Archive: October, 2006

Jeff, Catherine, Artemisa and Mike (and Cosmo) review this week's news in the amusement industry.

• Temperature in the 40's, sleet, rain, 40+ mph wind, and people are at Cedar Point?
• Bell's lease in question, and it sure doesn't make sense.
• Maverick construction continues at Cedar Point, steel erection is complete.
• Cedar Fair maintains annual distribution. Jeff sees it going up after the Paramount Parks debt is reduced in a few years.
• Mike says the Santa's Village closing was barely on the radar in Chicago.
• This week's stupid criminals: Forging hand stamps at Six Flags Great Adventure.
• Cedar Fair: The Entertainment Company(TM). And speaking of which, where is the entertainment after dark at Cedar Point? They're leaving money on the table here for resort guests.
• When does policy take precedence over common sense? Much disagreement over age versus height for walk-through attractions.
• This Beech Bend nonsense is about miserable people.
• Automated tolls at Six Flags Great Adventure? Sounds like a good idea.
• Busch said their park revenue is up 10%.
• Catherine tells the story of the ultimate clueless family trying to board a ride at Hersheypark.

Jeff, Catherine, Greg and Pat review this week's news in the amusement industry.

• The crew welcomes Catherine Cortright to the show. Recorded from Cedar Point's Lighthouse Point on the day of BooBuzz.
• Wha-what? Chocolate.
• Holiday World auctions off lots of old stuff. Dudes want a urinal in their house.
• LucasArts called, they wanted Jeff to check out the new coaster game.
• Busch raises money for their conservation efforts. We like Busch, and we think they're good people. Cath says animal lovers are all over the place on the issue.
• Skimming money off the top from the Busch Europe stroller rental. Stupid criminals.
• Better food at amusement parks? Give Pat and Greg any kind of crap on a stick.
• The Six Flags dress code and behaviour policy. Yeah, that'll last.
• CoasterBuzz isn't about booting people. It's not about Jeff either.
• There are so many cool aquariums in the U.S., and the Georgia facility did 3 million people in their first year.
• Which podcasts have been most listened to?
• Catherine explains why population control via the males (in reference to last week's story about the Animal Kingdom vet going to do elephant vasectomies) is all wrong.

Jeff, Greg and Pat review this week's news in the amusement industry.

• Universal in Singapore: Does Western culture really work in Asia?
• What we would do with exclusive ride time in the Magic Kingdom.
• BMRX lands in Camelot. Greg says it's a Schwartzkopf classic.
• Dark ride preservation, from Erieview to Conneaut Lake.
• Time shares and the allure of Disney property with a view of the animals.
• Pavilion bites the dust, the fences say keep out.
• Horny costumed characters caught on tape at Disneyland Paris. The home office is not pleased.
• Wyandot Lake has the luxury of taking a year off as it's better integrated with the Columbus Zoo.

Jeff, Greg and Pat review this week's news in the amusement industry.

• The cockroach promo with Six Flags: Good or bad idea?
• PETA still says roaches have feelings too.
• Folks around Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom say the promotion is all about child abuse and poor kids. Are you kidding?
• Does this thing send the wrong message for the new "family friendly" Six Flags?
• Mark Shapiro gets a 30% raise as the CEO of Six Flags. The pros and cons of executive compensation.
• Greg just got back from Germany, and toured amusement parks there.
• Holiday World hits one million visitors! (Correction: We thought that Will Koch predicted a million by 2010, but actually that was 2 million by 2010!)
• Check out BooBuzz 2006 at Cedar Point. Exclusive ride time on Millennium Force and Top Thrill Dragster!

Jeff and Pat review this week's news in the amusement industry.

• Jeff rode The Voyage at Holiday World, and it's the single most impressive thing he has ever been on.
• PETA says roaches have feelings too.
• Halloween events are creating their own economy at theme parks.
• As the Myrtle Beach Pavilion closes, is shopping really better than amusements?
• Six Flags promo: Win a night at the park for you and your friends.
• New Jersey accident count down.
• Hong Kong Disneyland offering annual passes.
• Check out BooBuzz 2006 at Cedar Point. Exclusive ride time on Millennium Force and Top Thrill Dragster!