Goodbye Disaster Transport (Avalanche Run) Cedar Point 2012 July 27, 2012
Posted by ronannarbor in Cedar Point, Entertainment, Travel.Tags: Cedar Point Avalanche Run, Cedar Point Disaster Transport, defunct coasters, Disaster Transport, Space Spiral, toboggan coasters
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It’s been a long time coming — and Disaster Transport (nee Avalanche Run) will offer its last toboggan run on Sunday July 29th. The ride is slated for demolition (along with Space Spiral a few weeks later) to make room for next season’s new B&M-manufactured wing coaster.
Built in 1985, Avalanche Run opened with great fanfare along with a handful of the toboggan coasters opening across the country.
Seen here outdoors, it was a fast favorite of fans, despite its low thrill factor, with very long wait times and slow load times. A few years later in 1990, Lake Erie, sand, and the elements were beginning to have their way with the track. Throwing good money after bad (most parks that installed the toboggan coasters removed them within a few years because of the extraordinary and expensive maintenance required on them vs the low interest/thrill factor) Cedar Point enclosed it in a large warehouse type structure; themed it to outerspace transport gone amok, and Disaster Transport was rebranded.
Known mostly as the coaster you road when it was really hot outside; Cedar Fair did little in the way of maintenance. As lighting and effects wore out, they were simply abandoned. The queue line was shortened to its current lackluster state. Over the years paint, lights, animatronics, and other effects were simply afterthoughts and most current riders don’t even know what it looked like in the early 90′s since most of the effects have been gone for 15 years.
There are plenty of other blogsites that carefully discuss the history and the effects in the ride — so I will leave that to them, and to your Google search.But I will leave this for last, a photo of Disaster Transport taken from the Skyride with Space Spiral in front of it. I had a final ride on Disaster Transport/Avalanche Run yesterday — and for all those many years of lackluster (but fun and air conditioned) rides, I salute you. Goodbye Disaster Transport.
Ride the Paddlewheel at Cedar Point (2012)….No, it’s not what you think… June 19, 2012
Posted by ronannarbor in Entertainment, Travel.Tags: Cedar Point, Cedar Point Paddlewheel, Winebego Paddlewheel
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So, as you most likely know (or if not, here’s the scoop) Cedar Point closed down the Paddlewheel Excursion last year to make way for this year’s Dinosaur’s Alive! animatronic display on Adventure Island (nee Millennium Island)…but that’s not the only Paddlewheel in town at The Point…
One of the ORIGINAL Paddlewheels (from the 70′s) has been retrofitted and makes daily sailings on the hour from the CP Marina (the same pier as Famous Dave’s Restaurant). It provides a tremendous 45 minutes trip out onto Lake Erie, past CP, and back again — and I guarantee you the absolute best views of Cedar Point, from the most unique angle. The boat is freshly painted; it is in remarkably good shape, and it provides a really comfortable ride.
Captain Brian and his assistant Caitlyn make your trip enjoyable and personable, and the cruise sails rain or shine (unless the rain is severe or blowing sideways). Its a remarkably breezy trip on a hot sunny day…and need I mention again the best views of The Point.
The cost is 10.00 per adult, 8.00 if you are a Platinum Pass holder, and children 5 and under are free. You can reserve in advance by calling 1 (419) 627-2334…or you can purchase your ticket at the Marina Office, which is located right next to Famous Daves. You can bring beverages onboard with you.
If you are Cedar Point, it is attraction Number 4 on your map — and it is located just outside the Marina Entrance — Get your hand stamped, just walk across the street and down the pier toward Famous Dave’s and the Paddlewheel is located at the end of the pier.
Please help support this awesome attraction! Cedar Point doesn’t seem to do a very good job of advertising it, and it really is a wonderful way to spend an hour of your day – relaxing and enjoying the Lake as well as the most unique view of the park available from anywhere. I might suggest the sunset cruise for some amazing color. If you are staying in the resorts, their flyer is inside your Resort Guide Notebook.
These photos were all taken on my cruise the other day. I highly recommend it.
Dancap announces Toronto Musical Theater Tour Season 2012 October 17, 2011
Posted by ronannarbor in Broadway Musicals, Broadway Tour, Entertainment, musical theater, Musicals, Travel.Tags: Dancap 2012, Ontario theatre, Toronto, Toronto Musical Theater Tours 2012
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Dancap announces their 2012 Musical Theater Touring Season in Toronto — Note that Dancap is the up-and-rising direct competitor to Mirvish Productions. Most of its productions are presented at the stellar Centre for the Performing Arts in North York (nee Ford Centre for the Performing Arts). Dancap is particularly known for its longterm sitdown productions such as Jersey Boys.
American Idiot – Dec 28, 2011 – Jan 15, 2012, Toronto Centre for the Arts
In The Heights – Feb 7 – 19, Toronto Centre for the Arts
West Side Story – May 8 – June 3, Toronto Centre for the Arts
Shrek The Musical – March 20 -April 1, Toronto Centre for the Arts
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast – July 3 – 22, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
Million Dollar Quartet – July 20-29, Toronto Centre for the Arts
A Christmas Story, the Musical – December 2012, Sony Centre for the Performing Arts
Paris, September 2009 — and Glee!! September 20, 2009
Posted by ronannarbor in Travel.Tags: "I bust the windows out yer car", Glee, Grease, John Lloyd Young, Josh Groban on Glee, Mercy, Paris, The Lion King, Versailles
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Fleeing Ann Arbor for a week to visit beloved Paris, it felt good to have a break where absolutely nothing was planned, just whatever came my way — and lots did; including Disneyland Paris; Versailles; The Louvre; the Musee D’Orsay; restaurants; a day floating down the Seine; some shopping; and other general Parisian-type things. I don’t know which trip this was, but my current passport has 14 admissions to France; I’d have to find my old Passport somewhere to see how many are on there — but I’m venturing this was about my 20th trip to Paris.
Versailles was pretty as a post card the day we went. I stayed with my friend Michele, who had the opportunity to hang out with me all week!…But it was all wonderful to just go from experience to experience as it came. We had lots of coffee on the way; some Berthillion Ice Cream one night, and our favorite pizza a couple nights too.
Being mostly a musical theatre blog, I should probably take a moment to say that the current musical theatre scene in Paris is BLEAK — Elton John’s The Lion King (Le Roi Lion) is back for it’s yearly appearance; and the umpteenth tour of the British Grease is back in town.
All in all, a fantastic get-away…and what a surprise to get home, watch GLEE on the DVR, and find that John Lloyd Young was among the guest stars in the Acafellas (with an addiction to cold medicine!)….And Vocal Adrenaline’s Mercy number was a gem. Despite the fact that almost every single one of the “teens” at this Lima, OH high school is at least 12 years too old for the part, its still the smartest, funniest, and quirkiest show of the season. In a dream world, I’d be watching Pushing Daisies, Eli Stone, and Glee on alternate nights — as it stands, GLEE is the only creative new show of the season. Lets hope it doesn’t get cancelled as fast as PD and ES. “I bust the windows out yer car”…ha! I want to cameo on the show, just like Josh Groban got to do.
And now that I’m back in Ann Arbor, things are back to normal…Let’s see how long the good buzz from this vacation lasts — I give it a week.
By the way, the new Paris photos are at: ronannarbor.smugmug.com/Other/Paris-September-2009
