Archive: September, 2008

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

• Halloween for kids. Jeff's research department determines Kings Island included it with normal admission.
• Lo-Q kicking it financially with Six Flags.
• The Gravity Group launches a podcast and blog.
• Universal Studios Japan turns around with guru manager, addressing the cultural needs of the locals.
• Disney is apparently not adding any big new thing for Orlando, but do they even need to?
• The boys look around at renderings of Schlitterbahn's new Kansas City complex, which does not translate well to listening.
• Hard Rock Park files for bankruptcy, and, big surprise, they say that a lack of out-of-market advertising was a problem. We were saying this at the beginning of the summer.
• Talking about Hard Rock leads us to Universal Orlando, where we wax nostalgic about The Enchanted Oak, which is gone. But there's a lot of excitement building around the new Harry Potter stuff.
• The Fall Affair was a great success. Voyage is still so physical, in a good way.
• CoasterBuzz Club events coming up this year: BooBuzz at Cedar Point. Visit the CoasterBuzz Club page for more information.

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

• The CoasterBuzz Podcast has been going strong now for three years.
• Water park evolution and the perks (and the hotels).
• Cedar Fair attendance and revenue is up, while per cap is flat. We assume that people are tired of hearing Jeff and Gonch talk about it. Although they agree that maybe the ticket pricing is low.
• Disney rocks despite the economy. They "hold strong" and believe in their value. Dinging you up front so the day-of experience seems more care free sure doesn't hurt either.
• PointBuzz posts photos and video for Cedar Point's new haunted attractions. Jeff talks a little about Halloweekends.
• Premier Rides is going to build a big observation wheel in the Jersey Meadowlands.
• Gilroy exploring option to turn Gardens into a water park, managed by Parc Management.
• Kings Island construction continues, and we can't imagine how Diamondback will be anything other than a slam dunk. What's with enthusiasts who say B&M's are "over engineered?"
• California's Great America neighbor: Not in my backyard!
• Six Flags has coordinated attack of announcements around the chain. We're scratching our head on why they'd spend money to put fire balls and nonsense around Superman at the New England park.
• Six Flags is suing Intamin for the Kentucky Kingdom accident, and watns to join the suit with the Lassiters. Seems insane that they're trying to absolve themselves from any responsibility.
• S&S closes up shop at their Utah park.
• CoasterBuzz Club events coming up this year: BooBuzz at Cedar Point. Visit the CoasterBuzz Club page for more information.
• Gonch visits Indiana Beach to ride Steel Hawg.

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

• BHAG's and Merlin Entertainment.
• Fort Wilderness upgrades at Disney aren't even camping. Jeff doesn't care for sleeping on the ground.
• Everyone doing Halloween stuff is going to be open into a November date, mostly because it's the first time it has fallen on a Friday since it became big business at amusement parks. We wonder if it comes at the expense of summer attendance.
• Holiday World is building Pilgrims Plunge, the tallest boat splash ride. Jeff is surprised it's Intamin, and Pat is surprised it's the "-est" something. Jeff was right about lo-jacking the kids.
• Hong Kong Disneyland did better, but not quite good enough.
• Halloween events announced, lots of changes at Cedar Point's Halloweekends, including a pirate themed walk-through on Millennium Force Island.
• Kings Island opens a walk of fame.
• Yet another guy steps in front of a roller coaster in a low zone. The debate continues about the sensitivity of death versus the stupidity involved.
• Worlds of Fun announces Prowler, a GCI. We hope that this, with Renegade at Valleyfair, are setting a precedent with Cedar Fair people.
• Lassiters want to move up trial date versus Kentucky Kingdom. It's important to show the distinction in the agenda of the family versus someone like Ed Markey.
• Regional parks may be benefiting from high gas prices. Gonch maintains that people will do vacation stuff one way or another, even if it is close by.
• Astroland is no more, for real this time. Coney Island is in a very slow transition, and no one is sure what to.
• An investor in Hard Rock Park writes off investment as a loss. Do they know something we don't?
• The Orlando Mommies don't like Universal Orlando's horror night billboards.
• Six Flags and Mars make sweet marketing love.
• CoasterBuzz.com has been relaunched for the first time in five years. Check out the video tours in particular to understand the features. The site is much faster than it was.
• CoasterBuzz Club events coming up this year: The Fall Affair at Holiday World, and BooBuzz at Cedar Point. Visit the CoasterBuzz Club page for more information.