanche being a better ride.
December 15, 2009 at 18:57
Yep, it's the same as in 2006, except they changed the entry point to the building. It's still an agonizingly long line, mainly because it's a place to escape the heat midday and it's really difficult to tell just how long the queue line is, even with wait time signs at the entrance.
December 17, 2009 at 04:05
Thanks, i`ve been waiting on a disaster transport review for a while, untill now i didn`t know it was a bobsled. the one bobsled i`ve ridden is the alpine bobsled@the great escape. it`s located in the alpine fest area looks better themed than avalanche and Disaster transport. CC, Why was it called disaster transport, futuristic themeing dosen`t realy fit whith transportation.
July 5, 2010 at 18:51
It was originally themed to a hangar, but the theming deteriorated over the years.
December 17, 2009 at 04:55
maybe for flying through space on a new type of vehicle?
December 17, 2009 at 16:40
A futuristic "disaster" is happening on earth and people can escape it by boarding these transports.
August 21, 2010 at 21:19
Incorrect. Actually, you are supposed to be boarding some sort of delivery service vehicle employed by a company called "Dispatch Master Transport." Due to some sort of screw-up, you are taken on a wild ride. Sort of. If you look at the stairs up to the boarding station, There's a "Dispatch Master Transport" logo, but it's being blown up or something, so you see DISpatch mASTER TRANSPORT. It's basically idiotic, and makes next to no sense. My 6-year-old thought it was stupid and a lousy ride. Tear it down and build something good.
July 18, 2012 at 22:34
They will (2013)
February 8, 2010 at 08:01
I like the theming… haha. I don't know, it's kind of amusing and endearing. I think a cool update would be kind of a self-mockery. Like make it so over-the-top 80s cheese with synthy music and everything. Ha
February 8, 2010 at 08:08
Yeah, another female poster!!!
February 8, 2010 at 08:57
Haha, oh, I didn't realize they were so scarce.
February 9, 2010 at 17:21
Good to hear from you again Emma. Yes, female commenters on the blog are kind of rare. Maybe they're just less likely to comment, but it seems like there are just fewer female coaster enthusiasts in general.
February 9, 2010 at 19:30
Stick around, Emma. It's a lot of fun on this site!
February 10, 2010 at 03:01
same thing goes for everyone else.
February 10, 2010 at 12:16
Yeah, just make sure you don't get into any fights, no one wants to be kicked out. I hope you stay.
February 10, 2010 at 12:43
same whith all of the other new posters on the site.
February 10, 2010 at 16:30
Don't offend anyone either, that's a good way to be kicked off the site.
February 11, 2010 at 02:56
and don`t post for no reason!
(this is starting to sound like CC`s code of conduct.)
July 5, 2010 at 18:53
Oh, and keep it PG.
October 9, 2010 at 11:02
I'm pretty sure we all scared her away
woops!
June 17, 2010 at 03:16
Aww, I just went on it yesterday and LOVED it. I think its theming is just as endearing as Demon's at SFGAM, and yes, I laughed at the planet spraypainted on the wall, but it was a really fun ride. I didn't wait at all, thank goodness, but I thought it was fun. The queue wasn't very long for me, it was just two rooms and some stairs… have you been in Flight Deck's queue at Kings Island?
September 7, 2010 at 08:02
The line was short, which made it worth riding. My girly really likes tunnels and riding in the dark so she liked it a lot. There is a good deal of excitement when you drop in darkness, especially knowing there is another car on the track ahead of you -something pretty rare on coasters. Some break from the darkness would easily make this ride better. Just a few picket-fenced blacklights, projections, or lasers would be great. If you think you have limited time then skip it, but don't skip it in favor of Mantis, Iron Dragon, or even Blue Streak.
August 6, 2012 at 12:34
Sad to see it go, but this was easily the cheesiest coaster ive been on. Still fun tho.
March 29, 2013 at 17:07
Never rode it, but when it was rethemed in 1990 it was a great ride. Cedar Point, however, never did any upkeep on the theming, so it deteriorated over time. There used to be many effects, but when the effects stopped working Cedar Point decided to just cover them up instead of replacing them. There used to be fog, lasers, stars, Projections, and more. From what I hear, before it was taken down all there was in the ride was darkness and blacklights.