Archive: August, 2009

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

• CoasterBuzz members ride Gemini at Cedar Point all day to raise over $8k for Give Kids The World. Awesome group, awesome crew, awesome charity. Jeff talks up the organization and its cause.
• Freestyle attendance not ideal in its first year. Gonch believes that the park isn't enough in terms of attractions, and now it's missing the "vibe" that filled the gap.
• Can the official Disney fan conference reach the level of a Comic-Con kind of affair?
• Dubailand, not so big and thriving, actually.
• Food Network show features enthusiast feeding at Six Flags Great America.
• Carowinds announces, wait for it, Intimidator. But not with the 305. Jeff can't believe the complaining already about this ride and the one at Dominion.
• Jeff notices traffic spikes with ride announcements and new features.
• PBS affiliate posts video for Kings Island history. "Facts" are a little odd, but it's a solid video otherwise.
• Busch Gardens Tampa outlines some of the new Sesame Street stuff, including character breakfasts. Jeff says no to Elmo. What's with kids who need constant electronic stimulation?
• Job and hour cuts at Orlando parks eventually negatively affect the guest experience.
• Disney World is extending the free dining plan offer, which Jeff loves.
• Nickelodeon license appears to be at an end around the Cedar Fair parks, and word on the street is that it's just not a good deal for the company.
• CoasterBuzz Club is $25 per year. You can join or renew today. Enjoy CoasterBuzz with no ads.
• BooBuzz 2009 details posted for Cedar Point!
• The Fall Affair at Holiday World promises to be a big deal. Register today!

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

• Kid gets busted for stealing from Great Escape. It's amazing that people think they can get away with this stuff.
• Inflatables are not big fluffy pillows.
• More people busted for selling half-used tickets in Orlando. Mike says the mess of ticket vendors don't help with the confusion.
• Disney films don't always make for good theme park attractions and merchandise.
• Kent Buescher got a raw deal when it comes to the failure of Cypress Gardens.
• Another Disney performer dies, this one in a stunt rehearsal. Is it just odds that people get hurt in these shows?
• More details released on strange Invertigo incident. Another Vekoma engineering win!
• Carowinds gets tax deal for building new attractions, a one-time fee in exchange for waiver on annual property tax.
• Thorpe Park tries to enforce a no body odor rule. Stupid.
• Southern Star says they're doing a Nickelodeon park, we're skeptical they'll be able to pay for it. No word yet on where this leaves Six Flags.
• Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket finally opens at Universal Studios Florida. Initial reviews are relatively positive.
• Former executives from way back offer to run Six Flags, as if they're somehow qualified.
• Dollywood announces new water ride, exhibits a pattern of regular and varied cap ex.
• Kings Dominion announces Intimidator 305. Jeff thinks it's a pretty cool design, and predictably some "enthusiasts" already hate it.
• Canada's Wonderland drops Nickelodeon for Peanuts, and it still seems short-sighted.
• Six Flags says they'll do a debt-equity swap in bankruptcy.
• We're doing a big event with Cedar Point to raise money for Give Kids The World. Coasting For Kids marathon on Gemini happens on August 26. Your support is appreciated!
• CoasterBuzz Club is $25 per year. You can join or renew today. Enjoy CoasterBuzz with no ads.
• BooBuzz 2009 details posted for Cedar Point!
• The Fall Affair at Holiday World promises to be a big deal. Register today!

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

• North Myrtle Beach getting so much more love than Hard Rock Park ever did, at a fraction of the cost.
• Remember the caterpillar rides that had the cover on them? A MB Pavilion tribute has one.
• Son of Beast at Kings Island looks like it'll be toast. Signage has all come down, merchandise is being blown out.
• Gonch reminds new members that posting in the forums is all about quality, not quantity.
• Stuck inverted boomerang at California's Great America is breaking news! Jeff doesn't care for going backward on roller coasters.
• Spielberg sure got a sweet deal as an acting consultant for Universal.
• The tables turn when guy is busted for groping costumed Minnie Mouse.
• Strange collision accident at Blackpool. Why does the British press seem to not follow up on stuff?
• A company called Big League Dreams wants to build a big ball park facility on the Six Flags New Orleans site, and it's the first thing we've heard that makes sense, and from a viable and experience company.
• Universal Orlando takes a hit on attendance and revenue, and still turns a bigger profit. And can you believe that Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is finally enjoying a soft opening?
• PTC featured in a local paper, but Jeff isn't impressed with anything about their trains.
• Ad agency vs. Freestyle. Just kidding. We're good friends still.
• Kennywood announces a new coaster for next year, and the discussion seems to revolve more around the way they announced it. Why are people so into the chick from Adventureland and Twilight?
• Strange accident by Disney performer who takes a tumble and dies days later.
• Busch Entertainment takes a slight hit like everyone else.
• Holiday World announces a LIM-accelerated water slide.
• We're doing a big event with Cedar Point to raise money for Give Kids The World. Coasting For Kids marathon on Gemini happens on August 26. Your support is appreciated!
• CoasterBuzz Club is $25 per year. You can join or renew today. Enjoy CoasterBuzz with no ads.
• BooBuzz 2009 details posted for Cedar Point!
• The Fall Affair at Holiday World promises to be a big deal. Register today!

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

• It's results week at CoasterBuzz, and the results really suck. Disney took a hit, but they're still filling seats.
• Six Flags is bleeding all over the place, attendance, revenue, per cap... everything. When the gate is already being given away, what's left in terms of discounting?
• Cedar Fair doesn't have a pretty picture either, but at the very least, they've got extensions on their credit agreements, hopefully getting them to a friendlier environment.
• Disney is having a convention for their biggest fans. Isn't funny how some of them are the most critical and unfriendly types ever? It's cool though that companies are really reaching out to their biggest fans.
• Kalahari drowning sparks discussion about who is really responsible at the water park between lifeguards, parents and the public.
• Knott's Haunt draws hundreds of applicants. Gonch says he'd hate working that kind of job, but some people are fanatic about it.
• Bad guys in last year's Valleyfair beating get off with a slap on the wrist, and that angers people.
• Enthusiasts win contest to spend two months doing Orlando attractions in exchange for documenting it. Hooray!
• AquaQuest attraction opens at Schlitterbahn. Gonch says he's seen the MagiQuest things popping up. They did a similar thing at Epcot with a Kim Possible theme.
• CoasterBuzz Feed is now available! Check it out. Thanks to the CoasterBuzz Club members for testing it.
• CoasterBuzz Club is $25 per year. You can join or renew today. Enjoy CoasterBuzz with no ads.
• We're doing a big event with Cedar Point to raise money for Give Kids The World. Coasting For Kids marathon on Gemini happens on August 26. Your support is appreciated!
• New documentary film draw dotted line to SeaWorld and says it's partly their fault that dolphins are being slaughtered off the coast of Japan. Really?
• LED lighting at Kennywood is cool. The environmental angle gets more interesting as economy of scale makes it good business as well as good tree hugging. Mike gets really solid mileage in his Prius.
• New Orleans fascination with old Six Flags property still seems so silly while parts of the city are still in ruins.
• Article highlights the rich history of kid parks around the Chicago area. Mike shares his memories.
• BooBuzz 2009 details posted for Cedar Point!
• The Fall Affair at Holiday World promises to be a big deal. Register today!

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

• We can't believe we're still doing this show for this long, and that people continue to listen to it. It's interesting to look back and see how Gonch got involved, mostly through the old games site. We're hoping to rope in most of the crew to the Fall Affair.
• Boy drowns at Kalahari in Sandusky. It's surprising that this could happen given the typical load of lifeguards at these parks.
• Wallenda is doing high wire acts all around the Cedar Fair parks. Does this draw people in or just scare the hell out of them?
• Dells Kalahari expands and manages to grow in down economy. Interesting that they saw the downturn as an opportunity.
• Alleged hair loss advocates slam Freestyle Music Park for ad. Everyone laughs at call for boycott.
• Congress wants to put a stop to ban on government travel to Orlando and Las Vegas if those places have the best room rates.
• Mt. Olympus keeps breaking the law over late night operation, the law looks the other way.
• Coney Island redevelopment plan gets stamp of approval from city council. Freak show crowd not happy.
• Son of Beast OK'd by state, but park gives no indication about when or if it will open. Weird how the non-enthusiast public seems to be OK with the ride, even though we mostly can't stand it.
• Paramount Pictures likely to license to new park operator to replace Expoland in Japan. Important to note that this is not getting "in" the business the way the former Paramount Parks were.
• Little park appears in North Myrtle Beach. Seems like an example of the right way to start a new park.
• Cedar Fair sends a strongly worded memo to Santa Clara over 49ers stadium action.
• Disney takes a profit hit for discounting the theme parks, but still maintains amazing level of attendance and occupancy.
• Single-day gate goes up again at Disney World, but it's still inconsequential for the longer stays.
• Looks like we're doing a marathon ride fund raiser on Cedar Point's Gemini for Give Kids The World. Stay tuned!
• CoasterBuzz Club is $25 per year. You can join or renew today. Enjoy CoasterBuzz with no ads.
• BooBuzz 2009 details posted for Cedar Point!
• The Fall Affair at Holiday World promises to be a big deal. Register today!