CoasterRadio.com #618 - The Live Trip Report Show

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, KY has come up with the "Live Trip Report Show!"

He's gone though the dozens and dozens of backlogged trip reports that visitors have called in and has picked some of the most interesting ones to share with you.

Plus, to make things even more compelling... he has enlisted the services of the infamous CoasterRadio.com characters to introduce each one.

As EB says this week... "this is a show you're either gonna love or gonna hate!"

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CoasterRadio.com #616 - The Birth of a Theme Park

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 most importantly... a vision.

On this week's show, we welcome a man with a unique vision of his own.

He wants to see a theme park built in his home town of Nashville, Tennessee.

This week, David Webb joins us to talk about his plans for "Ole South USA".

It would be a theme park celebrating everything that is vibrant and special about the southern region of the United States.

David gives us a "virtual tour" of the different themed lands, including descriptions of some of their innovative rides and attractions.  He also talks about the steps being taken to make this dream a reality.

Most importantly, he fills us in on the Pioneer Club, which gives 3,500 people a chance to take part in the birth of this theme park.

We also have an update on the Valentine's Day Charity Song Auction and we announce the first CoasterRadio.com Listener Meet-up of 2012.

California, HERE WE COME!


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CoasterRadio.com #615 - The Mysteries of Universal Orlando

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 topped yet.

Then, they shocked the world when they announced plans to build "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter."  What was even more amazing is that the new land and it's attractions actually lived up to the anticipation and the hype.

Most recently, they closed "Jaws", one of their original opening day rides and perhaps their most iconic attraction.  That lead to speculation and some controversial reporting on what might possibly replace the gigantic Amity area.

To make sense of all of this, we welcome Seth Kubersky back to the show. He is the author of "Universal Studios 2012: The Ultimate Guide to the Ultimate Theme Park."

We'll talk about the recent closure of "Jaws" and what the attraction has meant to the park's history.  We'll also talk about what it was like to be at the attraction on it's closing night.

We'll also discuss its rumored replacement.

Seth will give us a breakdown about the possibility of a new Harry Potter themed area in Universal Studios Florida and a new thrill attraction that would be unlike anything we have ever seen at a park before.

Fascinating stuff! 

Plus, EB and Mike announce a fun new project for all you romantics out there.

The Valentine's Day Charity Song Auction gives listeners an opportunity to bid on an original love song that will be written especially for that special someone in your life.

And, the best part is that all of the money raised will go to the winner's favorite charity.

Check out our link on the CoasterRadio.com Blog for more info on how to bid!


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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)

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CoasterRadio.com #605 - Live from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

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 you some tips that will make your next visit even better.

We'll also have reviews of the many different shops and merchandise that can be found in Hogsmead Village.

Plus, Mike will have a first-hand account of what it's like to ride Dragon Challenge and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey!

And, the moment any fan of CoasterRadio.com has been waiting for... a live visit with the friendly Half-Giant himself, HAGRID!

There are a ton of other surprises waiting for you in the latest episode of CoasterRadio.com!


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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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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!

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CoasterRadio.com #525 - The Trip of Lies!

Sometimes, the very best ideas for this crazy show of ours come from the listeners.

A few months ago, we were doing a show about "The Best Money You've Spent at a Park" and we received a call from Deidre Rodman from The Lascivious Biddies.

She said the best money she spent was when she and her husband bought the "Bride and Groom" Mickey Ears to wear during their recent honeymoon at Walt Disney World.

She said that throughout the trip, they were given free food, free gifts and other special treatment from the cast members at Disney.

When EB and I heard this, we hatched an evil plan.  We asked our listening audience for two volunteers who would go to Walt Disney World and pretend to be honeymooners (complete with the Mickey Ears) to test this theory.

Derek and Trisha from Southern California answered the call and what followed was "The Trip of Lies!"

On this week's show, we hear about their trip and find out if the hypothesis was true.  Do you get tons of free stuff just for wearing "Bride and Groom" Mickey Ears?

Plus, Derek and Trisha give us the scoop on the rest of their trip, including a review of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal's Islands of Adventure.

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The "Day at the Park with Neil" Contest - BJ and Neil at Islands of Adventure

BJ sent us this picture with an explanatory e-mail: 

"I was strolling through Marvel Super Hero Island - Islands of Adventure last October when who do I spot but the one and only NPH, the only guy there in a business suit!

Apparently he was there to promote the videogame “Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions”, in which he was a voice actor, as well as the upcoming videogame featuring Spider-Man, a character he voiced, called Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds, which is out now.

He was offering to take guests’ pictures with him and Spider-Man, and there were a number of stupid families in the line in front of me, because the hourly parade on Marvel Super Hero Island started while I was in line to get my picture with NPH and Spider-Man, and several families jumped OUT of the line just so they could attempt to get a picture with just Spider-Man!  I, of course, stayed IN the line so I could get my picture with Spidey AND Neil Patrick Harris.

Sadly for me, this is the only picture I got from my iPhone 3G using the Camera+ app, and I’m unfortunately looking down as this pic is being taken."

Thanks BJ.  It's pretty cool you had your picture taken with two American heroes.

If you want to participate in the fun, check out our blog post that explains everything you need to know about The Neil Patrick Harris Project and the "Day at the Park with Neil" contest!

Remember, the winner gets a one-day, one park pass to the theme park of their choice!

The "Day at the Park with Neil" Contest - Heather and Neil at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

We were wondering if Neil Patrick Harris has going to make a stop at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter on his worldwide tour of parks.

Heather has sent in this photo that proved he was there.  She says:

"This is a photo is of myself (taken by my husband John) this past November at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Islands of Adventure.

Lost on his way to the Quidditch field, NPH stopped by Hogsmeade for a refreshing Butterbeer."

This one made us laugh out loud.  Thanks Heather!

If you want to participate in the fun, check out our blog post that explains everything you need to know about The Neil Patrick Harris Project and the "Day at the Park with Neil" contest!

Remember, the winner gets a one-day, one park pass to the theme park of their choice!

The "Day at the Park with Neil" Contest - Doug and Neil at Islands of Adventure

Doug from Chicago is the latest listener to throw his hat in the ring for our contest. He writes:

"My family visited Universal Studios Islands of Adventure Marvel SuperHero Island last April.

We made it a point to take a photo with each superhero and didn't realize that we'd been "Photo-Bombed" by Dr. Horrible until we unloaded the photos on our home computer.

I wasn't aware that Dr. Horrible was licensed by Universal for their theme parks, did you?"

We weren't aware that he was on-site at IOA either.  But maybe now that Disney has acquired Marvel Comics, Universal is hedging their bets by bringing in some new characters.

Way to go Doug!

If you want to participate in the fun, check out our blog post that explains everything you need to know about The Neil Patrick Harris Project and the "Day at the Park with Neil" contest!

Remember, the winner gets a one-day, one park pass to the theme park of their choice!

CoasterRadio.com #517 - "You're Gonna Need a Bigger Podcast!"

Each episode of Coaster Radio is unique.

Sure, we carefully outline each episode and decide what we're going to talk about weeks in advance.

But each episode seems to take on a personality of its own.

Having said that, I'm not exactly sure how our episode about romance at the theme parks turned into a love-fest for the 1975 classic "JAWS."

But regardless, in honor of Valentines Day we asked the audience to tell us about their favorite romantic things to do at the parks.

We heard about favorite places to cuddle, to eat, to ride and yes, favorite places to make out at the parks.

Yes, it's sort of gross, but it's also facinating to hear!

We also have a Live Trip Report from Tokyo Disney Sea and a newcomer from beyond tries to ensure a place among the rest of the characters at CoasterRadio.com.

Plus, we unveil a brand new contest related to the Neil Patrick Harris Project!

Plus, we give away another prize for Facebook February!  Have you "liked" us on Facebook yet?

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CoasterRadio.com #516 - A Fantastic Facebook February Food Frenzy

Here at Coaster Radio, we try to focus our show on the entire theme park experience.

It's really easy to spend time talking about the roller coasters and other thrill rides.  But we think a little more time could be spent talking about the 2nd best reason to go to the amusement park... the food!

This week, listeners from around the globe call in to tell us about the iconic food treats that can be found at their local parks.  We're gonna talk about everything from the "Dole Whip" at Disneyland to the "Chip Twister" at Walibi World!

We'll also talk about that ice cream treat (pictured here) that looks like a potato.  The folks at the Idaho State Fair know how to make a dessert!

We're also honored to be joined by Dewayne Bevil from The Orlando Sentinel.  Dewayne writes for the Theme Park Rangers column and joins us this week to give us updates on some of the theme park projects in Orlando.

We'll talk about the proposed Orlando Thrill Park, New Fantasyland and the Cinderella Castle Projection Show at the Magic Kingdom.  Plus, we'll discuss the Wild Africa Trek at Disney's Animal Kindom and Star Wars II.

We'll also have a Live Trip Report and give away some prizes for Facebook February!  Are you a fan of ours on Facebook yet?  You should be!  If not, click here to get in on the fun! 

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CoasterRadio.com #515 - You Against the Whole Wide World

In the theme park universe, there are rides that are loved by everyone.

Well, almost everyone.

There are probably some rides out there that you can't stand, but for some reason, everyone else in the world loves.

This week, we hear from a lot of Coaster Radio listeners as they stir up controversy and talk about  the popular rides they would personally get rid of at the parks.

Surprisingly, this is a topic people are passionate about!

You'll be shocked at some of the rides people want to dismantle.

We'll also have a Live Trip Report from Australia, a new idea for "CoasterRadio.com Day" and a visit from everyone's favorite crustacean.

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CoasterRadio.com #513 - The Best of 2010

2010 may be officially gone, but it still lives on here at Coaster Radio! (for this week, anyway!)

On this week's show, EB and Mike take a look back and talk about the most interesting stories from 2010.  The listeners also get into the act by calling into the show and giving their opinion on what worked and what didn't in 2010.

From The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to World of Color to Intimidator 305, the listeners get passionate about their favorite stories.

There's also big news in the Neil Patrick Harris Project!  As you may recall, we produced a tear-jerking holiday tribute to NPH and released it on YouTube last Christmas Eve.  We've been waiting patiently to hear Neil's response.  Could this be the week he calls in again?

Plus, we have news about some upcoming shows and summertime activities here at the show!


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CoasterRadio.com #507 - The "Reverse-Thanksgiving" Show

EB's Turkey joins us LIVE on the show this week.

Happy Turkey Day!!!

Just like the Pilgrims had a gigantic feast when they landed in the new world, we have a virtual feast of theme park goodness for you.

This week, we talk about the stories behind our listener's major park disappointments.  We have tales from around the globe all about how different parks have bummed out park guests.

It's sort of a "Reverse-Thanksgiving" show!

We also have a special visit from EB's pet turkey.  The turkey quickly outgrew EB's house and has moved on to a turkey farm in Indiana.  Just in time for the holidays, we have a heartwarming reunion with father and turkey this week.

Plus, some news on the Neil Patrick Harris Project! Don't forget to take part in our NPH Holiday Video!

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CoasterRadio.com #502 - Inside Universal Orlando and Halloween Horror Nights

We're one week closer to Halloween!

If you love All Hallows Eve and you love theme parks, this is the episode for you.

This week, we're joined by Seth Kubersky.  He's the author of Universal Orlando 2011: The Ultimate Guide to the Ultimate Theme Park Adventure.

He'll give us the insider scoop about the 20th Annual Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando.  He'll tell us what we should make sure to see and what most people tend to miss.

He'll also tell us some behind the scenes stories about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure.  He'll tell us how you can see Hogwarts Castle without waiting in line and if guests will ever be able to spend the night within it's enchanted walls.

Plus, he'll tell us about how the Wizarding World almost ended up at Walt Disney World and what happened that caused it to be built at Universal.

This week, we also have details about a possible encounter with Neil Patrick Harris.  We're only one week into "The Neil Patrick Harris Project," but the possibility exists that NPH is already a fan of the show.

Could "The NPH Project" do what "The David Arquette Project" could not?

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Video Trip Report - Wizarding World of Harry Potter

CoasterRadio.com contributor (and intrepid muggle) Travis recently traveled to Universal Studios Islands of Adventure to check out "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter."

He filed this video trip report!

CoasterRadio.com #446 - Amusement Park Games

The Original Theme Park Podcast is back with another all new episode!

This week, EB and Mike talk about the best Amusement Park Games that always seem to separate you from your hard-earned money!

We'll talk about Skee Ball, Frog Bog, Ring Toss, Stacker, Bowler Roller, Fascination, Wacky Wire, Whack-A-Mole, and a whole lot more!

They guys also talk about the "dream arcade" that they would build in their basements.

Plus, there is a Live Trip Report from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter with a great tip on how to beat the lines at "Forbidden Journey!"

It's all this week on CoasterRadio.com!

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Mike's Homemade Butterbeer!