CoasterRadio.com #639 - Sorcerers and Superman

We're back with a jam-packed, all-new episode of The Original Theme Park Podcast!

This week, we talk about Six Flags Discovery Kingdom's new roller coaster "Superman: Ultimate Flight!"

It may last less than 60-seconds, but what it lacks in ride time it makes up for by being unique.  The new ride includes multi-directional launches, several non-inverting loops and a barrel-roll at 150 feet in the air! (That's one of the tallest inversions in the world!)

As a bonus to this week's audio podcast, the guys have also produced a video podcast that shows you footage of the new ride along with some "Coaster Commentary!"

The guys also discuss Mike's trip to Walt Disney World.

Mike had a chance to try out the new "Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom" interactive game. Is it work trying out the next time you're in Orlando?  Mike will let us know!

Mike also recorded some on-board audio while riding "Big Thunder Mountain Railroad" and "Space Mountain" at the Magic Kingdom.  Be sure to wear your headphones while listening... you'll feel like you're there with him!

Plus, we also have a Live Trip Report from Six Flags Great Adventure and news about the CoasterRadio.com Olympics!

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CoasterRadio.com #448 - The Yeti Is Broken! Call 911!

August is here and it's HOT!

But it's not as hot as this week's episode of The Original Theme Park Podcast! (Oh Brother!)

This week, EB and Mike tackle some of the most talked about stories in the amusement industry.

First up, they take a listen to one of the 911 calls that came from a recent breakdown of "Harry Potter and Forbidden Journey" at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure. Isn't 911 supposed to be reserved for emergencies?

Then, the guys discuss the recent mainstream press coverage of Expedition Everest's problematic Yeti. The big guy hasn't been moving since 2009. Does this signal a change in Disney's priorities?

The guys also talk about a mom in Indiana who allegedly left her kids in a rat infested home so that she could spend the day at Holiday World. Hopefully the ride on "The Voyage" was worth the possible jail time.

The guys also hear Live Trip Reports from Disney California Adventure's World of Color and Six Flags (fake) attraction BENCH: THE RIDE! Will Mark Shapiro's brainchild take the amusement industry by storm?

Plus, C-Pain joins the show from Paris, France to pave the way for Mike's visit to Disneyland Paris in a few weeks and there is news on The David Arquette Project!

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Mystic Manor Comes to Hong Kong Disneyland

Over the past 10 years or so, some fans of Disney theme parks have said that there has been a noticible decline in the quality of new Disney attractions.

Sure, there have been huge critical successes like Expedition Everest and Toy Story Mania. But there have also been some less-popular rides like Stitch's Great Escape, Superstar Limo and Journey Into Your Imagination.

People who know the ins and outs of Walt Disney Imagineering say that the reason for the quality decline has been because attraction budgets were slashed. Perhaps execs at Disney were more concerned with the bottom line than pouring money into story development and special effects.

In this economy , it's hard to blame them.

But then I took at look at a story in the LA Times Funland Blog. Brady MacDonald has a scene-by-scene look at the new Mystic Manor that will debut at Hong Kong Disneyland in 2013.

Essentially, it will be that park's version of the Haunted Mansion, minus the 999 Happy Haunts.

According to the article, "Mystic Manor takes visitors on a circa-1908 tour of an ancient artifact collection belonging to a world-renowned adventurer and explorer. Inside the Victorian home on a remote jungle hilltop, Lord Henry Mystic’s museum comes alive when his mischievous monkey opens an enchanted music box."

When you look at the artwork and the possible special effects, it looks as rich and as detailed as many of the classic Disney theme park attractions that we have grown to love. The attraction has humor, thrills, unexpected moments and a wonderful story.

It's what we expect out of Walt Disney Imagineering.

The new artwork that is coming out of this park looks phenomenal. I only hope it (along with attractions like Expedition Everest and Toy Story Mania) are a sign of things to come from WDI.

Talk about this post in the CoasterRadio.com Fourms.

Countdown to 8/20 - My Five Favorite Shows - #2

It didn't get much better for me as a podcaster than to do the show from the Grand Opening of Expedition Everest.

It was a once in a lifetime experience and something I'll never forget.

It's been three years since the ride opened and the Yeti has seen some better days.... but I like listening to this podcast to relive the excitement of a brand new E-Ticket attraction opening its doors for the first time!

It's also where the famous line "He's HUGE! He's HUGE!" was born!

Here's the show!

Holiday Gift Guide - Creating Magic

I had the opportunity to interview a lot of great people through the CoasterRadio.com podcast.

One of my favorites was Lee Cockerell, who just retired as Executive Vice President of Operations at Walt Disney World Resort.

I got to interview Lee during the Grand Opening of Expedition Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom and was totally impressed by his candor, knowledge and passion for the resort.

Lee has written a book called Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney.

The book focuses on the magic ingredients that Disney uses to provide great customer service. Even if we don't work at a theme park, we can apply the same methods to whatever line of work we are in.

The best parts of this book, and the reason I think you'd like it, are the many behind the scenes stories from the Walt Disney World Resort.

So if you're looking for a good Disney World read that just might teach you something too, check out this book!

Tales from Orlando - A Mother Worse Than the Yeti!

Here's a story from when Greg and I were standing in line for Expedition Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom. This is one of the best queue lines in the world, second only to Dueling Dragons at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure.

Anyway, as we walked by the authentic Mandir and through the Yeti Museum, we heard the wails of a seven year old boy behind us. Obviously, he had no intention of getting on the roller coaster. He was terrified. I'm not sure what scared him more, the 80 foot drop or a possible encounter with the Yeti. Maybe he was scared of the hour long wait without a FastPass...who knows?

It didn't matter through, because his witch of a mother had no sympathy for him. She was literally dragging him through the line as he wailed, kicked and screamed.

She even had the audacity to yell..."YOU ARE NOT GOING TO RUIN MY RIDE!!!"

It's at this moment that I realized that each theme park should have its own version of Child Protective Services. Shouldn't there be someone who can intercede on behalf of these poor kids?

I'm usually someone who minds his own business, especially when it comes to other people's kids. I don't get involved when a person is parenting their child, no matter how strange or outrageous they are.

But it's not like this crazy woman was making her kid eat his vegetables, she was making him ride an intense thrill ride! There's a clear, an unmistakable difference between making a child do something for his own good and making him do something for the selfish reasons of the parent.

When I was young, I was terrified of roller coasters. My mom and dad tried to talk me on them, but they never forced me to ride against my will. Now look at me, I'm friggin' Mike Collins from CoasterRadio.com! I'd say 'ole Mom and Dad did a pretty good job!

These days, it seems like there are more and more screwed up kids running around. I for one don't put the blame on them. I blame parents like the one I saw in line for Expedition Everest. Yes, I blame the woman who put "her ride" ahead of the well-being of her son.

I hope the Yeti was on the B-Show mode when she rode through! She deserves it.

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