CoasterRadio.com #545 - Video Podcast - Wiener Prater!

Last week, we ended our Fifth Season of Coaster Radio with a live broadcast from one of the most unique amusement parks on the planet, Wiener Prater in Vienna Austria.

But admittedly, radio can only do so much when you're describing the amazing roller coasters, thrill rides and other interesting attractions at this one of a kind park.

So, EB and Mike have produced a brand new video podcast (the first in five years!) to show you exactly what it's like at the Prater!

In a few weeks, the guys will return with a second video podcast about some of Europe's greatest roller coasters.

AND...don't forget that Season Six begins on Thursday, October 6th!

We can't unveil what will happen yet, but it will easily be one of the most talked about episodes EVER!

CoasterRadio.com #544 - Live From Wiener Prater!

We've reached the end of another season of Coaster Radio!

To celebrate, we're podcasting from one of the most unique amusement parks in the world...

Wiener Prater in Vienna, Austria!

The Prater was once an imperial hunting ground and only accessible by the aristocracy,  But then, Austrian Emperor Josef II donated the area to the Viennese in 1766 as a public leisure center.

Since then, it has gone on to become the place where the people of Vienna gather to relax and unwind with food, drink and wild rides.

That's right! In recent years, it has become home to some of the most outrageous and intensely thrilling attractions in Europe!

Join Mike and EB and they talk about some of the Prater's most iconic attractions - the roller coasters, Ghost Houses, water rides and gravity defying flat rides.  There might even be some on-ride audio from one of the oldest attractions in the park!

They'll also talk about how The Prater is run much differently than your average amusement park and how it's full of attractions not seen many other places.

Be sure to come back next week for the premiere of a video podcast showing off all of the rides that the guys discussed on this week's show!

Thanks to everyone who has made this season of CoasterRadio.com the most successful ever! We can't wait for Season Six to begin in October!

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.

CoasterRadio.com #543 - I Hope the Brakeman Isn't Drunk!

Labor Day Weekend is here and the parks are starting to wind down from the Summer Season.

But the Original Theme Park Podcast is still going strong with an all new episode!

This week, we welcome back an old friend to the show!

Greg K. (of "Kiss My Shiekra" fame) makes his triumphant return to talk about his recent trip to Walt Disney World.  This visit was unique because for the first time ever, he made the trip with his wife and two daughters (ages 2 and 2 months!)

Did Greg K. survive the Florida heat,  multiple Teacup Rides and the long wait to meet Mickey Mouse? And more importantly, will he let loose with his trademark catch-phrase?

Then, Mike recalls his trip to Hungary and his visit to Vidampark - the country's one and only amusement park.  What was it like riding their 90-year old coaster with a surly brakeman in charge of keeping the ride on the tracks?

Mike and EB also take a look at some of the most recent ride announcements made by the parks.

Which 2012 attractions look like hits and which ones look like misses? Will we see any record breaking attractions?  Will we see more upcharge animatronic dinosaurs?

Plus a Live Trip Report from Canada's Wonderland and MUCH MORE!

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 Thoughts on 2012?

For this week's show, we're looking for your thoughts on 2012.

In this case, we're not looking for your opinion about Mayan Prophecies, but instead, we want to know what you think about the recent attractions announcements parks have made for next year.

For instance we have...

Leviathan at Canada's Wonderland
Skyrush at Hersheypark
Mammoth at Holiday World
Verboten at Busch Gardens Williamsburg (not official)
Dinosaurs Alive at Cedar Point
Windseeker at Carowinds
Manta at Sea World San Diego
Cars Land at Disney California Adventure
Transformers Dark Ride at Universal Studios Hollywood
Dollywood's Mystery Announcement
Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid at Magic Kingdom

EB and I will be talking about all of these attractions on our next show and we invite you to be on the show with us!

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 #542 - The Tale of the Pink Monkey

We all have them.  And we've probably spent hundreds of dollars on them.

Yes my friends, I'm talking about Theme Park Souvenirs.

From on-ride photos to Disney Vinylmations to the dozens of park shirts you have in your drawers, the amusement industry makes a TON of money off of us and our need to commemorate our visits to their parks.

But some of the souvenirs we buy hold a special place in our hearts (and in our homes.)

On this week's show, we explore the best and the worst souvenirs owned by the CoasterRadio.com audience.  Believe it our not, there are some heartwarming stories that come along with some of them!

We also hear all about EB's trip across America.  Not only did EB encounter the ghosts of lazy Civil War soldiers, he also had a chance to ride a major roller coaster with his son for the first time.

The guys also talk about how they saw "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II" with the new D-Box Motion Technology that is making its way to movie theaters across the country.

Did EB and Mike enjoy having their theater seats move, sway and vibrate along with the action?

All of this, plus a Live Trip Report and MUCH, MUCH MORE!!!

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.

One question please!

Have you ever run into a survey taker at the park?

Usually they wait for you by the exits with their trusty iPads and try to get you to give your honest opinions on your theme park experience.

Most times, I'm exhausted from the long day and just want to get to my car.  But sometimes, I stop because I'm curious about what questions they'll ask.

Maybe there could be some hints about future attractions or experiences?

But more inportantly, I like having my opinion help shape what the park will become.

It's in that spirit that EB and I have created a survey that will help us produce Season Six of CoasterRadio.com.  You can find it HERE:

http://survey.coasterradio.com/

It will only take a few minutes to fill out, but the feedback is priceless.  Not only does it help us figure out what to do next season, it also helps us get to know all of you a little better.

If we know what you like and dislike about the show, we can tailor it a bit more to YOU!

The responses we have gotten so far are very insightful and, in some cases, surprising.

But all of the responses are anonymous, so please be as honest as possible.  We love constructive criticism.

When you do ever hear webmasters of a theme park sites say that? (Ha! Ha!)

Your Best (and Worst) Souvenirs

You've heard of people having "skeletons" in their closet, right?

Well, I think theme park enthusiasts have a closet full of something else that's probably embarrasing too.... park souvenirs.

From t-shirts to shot glasses to postcards and patches, theme parks sell just about any chotsky that you can imagine.

For this week's show, we want to know about the best and worst theme park souvenirs you own.

Which one are you most proud of?  Which ones come with a good story?

We also want to know about the ones that embarrass you the most.  Which one did you buy when you were 10-years old and still have around?

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!

Weekend Theater - The Prince William County Fair!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH IT IN HD!!!

Here's some video I shot at the Prince William County Fair in Virginia!

Summertime doesn't get much better than this!

CoasterRadio.com #541 - "Pre-Game" Rituals

Some of the best moments for theme park fans are the weeks, days and hours leading up to an highly anticipated trip.

And each of us has unique things that we like to do to get in the proper mindset for a day of non-stop fun at the parks.

On this week's show, we talk about all of the different "rituals" that amusement fans take part in before reaching the park.

As always, the CoasterRadio.com audience steps up big time to tell us about the specific things they do before their big trips.

For instance, one of our female listeners called in with a story about how she and her friends prepare for their yearly trip to Dorney Park.  Perhaps it looks like the attached photo?  Maybe not.

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

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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.

Weekend Theater - Hochschaubahn at Wiener Prater, Vienna, Austria

CLICK HERE TO WATCH IT IN HD!!!

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

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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.

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas Trailer

NPH is gonna KILL in this movie!  We can't wait!

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!

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.