Claim OwnershipThe Lowdown on the Plus-up - A Theme Park Podcast
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© 2026 The Lowdown on the Plus-up - A Theme Park Podcast
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Kelly McCubbin and Peter Overstreet take on all aspects of theme parks - Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Six Flags - discussing them in historical context and then finding ways, to quote Walt Disney, to "plus them up!"
No considerations of safety, practicality or economic viability even remotely entertained!
https://www.lowdown-plus-up.com/
A Boardwalk Times Podcast
https://boardwalktimes.net/
38 Episodes
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad feels like pure fun: a runaway mine train, a mountain of red rock, and a few perfect sight gags that hit at 35 miles an hour. But the ride’s real story starts way earlier, in the myths America told itself about the frontier and the Western movies that turned those myths into pop culture. We follow that thread from Frederick Jackson Turner’s famous frontier thesis to how Walt Disney shaped his original Frontierland into something that resembles actual history. Th...
Start with a finish-line smile and a hand-built castle. We open by honoring Jeff Galloway—the Olympian and Run-Walk-Run mentor whose you can do it turned marathons into memories for everyday runners—then spend most of this short episode saluting another architect of joy: Roger Tofte, the craftsman behind Oregon’s Enchanted Forest. Roger was a draftsman, sign maker, and watch repairer who saw a quiet forest near Salem and imagined a fairy tale carved into concrete and trees. He bought twenty ...
The fog rolls in, the surf pounds the seawall, and a laugh echoes across the Sunset—Playland at the Beach is gone, but its spirit refuses to fade. We head back to San Francisco’s Ocean Beach to unpack a park that was equal parts wonder and chaos: the glassy grandeur of Sutro Baths, the Cliff House’s many lives, and a bohemian streetcar village that set the stage for a century of seaside amusements. From Charles I. D. Looff’s menagerie carousel to the towering Big Dipper and the splash-happy C...
EPISODE SUMMARY The most powerful special effect at Disneyland isn’t a projection or a firework. It’s water—dyed, pumped, and choreographed to keep illusions seamless, landscapes lush, and guests grounded. In this episode, Kelly and Pete unravel the surprising, ingenious, and deeply odd engineering behind one of Disneyland’s most overlooked systems: the park-wide dark water network that connects Storybook Land, the Motorboat Cruise, the Snow White Grotto, the Adventureland Treehouse, th...
Universal Studios' evolution from modest Tram Tour to the top challenger for the theme park throne was due to the fierce drive of one man: Jay Stein. Intense, ambitious and sometimes frightening, Stein let his competitiveness and, later, his seething rage against the Walt Disney Company forge an entirely new path for theme parks. By the time he left the company in 1993, it was no longer the underdog, but an innovator that the rest of the industry - Disney included - had to keep up with. Stei...
Midnight seances, glow-in-the-dark ghosts, and a gorilla that always breaks loose—our journey into haunted-house history starts where theater met sideshow and never looked back. We trace the first British walkthroughs of the 1930s, the packed spook shows that turned movie palaces into after-hours carnivals, and the scrappy showmen who transformed empty storefronts into seasonal scream factories. From the U.K. to postwar Japan, if you love theme parks, horror design, or the mechanics of...
Halloween didn’t just arrive at theme parks; it was engineered, rehearsed, and unleashed from a fog-soaked street in Buena Park. We dive into the wild origin story of Knott’s Scary Farm, tracing the DNA from mid-century horror hosts to the first freestanding mazes, the invention of roaming monsters, and the culture of sliders sparking their way through Calico. It’s a saga packed with scrappy ingenuity, late-night TV legend, and a berry (boysen) farm that accidentally became the Godfather of h...
Ray Bradbury had a fascination with themed entertainment since he first attended the 1939 New York World's Fair, but was it merely as a casual observer or did he actually get his hands dirty? We invited noted Ray Bradbury scholar, Dr. Phil Nichols, to talk about it all: Ray's relationship with Walt Disney, his fascination with urban design, his work on EPCOT Center, and even how Ray might very well be responsible for the concept of a food court. We even got to hear about some attraction conce...
Whether he was disappointed with how his work for EPCOT Center turned out or he was simply inspired to do it again, Ray Bradbury created his own vision of a theme park: The Great Electric Time Maze. Impractical, economically unviable and centered around completely untethered Blue Sky concepts, this midwestern phantasia of a park is right up our alley! Join us as we zoom through time, battle dinosaurs with our Electro-Guns, narrowly escape from the Mechanical Hounds and drown in the Sea ...
EPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of The Lowdown on the Plus-Up, Kelly and Pete return to their nerd roots to explore the theme park legacy of Star Trek. From the original 1966 series to Deep Space Nine, the two dive into Gene Roddenberry’s ideals, the franchise’s optimism, and the surprising role Lucille Ball played in making the show possible. We discuss the rise and fall of Star Trek: The Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton—a massive, immersive attraction featuring the DS9 Promenade, Quark’s ...
Pete takes mercy on Kelly, who's been under the weather, and does the heavy lifting on our follow-up to last season's "Rude Mechanicals - Jungle Cruise: The Early Years." Bill Evans is back to see the fruition of the project he began over 35 years prior. His dream becomes a reality in the best way! Disney doubles down on immersion with unintended consequences! The jungle grows, transforms, and becomes something even more mysterious as it tries to embrace the Forbidden Eye of Mara! Join us! ...
It's a brief, Mid-summer (Don't get in the bear!) minisode. Ever wondered what's really happening with Disneyland Forward? Dive into this revealing mini-episode where we crack open the truth behind Disney's highly publicized expansion plans in Anaheim. https://boardwalktimes.net/disneylandforward-what-exactly-is-it-3f4c79bf93c4 A new full episode in a few weeks! Thanks for listening! We'd love it if you would give us a review on your podcast platform of choice: iTunes, Spotify, etc.....
Jaws was a lynchpin to Universal's theme park success, both in California and Florida. It was also one of the biggest headaches the parks ever dealt with. Join us for the return of the J-Bang(!!!) as we pick apart what happened, follow the recriminations and discuss some amazing behind-the-scenes theme park designers who worked on this ambitious, and occasionally reckless, attraction. It's so much Jaws goodness that you're gonna need a bigger boat. =====================================...
We contend that there is nothing more patriotic than being conned into believing that water runs uphill. Step into a world where the laws of physics seemingly take a vacation as we explore America's beloved gravity-defying roadside attractions. From the Santa Cruz Mystery Spot to Confusion Hill nestled in California's redwoods, these quirky destinations have been baffling and delighting travelers since the '40s. The long and cloudy history of Gravity Shacks/Confusion Hills/Mystery Spots are ...
Step with us into Tomorrowland, that curious realm where yesterday's futures linger in an increasingly static present. Why do Disney fans profess deep love for a land they rarely prioritize visiting? The answer lies in Tomorrowland's remarkable journey from hasty afterthought to kinetic wonderland to its current static identity crisis. Our live audience at the Howard Johnson's "Suite of the Retro Future" helps us dissect what made Tomorrowland truly magical - not science fantasy, but genuine...
Step back into the age of sword and sorcery as we unravel the untold story of Universal Studios' most dangerous and innovative attraction: the Conan the Barbarian Sword and Sorcery Spectacular. This legendary stunt show wasn't just entertainment—it was a revolution that forever changed how theme parks approach live experiences. From Robert E. Howard's complex literary character to Frank Frazetta's iconic artistic vision and Arnold Schwarzenegger's silver screen portrayal, we trace Conan's ev...
Join us for part two of the strangest story we've told thus far. The 1990s launch with a particularly charming story about jet packs, The Rocketeer. But then Kinnie Gibson, Brad Barker, Larry Stanley and Bill Suitor return to pick up a story that involves assault, murder, kidnapping and a giant flying beer can. Strap in! And remember, when the helmet vibrates, you only have 14 seconds to find a place to land! ============================================================ Notes: Rondo Hatten -...
What if I told you that the man who flew above Disneyland's Tomorrowland in the 1960s wasn't on wires, but strapped to actual jet engines? The remarkable true story of the rocket belt at Disney parks is more fascinating—and bizarre—than you might imagine. Kelly and Pete explore the surprising origins of personal flight technology, beginning with Wendell Moore of Bell Aeronautics, who adapted stabilization jets from Chuck Yeager's sound barrier-breaking X-1 aircraft into a wearable rocket pac...
In part two of Transylvanian Tumbleweeds we explore the legacy of Dracula-themed attractions, particularly focusing on the Castle Dracula experience at Universal Studios. We discuss the concept of the "JayBang" introduced by Jay Stein and the challenges faced as audience tastes shifted, leading to innovative adaptations in modern amusement parks. • Exploration of Universal Studios' background • Delving into the concept of "JayBang" • Nostalgia surrounding Castle Dracula • T...
In part one of our exploration of the Transylvanian tyrant turned tourist trap, we break down some of Dracula's origins. Don't worry, this is not going to be that same old "Dracula is based on Vlad the Impaler" lecture that you've already heard. It's much stranger than that. And much more wonderful. Then we start to place the good Count into some of his earliest theme park appearances. Part 2 should be up next week! Thanks for listening! We'd love it if you would give us a review on your pod...
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