Coaster Radio: The Original Theme Park Podcast

Before we start looking ahead to 2019... we have a bit of "housekeeping" to do in regards to last year. It's time to announce the winner of the CoasterRadio.com "Best New Attraction of 2018" Award. After that, it's time for "Coaster"Damus! We take a look at our predictions from last year to see which ones came true. Then, we hear from our listeners as they make bold guesses as to what will happen...

Walt Disney imagined Disneyland as a place where parents and their children could have fun together. But even he couldn't imagine how popular his park would become. This week, Disney  dramatically raised the prices  at their Southern California park. Did they do this with the hope of thining the crowds out before "Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge" opens? During our Quick Hits segment, the guys talk about...

This week's First Drop takes a look at the new "roller coaster" that will be built on a Carnival Cruise Ship. "The Bolt" will run on 800 feet of track at a maximum height of 187 feet above the sea level and a top speed of 40 mph. We'll talk about what type of reception this is likely to get from coaster fans and if this ride even deserves to be called a "coaster." During our Quick Hits segment, th...

We are using this season of the show to determine the greatest roller coaster name of all time. To help us figure out what goes into picking the perfect name, we'll be talking with experts at the parks to hear their stories about how their iconic rides were named. This week, we are joined by Brian Knoebel, co-owner and manager of Knoebels and Stacy Ososkie, public relations director at Knoebels. T...

This week's show kicks off with a look at a really interesting survey that Six Flags has been sending to their guests. Inside the survey are hints at two different types of roller coasters that could be coming to the lineups at several parks. Which ones could they be? During our Quick Hits segment, the guys talk about several of this week's most interesting stories in the amusement industry, inclu...

This week's show kicks off with a look at  an interesting lawsuit  brought against Six Flags over the use of biometrics in the parks. The mother of a park guest is suing the the amusement chain because she claims Six Flags took her son's biometric identifiers (thumbprints) without her permission. The result of the lawsuit will affect how biometrics are used in the parks. During our Quick Hits segm...

It's a really special week here at CoasterRadio.com! Not only are we welcoming a brand new baby girl into the family, we are also getting a chance to interview Disney Imagineer Tracey Noce who was the Creative Director for "Incredicoaster" and the Incredibles Park area of Pixar Pier, which opened in June at Disney California Adventure! Tracey tells us what it was like to re-imagine an iconic attra...

This week, the guys take a look at upcoming events for coaster enthusiasts in 2019. After some reflection, they explore if it's time to start a "CoasterRadio.com Club" (with membership cards.) Could this happen soon? During our Quick Hits segment, the guys talk about several of this week's most interesting stories in the amusement industry, including:   Screamscape says RMC will build a new coaste...

The theme park industry is in a constant state of flux. The change is driven by many things. But this week, our "First Drop" focuses on the "Experience Economy" and how a specific group of tourists choose to visit theme parks and other exotic places because of the "social media" opportunities they provide. During our Quick Hits segment, the guys talk about several of this week's most interesting s...

The Off-Season is here and that means the local parks are closed to most of us (except for you lucky ones in Florida and California!) To help combat the "Off-Season Blues," Mike and EB have some ideas that will tide you over until the parks open again in March. During our Quick Hits segment, the guys talk about several of this week's most interesting stories in the amusement industry, including:  ...

We kick off this week's show by welcoming back the designers of  "Mystic Motel,"  one of the greatest home haunts ever created. These guys actually developed a dark ride in their home...complete with moving vehicles. They join us for a second appearance to update us on some big plans they have for the future. During our Quick Hits segment, the guys talk about several of this week's most interestin...

Halloween Horror Nights is one of the most anticipated haunt events of the season. This week, we're joined by Brian and Tim from  The Civil Gore  podcast to talk about their recent trip to Universal Orlando and their experience at houses like "Stranger Things" and "Poltergeist." The guys will also give their picks for the best Horror Films set inside theme parks! During our Quick Hits segment, the...

English Composer Nick Hutson  has been a long-time friend of the show. His career is on the rise! He composed much of the music currently running at  Thorpe Park's Fright Nights.  We'll talk to Nick about the process of  creating themed environments using music . We'll also hear how he used EB and Mike's voices in many of the scarezones and  the launch announcement for Stealth! During our Quick Hi...

"Lucky" Season 13 begins! This week, we'll pull back the curtain of the podcast to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what listeners had to say in our 2018 Survey. What parts of the podcast were hits and what parts bombed? We'll also take some time to give some commentary on some of the big new stories in the amusement industry that happened while we are on break. Finally, we'll talk with Ed Hil...

As we get ready for Episode 500 next week, Mike and EB are back with another Coaster Commentary.  They are taking a look at animations for Maxx Force at Six Flags Great America and Steel Curtain at Kennywood! 

Mike and EB debut their first "Coaster Commentary" and talk about Copperhead Strike at Carowinds and West Coast Racers at Six Flags Magic Mountain...while watching animation of the new rides!

August 30, 2018 was "Announcement Day" for the Six Flags chain and Carowinds. When you combine all of the news of their 2019 additions with what we have already heard from Canada's Wonderland and Kennywood... there is A LOT to talk about. As we close out the 12th season of CoasterRadio.com, we take a look at what is in store for these parks in 2019!

Then, they shocked everyone again with the announcement of a new Star Wars themed land coming to both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Universal had a gigantic hit of their own with "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter," and rumors abound about what they might choose to do at their 4th Gate in Orlando. What would happen if Universal created a "Star Trek" land to rival "Star Wars" land? On this we...

The 2018 CoasterRadio.com Listener Meet-Up is in the books! Over the past two weeks, we've had live shows from two of the best attractions in Branson, MO. This week, we'll tell you what happened when the microphones weren't on! We'll have behind-the-stories, ride reviews and other fun stuff that happened during the 2018 CoasterRadio.com Meet-up!

It's Day Two of the 2018 CoasterRadio.com Listener Meet-up in Branson, MO! This week, Mike and EB are on stage at the Dockside Theater inside  Silver Dollar City  in front of a LIVE audience of CoasterRadio.com Listeners! The guys will review the park and all of its major attractions...including  Outlaw Run ,  Wildfire ,  Powderkeg  and the all-new, recording breaking attraction for 2018:  Time Tr...

It's Day One of the 2018 CoasterRadio.com Listener Meet-up in Branson, MO! Mike and EB kick-off the first of two on-location shows at Bigfoot Fun Park on the famous strip in Branson. They'll learn all about the many attractions at the park, including the infamous Bigfoot Action Tower and the Bigfoot Discovery Expedition! Then, you'll come along as Mike and EB brave the Gravity Bomb ... a 200-foot...

EB and his family continue their EPIC road trip across the country. This week, they are podcasting from  Kennywood  in West Mifflin, PA! They're joined by the gang from  "Theme Park Families"  and tell us all about the rides, attractions (and food) that make this such a special and historical park. During our Quick Hits segment, the guys talk about several of this week's most interesting stories i...

EB was at Kings Island this week and is making his way across the country to get to Kennywood for next week's show. So, instead of taking the week off, we decided that we would play a few segments from our Exclusive "Off-Topic" Podcasts that we do for subscribers at  Patreon.com/CoasterRadio. The guys will talk dozens of topics... but not one of them will be about theme parks or roller coasters!

This week, EB is at Kings Island in Ohio! He's there with his whole family and they not only review the park itself, but also all of the major rides and attractions. During our Quick Hits segment, the guys talk about several of this week's most interesting stories in the amusement industry, including:   Is the  Expedition Everest's Yeti  about to be fixed? Our original 2006 interview with  Imagine...

Kennywood had been releasing numeric clues related to their 2019 attraction. Mike and EB take a look at nine of the numbers and attempt to decipher the code! During our Quick Hits segment, the guys talk about several of this week's most interesting stories in the amusement industry, including:   Dorney Park's Rumored 2019 Coaster Six Flags Magic Mountain's Rumored 2019 Coaster Carowinds' Rumored 2...