CoasterRadio.com: The Original Theme Park Podcast

A holiday tradition returns this week... it's the 2024 CoasterRadio.com Holiday Gift Guide. We have over 60 differenyt gift ideas for the theme park and roller coaster fan in your life! Get ready for an extra-long episode of holiday fun!

On this week's show, Mike and EB discuss a really strange roller coaster story. You have to hear it to believe it. Then, EB has a trip report from holiday events at Hersheypark and Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience.

On this Thanksgiving episode of CoasterRadio.com, Mike and EB kick things off with some significant theme park news, particularly the changes involving the Muppets and Monsters Inc. at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Then, it's time for our annual Thanksgiving Tradition...where our listeners tell us what they are most and least thankful for in the amusement industry.

This week, Mike and EB get excited for the testing of Kings Dominion's new roller coaster Raptera. They also talk about and the implications of Kingda Ka's retirement including how most of Ka's records have gone to another roller coaster in the Six Flags chain.  The guys also dive into the excitement surrounding the IAAPA Expo with two interviews direct from the show floor in Orlando!

Mike and EB delve into the legacy of Kingda Ka, the world's tallest and fastest roller coaster, as it faces retirement. They discuss the ride's history, the excitement surrounding its last operational weekend, and the future of Six Flags Great Adventure, including the announcement of a new record-breaking coaster set to debut in 2026. The conversation highlights the emotional connection enthusiasts have with Kingda Ka and speculates on what the future holds for the park and its attractions. In this episode, the hosts discuss the recent announcements for Six Flags attractions in 2026, reflecting on the unusual timing and lack of details. The conversation shifts to the use of AI technology to enhance old audio segments from their archives, showcasing the evolution of their podcasting journey. They reminisce about their early podcasting days, highlighting the challenges of producing quality audio content in the past. They also feature an classic interview with Larry Chockola, the chief engineer for Kingda Ka in 2005, discussing the ride's construction and significance.

In this Halloween-themed episode of CoasterRadio.com, hosts Mike and EB discuss the excitement surrounding new attractions and animatronics at theme parks, including the upcoming Monsters Unchained ride at Epic Universe. They also delve into the rebranding of Kings Dominion's Intimidator 305 to Panthera, the new Universal Mega Movie Parade featuring Ecto-1, and the ongoing delays in the development of American Heartland and Mattel Adventure Park. They also open listener mail, revealing fun surprises and gifts. The conversation shifts to Halloween, exploring the controversy surrounding residential haunts and the creative ideas listeners submitted for a virtual Halloween costume contest. 

In this episode of CoasterRadio, Mike and EB discuss the recent announcement of the "Big Bad Wolf" roller coaster reboot at Busch Gardens, a cancelled project in Orlando, and the changes at Cedar Point's Millennium Force. The conversation also covers enhancements to Disney's Tiana's Bayou Adventure, the testing of the Stardust Racers at Universal's Epic Universe, and listener engagement for Halloween haunts. The episode concludes with a thrilling trip report from Fear Farm in Canada, showcasing the excitement of local haunts. Finally, the guys delve into the question of whether being a coaster enthusiast is perceived as cool or scary, sharing listener perspectives and personal anecdotes. The conversation highlights the community aspect of theme park enthusiasts and the joy of sharing experiences with others.

This week, Mike and EB discuss the highly anticipated opening of Universal's Epic Universe, set for May 22, 2025. They delve into the ticketing structure, which requires multi-day purchases for access to the new park, and the implications of high ticket prices at both Universal and Disney parks. The conversation shifts to the rising costs of theme park experiences, including the new Lightning Lane Premier Pass at Disney, and how these changes affect the average family's ability to enjoy these attractions. The hosts express concerns about crowd management, the quality of experiences, and the overall affordability of theme park vacations. In this episode, the hosts discuss their experiences at theme parks, particularly Kings Dominion, and the excitement surrounding new attractions like Rapterra. They share stories about family adventures during Halloween events, the value of theme park memorabilia, and the immersive experiences found in haunted attractions. The conversation also highlights listener engagement and community interaction, emphasizing the fun and excitement of being part of the theme park enthusiast community.

Mike is on-location in New York City and has a full review of the new haunt from the host of The Tonight Show... Jimmy Fallon's Tonightmares!

This week, Mike and EB dive into the excitement of Halloween and the impact of recent hurricanes on theme parks. They discuss the kickoff of haunt season, featuring a unique horror short film from Six Flags, and provide real-time commentary on it. The episode also includes quick hits on theme park news, a discussion about the social perception of theme park enthusiasm, and listener interaction regarding whether being a theme park enthusiast is considered cool or uncool.

This week, Mike and EB discuss the latest happenings in theme parks, including alarming incidents of teen fights at Halloween haunts, the effectiveness of chaperone policies, and exciting news from IAAPA Europe about new roller coasters. They also share updates from Lost Island Park, delve into the buzz surrounding Cedar Point's Sirens Curse, and engage with listeners through the mailbag segment. The episode wraps up with a discussion on plans for the 20th Season of the podcast!

Cedar Point surprised us all with the announcement of their new attraction for 2025... a record breaking tilt coaster from Vekoma called "Siren's Curse." We'll tell you all about it. Plus, EB just returned from Indiana Beach with a review of the "All American Triple Loop!"

This week, Mike and EB discuss the Golden Ticket Awards from Amusement Today. They review the winners in various categories, including best new attraction, best roller coaster, best water ride, and best family park. The guys also run through the Golden Ticket Awards' lists of the top 50 wooden and steel roller coasters. They go through the rankings and share their thoughts on the placements while being surprised at certain rankings.

EB and Mike give their takes on the latest news and rumors from the amusement industry.

This week, the guys take a look at the attendance numbers for theme parks worldwide and in the USA. Did your favorite park crack the top 25? Also, trip reports from inside the parks and the latest news from around the industry.

The guys took a break from the show last week. SO OF COURSE, that's when parks across america decided to drop a ton of news about new attrractions for 2025 and beyond. So this week's show is all about playing catch-up and giving you hot takes about new announcements from Disney, Canada's Wonderland, Six Flags New England, Six Flags Great America, Lost Island Theme Park AND MORE!

This week, thanks to your listener questions, we get into some really interesting theme park talk. We discuss new rides, strange rumors and some interesting changes coming to the parks in 2025 and beyond!

"The Beast" at Kings Island is an iconic roller coaster. Even members of the general public from around the world have heard of it. So would it be a crazy idea if the park essentially built a second roller coaster and then just connected it to the original Beast? We'll talk about that along with a bunch of other news and rumors. PLUS, we'll take your listener questions!

There were two "new for 2025" attraction announcements made this week and EB only likes one of them. We'll let you know which one it is. Also, the guys talk about the possibilities with the "All Park Passport" that could be offered by Cedar Fair legazy parks.

A strike averted at Disneyland. An amazing ticket deal at Universal Orlando. A first review of Phoenix Rising. A piece of advice from E.B. Plus, the final drink in the "Tiki Takeover!"