CoasterRadio.com #539 - More Theme Park Mashups!

Unlike most sequels, this one is actually better than the first!

We had so many great submissions from the show we did a few weeks ago about "Theme Park Mashups", we had to break the show into two parts!

This week, we once again have our listeners take two of their favorite attractions and combine them to create the ULTIMATE ride.

For instance...

Imagine mashing up Disney's "Haunted Mansion" with the "Splash Battle" at Dollywood.  OR...

How about trying to combine an S&S Space Shot ride with a B&M Interted Coaster like Alpengeist at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.  OR...

What if someone combined Soarin' with Toy Story Mania?  What would that be like?

Plus, we also have a Live Trip Report from Hersheypark and a whole lot more!

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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 #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

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.

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.

Toy Story Mania is almost ready for primetime!

One of the most anticipated rides for 2008 is Toy Story Mania opening at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's California Adventure.

Our friend Arthur Levine from about.com had a chance to get a sneak peek at the new attraction at the Walt Disney Imagineering headquarters in Glendale.

(Lucky dog!)

The attraction seems to be truly groundbreaking and will bring the whole dark ride shooter concept to a whole new level.

Click here to read his his report!