Coaster Radio: The Original Theme Park Podcast

Every now and then, a theme park attraction comes along that makes you remember why you liked this stuff in the first place. And sometimes that same ride is so ahead of its time, you realize you've sort-of seen a glimpse into the future of the amusement industry. This week saw the unveiling of "Mystic Manor" at Hong Kong Disneyland .  And for the most part, every Disney fan is in agreement that it...

This is one of those shows where a lot is covered in 57 minutes. I hope you're ready.... First up, the guys talk about the new  "Iron Man Tech: Presented by Stark Industries"  exhibit that opened at Disneyland. Besides  sounding a lot like one of last year's "Reel Design" finalists , could this be the first wave of Marvel-themed attractions in the Disney Parks?  The guys will talk about the specul...

Travis from California, our CoasterRadio.com West Coast Correspondant, had a chance to visit the Grand Opening of the Legoland Hotel in Southern California. This special video podcast will take you inside the hotel to show you all of the surprises that await families who book a stay there... including the infamous "Disco Elevator!" Our thanks go to Travis for producing this video! Way to go!

Imagine you're walking into your favorite theme park and heading straight for favorite roller coaster. Just as you come up on the familiar twists and turns, you notice something strange.... the cars are facing backwards! This will be the experience for parks fans in the Chicago area when Six Flags Great America runs Batman: The Ride backwards for part of the 2013 season. On this week's show, we'll...

Anyone who considers themselves a fan of theme parks probably has spent a lot of time analyzing them. We marvel at how attraction designers use technology to bring the our favorite stories and characters to life. But, fans can also take the analysis a step further and take a look at the parks from a literary and social angle as well. For instance, what does "It's A Small World" have to do with the...

"Outlaw Run," one of the most highly anticipated roller coasters of 2013 opened this week at Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO. The new creation from Rocky Mountain Construction has set a world record for the steepest drop on a wooden coaster at 81 degrees. It's also the 2nd fastest wooden coaster in the world at 68 mph. Plus, it has the signature element of a double barrel roll that brings the tr...

Here at the show, we're curious to find out what what the new ABC Television pilot "Big Thunder" is all about. In the past, there have been movies based on classic theme park attractions (Pirates of the Carribbean and The Haunted Mansion), but to our knowledge, this is the first television show based upon a theme park ride. So while we wait for the show to premiere, we came up with a fun contest i...

This or That returns this week! Listeners have submitted over 60 different pairs of theme park related items. Mike and EB will have to debate their merits and then ultimately choose one. For instance... Would you visit Disneyland in 1955 or 2055? "Knotts Scary Farm" or "Halloween Horror Nights?" What ride at Cedar Point will come down first: Mantis or Magnum? Along with all of the theme park relat...

If we asked you guys what your "Dream Job" would be, we're guessing a lot of you would have the same answer... "Disney Imagineer." Unfortunately, only a select few get to have that title.  So, it's understandable when some of the more famous names become the "rock stars" of the Disney and Theme Park Fan Communities. On this week's show, we pay tribute to Tony Baxter, a long-time Disney Imagineer w...

There's big news this week out of Northern California this week and we have the first interviews about it. California's Great America announced that their new roller coaster "Gold Striker" will now include the world’s longest covered initial descent tunnel on a wooden coaster.    Adding intrigue to the record setting feature, Gold Striker’s 174-foot tunnel will be enclosed by wood on both sides, c...

The best thing about this show are the people who listen to it. They are all fun, passionate people who share a love of theme parks. They are also one of the most engaged audiences out there.  When we have asked for listener interaction in the past, we always receive interesting and energetic responses. That's why we love our yearly "Listener Question Shows." We received a ton of great questions t...

Week after week, we get a lot of interesting feedback from you guys. One listener will write in and say that we need to focus on the regional parks more and less on what's happening at Disney. An hour later, we'll get an e-mail from someone wanting more talk about the Disney Parks and less about Six Flags and Cedar Fair. It's impossible to come up with topics that please everyone, but this week we...

We're only a few short months away from the regional parks beginning to open up for the spring. That means that the new attractions for 2013 will be opening at parks worldwide shortly thereafter. Are you aware how many new rides will be opening during the upcoming year? On this week's show, Mike and EB are joined by Arthur Levine, the Theme Parks Expert at About.com. Arthur and the guys will weigh...

Imagine covering 40 different topics of discussion in a 60-minute show. Sounds exhausting, right? Mike and EB will attempt to it, as they lovingly "ripoff" one of their favorite ESPN programs, "Pardon the Interruption." PTI is known for its fast-paced conversation, incessant bickering between the hosts and rapid-fire topics. The show uses a countdown timer in order to keep the conversation moving....

It's the start of a New Year!  Happy 2013! To celebrate, we'll look forwards and backwards. We'll take a look at all of the Best New Attractions from 2012 and how they affected parks across the world. Which rides were hits?  Which ones were misses?  Which one will be crowned the "CoasterRadio.com Best New Attraction of 2012?"  We'll find out on this week's episode. We'll also have an in-depth disc...

This week, we do something on the show that hasn't been done since October 10, 2005! For the first time in seven years, an episode of Coaster Radio will not be hosted by either Mike or EB. Instead, we welcome several guest hosts! First, as master of ceremonies, we're happy to welcome Ricky Brigante... host of the extremely popular and longest running Disney podcast in the world, Inside the Magic ....

Earlier this year, we were amazed when we got to see "World of Color" at Disney California Adventure. It was absolutely amazing what the Imagineers could do with water, light and music.  "Backyard Imagineers" can do something similar around the winter holidays.  They take thousands of lights and animate them to music using computer technology!  It's like having a mini World of Color in your front...

We're just a few days away from Christmas... but the presents are here early! My friends, it's time for the 2012 Coaster Radio Holiday Spectacular! There are a ton of gifts under the tree, including... * Mike and EB's eerie predictions for theme parks in 2013. * A Live Trip Report from Silver Dollar City * A new "Christmas Carol" from one of the most famous theme park figures of 2012. * The return...

Here's a trivia question for you... Besides Walt Disney, who was Mike Collins' hero when he was growing up? The answer: Bob Barker from The Price is Right. Mike never got to meet Walt, but he did get a chance to meet Mr. Barker shortly after he retired from his game show. On this week's show, Mike and EB will channel Bob's spirit as they unleash a new game show...  THEME PARK SMARTS! CoasterRadio....

One of the great things about being a fan of theme parks is getting to know the creative stories and legends behind each attraction. With all due respect to other theme park companies, no one does this better than Disney. The story and immersive atmosphere of the "Haunted Mansion" attractions captivate guests around the world. Recently, a group of filmmakers, special effects artists, composers and...

We're about three weeks away from Christmas... so now's the time to start looking for holiday gifts for family and friends. OR... it might be the time for you to start dropping hints about what you're interested in seeing under the tree. Odds are, whether you're giving or receiving, you have theme park fans in your life. On this week's episode of Coaster Radio, we're here to help! It's the 2012 Ho...

On this week's show, EB and Mike let the listeners vent on what they are most (and least) thankful for at the theme parks this year. It's a chance to give thanks and complain at the same time! Plus, the guys discuss some of the big announcements made at the amusement industry's major trade show - IAAPA. Mike and EB will be joined by Clint Novak and The Legend from the "In The Loop" podcast. Clint...

We've all been at the park and seen a parent or other adult forcing a kid onto a roller coaster or other intense thrill ride. Maybe the kid is just a bit scared... but other times the kid is shrieking in sheer terror. On this week's show, we ask the Coaster Radio audience... What Would You Do? Would you get involved?  Would you stay away?  Would you watch as if it were bonus entertainment that you...

Sometimes there are big stories in the amusement industry... Maybe a new roller coaster is announced or a new park is being built somewhere. But sometimes there are stories that come along that entirely change the landscape of the entertainment industry. One of those stories happened this week. The Walt Disney Company announced that it would be purchasing Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion. This includes...

All Hallows Eve is almost upon us.... This week, we have the perfect show to get you in the "spirit" of Halloween. Mike and EB start this week's show with a bit of talk about whether or not Walt Disney World and Disneyland should consider an "adult-oriented" Halloween event at their parks. Universal Studios has pretty much cornered the market in Orlando and Southern California... but could Disney...