Coaster Radio: The Original Theme Park Podcast

People who like theme parks and thrill rides are often called "extreme." I guess people who travel hundreds of miles to ride the latest and greatest roller coasters tend to take a few more risks and try experiences that the average person might never try. However, there are some attractions out there that even test the courage of the bravest park fans. Heck, they even test the courage of the brave...

An interesting title for the podcast this week... but we'll explain it all. On this episode of the "Original Theme Park Podcast," we transition from the winter months to the spring and summer and get ready for the 2012 season! This week, we take a look at a recent survey conducted by Six Flags Over Georgia.  Last summer, they asked their guests' opinions on different aspects of roller coasters and...

As fun as it was to visit Disneyland and Disney California Adventure a few weeks ago, it wasn't the main reason for our trip to the west coast. Neil Patrick Harris invited us to come out to Hollywood to be extras in an upcoming episode of the hit CBS sit-com, "How I Met Your Mother." On this week's (very long) episode, we tell you the ENTIRE story. We talk about what we saw, our interactions with...

We've spent the past two shows going over every details of our California Trip that included visits to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. But even with two whole hours devoted to both parks, there were things we missed. AND... the CoasterRadio.com audience was quick to remind us of the things we forgot to talk about. PLUS, there were some things that we said about the Disney's West Coast...

The Original Theme Park Podcast returns with Part II of our California Trilogy of shows! This week, we talk about all of the stories and details from our trip to Disney California Adventure. This park has been on people's minds a lot lately as Disney wraps up its major construction projects including Buena Vista Street and Cars Land . But will EB and Mike enjoy the park after visiting Disneyland j...

EB and Mike reunite to take on the park that essentially started the theme park industry. This week, the guys are at Disneyland! After spending 15 hours in the park, they experienced almost every ride and attraction on the Disneyland Map! In a show that's partially on-location and partially in our studios, the guys review the park and all of the famous attractions for which Disneyland is known! Yo...

This week, CoasterRadio.com presents the Finals in the 2012 "Reel" Design Contest ! People from all over the world sent in ride designs based on their favorite Hollywood movies. Mike and EB shared the Top 10 Semi-Finalists with you on the show and then sent the follow three finalists off to the esteemed panel of judges: The Stark Expo: The Iron Man Experience - James King The UP Adventure - Travis...

Last week, we started the Semi-Final Round of the 2012 "Reel" Design Contest. The first five Semi-Finalists were revealed, debated and disected. Listeners of Coaster Radio took to our blog, Twitter Feed and Facebook Page to let their opinions be known.  It seemed as if every listener had a different entry that they liked best! On this week's show, EB and Mike reveal the final five Semi-Finalists a...

For weeks and weeks, people from all over the world have been dreaming up new ideas for theme park attractions based on hit movies. They've tried to carefully re-tell a story from a beloved film using the latest and greatest technologies available to the amusement industry. Some have been drawing up blueprints and schematics, others have been sketching out storyboards, while others have been writi...

"This is going to be a very interesting project.  When you first look at it, it does sound a little bit strange... you know, an entire radio show dedicated to roller coasters and theme parks.    But there are shows dedicated to all types of things, like sports.  People talk for hours and hours about sports... why not talk for hours and hours about theme parks?" This is what I said on the very firs...

CoasterRadio.com is a show about theme parks and thrill rides... but we also try to be a lot more. Whenever possible, we try to enrich the lives our our listeners, by providing them with information essential to living "the good life." Since this week's show is so dangerously close to Valentine's Day, we've decided to dedicate this episode to enhancing your love life. Buckle your seatbelts! To hel...

Last summer, we sponsored a contest here at CoasterRadio.com where we would give the lucky winner a chance to produce an entire episode of the show. We were so excited about everyone's ideas... we chose four winners! This week, the first of those winners is stepping up to the plate to see if he has what it takes to live up to the pressure of producing a crazy podcast like this. Tom from Louisville...

There were some crazy stories in the press this week... and a lot of them had to do with theme parks. For instance... Disney decided to drop a decades old rule that Walt Disney himself instated.  Starting next month, workers will be allowed to sport beards and goatees. Hipsters rejoice! Thorpe Park in England said that their new coaster "The Swarm" was apparently having some trouble making its hei...

Imagine if you had a chance to sit down and talk with Walt Disney when he started to brainstorm about an idea called "Mickey Mouse Park." What if you could go back to 1959 and have lunch with Angus Wynne Jr. to hear his ideas about a park that would eventually become "Six Flags Over Texas." Building a theme park from scratch is no easy accomplishment.  It takes hard work, a solid business plan and...

Among theme park fans, one of the most talked about locations over the past several years has been Universal Orlando . Year after year, they blow people away with their incredibly detailed and truly scary (and fun) "Halloween Horror Nights." They really turned people's heads when they unleashed the incredibly awesome "Spiderman" attraction on the world.  Some people claim that ride hasn't been top...

The crowd in Times Square has gathered... The giant crystal ball is hovering above the masses, ready to drop... The New Year is just minutes away! And, there is only one host who has the charisma, sparkling personality and giant red claws to bring it all to you... Bob The Lobster. This week, the Original Theme Park Podcast rings in the new year with a "live" broadcast from Times Square in New York...

EB and Mike are taking a week off for the holidays.  But, they have produced this video podcast showing you the complete circuit of Mike's 2011 Christmas Tree Monorail! Mike set up the Walt Disney World Monorail toy under his Christmas Tree. Two trains (Yellow and Black) move through a track switch and visit EPCOT's Spaceship Earth along with Disney's Contemporary Resort and Disney's Polynesian Re...

Here at Coaster Radio, we're big fans of the Variety Specials they used to have on TV awhile back. Before there were hundreds of lame reality shows and other filler, television networks used to produce special programs (especially around the holidays) that featured different kinds of entertainment and segments. This week, we're going to try to do the same thing with our 2011 Holiday Spectacular! T...

Jim Hill Media published an interesting article this week about possible plans at Walt Disney World to introduce a fee-based version of the FastPass System. Nothing has been announced by the Walt Disney Company as of yet, but the article says that Disney is considering offering a way to reserve ride times and show/parade viewing spots if you stay at a Disney Resort and purchase something called "T...

With the holidays right around the corner, you might be scrambling to find the perfect gift. But if you're looking for something for a theme park fan, the local mall might not have exactly what you need. Never fear! Here at Coaster Radio, we're bring back our annual tradition - The Holiday Gift Guide! The 2011 version has a ton of great ideas, sure to impress the theme park fan in your life.  Hey,...

The guys had planned on producing a regular show this week, but Mike came down with a pretty bad case of the flu. So, after some thought, they decided to enlist the help of Clint Novak from The Coaster Crew and dig out an episode of the show that has never been heard on our podcast feed before! Let me explain.... Back in 2007, after Coaster Radio 1.0 had gone off the air, Mike, Flava and Mario for...

Happy Thanksgiving! 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! We also have the first ever Holiday Kid Call! Our own version of Santa Claus makes a call to the children of one of our listeners. Does this turn out to be a good idea for the show?  Or d...

It may be the off-season for most of us around the world, but you can get still get your park fix right here... with the Original Theme Park Podcast! Each year, amusement industry insiders gather at the annual IAAPA Conference to check out new attractions and technologies that they might want to purchase for their park. On this week's show, Mike and EB send a wireless microphone to the 2011 IAAPA...

Yes, it's a strange title for this week's episode... but it will all make sense once you take a listen! This week, Mike and EB catch up on a bunch of backlogged calls from the Coaster Radio Voicemail Line. We'll hear what happened to some of our favorite callers over the summer and introduce you to someone who we're sure is going to be a fan favorite. We also interview Scot Wegener. the author of...

Grab a glass of Butterbeer, dust off your magic wand and brush up on your spells... because this week, the Original Theme Park Podcast is coming to you from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter! This amazingly detailed land at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure in Orlando has been memorizing guests ever since it opened last year. We'll tell you what makes the Wizarding World so special and give...