CoasterRadio.com #646 - Disney Super-Stereo On-Ride Audio

When you're riding a really good theme park attraction, it's a true treat for the senses.

You're being bombarded with visual imagery, scents, tactile sensations and immersive soundtracks.

On this week's episode of the Original Theme Park Podcast, we're going isolate one of those senses and focus on what you hear when riding some of the world's best theme park attractions.

You'll want to grab a pair of stereo headphones, because we're going to put you right in the middle of four of the most popular rides at Walt Disney World in Florida.

Once you don your headsets, you'll feel like you're in the creaky old elevator at the Hollywood Tower Hotel aboard "Tower of Terror."

Then, we'll strap you into a handglider as you fly over some of  California's greatest landmarks in "Soarin'"

Next, we'll travel with C-3PO and R2-D2 aboard "Star Tours" Flight 1401 as we are persued by Darth Vader and Jango Fett.

Finally, we'll take a ride on "Pirates of the Caribbean" at the Magic Kingdom and hear how the Imagineers seamless blended music and sound effects as we travel from scene to scene.

We'll also have a "Live Trip Report" from Knotts Berry Farm, plus a whole lot more!

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.

CoasterRadio.com #640 - Denise, Stacey and the Orange Shirt Girl

A favorite spot for a solo traveler.

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!

Back in February, Tom from Louisville did a great job producing his episode... "The Live Trip Report Show."

This week, the second of those winners is stepping up to the plate to see if she has what it takes to live up to the pressure of producing a crazy podcast like this.

Stacey and Walt

This week, Mike and EB are joined by Denise from Virginia along with Stacey from Michigan.  The two will give the female perspective on going to Walt Disney World alone.

The girls will talk about everything from dining and riding alone to possibly getting hit on by the International Cast Members at EPCOT.

They'll also talk about some of the hidden gems in the Disney Parks that you can usually only find if you are there alone.

We also have a Live Trip Report from Kings Dominion and Intimidator 305, an update on The CoasterRadio.com Olympics AND we have the World Premiere of C-Pain's Summertime Hit for 2012 - Orange Shirt Girl!

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.

CoasterRadio.com #635 - Cars Land Review and Insider Park Tips!

On the week's show, we have one of the first on-site reviews of the new CARS LAND at Disney California Adventure.

You'll hear about the rich detail of the new land as well as reviews of all three attractions!

And then we have a question for you.

If you took everyone who listened to the Coaster Radio podcast and put them in a giant room... what would you get?

EB might have a snarky comment here... but what you'd have is a huge collection of knowledge about theme parks all across the world.

I'd bet each of those people would have specific knowledge about certain parks they call home.

On this week's episode, we ask the audience to share their best tips for having a great time at their home park.

What rides should you visit first?  Which attractions should you skip?  What food is "must-eat?" What show is "must-see?"

It's also fascinating to listen to all of these tips and realize how many of them apply to parks everywhere.

We also take a look at the story of a teenager who dressed up as a famous Disney fairy while visiting  Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World.  She was asked to change out of her costume because she looked too similar to the "real" thing.

Who's right in this situation?  Who's wrong? Did the media blow this way out of proportion for ratings?  We'll get to the bottom of it all.

PLUS, we have a Live Trip Report from Coney Island and more summertime news!

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.

CoasterRadio.com #634 - AJ from The Disney Food Blog

For this week's show, we hope you brought your appetites.

Because we're going to talk about some of the greatest places on earth to eat and drink... Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

Some of the most renowned chefs on earth work at the various Disney Resorts... cooking up tasty dishes and unbelievable pastries to tempt the theme park tourist.

To help us with our Culinary Conversation, we'll be joined by AJ, the creator of the preeminent place to learn about Dining at Disney, The Disney Food Blog.

Every week, AJ and her team of writers check out what's tasty and new at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.  They've uncovered so much information, they've included it all in a series of e-books! (You've got to check them out!!!)

Plus, we'll get into a debate on whether or not Disney should sell alcoholic beverages in their parks.  Not just in EPCOT and California Adventure, but ALL THE PARKS.

Would you like to have a tasty cocktail while walking through Adventureland?  You might be surprised at how some listeners answered that question.

We''ll also have a Live Trip Report from Hollywood Nights at Holiday World and a visit from the unruliest guest to ever visit Disneyland!

It's all this week on an all-new episode of The Original Theme Park Podcast! (DING!) 

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.

CoasterRadio.com #632 - Give George Lucas Whatever He Wants!

For the next few weeks, Disney's Hollywood Studios is being over run with Jedi Knights, Sith Lords, Wookies, Droids, Bounty Hunters and a bunch of other characters from "a galaxy far, far away."

"Star Wars Weekends" is the hot ticket at Walt Disney World and it seems to be more popular than ever.

With the Boy Wizard making so much noise down the street at Universal Orlando, we want to know why Disney hasn't gone after the ultimate Potter Killer.

Why hasn't Disney done whatever they need to do to get George Lucas to sign off on a dedicated land or a dedicated park solely devoted to Star Wars?

We'll discuss it on this week's show and look for your opinions too!

EB also has a full-scale review of the two new rides that debuted at Holiday World - Mammoth and Sparkler.  Will the world's longest water slide live up to the hype?

We also have a Live Trip Report from Disneyland AND a winner in our SOUNDWAVE Contest!!!

It's all this week on the Original Theme Park Podcast!

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.

CoasterRadio.com #626 - California Questions

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 parks that upset some of our listeners.  So, they sent strongly worded e-mails to let us know how they felt.

We had so many e-mails and interest about the last two shows, that we decided to set aside this episode and answer all of them!

Plus, we preview next week's show which is all about our visit to the set of "How I Met Your Mother." We even spill the beans on some of the stories about what we saw and did!

Make sure to set your DVRs to record "our" episode of HIMYM!  It airs Monday, April 16th at 8pm est on CBS!

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.

CoasterRadio.com #625 - Our Visit to Disney California Adventure!

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 just a few days before?

What will they think of attractions like Tower of Terror, Soarin', California Screamin' and Toy Story Midway Mania?

Plus, for the first time ever, CoasterRadio.com will present Binaural Audio from several points in the park... including audio from EB's first-ever ride on Tower of Terror.  You'll want to make sure that you have headphones handy so you can close your eyes and pretend you're there!

Next week, we want to hear from you with your questions about our California trip! Send them via e-mail, on Facebook and Twitter or by calling our Voicemail Line at 206-339-3360!

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.

Interactive Experiences and Games at the Parks

One of my favorite things to do at EPCOT these days is to play the "Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure."

Sure, I feel a little self-conscious playing a game that was essentially designed for kids, but I am noticing that more and more adults are playing too.

Basically, you get a device called a "Kimmunicator" (which is essentially a Verizon Flip-Phone) so that Kim and her friends can guide you around the different EPCOT countries to help them fight crime.

The best part of the adventure is that your actions actually case things to happen all around World Showcase.

For instance, Molly and I were playing in Germany and were told to activate our "Kimmunicator" when we reached the giant glockenspiel.  Once we pressed the button, the clock came alive to reveal the next clue for the game.

It was a lot of fun to play a game where we had control over giant EPCOT icons.

Imagineers also did an excellent job blending the interactive props into the existing World Showcase architecture.

Disney is currently testing a similar experience over at the Magic Kingdom that looks even more exciting. 

The Orlando Sentinel has an excellent article about "Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom," which is the next generation of this type of interactive experience.  It looks to be more involved and have more interactive options than Kim Possible at EPCOT.

My question is, why haven't we seen these types of experiences at other locations around the country?

To me, this seems like a slam dunk for museums.  One of the best ways to educate people is to tick them into learning while they're playing a game.  Imagine if there was an interactive treasure hunt that took you all over the American History Museum.

I could even see this working at a shopping mall.  The game could take players to strategic places in the mall where they where would find clues for the game (and undoubtedly spend money too!)  It might even provide a return on the investment within a year.

Anyway, I'm excited to get down to Orlando and play "Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom."  Hopefully we'll see similar experiences at entertainment venues outside of Florida as well!

Be Our Guinea Pig!

By now, you've probably heard that the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Park in California are going to celebrate Leap Year by staying open for 24 straight hours on February 29th.

This means that for the first time ever, people will get to spend a solid day in the parks (if they can actually stay awake for that long).

Here's our question... are any of you actually going to attempt to spend a full 24-hours in the park?

Will you get there at 6am on Wednesday, February 29th and stay through 6am on Thursday, March 1st?

If so, we want to hear from you!

We want to document your visit and create a WHOLE EPISODE of CoasterRadio.com around you.

E-mail us at feedback@coasterradio.com if you're planning on doing this Disney "marathon!"

CoasterRadio.com #617 - Mannequin Accidents = PR Gold!

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 height clearances during testing.  Apparantly, some of the test mannequins came back without their limbs.  But the park's PR team didn't see this as a negative... they saw a golden opportunity!

I like this story for a lot of reasons, but mostly because it gave the the opportunity to post a still from one of my favorite 80's movies ever - Mannequin.  Emmy was one hot Egyptian, man.

The guys also take an opportunity to preview upcoming shows and contests!  You won't believe what is in store for February!

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.

Bring On the Beards at Disney!

Will we see this guy working in Frontierland?

One of the things I find most magical about the Disney Parks are the traditions.

Many of them go back to Walt Disney himself.

He laid out a strict set of rules and guidelines that he believed would set his parks apart from others.

For instance, you weren't supposed to see any maintenance going on while the park was open.  You also weren't supposed to see a costumed cast member from one land walking through another.

Small things like this made Disneyland better than other parks that operated around the same time.

One of the rules that has been active for 60 years is that on-stage cast members would not have any facial hair.

In the 1950's and 60's, long hair and beards were considered to be what the 'beatniks" and "hippies" wore. When you went to a carnival or run-down amusement park, most of the people working there were sporting this "unkempt look."

Walt wanted Disneyland to be different... he wanted all of the employees to look friendly and approachable.  He felt that a guy who looked like a biker probably wouldn't be the best ambassador, as nice as he may be.

So, the policy at Disney Parks has been that all male employees have short haircuts and no facial hair. There was a slight change to this policy in 2000, when Disney allowed male employees to have neatly trimmed mustaches.

But yesterday, Disney sent out this message to its employees:

“The Disney Look is an important part of the history and heritage of the Walt Disney Company. As the company continues to evolve, the Disney Look appearance guidelines must also be prepared to be re-evaluated with awareness to industry standards. Effective Friday, Feb. 3, facial hair, specifically beards and goatees are now an approved option for U.S. based Walt Disney Theme Parks and Resorts costumed and non-costumed male Cast Members, unless otherwise restricted by regulatory codes and standards."

Wait, what? Awareness to industry standards? Last time I checked, Disney IS the industry standard!

Look, I'm not one of those Disney nuts who freaks out everytime a change is made.

To tell you the truth, this issue doesn't really bother me at all.  Interacting with some guy in a goatee isn't going to ruin my day at Disney.  Just as long as that dude in the goatee keeps The Haunted Mansion running smoothly and keeps the monorails and buses on time.

But, I guess it's a bit of a bummer that one of the traditions that makes Disney special is gone.

It was one of the fun trivia facts that you could tell someone as they made their first visit to a Disney Park.  It was one of the interesting rules that was laid out by Walt Disney himself.  It was one of the things that separated Disney World and Disneyland from any other park.

It isn't something to get upset over, but it does bring Disney just a tiny step closer to Six Flags.

CoasterRadio.com #614 - Bob The Lobster's Rockin' New Year's Eve!

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 City, where our own "Bob The Lobster" is standing by to count us down Dick Clark style!

We also will review all of the new attractions that made their debuts in 2011 at theme parks across America.

Which ones worked?  Which ones didn't?  Which ones made an impact and which ones were bombs?

After the clock strikes midnight, Mike and EB will give away the "CoasterRadio.com Award for Best New Attraction of 2011!"

Plus, we'll go live to Universal Studios Hollywood to meet our exclusive correspondent who will give us the inside scoop on what's happening with their version of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

Happy New Year from Bob The Lobster and everyone here at CoasterRadio.com!

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.

The Disney Monorail System (Under our Christmas Tree!)

It's tradition to run a toy railroad around the bottom of a Christmas Tree.

But in a theme park fan's home, the tradition is a little different!

Happy Holidays Everyone!

CoasterRadio.com #610 - The 2011 Holiday Gift Guide

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, you might even want to check out some of these items for yourself.

Plus, EB and Mike get into a great debate/rant about the latest announcements from Universal Studios.

This week, we found out that Hogwarts (and the incredible Forbodden Journey attraction) are coming to Universal Studios Hollywood.  In addition, there were confirmed plans to expand the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando.

However, another recent annoucement had to do with the closure of the classic "JAWS" attraction at Universal Studios Florida.  The latest hot rumor is that Amity Island will make way for Harry Potter's London and Phase Two of the Potterverse.

Mike and EB will disect the rumors and give you their opinion on the current state of things.

Hey! As you listen to the show, here is a list of all of the gift items that the guys discuss!

Coaster Dynamix Kits
    - Full Coaster Kits
    - Train Models - Statix
Knex Kits
Quercetti Skyrail Rollercoaster with Elevator
Disney Monorail
Park Season Passes
Online stores - Holiday World, Busch Gardens, Cedar Point, WWOHP
Millennium Force Replica 
Space Mountain Seat at Mouse Surplus
Jungle Cruise Gallery of Light by Olszewski
Kinect Disneyland Adventures for XBox360
Imagineering Blueprints
Walt Disney Autograph
Touring Plans Subscription
Skee-Ball Game
Cotton Candy Machine
Sno Cone Machine
Rollercoaster DVD - Watch it with Our Unofficial DVD Commentary!
Vintage items from your home park on EBay (70s, 80s, 90s)

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.

CoasterRadio.com #540 - Project XL - The World at 40

Disney park fans are some of the most passionate people around.

They know everything there is to know about Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Uncle Walt, Imagineering and pretty much anything else related to the Disney Company and their theme parks.

There's even a group of diehards who organize "unofficial" fan celebrations at the Disney Parks in Orlando and Anaheim.

October 1st, 2011 marks the 40th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort, and a group called WDWCelebrations will be hosting an unbelievable fan-organized event to complement the official activities offered by the Walt Disney Company.

This week, we're joined by Adam Roth, co-founder of WDWCelebrations, to talk about Project XL: The World at 40 which will take place September 29th - October 2nd.

He'll tell us about the history of their organization and what they have in store for their biggest fan celebration yet!  Plus, you can find out how to sign up for the fun!

We'll also have a Live Trip Report from Darien Lake, an update on EB's Chickens and much more!

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.

CoasterRadio.com #530 - Time Machine Show - Part 2

After an unplanned two week hiatus, the Original Theme Park Podcast is back and ready to continue our travels through time.

This week, we're combining the time travel rules from Back to the Future, Bill and Ted, Time Cop, The Time Traveler's Wife and Quantum Leap to listen in on one of our favorite shows from the past.

We'll head back to January of 2006 to hear the "Joint Chiefs ™" talk about the pros and cons of paying to get to the front of the line.

And since we have a Time Machine, we just might try to head into the future to see if the parks have taken the idea of "Pay for Play" too far!

We'll also hear a Live Trip Report from two of our newest listeners who just got to check out the updated version of "Star Tours."  Plus, we'll have news about how EB's son Mark is a bona fide television star in the theme park universe! And, we'll have an update on the NPH Project! 

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.

CoasterRadio.com #508 - The Terminator is Terminated

If you went back and listened to every single episode of Coaster Radio, you'd probably notice that the theme park topic we discuss the most is theming.

It's the one thing that separates a great park from an average amusement park.

That's why it was a bit of surprise when we learned that Six Flags would be dropping the licenses for properties like Thomas the Tank Engine, The Wiggles, Tony Hawk, Evil Kenevil and Terminator.

EB and Mike will take a look at the situation and give you their unique spin.  Does it really matter that these themes are going away?

And even though the Thanksgiving holiday is over, the guys hear from the listeners as they discuss what they are thankful for from the 2010 park season.

Plus, CoasterRadio.com was nominated for Best Travel Podcast in the 2010 Podcast Awards!

You can vote for the show once a day through December 15th.

EB and Mike discuss the meaning of the award and how half of the nominees are Disney related!  The guys also receive a visit from a Disney podcaster who has a nasty message for CoasterRadio.com.

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

Direct Podcast Link

Click here to subscribe through iTunes.

Click here for our podcast RSS Feed.
Click here for our iPhone App.

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!

CoasterRadio.com #450 - Live from Disneyland Paris!

This week, we come to the end of the 4th season of CoasterRadio.com and we end things just like Admir would want...

"In Styllllleeeee!"

This week, for the first time ever, the show comes to you from a park outside of the United States. This week, CoasterRadio.com is at Disneyland Resort Paris!

Mike and Molly are in Europe and join EB for a show all about the differences and similarities between the French and American Disney Parks. They'll also have ride reviews of favorites like Pirates of the Caribbean, Phantom Manor, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril and Captain EO.

They'll also talk about their visit to Disney Studios Paris and if it lives up to the other Disney Parks around the world.

Plus, there are great insights into French culture! This basically means there are plenty of jokes about the French being rude, eating cheese, drinking wine and other stereotypes.

Don't worry though. Molly is there to keep things in check.

Direct Podcast Link
Click here to subscribe through iTunes.
Click here for our podcast RSS Feed.
Click here for our iPhone App.

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

Talk about this in the CoasterRadio.com Forums!

CoasterRadio.com #449 - Disneyland Tips From A Pro!

Dreams do come true here at CoasterRadio.com! Just ask Travis.

A few months ago, he submitted this excellent entry into our "Being David Arquette" contest. We asked people to tape themselves recreating a scene from a David Arquette movie. The top prize was getting the chance to co-host an episode of the show with EB and Mike.

This week, his hard work pays off when he joins the show to give his top tips for an ultra-successful day at the Disneyland Resort in California. You'll be impressed with what this California native has to say!

The guys are also joined by a special guest who is in Paris, France to pave the way for Mike's visit to Disneyland Paris next week. Will he be as big a hit with the French people as C-Pain?

There's also a Live Trip Report from Cedar Point and the guys being back the infamous "Off Topic" segment! Can you believe that EB is actually building a chicken coop?

Plus, there's news on The David Arquette Project!

Direct Podcast Link
Click here to subscribe through iTunes.
Click here for our podcast RSS Feed.
Click here for our iPhone App.

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

Talk about this in the CoasterRadio.com Forums!

CoasterRadio.com #421 - 3-D(oomed)?

James Cameron's new blockbuster 3-D film Avatar is on pace to become the most profitable movie of all time.

(Actually, that doesn't count for inflation. Gone With The Wind is still the number one grossing movie in history.)

But anyone who has seen Avatar is blown away by the 3-D imagery.

On this week's show, we talk about if films like these constantly in the movie theater will eventually lead to 3-D films becoming less popular in the theme parks.

We'll also reveal your ideas on how Disney and other park operators should use the new Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technologies that are sweeping the industry. The listeners came up with some very interesting and entertaining ways to make our park experience interactive.

Plus, we'll go "Off Topic" to hear about EB's plans to introduce his son to the legend of the "Tooth Fairy." Mike also admits to his strange reaction after watching the teenage vampire flick "Twilight."

In addition, Mike announces his on-air training marathon for the American Idol Experience at Disney's Hollywood Studios and we'll unveil a brand new contest!

Direct Podcast Link
Click here to subscribe through iTunes.
Click here for our podcast RSS Feed.
Click here for our iPhone App.

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

Talk about this episode in the CoasterRadio.com Forums.