CoasterRadio.com #538 - Life in the "Fast Lane"

The ongoing trend in the amusement industry seems to be parks coming up with new ways for guests to skip the lines.

Some of the the line cutting systems are free and come with your admission.  But others are offered for an upcharge of $40 or $50.

On this week's episode, Mike and EB talk about the new "Fast Lane" option that just debuted at Kings Island.

The guys will discuss the pros and cons of the new service and what this might mean for other parks around the country.

Will the park experience that we know today change forever?

The guys also discuss their upcoming separate trips to Knoebels and Weiner Prater in Vienna, Austria.  Will Mike be brave enough to tackle the crazy Euro-rides?  And, EB just recently renewed his love affair with a classic carnival attraction!

Plus, a Live Trip Report from one of the most enchanting parks in the country! 

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

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Talk about this episode by leaving a comment here on the blog.

Your "Pre-Game" Rituals

Before we go to the parks, each of has a routine that we have to follow to ensure we have a good time.

Maybe it involves internet research about the park's rides, attractions and restaurants.

Maybe it involves packing certain items that we can fit into our pockets (sunglasses, sunscreen, asprin, etc) that will help us survive the hot temperatures and glaring sun.

Maybe you need to create a special playlist for your iPod that will get you in just the right mood for the hour-plus ride to the park.

Maybe you travel all over your county looking for the best discount coupons that will give you the cheapest ticket.

Whatever your "Pre-Game" ritual is, we want to hear about it for this week's show!

Tell us what preparation you do in order to guarantee your theme park day will be a success!

Send us your answers by posting them right here on the blog by using the "Comments" link below.  You can also e-mail us your answer by using the address over on the right or use our Contact Page!

You can also call our voicemail line at 206-339-3360. Be a part of the show!

CoasterRadio.com #537 - This or That?

On this week's episode of "The Original Theme Park Podcast" we ask the age old question...

"This or That?"

Throughout the past week, the Coaster Radio audience has been sending Mike and EB e-mails filled with tantalizing choices.

The e-mails contain choices between rides, choices between attractions and choices between parks.

It will be Mike and EB's job to make a decision for every choice offered and then defend that decision.

Some listeners have even come up with really bizarre choices that spark some furious debates and unavoidable controversies!

We also have news on the "Producer for a Day" Contest and one of the most unique Live Trip Reports ever! 

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

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Click here for our podcast RSS Feed.

Or you can listen online by using the podcast player on the right hand side of this page. 

Talk about this episode by leaving a comment here on the blog.

The World is Rocking Out to C-Pain!

Wouldn't it be great to see videos of people all over the world enjoying the magic that is C-Pain?

Hmmm...... that's not a bad idea!

This or That?

On this week's show, we're going to try a brand new segment and we need your help!

What we need you to do is to give us two choices...

Pick any two theme park related things: two parks, two attractions, two types of park food... anything!

Then, EB and I will have to choose between the two things and make an argument over why one is better than the other.

Of course, you could choose two really great things at the parks, but it might be fun to make us choose between two really awful rides!

Send us your answers by posting them right here on the blog by using the "Comments" link below.  You can also e-mail us your answer by using the address over on the right or use our Contact Page!

You can also call our voicemail line at 206-339-3360. Be a part of the show!

CoasterRadio.com #536 - Theme Park Mashups!

At one time or another, I'm sure that all of us have tried our hand at "armchair imagineering."

You know, dreaming up rides and attractions that we hope and pray eventually make it to our favorite theme park.

On this week's episode, we gave our audience an unlimited budget and unlimited imagination to create an ultimate attraction by "mashing up" two existing rides.

The listeners of CoasterRadio.com are one of the most creative podcast audiences anywhere... so we have some excellent ideas this week.

We also have a Live Trip Report from Hersheypark, news on the "Producer for a Day" contest and an idea on why the "Mach Tower" drop ride at Busch Gardens Williamsburg has been delayed. Let's just say it might be the "Italian Origins" of the ride!

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

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Click here for our podcast RSS Feed.

Or you can listen online by using the podcast player on the right hand side of this page. 

Talk about this episode by leaving a comment here on the blog.

"Producer for a Day" Contest - Jonathan from Cincinnati

Here is Jonathan's video entry for our "Producer for a Day" contest!

The Ultimate Ride Mash-Up!

Mash-ups are a fun thing when it comes to music.  You can often get some pretty good results when you take two popular songs and make them into one.

We think the same thing can be said for theme park attractions.

For this week's show, we want to hear about your dream "theme park mashup."

Take any two rides from any two parks and put them together.  What would the ride experience be like?  Would it be record breaking?  Would it be the ultimate thrill machine or one the whole family could enjoy?

Send us your answers by posting them right here on the blog by using the "Comments" link below.  You can also e-mail us your answer by using the address over on the right or use our Contact Page!

You can also call our voicemail line at 206-339-3360. Be a part of the show!

CoasterRadio.com #535 - Our New Voiceover Artist - NPH!

For each individual season of Coaster Radio, EB and Mike like to have something called a "story arc."

Basically, it's a common theme and storyline that can carry over throughout an entire season of the show.

For season four, we followed Mike as he prepared for and ultimately triumphed at The American Idol Experience at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

But in Season Five, the guys  unveiled their most ambitious "story arch" ever - The Neil Patrick Harris Project.

EB and Mike wanted to have a major celebrity (who happened to love theme parks) agree to become the voiceover artist that introduces each episode of the show.

They locked on film, television and stage star Neil Patrick Harris, who turned out to be a listener of the show already!

This week, after ten months of wacky contests, Towers of Treats and major charity events, Neil is ready to announce whether he will become a part of the Original Theme Park Podcast!

We also welcome back an old friend, Arthur Levine - the theme parks guide at about.com!

Arthur recently had a chance to ride Star Tours: The Adventures Continue at Disneyland and The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure at Disney California Adventure.

He'll tell Mike and EB which ride made it to his list of Top Theme Park Attractions and which ride gave him a slight case of anticipointment.

We'll also hear from the CoasterRadio.com audience as they talk about their favorite water rides.  Which wet and wild rides are the best in the country?  The listeners have the scoop!

We'll also have a Live Trip Report from Dinosaurs Alive! at Kings Island and Mike will tell you about his upcoming trip to Hungary to ride one of the oldest coasters in the world!

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

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Click here for our podcast RSS Feed.

Or you can listen online by using the podcast player on the right hand side of this page. 

Talk about this episode by leaving a comment here on the blog.

Your Favorite Water Rides

As we get deeper and deeper into the summer months, the temperatures seem to be getting warmer and warmer.

So, we think it's the perfect time to dedicate part of our upcoming show to discussion about the world's best water rides.

We'd like to hear from you so you can tell us about your favorite water rides and water slides.

What's your favorite ride?  What makes it unique?  What about it makes you want to ride again and again?

Send us your answers by posting them right here on the blog by using the "Comments" link below.  You can also e-mail us your answer by using the address over on the right or use our Contact Page!

You can also call our voicemail line at 206-339-3360. Be a part of the show!

CoasterRadio.com #534 - The 2nd Annual Sparktacular Exploosioloosa!

We have a lot of fun traditions here at Coaster Radio, but one of our most cherished happens every year at this time!

This week, it's the 2nd Annual...

SPARKTACULAR EXPLOOSIOLOOSA!

Each year, EB risks life and limb so that he can bring our wireless microphones as close as possible to the flames, sparks and explosions.

Last year, EB got hit with a projectile wall of fire.  What could go wrong this year?

We also will hear from Mike as he gives his "complicated" review of Intimidator 305 at Kings Dominion.  How does it rate when compared to other rides in the park and will Mike be brave enough to ever ride it again?

We also delve into the world of roller coaster enthusiast clubs.  What are some of the reasons people join?  Are there any drawbacks?  What about the recent trend of several clubs "hating" on one another.

We'll hear from the CoasterRadio.com audience as they tell us about what clubs they belong to and the pros and cons of each.

Plus, we'll have a Live Trip Report from a park in Germany! 

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

Direct Podcast Link

Click here to subscribe through iTunes.

Click here for our podcast RSS Feed.

Or you can listen online by using the podcast player on the right hand side of this page. 

Talk about this episode by leaving a comment here on the blog.